Owned a 2002 for several years, and tires matter. With sticky Yokohama tires it stuck like glue, and did not push wide, and could be taken through the twisties at high speed, and gripped very convincingly. It is still not as pure as the Elise. But even used it is less than 20 % of the cost, and it was my daily for four years. An amazing and underappreciated, underrated car.
I bought my MR2 for daily commuting. I can honestly say that after a few mods the MR2 out handles my 350z w/ similar suspension mods. I take it everywhere. There's plenty of cargo room if your passenger doesn't mind holding all your stuff. Lol
OMG JAY YOU FINALLY DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been following your channel since the beginning and I own a low mileage Mr2 Spyder myself. Get one, their potential is amazing and people are noticing now 15-20 years later. Is an amazing car!
jordan buddy that is correct as per my post my old boss advised due to the Elise s2 it was causing a lot of friction I have no doubt the lotus is a better car but the mr2 tte turbo version is seriously good there is a vid of it on here
My boss said the main issue was the cost of the mr2 vs the lotus and with the same engine he said he went to Japan a lot regarding this. Such a underrated car in the uk they are peanuts
@@justinread5609 A MR-S 2ZZ would been a cheaper car than the Lotus 111R without a doubt. Whatever the reasons, Toyota just missed the opportunity to build a great legendary version of the MR-S.
I'm a Lotus owner and I paid considerably more than a person who would buy a ZZ30R, install quality suspension and a turbo charger. But mine is a Lotus did I mention?
Oh yes a proper car on your channel James, I've got one if you didn't guess and it's a keeper, Yokohama tyres have helped the handling & grip, and I love the thing. Don't miss the storage cubbies behind the seats by the way.
Jeb Swarf I’ve put AD08Rs on mine and they are just awesome and are even good in the wet. With the lsd you can feel them wrench the tarmac out of corners :-) I went up from a 185 to a 195 on the fronts though to give it better balance and with a set of BC racing adjustable Coilovers it’s spot on.
Bought my completely standard MR2 Roadster last summer, 05 reg, 39k miles, red, 6spd manual, full black leather interior, hardtop included and a removable boot rack (storage issues solved!) and it cost...……..just £4,900, best purchase I've ever made! No handling issues whatsoever, feels surprisingly neutral and handles like a dream. In my experience the MR2 is happy to be driven at 9/10ths, in dry weather anyway, all day long and the brakes are excellent too. In the wet however it does move around quite a bit, alarmingly so under heavy braking. Also, and this just personal preference, I like that it has the lower powered engine. I'm in rural mid wales so maybe i'm biased but to me the MR2 is at it's best on B roads or unnamed roads where power is unimportant and you can just enjoy the handling and the change of direction and become totally immersed in practicing your technique. I think the 6spd makes a huge difference too, it's actually quite happy on motorways sitting at 80mph at around 3000rpm which makes it surprising comfortable for the type of car it is. Get a decent one, (with a removeable boot rack!!!!!) and it's an absolute bargain.
I love my MR2MK3. As painter and decorator I sometimes struggle for space, but my folding ladders fit in the passenger footwell so it's all good. Regular trips away with the Mrs, coming from a motorbike this is much more practical even if there's less storage - at least we don't have to stash helmets, boots and riding suits when we get somewhere. It doesn't threaten my license like a Lotus would, it's a lot less pushy but such a giggle when the sun's out, a really nice place to be.
Got my 2003 Spyder last year, and it's a pip. Came with lightweight Enkei wheels, uprated tires, struts and TRD strut-tower braces; exactly the mods I would have started with myself. I don't mind the engine; I live in a suburban area where 50 more HP just wouldn't be that useful in this car. But the best thing, the most important thing, is that this car is fun to drive even at the speed limit. I've had much, much faster cars, but I had to risk my license to properly enjoy them. This one? Smiles all day long.
fun fact: the MRS wheel base is actually 1 feet longer than the mk2 and an inch shorter than a '96 boxster.. and without the rear boot in the mk3.. it handles better than the mk2.. the mk2 having a shorter wheel base and a boot at the back, it did harm the handling of the car which would prone the car to oversteer more..
Also due to the heavy cast iron 3sgte sitting in the back of the mk2. The 1zz (and the popular upgrade, the 2zz), are aluminium so weigh about half the weight.
My 2zz spyder is sooo much fun to drive. Toyota should have offered a GTS version with this engine & 6 speed trans. It sucks to use 93 octane gasoline at $3+ per gallon, but I have no real complaints otherwise. If you keep it on lift it will devastate pretty much any other car even in straight line acceleration. If not, you'll catch them on the next curve.
Made In Machines the 2zz needs tons of revs the power is all at the top end , the 1zz is by far better low down in my opinion, also the 2zz if you do a swap you must put it the 1zz mr2 sixth gear or it cruises very badly and put a lsd in and one thing that did help is a light flywheel, but a k series is king so if you have the budget do that
To clarify: Facelift brought with itself a 6 speed manual (some different versions, one with 5 speed and extra gear and one with tighter gear ratios than 5 speed), LSD to all euros, modified oil piston rings that all but stopped the precat issue and stiffer chassis. I have one and its brilliant. Had TTE lowering springs and stock suspension but once I swapped it for BCBR coils it became a real sportscar. Some alignement as well and you can throw it around a bumpy tight roundabout without even thinking about braking. As for interior space, I have hard top conversion and if you remove the inner cubby hatches you gain a lot of space. Not that I use it I just put everything in mapreader seat footwell. MRS is a great little car that is very underrated but it's underrated because in stock form it ain't that great.
The actual pistons and rings changed end of 2001. Shortly after the oil control rings were nitrided too. According to the parts database, cars made from Jan 2002 should have these mods, based on VIN searches i’ve done. That still leaves at least 2 years of production prior to have the problematic parts. I keep reading ‘oval bore is a myth ‘ comments on forums and YT. Probably by the same parrots who say removing the pre cats solves all your problems. Either way, these late 2001 revisions are actual things and not myths. I think facelift cars started being made about July 2002 so all should have the revised parts.
The soft suspension is really quite fun to throw the weight around and perform sketchy (but really fun) trail braking. It's really a great thrill to catch the snap oversteer or use it to help you showboat around tight corners on a track :D
I've had plenty of cars and I probably miss this one the most. I did a couple euro trips in it, including camping at Le Mans. Didn't have that much trouble fitting my stuff in.
The available luggage space is a testament to minimalist living and cutting out unnecessary items. We went for a long weekend in France, did not use the boot rack and had enough space for the weekend including bringing back some shopping without taking out the spare wheel.
No problem with a weekend getaway - wife and I pack two duffel bags, stow them behind the seats and then off the beaten track on the twisty bits. Absolutely love this car - never get tired of her and owned her for 13 years now - so reliable ... it's a Toyota
It’s a shame you’re put off by the lack of storage. I bought my first MR2 Roadster new in ‘02 and was my only car for many years. Everyone at the pub was banging on about the lack boot and power but neither is an issue; I always fitted everything I needed, even for days away, and the 970kg do not need a lot of power to shift. Also, you could get tailored luggage that fitted behind the seats to maximise capacity and the spare can be replaced with a can if need be. I’ve had a few cars since then, including other 2-seat convertibles, but I always missed the Roadster, especially that 5-speed gearbox, which is just one of the sweetest - it put the Boxster’s to shame. Back then I test drove the competition, MX-5/Z3/Boxster/Elise/TT, and the only one that came close to it for driving pleasure was the Elise but, as it was going to be my only car, having foam inside the seats was a major plus. I had to put on the optional TTE springs though, the standard rode a bit too high. 17 years later, I just bought another ‘02 project car, very cheaply, and can’t wait to put it back on the road. My only real criticism is the cheap factory vinyl roof; as it’s plastic it needs a pretty toasty temperature to flex, something people don’t realise and just force it down when it’s cold, risking damaging the roof frame. On my project MR2 I replaced it with a mohair fabric, much better.
