MR2, do I REALLY want one?

I've got an '85. I love it. Like others have already been said, its a go kart. Easy to work on, and fairly simply. Mine is slowly getting upgraded (LW flywheel, dampers, sway bars). Still has some repair work needed (exhaust, oil lines, etc.). I like it better than my 91 Miata. MR2 has more space, more storage, its quieter, doesn't need a roll bar to get on track, and I think its more fun to drive. I wouldn't go so far as to say it handles better or its faster (because it isn't) but manual steering and a mid engine configuration certainly make it seem that way!

Several people have told me they need more power, are slow, blah, blah. I've given up on explaining it, you either get it or you don't. If I wanted a faster car, I'd drive my Z06. There's a LOT to be said for driving an underpowered go kart every day. I can drive like a maniac, squealing tires and shifting at the limiter, and not be breaking any traffic laws. It's brilliant.

FlightService wrote: I learned to drive a stick on a MK2. You want one, and I hate Toyota!

You likely hate today's Toyota. The Toyota of the late '80's was really good. I would argue that '85 was the single greatest year with some spill over continuing a few years in each direction.

A buddy had a MK1 that he put a lightweight flywheel in with a 6-speed (JDM buy) and he loves how much of an improvement it made in the drivability and fun of the car.

He's in Cali so engine mods are limited for him, otherwise he'd probably have a 20V or a SC'd engine along with the 6-speed.

Of course I looked on CL and found a couple of SC cars for cheap ($2500 for one with a rod knock and it looks to be in great shape!). So I officially hate you now as this thread reminds me of the time drove my buddies SC out to te shop for him. The SC light was in the while time and my grin was "on" the whole time.

How hard is it to find a 20V donor for an early car?

BTW, the 6-speed swap was documented on his website: http://www.marcmedina.com

Woody wrote: How hard is it to find a 20V donor for an early car?

Do you have access to $1000 and a computer?

Typically that's all it takes, though getting the swap in the car and running perfectly can be a little more involved.

http://www.drhess.net/The_Beast.htm

courtesy of doc hess.

20V will never pass Cally emissions, or any state that does a visual as well as a sniffer. The 20V was NEVER legally imported, and most... if not all, the inspection people know this...

there are a few mr2 sites, mr2oc was previously covered, there is also mr2.com

The nice thing about the MR2 is that it was a summer car purchase for some. If you're patient you can find a well-cared for, lower mileage example. More so with the 2nd gen.

I have recently acquired an '86 hardtop a couple of months ago. All sorts of swaps available if that's what you want. Apparently the 4AGZE block ( one came with the car)is pretty stout as well. I was reading on the MR2 website about upgrading the blower to a 1.3 unit. 3SGTE swap makes it an Mk 1.5, but it takes some grinding and welding of engine mounts.

Sure, it's a rusty Ohio-spec car, but it's turned out to be a fun project so far.

Don't forget about the gen 3. The best handling stock car I've ever driven. The shifter is great. The interior is nice. It's super adjustable. It's peppy.

I want one bad ...

DaewooOfDeath wrote: Don't forget about the gen 3. The best handling stock car I've ever driven. The shifter is great. The interior is nice. It's super adjustable. It's peppy. I want one bad ...

You and me both. I wish i had gotten one instead of the Miata to this day.

Will wrote: -Pretty sure Toyota welded the spark plug wires to the distributor cap and coil. I broke the dizzy cap trying to get the wires off, and I had to remove the coil so I wouldn't break that, too. And that's not just as quick as it sounds.

I picked up a 4AFE distributor that had the same problem. The plug wires turn but absolutely don't come off the cap. Every 4AF/4AFE I'd seen before had removable plug wires...

I like it when the spark plug boot comes off in the tube.

Yes get one! One of my best friends had one with a newer Toyota 5SFE 2.2l motor . With a few simple suspension mods the thing was beastly to drive. Just remember to keep the throttle down around the corners or it will throw you off the track!!! lol

I should also mention that I have driven Steve Hoelscher's DP winning MR2, and that thing is aviolent, violent beast. And it has even more hp now than when I drove it.