This is an awesome comments section. Reading people's experiences and suggestions while watching this vid feels like the best and most useful stuff about this topic. Thanks everyone.
I had the MR2 TTE Turbo and also a Lotus Elise S1 with 120 hp (the bloody K-Series Engine). For Country roads, the Elise was still better to drive, but because of the engine, the Toyota was more fun to go fast. Also did something to the suspension and had different wheels and tires on it.
Just one factual correction - the MR2 doesn't have electric power steering as Porsche has nowadays. The MR2 has electrically-powered but still hydraulic power steering, so it is different to your normal system, but you don't lose the feel like in modern cars.
My Mk3 on some cheap springs, laser alignment, decent tyres, absolute blast. Best handling car I’ve had, which includes Mk2 MR2, Eunos RS limited, various Clio RS, DC2 ITR. Better still the car and mods were less than 2 grand. I got an upgraded twin pipe exhaust and it even sounded decent. I miss it, would definitely have another. Lack of practicality is a downside.
Bought mine last year 2018 may, classic summer for soft top,fresh tyres and no trouble as a summer run about. suitable for dry winter use as it is a 2002 with only 48k on the clock keeper indeed.
Zo joh, helemaal naar Engeland voor een review? Dan ben je wel een échte ambassadeur van het merk. Leuk dat je het gedaan hebt Peter, het resultaat is een leuke video 👍
Picked up my 2005 MR2 earlier in the year with 24k miles, and it's a beauty.. Not really anything I can fault with it and the top is down at every opportunity here in the south of the UK. Storage, yes, isn't brilliant but who buys a car like this and expects it to carry loads! ;)
What you said about the handling sounds to me that the tyres are not good, the MR2 is really sensitive with its tyres even down to the pressure being off by 1psi. Also from what ive read many people say that soft tyre walls make the car floaty.
It’s really tyre sensitive and fitting decent tyres with a stiff sidewalls is a must. After trying quite a few brands I run Falkens on my daily MR-S as they have stiff sidewalls and feel good and on my MR2 which I only use at weekends I’m running yokaharma AD08Rs which are really very good indeed :-). I tried coopers once but they where so floppy and hand jelly like it was scary and they had to come straight off!
It's really a bloated pig of a car after you drive a Spyder that weighs 800 pounds less. The 2nd gen turbo had 200hp, but a 2zz Spyder has 190hp. It does everything so much better for the same price. Except luggage space.
Loved my MR2 Mk1, small, relatively practical, amazing AE86 engine, pop up headlights - thought I was the bees knees as a 25yo in the earlly 90s. Unfortunately most have rusted away. Find one to review if you can.
Great cars, I love my MR2 MK3 and wouldn't hesitate to recommend one. 1zz lacks character buts is deceptively quick. See my virtually standard MR2 holding it's own at Brands Hatch earlier this year.
My sister had one of these that she bought new in 2000. When she went on holiday I was given it to drive and so had it for several weeks a year for many years. I remember the handling to be amazing and one of the best cars I ever drove and I used to be in the car trade so drove loads of cars over the years. I think that the car you drove may have worn tired suspension as it doesn’t sound right to me.
Since this original roadster, in 2003 the damper settings were changed and the rear wheels/tyres were enlarged. Then in 2004 they added more chassis bracing. I'd therefore be interested to know the thoughts of anyone who has driven both. Is the handling noticeably different? I had the 2004 and loved it.
Plenty of space in this car. I took a set of race rims/tires, 4 jack stands, a jack, and miscellaneous tools for autocross. It was a sight to see. Tons of fun this car!
@@stevenseow647 The wheels were the easy part, 3 on the passenger seat, one in the frunk. I had a bit of room left in the frunk so i put my wheel chocks and impact sockets there as well. Jack stands and other non impact sockets on the passenger floor. *Here is the real game changer. Remove the doors for the compartments behind the seats!* This let me fit my 3.5 ton jack, racing numbers, breaker bar, air compressor, and other odds and ends like a quart of oil some shop rags. Nothing in the glove compartment too many CD's :)
I have driven thousands and thousands of miles in the MR-Spyder, and many tens of thousands of miles in my MKII MR2s, MKI MR2s, Elise and Exiges. I always felt that the boot space was not as bad as many people think in the Spyder. I could fit all kinds of stuff in the cubbies and behind the seats, including racing helmets. In the end, my company designed a hitch for the car to pull a small trailer to allow me to haul my racing tires. I think some of the understeer can be mitigated with alignment. For competition, we added some toe out, maxed from neg camber. I quite liked the MR-Spyder, but in the end, it is not an Elise. Though it is easier to get in and out of. The Spyder is nimble, but it is not Lotus nimble.
@@robertlarson289 We sold off the design and rights to make to twos-r-us (owner of twos-r-us was working for me at my company (ChaseCam)). He is no longer making the system. I think we did a good design. Cast aluminum mounting brackets. Machined stainless steel rods. Welded assembly. www.twosrus.com/mk3hitchpics.htm
I managed to do a coastal roadtrip from Zurich to St. Tropez an back with my girlfriend in one of these - and we're still a couple and she wasn"t even complaining. I dedicated all the storage space behind the seats to her and the "frunk" we shared for essentials such us battery-jumper and flat-tire-spray-kit. Without a rack over the enginebay (selfmade from an extended MX-5-one and massively overloaded) we would not have succeeded to be honest. And we left the hard top on for the journey itself. But we had a blast, absolutely.
These are lovely and remind me of the MGs, Triumph TRs and Spitfires, and Austin Healey's of the 1960s and 1970s. They are "people's" sports cars and are just fun. I had a Triumph 1300 TC and it was quick for it's time as a production saloon, but it was also a lot of fun as well as very practical asa an evryday car, and it's engine note was great, which was most of the enjoyment. Isn't that what a "people's" "sports" car shoud be? If you want a supercar help yourself, but I think this stands alonside other marques I've mentioned above...
In a MR2 you put your luggage on the passenger (2 Backpacks). :-D The Spare tire must go anyway and so you have overall enough space to put things inside.
I think you missed three important points. First, this car has the best power to weight ratio of all the MR2’s, except for the second generation turbo. Second, the second generation is known for its snap oversteer. This one doesn’t have that issue. Third, you missed completely the actual (and expandable) storage space. And that while it was visual in the video the whole time, it’s right behind the seats. We go camping with this car with two persons.
I've got one too, (had 3 mk1s in fact - all Supercharged or converted to) in dark blue '88. Got my first back in 2001, fresh JDM import, 45k on the clock ZERO rust, all original. The NA's are fun but the SC's give it the power it deserved. With oversized crank pulley + mongoose exhaust as most of us SC owners add, it's around 187 BHP 0-60 around 5.5 seconds. To me MK1 MR2 will always be THE MR2 as gen 2 got bloaty and look more like GT Coupes than mid engined sports cars (other than the mid engine deck) and MK3, while fun and back to basics, doesn't have the eye popping styling of the MK1. That said, I'd love a MK3 to modify (Supercharge), but with hardtop - not a fan of soft top looks on any car, but the hardtop looks great on the MK3, but I wouldn't lose the MK1 to make way for it... it would be an addition. Not interested in MK2s at all.. no matter how fast the turbo, the styling doesn't do it for me.
One quibble: *The MR2 Spyder is actually the fastest of all the MR2 generations* . It's 500 lb lighter than the 2nd generation model lol. It has the highest power-to-weight ratio of any base MR2, and the best acceleration, handling, and braking. On a race track, a stock MR2 Spyder would destroy a stock/base model 1st gen or stock/base model 2nd gen MR2. *1st GEN:* Toyota introduced the first-generation MR2 in 1984, designating it the model code "W10". When fitted with the 1.5-liter 3A engine, it was known as the "AW10". Likewise, the 1.6-liter 4A version is identified by the "AW11" code. Road tests delivered 0-60 mph (97 km/h) times in the mid- to high-8 second range and 1⁄4 mile (402 m) times in the mid- to high-16 second range, significantly faster than the four-cylinder Pontiac Fiero or Fiat X1/9.[12][13][14] *2nd GEN:* US market trim levels: - MR2 with a NA 2.2L 5S-FE engine producing 130 hp (97 kW) and offered with a four-speed A/T or five-speed M/T. - MR2 Turbo with a turbocharged 2.0L 3S-GTE engine producing 200 bhp (203 PS; 149 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 200 lb⋅ft (271 N⋅m) at 3,200 rpm of torque, offered only with a 5-speed M/T (offered solely with the T-bar roof after early 1993). Sorry dude. You've got your facts wrong. The 2nd gen MR2 Turbo may have been faster, but that's not a BASE model. If you want to introduce the MR2 Turbo into the discussion then I get to put the 2ZZ engine into the MR2 Spyder and let's compare apples to apples.
I have a completely factory sport modified 2005 Toyota MR2 with ALL the orginal TTE (Toyota sport department) options on it. Way lower drive height, wayy stiffer springs, very loud amazing factory TTE sport exhaust and spoiler + other front end. Also every facelift MR2 has the engine which will not kill it self. So the car being soft and cruisy I dont recognise at all since mine is so different (from factory). So the MR2 can be very different even without a lot of after market stuff.
Six months or so of pre facelift have the revised piston/ring/nitrided oil control ring setup too. The first two years are best avoided. Not only do they burn oil, but their compression drops off the face of the earth and they end up putting out 95bhp. Leading people to declare all mk3’s as gutless.
Rented one of these during a trip to southern Italy, had a barrel of fun in it. It's flawed, but it also is a reliable, affordable, damn zippy mid-engine cabrio.
Evo Magazine - 100 Top Drivers' Cars 2009. Placed in 43rd position and is in the esteemed company of (all) Lotus, VX220, F355, F40 etc. plus cars 10 times the price. Incidentally the MK1 made the cut as well though the comparatively bloated MK2 doesn't.
Even at the speed limit I can feel the front washing wide.. well as a guy who owns a standard MK3 MR2 I can tell u that's not normal 😄 my guess (which is normally the case) is this is on poor tyres 👎🏼
In 5 years my MR-S has only exhibited understeer 5 times and that's in really unusual circumstances, 2nd gear, very wet off camber, turning very sharply whilst neither accelerating or braking. Otherwise it's either neutral or oversteer. When I bought my later face lift model it came on a fresh set of ditch finders on the front and decent tyres on the back and it understeered in the wet on turn in but since fitting a set decent set of trees it's never once understeered yet.
@@somecallmetim42 Exactly man, tyres are underrated, people just slap ditchfinders on and blame the car. Tyres was the first thing I did when I got mine 👍🏼
Lawrence yeah people skimp on tyres and it really hurts a car. I was looking at a Clio 182 the other week as another runabout but it was on ditch finders and it was just horrible.
I had a facelifted one and I thought it handled great. I believe the rear wheels were bigger than the pre-facelifted one, so maybe that made a difference.
I had a 2004 face lift model with the tte styling pack and LSD. It had 17" wheels with 205 wide tyres all round. I've had two vx220s since and I have to say, even though the VX220 feels nicer, I could corner quicker in the MR2 round Snetterton. I know you should have narrower tyres at the front but I didn't have a problem, just be careful with your braking mid corner. Stopped on a six pence.
Eek, you're wrong. The 140bhp 1ZZ engine is actually more torquey than the 2ZZ up to about 6,000 revs. For everyday driving it is much more fun. I have the same engine in my Elise S and it's far more drivable than the more powerful engine which has to be screamed everywhere.
I have the 1zz Celica which is my daily and find the engine has plenty of torque (for a 1.8) from low revs, pulls in any gear which makes for relaxed driving. When you want to give it the beans it's certainly brisk enough compared to your average car. I'm sure the Elise s is plenty quick enough due to its lower weight.
@@junitoortega8656 you can actually just put cams and ecu on the 1zz and make 2zz power while keeping 1zz torque and not gaining 2zz oil starvation and cam burning issues
Hywel Thomas Elise S is a far more tractable machine than the R. More fun, less tiring, amazing on fuel. True successor to the 111S Rover model. By the time Lotus scooped up the ZZ engines they were all bug free. Have a 2bular on mine and people think it sounds nuts.
In France, this car is called the MR... Since if you spell out loud MR2 in French, you can't help but hearing "merde"... Need I translate? :p Also, MR2 is actually an acronym for Midship Runabout 2 seater.
I'm an MR2 Mk3 driver and my dream car would be the Elise having driven one. I see the MR2 as being like a budget elise. Thing takes a beating day in day out I love my MR2.
My brother in law has an MX5 and my stock MR-S leaves it in the dust both in terms of acceleration braking and apex speeds and my upgraded MR2 is in a different league Corning wise. Mid engined beats front engined hands down when it comes to cornering.
@King Brilliant Yeah I’m sorry but Jay didn’t know what he was on about in this video. These things handle amazingly, and are an awesome momentum car. Check out any of the old Tsukuba vids with Keiichi Tsuchiya and you’ll see the MR-S dominating Miatas of all varieties. The MR-S had quicker 0-100 (0-60), slalom, and track times than any miata of the time. Not to mention that they’re incredibly easy to modify to make even better.
Actually, the steering has a hydraulic assist, and the pump is driven by an electric motor(not too uncommon with mid engine cars since there is no engine in the front to drive the pump), so thankfully it isn't an electric assist with no feel. The 3.gen should have much better handling than the 2.gen, so maybe the one you drove had worn tires / bushings/ springs / dampers. Due to the low weight the car can mask a worn suspension under normal driving, not so much when you drive it hard. There is a Best Motoring MR-S debut race with english subs on youtube and the MR-S has a better laptime than the 200 hp BEAMS 2.gen(with an open diff and 60hp less).
The 2ZZ in the Elise is a great engine because it had some rectifications that sorted shortcomings like oil distribution during hard cornering. Those rectifications were beyond the price point and launch date of this car, and Toyota knew most owners would want to daily it, so low end torque, economy and reliability were selling points the 1ZZ had over the standard 2ZZ. If they’d only managed to push the 1ZZ to 154 BHP-ish and not suffered the unexpected 1ZZ bore ovality issue on early models, I think it’d have been a different story.
What tires did this one have? I ran a face lift version of one of these for 2 years, i had Yokohama's fitted although the exact model back then escapes me, but it wasn't short of grip by any means, quite the opposite in fact, it would suffer mild understeer when pushed really hard but more of an early indicator type of understeer than the terminal type. However i did notice that as the tires reached the end of their life the front end would struggle to bite especially with a passenger which correlates with what you were saying about mid engines cars. My main reason for asking was at the time i owned it (focus st 225 era) it was seriously quick on a B road, faster than most hot hatches at the time (obviously not in a straight line) I remember the brakes were spot on to, you could really stand it on it's nose with confidence. Bit snappy in the rain though.
I've taken my Mk1 MR2 on many road trips including camping. It just means you take what you need instead of stupid things you don't, lol. I actually prefer the Mk1 and Mk3 over the Mk2. I really like the Mk2 but it doesn't fall into my particular description of being a lightweight sports car that forces you to keep the engine in the power band... having no torque really teaches you how to drive properly, how to carry speed. It punishes you when you get it wrong and nothing is more rewarding when you get it right.