I can only think of one other car that I've driven that was nearly as violent, and that was a 600hp STI.

In comparison, my ITA MR2 was pretty tame. The point is, you can do almost anything to these cars, and the more you do, their personality completely changes.

Now I spend all my free time surfing Craig's List searching for another one. Thanks....

The AW11 is pretty violent car in stock form, if not especially fast (like many Toyotas of the time). Someone on here once said that an AW11 compared to an X1/9 is like a sledgehammer compared to a scalpel.

They are great to drive, you just have to drive that careful line between understeer and oversteer, very little warning when it switches between the two. It's like a slot car with the track pin in the middle instead of the front!

That was my 5s-fe mk1 swap car. Never got to bolt the 3s turbo bits into it. Still pissed at that Tacoma driver.

mr2peak wrote: They are great to drive, you just have to drive that careful line between understeer and oversteer, very little warning when it switches between the two. It's like a slot car with the track pin in the middle instead of the front! That was my 5s-fe mk1 swap car. Never got to bolt the 3s turbo bits into it. Still pissed at that Tacoma driver.

A 5sfe MK1? Color me intrigued.... how was that to drive?

I was planning on just throwing out my 5sfe and trans, but... now i'm interested.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

mr2peak wrote: They are great to drive, you just have to drive that careful line between understeer and oversteer, very little warning when it switches between the two. It's like a slot car with the track pin in the middle instead of the front! That was my 5s-fe mk1 swap car. Never got to bolt the 3s turbo bits into it. Still pissed at that Tacoma driver.

A 5sfe MK1? Color me intrigued.... how was that to drive? I was planning on just throwing out my 5sfe and trans, but... now i'm interested.

I'll take that 5SFE and trans if you don't want it. Is it a good engine? Do you have all the wiring and all that crap too?

Conquest351 wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

mr2peak wrote: They are great to drive, you just have to drive that careful line between understeer and oversteer, very little warning when it switches between the two. It's like a slot car with the track pin in the middle instead of the front! That was my 5s-fe mk1 swap car. Never got to bolt the 3s turbo bits into it. Still pissed at that Tacoma driver.

A 5sfe MK1? Color me intrigued.... how was that to drive? I was planning on just throwing out my 5sfe and trans, but... now i'm interested.

I'll take that 5SFE and trans if you don't want it. Is it a good engine? Do you have all the wiring and all that crap too?

It's still in a car at the moment.... but yes to all questions.

I don't have an MR2, but I've got the 20v blacktop in my MG Midget. It kicks ass. Don't know how it would be with another 8-900 pounds, but in my 1500 lb car, it is nearly frantic. Scarily so. And yet, I have a nearly uncontrollable urge to turbo it, and get a lighter flywheel. By the way, I got the engine and wiring harness for $600 in Manassas VA from Japanese Engine Import. I thought it was a steal- no computer, but I already had a silvertop setup, so just swapped those over to the blacktop.

I've wanted an AW11 since I started driving. I still haven't even test-driven one, but it will be my next project purchase. If I stumble on a mkII for good money, I might take that, but I really want an AW11. I've even considered selling my mustang to pursue that dream.

My real concern is the continued availability of odd suspension bits and stuff in the coming years. It's already 26 years old, do you guys think there will be decent parts supply in another 20? Or will I be paying vintage-rare tax on everything?

Parts supply is OK now.... in 20 years? Probably rough.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

Conquest351 wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

mr2peak wrote: They are great to drive, you just have to drive that careful line between understeer and oversteer, very little warning when it switches between the two. It's like a slot car with the track pin in the middle instead of the front! That was my 5s-fe mk1 swap car. Never got to bolt the 3s turbo bits into it. Still pissed at that Tacoma driver.

A 5sfe MK1? Color me intrigued.... how was that to drive? I was planning on just throwing out my 5sfe and trans, but... now i'm interested.

I'll take that 5SFE and trans if you don't want it. Is it a good engine? Do you have all the wiring and all that crap too?

It's still in a car at the moment.... but yes to all questions.

You and I need to talk. I need one of those drivetrains this summer. I'll PM you if that's ok?