I think you're on button there, having also owned both I'd say the Mk1 and Mk3 share very similar traits from a driving point of view which surprised me with the Mk3 being a full on soft top. That held me back from trying one for many years- I didn't want to like the Mk3 but couldn't help doing so once I drove it.
@@andrewlowe693 The Mk3 is a hugely underrated car and actually focuses on the 'driving experience' more so than the 1st and 2nd generation of MR2s. IMO, the Mk1 for 80s style and character, the mk2 for more refined highway blasts and the mk3 for track days! xD
I've also seen superchargers for the 1ZZ engine (I believe TRD offered it as a warranty-compliant upgrade back in the day). That should liven the thing up pretty substantially! Hopefully that modest TH-camr budget increases. It'd be great to see you come to the States and try some of the oddball stuff we get here that doesn't cross the pond. You're welcome to my 944S for your use if you're ever in the region.
I took an MGF camping. Myself and my ex, tent, bedding, clothing and a few extra bits n bobs. I do miss that car, people laugh and joke about the little MGF, but it was a nice car to own and drive. Never missed a beat and was a hoot.
As to why toyota didn't put the 2zz in the mrs, I'm not sure if this is true but I've heard that it may have been some part of their deal with lotus in supplying the engines for the elise at the time. With only slightly heavier weight, same MR layout, and much cheaper than the elise, a 2zz mrs could have damaged the demand for the elise. Again, not sure if this is true. At any rate finding a cheap mrs with some engine issues and swapping in a 2zz, and putting it on some nice suspension is a great way to have a budget car similar in many ways to an elise.
@@JayEmmOnCars hence why the story makes sense. It happened with the Honda Accord v6 on 2015. they put the same engine as the acura TLX but rated(not detuned) at a lower HP. When people dynoed the Accord and found out how much actual HP made the TLX sale drop
I currently own a fairly pristine and low mileage '89 MR2... The last year for the MK1 body style which some mistook for a Ferrari when it first came out in 1984. This is my second MR2... I also owned a 1986 which brand new on Guam I bought for $12,000.00. Whereas my' 86 was white, my '89 is Toyota Super Red and really stands out in the crowd. You should see people's heads nearly spin off their necks trying to figure out what just drove by. Inside, full leather, pwr windows and door locks, and cruise control (which I never use). It's capped off by a T-Top which is removed manually in two pieces and stows behind the seats. The only thing that would make the car better for its breed would be the supercharged engine which first became available on the 1988 MR2. So yes... My car looks fast but is far from it. Nonetheless, the high rev growl from over your shoulder.... The light weight... And the manual steering rack (Like the Lotus Elise) make this car an adults go kart... And much better than the Mini which has been destroyed by BMW. Being low to the ground provides the sensation of speed... Especially around corners... Even when going slower than everyone else. The second generation MR2 is probably the most popular with styling cues from the even more popular Supra. But I've always liked the MK1 best and the MK3 least... Probably because of my personal nostalgia for the former... And for the latter...Not my favorite because Toyota tried to make the car something it wasn't by making it a roadster which sealed it's fate against the Mazda MX5 Miata. There are rumors that Toyota may revive the MR2 in 2021. >>>The MK1 has a decent size trunk and a frunk. Easily enough room for two for a week
Lol dude... Storage You take the spare tyre out, and keep a can of tyre weld... Then you got the rear 2x storage spins... Then the rear storage shelf..
Loved my little red 52 plate model. Didn’t put a foot wrong in 4 years except the pre-cat issue (sorted for free by my dealer on a recall), was nippy, economical and most of all fun even though the front end grip at high speed gave me less confidence than my Laguna dCi that I had at the same time. Still gutted I had to sell it though 😔
Surprised by all the handling issues. The 3d gen is supposedly the best of the MR2s, and I find my mk3 to be a much nicer handling car than the Miata I had. More predictable and stable, and it's stock. But it's the later model, so maybe that's the issue. And it's hugely tyre-sensitive.
There was a licencing deal with lotus regarding the 2zz, Toyota agreed to not put the 2zz into the MR2 as it would directly compete with Elise. So Toyota got a deal to supply engines, but lost the ability to put it in the MR2. It was a big mistake for the MR2.
I have owned a TR-6, MG Midget,Jeep Wrangler and MR2….for the price range the MR2 has provided the most fun without having to fill my trunk with tools!
Great video! I have a problem with the MRS, I just don't like the look at all. The Mk2 Mr2 was and still is a dream car for me but the MRS just doesn't do it for me. That being said, its a good car and I appreciate it for that
I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say the 2nd gen is the better handling car. I’ve always heard that one was the low point of the 3 as far as handling was concerned
I have 220K on my 2001 MR2 5 speed. Had the oil problem at 160K and rebuilt 1zz with urdated cams w/o changing the computer. RI dosent allow any alterations but with the rebuild I got 30 hp increase with out any hiway mpg change but the city suffered. I get 38 hiway and 28 city real mpg. The only problem is the tires, live in New Englind and there are no multy season tires available for thei weight class. Most people dont drive this car correctly. 4000 rpm is this cars cruising rpm. This is 80 on the spedo. It will get 38 mpg at 4000 rpm all ady and night. please stop driving at 2k and call it weak, its not where it should be driven at. If i drove my motorcycle at 2 K it wouldnt go worth (you know) Pat, (an automotive engineer)
Why yes it is... ran one for 6 years and I miss it everyday... you can't go wrong for the money... it's a fraction of the cost of a Boxster and I'll wager my wages that it's every bit as fun...
I really enjoyed this video, as usual. Completely by coincidence I picked up a roaster just last week to sit alongside my SW20 turbo (and keep some miles off it). I used to despise the looks but they're grown on me over the years and the thought of a lightweight MR2 to chuck around some B roads really appealed to me. Very happy with my purchase and just hope its as reliable as my SW20's have been.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the Lotus Elise uses a bog standard 2zz. They just use the bottom half of it and bolt a finely tuned Lotus top end to it. I have a standard MR2 Roadster with a 1ZZ and find it quite acceptable in terms of performance. It's not overly fast, but it can definitely hold its own on the road and still manages 40MPG in the summer months when its useless choke is mostly off!
Oil issues ruined my engine unfortunately. I got a replacement engine and then went sideways down the M40 during a major downpour - though there was apparently a diesel spillage on the road.
Once you know the car the driver makes a difference. I zoom around the North Bay hills of Sonoma coast and Napa vineyards dusting Mini's and Beamers and stay ahead or keep up with plenty of Porsches up here. At high speeds on highways it did get a little hairy hitting over hundred but the TRD front strut brace fixed that. Might add the big wing but i do like the back end clean and it reminds me of Brad Pitt cruising in his little Karmann Ghia with the top down in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood at magic hour. Happy trails
The pre cats in these were fine. The degradation came from the engine burning oil and entering the pre cats. It was just a side effect of a poorly engine
Luggage space isn't a problem. I tow a trailer with mine. Load all the weight at the back of the trailer, floor it on a greasy bend and then lift off half way around. It's great fun for all the family. I laugh every time I see them crawling dazed from the smouldering wreckage.
These cars are great but the 1zz engine isn’t. You get no rewards for revving it to near redline apart from it sounding good with a decent exhaust system. It has nice torque at the bottom end but that’s as far as it goes They are also oil burners too. More so than any car I’ve ever owned. And mine has no pre cats
Some things you didn’t mention that I felt affected me as a shorter driver having come from an Nb mx5 - the wing mirrors are huge and directly in your line of sight when you’re trying to judge roundabouts so you end up doing the Hokey Cokey in your seat. The doors come quite high up too so you don’t always have as good visibility and made me feel less connected to the road. The four corners are very difficult to visualise for such a small car. That said, I’m very short and the seats I had were not height adjustable. Again v an mx5 - this always felt more precise, but the mx5 felt more fun. To me that is. I always felt I’d set a better time with this on track despite their very similar performance stats, but on the road I felt like the mx5 was more fun.
Also. What’s everyone’s obsession with boot space as a daily? Obviously if you’re a pig farmer it’s rubbish, but if it’s just you going to work everyday . . . What space do you need daily? If you’re going shopping, Chuck it in the footwell 🤷♂️
1zz was the only option due to agreement to provide lotus with 2zz. If the same engine was given to mrs it would provide same bang for a lot less bucks
More of a fan the mark 1 MR2. These will still beat the NB mx5 in a race. Not sure why Toyota didn't put the 2ZZ engine in these, I mean they put the 2ZZ in a damn Corolla!
I'm a former mk1 mr2 owner and I'd agree, the stying of the 1a and 1b mr2s are the nicest. That classic cheese wedge makes me randy. I wish I didn't sell it, never had anything as unique feeling as that car was and it sounded so damn nice
@@shanebep3135 same here mate. Had a mk1b in silver and it's probably my favourite car I've owned. Had a cheeky stainless steel exhaust which mad it sound awesome.
Thanks for the informative, no-nonsense review, Jay. I’m currently looking at budget MR/FR cars as a fun, reliable daily and this one’s really up there! Would you take the Spyder over a similar-mileage NC Miata 1.8?
Owned a 2002 for several years, and tires matter. With sticky Yokohama tires it stuck like glue, and did not push wide, and could be taken through the twisties at high speed, and gripped very convincingly.
It is still not as pure as the Elise. But even used it is less than 20 % of the cost, and it was my daily for four years. An amazing and underappreciated, underrated car.
Got my MK 3 MR2 about a month ago now, and simply love it. Use it as my daily and always puts a smile on my face.
I bought my MR2 for daily commuting. I can honestly say that after a few mods the MR2 out handles my 350z w/ similar suspension mods. I take it everywhere. There's plenty of cargo room if your passenger doesn't mind holding all your stuff. Lol
OMG JAY YOU FINALLY DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been following your channel since the beginning and I own a low mileage Mr2 Spyder myself. Get one, their potential is amazing and people are noticing now 15-20 years later. Is an amazing car!
They only come with the 1ZZ so they didn’t step on lotus toes and spoil the relationship.
jordan buddy that is correct as per my post my old boss advised due to the Elise s2 it was causing a lot of friction I have no doubt the lotus is a better car but the mr2 tte turbo version is seriously good there is a vid of it on here
Lotus didn’t start using Toyota engines for 5 years after this was launched in 99. The Elise S2 also had a 1ZZ model called the S.
My boss said the main issue was the cost of the mr2 vs the lotus and with the same engine he said he went to Japan a lot regarding this. Such a underrated car in the uk they are peanuts
@@justinread5609 A MR-S 2ZZ would been a cheaper car than the Lotus 111R without a doubt. Whatever the reasons, Toyota just missed the opportunity to build a great legendary version of the MR-S.
I'm a Lotus owner and I paid considerably more than a person who would buy a ZZ30R, install quality suspension and a turbo charger. But mine is a Lotus did I mention?
Oh yes a proper car on your channel James, I've got one if you didn't guess and it's a keeper, Yokohama tyres have helped the handling & grip, and I love the thing. Don't miss the storage cubbies behind the seats by the way.
Jeb Swarf I’ve put AD08Rs on mine and they are just awesome and are even good in the wet. With the lsd you can feel them wrench the tarmac out of corners :-) I went up from a 185 to a 195 on the fronts though to give it better balance and with a set of BC racing adjustable Coilovers it’s spot on.
Bought my completely standard MR2 Roadster last summer, 05 reg, 39k miles, red, 6spd manual, full black leather interior, hardtop included and a removable boot rack (storage issues solved!) and it cost...……..just £4,900, best purchase I've ever made!
No handling issues whatsoever, feels surprisingly neutral and handles like a dream. In my experience the MR2 is happy to be driven at 9/10ths, in dry weather anyway, all day long and the brakes are excellent too. In the wet however it does move around quite a bit, alarmingly so under heavy braking.
Also, and this just personal preference, I like that it has the lower powered engine. I'm in rural mid wales so maybe i'm biased but to me the MR2 is at it's best on B roads or unnamed roads where power is unimportant and you can just enjoy the handling and the change of direction and become totally immersed in practicing your technique.
I think the 6spd makes a huge difference too, it's actually quite happy on motorways sitting at 80mph at around 3000rpm which makes it surprising comfortable for the type of car it is.
Get a decent one, (with a removeable boot rack!!!!!) and it's an absolute bargain.
I fully agree, this car is perfect on tight twisty roads!
100% man.. unless your tracking it (even then it's track dependant) the 1zz is perfectly fine 👍🏼
I’ve driven it in all weather including snow. Great everytime
Can't get one that low miles for that cheap in the states.
@@fortheloveofnoise Someone I know in the US told me they're roughly double the price, I don't know how accurate that is.
I love my MR2MK3. As painter and decorator I sometimes struggle for space, but my folding ladders fit in the passenger footwell so it's all good. Regular trips away with the Mrs, coming from a motorbike this is much more practical even if there's less storage - at least we don't have to stash helmets, boots and riding suits when we get somewhere.
It doesn't threaten my license like a Lotus would, it's a lot less pushy but such a giggle when the sun's out, a really nice place to be.
Got my 2003 Spyder last year, and it's a pip. Came with lightweight Enkei wheels, uprated tires, struts and TRD strut-tower braces; exactly the mods I would have started with myself. I don't mind the engine; I live in a suburban area where 50 more HP just wouldn't be that useful in this car. But the best thing, the most important thing, is that this car is fun to drive even at the speed limit. I've had much, much faster cars, but I had to risk my license to properly enjoy them. This one? Smiles all day long.
They're great cars. Once you start upgrading them its like nothing else I've ever driven.
What upgrades?
@@rapstar28 ejector seats, machine gun muffler, and cruise control
@@rapstar28 event Horizon quantom hyper mater drive engine. Ya know the basics.
I have an smt. They are trash out of the box but yeah with mods can be fun
@@jam3498 really you need a manual to get the most out of the car. A lot of SMT owners move onto a manual after a while.
fun fact: the MRS wheel base is actually 1 feet longer than the mk2 and an inch shorter than a '96 boxster.. and without the rear boot in the mk3.. it handles better than the mk2.. the mk2 having a shorter wheel base and a boot at the back, it did harm the handling of the car which would prone the car to oversteer more..
you are correct .the mk3 handles and out breaks the other generations.It also out accelerates the non turbo mk2.
Also due to the heavy cast iron 3sgte sitting in the back of the mk2. The 1zz (and the popular upgrade, the 2zz), are aluminium so weigh about half the weight.
and the mk2 is much, much heavier. Yet interesting, especially in turbo form. I won't lie, I was disappointed by my NA SW20
Had mine since 2001, its a keeper..
Do you think it's a good first car?
@@Diamond-gk1ec hi just bought mine a week ago, as a first car i don't think its a good car to start with, as a 2nd fun weekend car yes!
@@XDMAMODX ah okay thanks man
Diamond and power imo is enough to start with
@@Diamond-gk1ec definitely not a good first car. Its a good weekend car like the other guy said
I've got a circa 190bhp 2zz MR-S. It really is amazing. The handling is incredible, good MPG, once it hits lift it flies. Can't fault it at all
My 2zz spyder is sooo much fun to drive. Toyota should have offered a GTS version with this engine & 6 speed trans. It sucks to use 93 octane gasoline at $3+ per gallon, but I have no real complaints otherwise. If you keep it on lift it will devastate pretty much any other car even in straight line acceleration. If not, you'll catch them on the next curve.
2zz is a great track car. Not as good as a daily though. My mate has built 10 2zz mr2s. Now doing k swaps which is what I have as well as a 1zz daily.
@@justinread5609 What's wrong with the 2zz as a daily?
Made In Machines the 2zz needs tons of revs the power is all at the top end , the 1zz is by far better low down in my opinion, also the 2zz if you do a swap you must put it the 1zz mr2 sixth gear or it cruises very badly and put a lsd in and one thing that did help is a light flywheel, but a k series is king so if you have the budget do that
Get JM to drive her!
To clarify: Facelift brought with itself a 6 speed manual (some different versions, one with 5 speed and extra gear and one with tighter gear ratios than 5 speed), LSD to all euros, modified oil piston rings that all but stopped the precat issue and stiffer chassis.
I have one and its brilliant.
Had TTE lowering springs and stock suspension but once I swapped it for BCBR coils it became a real sportscar. Some alignement as well and you can throw it around a bumpy tight roundabout without even thinking about braking. As for interior space, I have hard top conversion and if you remove the inner cubby hatches you gain a lot of space. Not that I use it I just put everything in mapreader seat footwell.
MRS is a great little car that is very underrated but it's underrated because in stock form it ain't that great.
The actual pistons and rings changed end of 2001. Shortly after the oil control rings were nitrided too.
According to the parts database, cars made from Jan 2002 should have these mods, based on VIN searches i’ve done. That still leaves at least 2 years of production prior to have the problematic parts. I keep reading ‘oval bore is a myth ‘ comments on forums and YT. Probably by the same parrots who say removing the pre cats solves all your problems.
Either way, these late 2001 revisions are actual things and not myths. I think facelift cars started being made about July 2002 so all should have the revised parts.
The soft suspension is really quite fun to throw the weight around and perform sketchy (but really fun) trail braking. It's really a great thrill to catch the snap oversteer or use it to help you showboat around tight corners on a track :D
I've had plenty of cars and I probably miss this one the most. I did a couple euro trips in it, including camping at Le Mans. Didn't have that much trouble fitting my stuff in.
The available luggage space is a testament to minimalist living and cutting out unnecessary items. We went for a long weekend in France, did not use the boot rack and had enough space for the weekend including bringing back some shopping without taking out the spare wheel.
No problem with a weekend getaway - wife and I pack two duffel bags, stow them behind the seats and then off the beaten track on the twisty bits. Absolutely love this car - never get tired of her and owned her for 13 years now - so reliable ... it's a Toyota
It’s a shame you’re put off by the lack of storage. I bought my first MR2 Roadster new in ‘02 and was my only car for many years. Everyone at the pub was banging on about the lack boot and power but neither is an issue; I always fitted everything I needed, even for days away, and the 970kg do not need a lot of power to shift. Also, you could get tailored luggage that fitted behind the seats to maximise capacity and the spare can be replaced with a can if need be. I’ve had a few cars since then, including other 2-seat convertibles, but I always missed the Roadster, especially that 5-speed gearbox, which is just one of the sweetest - it put the Boxster’s to shame. Back then I test drove the competition, MX-5/Z3/Boxster/Elise/TT, and the only one that came close to it for driving pleasure was the Elise but, as it was going to be my only car, having foam inside the seats was a major plus. I had to put on the optional TTE springs though, the standard rode a bit too high. 17 years later, I just bought another ‘02 project car, very cheaply, and can’t wait to put it back on the road.
My only real criticism is the cheap factory vinyl roof; as it’s plastic it needs a pretty toasty temperature to flex, something people don’t realise and just force it down when it’s cold, risking damaging the roof frame. On my project MR2 I replaced it with a mohair fabric, much better.
This is an awesome comments section. Reading people's experiences and suggestions while watching this vid feels like the best and most useful stuff about this topic. Thanks everyone.
I have had a spyder for 10 plus years and go camping regularly in it. Agree it is tight for space but great for one.
I had the MR2 TTE Turbo and also a Lotus Elise S1 with 120 hp (the bloody K-Series Engine). For Country roads, the Elise was still better to drive, but because of the engine, the Toyota was more fun to go fast. Also did something to the suspension and had different wheels and tires on it.
Just one factual correction - the MR2 doesn't have electric power steering as Porsche has nowadays. The MR2 has electrically-powered but still hydraulic power steering, so it is different to your normal system, but you don't lose the feel like in modern cars.
I saw the Dutch plates and thought maybe I know the car/owner. And than saw our logo on the licenseplate surround. :)
Nice vid James.
Thanks!
Scherp gezien hoor ;)
@@peterrobbemond oog voor detail. :)
Maybe I'll let him drive mine when it's "finished" haha
My Mk3 on some cheap springs, laser alignment, decent tyres, absolute blast. Best handling car I’ve had, which includes Mk2 MR2, Eunos RS limited, various Clio RS, DC2 ITR. Better still the car and mods were less than 2 grand. I got an upgraded twin pipe exhaust and it even sounded decent. I miss it, would definitely have another. Lack of practicality is a downside.
@King Brilliant fast is overrated
@King Brilliant Fast in a straight line maybe not, fast on b roads, absolutely. Sounds like you don’t know how to drive properly…
Bought mine last year 2018 may, classic summer for soft top,fresh tyres and no trouble as a summer run about. suitable for dry winter use as it is a 2002 with only 48k on the clock keeper indeed.
got me one of these had it for 6 years now no issues what so ever
Zo joh, helemaal naar Engeland voor een review? Dan ben je wel een échte ambassadeur van het merk. Leuk dat je het gedaan hebt Peter, het resultaat is een leuke video 👍
Harald.111’s car adventures! Haha Harold, jij hebt me door! Ja man. Ik oon het niet laten! ;) 💪🏻
Picked up my 2005 MR2 earlier in the year with 24k miles, and it's a beauty.. Not really anything I can fault with it and the top is down at every opportunity here in the south of the UK. Storage, yes, isn't brilliant but who buys a car like this and expects it to carry loads! ;)
What you said about the handling sounds to me that the tyres are not good, the MR2 is really sensitive with its tyres even down to the pressure being off by 1psi. Also from what ive read many people say that soft tyre walls make the car floaty.
It’s really tyre sensitive and fitting decent tyres with a stiff sidewalls is a must. After trying quite a few brands I run Falkens on my daily MR-S as they have stiff sidewalls and feel good and on my MR2 which I only use at weekends I’m running yokaharma AD08Rs which are really very good indeed :-). I tried coopers once but they where so floppy and hand jelly like it was scary and they had to come straight off!
Knackered font ARB droplink bushings can also make it bob about
Love my mk2 mr2. Brilliant drivers car
It's really a bloated pig of a car after you drive a Spyder that weighs 800 pounds less. The 2nd gen turbo had 200hp, but a 2zz Spyder has 190hp. It does everything so much better for the same price. Except luggage space.
Loved my MR2 Mk1, small, relatively practical, amazing AE86 engine, pop up headlights - thought I was the bees knees as a 25yo in the earlly 90s. Unfortunately most have rusted away. Find one to review if you can.
C’mon don’t call it the ae86 engine! It is the infamous 4AGE and was used in other vehicles prior to the ae86 as well.
Great cars, I love my MR2 MK3 and wouldn't hesitate to recommend one. 1zz lacks character buts is deceptively quick. See my virtually standard MR2 holding it's own at Brands Hatch earlier this year.
My sister had one of these that she bought new in 2000. When she went on holiday I was given it to drive and so had it for several weeks a year for many years. I remember the handling to be amazing and one of the best cars I ever drove and I used to be in the car trade so drove loads of cars over the years. I think that the car you drove may have worn tired suspension as it doesn’t sound right to me.
Since this original roadster, in 2003 the damper settings were changed and the rear wheels/tyres were enlarged. Then in 2004 they added more chassis bracing. I'd therefore be interested to know the thoughts of anyone who has driven both. Is the handling noticeably different? I had the 2004 and loved it.
The 2nd generation MR2 Turbo is still a head turner, budget Ferrari. 💥
I have a naturally aspirated 2nd gen and I get a lot of looks in awe, it's a great feeling.
Yeah, a fake ferrai hahjah
Still running after 19 years and the driver wasn't afraid it might breakdown while on the round. Isn't it amazing?
Plenty of space in this car. I took a set of race rims/tires, 4 jack stands, a jack, and miscellaneous tools for autocross. It was a sight to see. Tons of fun this car!
Please explain how??..
Not doubting as I want to do the same, but I can't figure out where you put the wheels..
@@stevenseow647 The wheels were the easy part, 3 on the passenger seat, one in the frunk. I had a bit of room left in the frunk so i put my wheel chocks and impact sockets there as well. Jack stands and other non impact sockets on the passenger floor. *Here is the real game changer. Remove the doors for the compartments behind the seats!* This let me fit my 3.5 ton jack, racing numbers, breaker bar, air compressor, and other odds and ends like a quart of oil some shop rags. Nothing in the glove compartment too many CD's :)
@@kylem2010GT You’re a damn wizard
The best low-mileage MR2s I see on eBay currently (6/21) running $15K-$25K.
I have driven thousands and thousands of miles in the MR-Spyder, and many tens of thousands of miles in my MKII MR2s, MKI MR2s, Elise and Exiges. I always felt that the boot space was not as bad as many people think in the Spyder. I could fit all kinds of stuff in the cubbies and behind the seats, including racing helmets. In the end, my company designed a hitch for the car to pull a small trailer to allow me to haul my racing tires.
I think some of the understeer can be mitigated with alignment. For competition, we added some toe out, maxed from neg camber.
I quite liked the MR-Spyder, but in the end, it is not an Elise. Though it is easier to get in and out of. The Spyder is nimble, but it is not Lotus nimble.
any links to the spyder hitch?
@@robertlarson289 We sold off the design and rights to make to twos-r-us (owner of twos-r-us was working for me at my company (ChaseCam)). He is no longer making the system. I think we did a good design. Cast aluminum mounting brackets. Machined stainless steel rods. Welded assembly.
www.twosrus.com/mk3hitchpics.htm
I managed to do a coastal roadtrip from Zurich to St. Tropez an back with my girlfriend in one of these - and we're still a couple and she wasn"t even complaining. I dedicated all the storage space behind the seats to her and the "frunk" we shared for essentials such us battery-jumper and flat-tire-spray-kit.
Without a rack over the enginebay (selfmade from an extended MX-5-one and massively overloaded) we would not have succeeded to be honest. And we left the hard top on for the journey itself. But we had a blast, absolutely.
These are lovely and remind me of the MGs, Triumph TRs and Spitfires, and Austin Healey's of the 1960s and 1970s. They are "people's" sports cars and are just fun. I had a Triumph 1300 TC and it was quick for it's time as a production saloon, but it was also a lot of fun as well as very practical asa an evryday car, and it's engine note was great, which was most of the enjoyment. Isn't that what a "people's" "sports" car shoud be? If you want a supercar help yourself, but I think this stands alonside other marques I've mentioned above...
In a MR2 you put your luggage on the passenger (2 Backpacks). :-D The Spare tire must go anyway and so you have overall enough space to put things inside.
Best to just not have things.
One of my favourite machines small but effective , got to enjoy it on the track it performed awesome fitted with a VictorRacing active wing
I think you missed three important points.
First, this car has the best power to weight ratio of all the MR2’s, except for the second generation turbo.
Second, the second generation is known for its snap oversteer. This one doesn’t have that issue.
Third, you missed completely the actual (and expandable) storage space. And that while it was visual in the video the whole time, it’s right behind the seats. We go camping with this car with two persons.
Should try a mk1 mr2, I own a very rare JDM factory Supercharger version. Stock was 0-60 in 6.5 seconds 32 years ago.
oukie666 totally agree! I have one as well ( not JDM though) and its awesome! It’s my 4’th one,, and my last. She’s in mint condition.
I've got one too, (had 3 mk1s in fact - all Supercharged or converted to) in dark blue '88. Got my first back in 2001, fresh JDM import, 45k on the clock ZERO rust, all original. The NA's are fun but the SC's give it the power it deserved.
With oversized crank pulley + mongoose exhaust as most of us SC owners add, it's around 187 BHP 0-60 around 5.5 seconds. To me MK1 MR2 will always be THE MR2 as gen 2 got bloaty and look more like GT Coupes than mid engined sports cars (other than the mid engine deck) and MK3, while fun and back to basics, doesn't have the eye popping styling of the MK1.
That said, I'd love a MK3 to modify (Supercharge), but with hardtop - not a fan of soft top looks on any car, but the hardtop looks great on the MK3, but I wouldn't lose the MK1 to make way for it... it would be an addition. Not interested in MK2s at all.. no matter how fast the turbo, the styling doesn't do it for me.
Lucky man, there’s one for sale in my country atm for 25k
Great review pal, very accurate! I’ve got one and you’ve hit the nail on the head. 👍
One quibble: *The MR2 Spyder is actually the fastest of all the MR2 generations* . It's 500 lb lighter than the 2nd generation model lol. It has the highest power-to-weight ratio of any base MR2, and the best acceleration, handling, and braking. On a race track, a stock MR2 Spyder would destroy a stock/base model 1st gen or stock/base model 2nd gen MR2.
*1st GEN:*
Toyota introduced the first-generation MR2 in 1984, designating it the model code "W10". When fitted with the 1.5-liter 3A engine, it was known as the "AW10". Likewise, the 1.6-liter 4A version is identified by the "AW11" code. Road tests delivered 0-60 mph (97 km/h) times in the mid- to high-8 second range and 1⁄4 mile (402 m) times in the mid- to high-16 second range, significantly faster than the four-cylinder Pontiac Fiero or Fiat X1/9.[12][13][14]
*2nd GEN:*
US market trim levels:
- MR2 with a NA 2.2L 5S-FE engine producing 130 hp (97 kW) and offered with a four-speed A/T or five-speed M/T.
- MR2 Turbo with a turbocharged 2.0L 3S-GTE engine producing 200 bhp (203 PS; 149 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 200 lb⋅ft (271 N⋅m) at 3,200 rpm of torque, offered only with a 5-speed M/T (offered solely with the T-bar roof after early 1993).
Sorry dude. You've got your facts wrong. The 2nd gen MR2 Turbo may have been faster, but that's not a BASE model. If you want to introduce the MR2 Turbo into the discussion then I get to put the 2ZZ engine into the MR2 Spyder and let's compare apples to apples.
Thank you, Jay stuffed this one up I reckon.
You’re talking engine swapped vs factory higher grade with factory turbo. Also there were Mk2s in other regions with 3S-GE motors, not the 5S-FE.
I have a completely factory sport modified 2005 Toyota MR2 with ALL the orginal TTE (Toyota sport department) options on it.
Way lower drive height, wayy stiffer springs, very loud amazing factory TTE sport exhaust and spoiler + other front end.
Also every facelift MR2 has the engine which will not kill it self. So the car being soft and cruisy I dont recognise at all since mine is so different (from factory). So the MR2 can be very different even without a lot of after market stuff.
Six months or so of pre facelift have the revised piston/ring/nitrided oil control ring setup too. The first two years are best avoided. Not only do they burn oil, but their compression drops off the face of the earth and they end up putting out 95bhp. Leading people to declare all mk3’s as gutless.
Rented one of these during a trip to southern Italy, had a barrel of fun in it. It's flawed, but it also is a reliable, affordable, damn zippy mid-engine cabrio.
Evo Magazine - 100 Top Drivers' Cars 2009. Placed in 43rd position and is in the esteemed company of (all) Lotus, VX220, F355, F40 etc. plus cars 10 times the price. Incidentally the MK1 made the cut as well though the comparatively bloated MK2 doesn't.
Even at the speed limit I can feel the front washing wide.. well as a guy who owns a standard MK3 MR2 I can tell u that's not normal 😄 my guess (which is normally the case) is this is on poor tyres 👎🏼
In 5 years my MR-S has only exhibited understeer 5 times and that's in really unusual circumstances, 2nd gear, very wet off camber, turning very sharply whilst neither accelerating or braking. Otherwise it's either neutral or oversteer. When I bought my later face lift model it came on a fresh set of ditch finders on the front and decent tyres on the back and it understeered in the wet on turn in but since fitting a set decent set of trees it's never once understeered yet.
@@somecallmetim42 Exactly man, tyres are underrated, people just slap ditchfinders on and blame the car. Tyres was the first thing I did when I got mine 👍🏼
Lawrence yeah people skimp on tyres and it really hurts a car. I was looking at a Clio 182 the other week as another runabout but it was on ditch finders and it was just horrible.
I had a facelifted one and I thought it handled great. I believe the rear wheels were bigger than the pre-facelifted one, so maybe that made a difference.
I too was going to say must be something wrong with it, my early MRS will keep with most cars on corners and responds really well.
Luggage racks honestly dont look half bad imo. Makes it look like a perfect road trip machine!
I had a 2004 face lift model with the tte styling pack and LSD. It had 17" wheels with 205 wide tyres all round. I've had two vx220s since and I have to say, even though the VX220 feels nicer, I could corner quicker in the MR2 round Snetterton. I know you should have narrower tyres at the front but I didn't have a problem, just be careful with your braking mid corner. Stopped on a six pence.
Eek, you're wrong. The 140bhp 1ZZ engine is actually more torquey than the 2ZZ up to about 6,000 revs. For everyday driving it is much more fun. I have the same engine in my Elise S and it's far more drivable than the more powerful engine which has to be screamed everywhere.
Put a turbo at 7psi with a good tune and you get 200whp/200wtq and its amazing
I have the 1zz Celica which is my daily and find the engine has plenty of torque (for a 1.8) from low revs, pulls in any gear which makes for relaxed driving. When you want to give it the beans it's certainly brisk enough compared to your average car. I'm sure the Elise s is plenty quick enough due to its lower weight.
@@junitoortega8656 you can actually just put cams and ecu on the 1zz and make 2zz power while keeping 1zz torque and not gaining 2zz oil starvation and cam burning issues
@@Haddedam no you can't!!
Hywel Thomas Elise S is a far more tractable machine than the R. More fun, less tiring, amazing on fuel. True successor to the 111S Rover model. By the time Lotus scooped up the ZZ engines they were all bug free. Have a 2bular on mine and people think it sounds nuts.
In France, this car is called the MR... Since if you spell out loud MR2 in French, you can't help but hearing "merde"... Need I translate? :p
Also, MR2 is actually an acronym for Midship Runabout 2 seater.
"est merdeux"
is shitty
Too funny xD
I'm an MR2 Mk3 driver and my dream car would be the Elise having driven one. I see the MR2 as being like a budget elise. Thing takes a beating day in day out I love my MR2.
My brother in law has an MX5 and my stock MR-S leaves it in the dust both in terms of acceleration braking and apex speeds and my upgraded MR2 is in a different league Corning wise. Mid engined beats front engined hands down when it comes to cornering.
@King Brilliant lol 2zz's dominate autox with maitas
@King Brilliant Yeah I’m sorry but Jay didn’t know what he was on about in this video. These things handle amazingly, and are an awesome momentum car. Check out any of the old Tsukuba vids with Keiichi Tsuchiya and you’ll see the MR-S dominating Miatas of all varieties. The MR-S had quicker 0-100 (0-60), slalom, and track times than any miata of the time. Not to mention that they’re incredibly easy to modify to make even better.
Looking at the thumbnail, I was like, How is a porsche carrera gt a budget Lotus Elise!?
The budget Elise?. Mr2 is much better, a great car mr2 one of the best
Actually, the steering has a hydraulic assist, and the pump is driven by an electric motor(not too uncommon with mid engine cars since there is no engine in the front to drive the pump), so thankfully it isn't an electric assist with no feel. The 3.gen should have much better handling than the 2.gen, so maybe the one you drove had worn tires / bushings/ springs / dampers. Due to the low weight the car can mask a worn suspension under normal driving, not so much when you drive it hard. There is a Best Motoring MR-S debut race with english subs on youtube and the MR-S has a better laptime than the 200 hp BEAMS 2.gen(with an open diff and 60hp less).
Also, very sensitive to alignment changes. The understeer experienced in the video may be poor alignment.
I have a 2ZZ MR-S, it’s perfect for it. I think Toyota ,Yamaha and lotus agreed the engine would never go into the MR2
The 2ZZ in the Elise is a great engine because it had some rectifications that sorted shortcomings like oil distribution during hard cornering. Those rectifications were beyond the price point and launch date of this car, and Toyota knew most owners would want to daily it, so low end torque, economy and reliability were selling points the 1ZZ had over the standard 2ZZ. If they’d only managed to push the 1ZZ to 154 BHP-ish and not suffered the unexpected 1ZZ bore ovality issue on early models, I think it’d have been a different story.
What tires did this one have? I ran a face lift version of one of these for 2 years, i had Yokohama's fitted although the exact model back then escapes me, but it wasn't short of grip by any means, quite the opposite in fact, it would suffer mild understeer when pushed really hard but more of an early indicator type of understeer than the terminal type. However i did notice that as the tires reached the end of their life the front end would struggle to bite especially with a passenger which correlates with what you were saying about mid engines cars. My main reason for asking was at the time i owned it (focus st 225 era) it was seriously quick on a B road, faster than most hot hatches at the time (obviously not in a straight line) I remember the brakes were spot on to, you could really stand it on it's nose with confidence. Bit snappy in the rain though.
I've taken my Mk1 MR2 on many road trips including camping. It just means you take what you need instead of stupid things you don't, lol. I actually prefer the Mk1 and Mk3 over the Mk2. I really like the Mk2 but it doesn't fall into my particular description of being a lightweight sports car that forces you to keep the engine in the power band... having no torque really teaches you how to drive properly, how to carry speed. It punishes you when you get it wrong and nothing is more rewarding when you get it right.
If you went camping with it, was it easy to share a tent with?
I think you're on button there, having also owned both I'd say the Mk1 and Mk3 share very similar traits from a driving point of view which surprised me with the Mk3 being a full on soft top. That held me back from trying one for many years- I didn't want to like the Mk3 but couldn't help doing so once I drove it.
@@timsmith854 It's a tiny car, lol
@@andrewlowe693 The Mk3 is a hugely underrated car and actually focuses on the 'driving experience' more so than the 1st and 2nd generation of MR2s. IMO, the Mk1 for 80s style and character, the mk2 for more refined highway blasts and the mk3 for track days! xD
I've also seen superchargers for the 1ZZ engine (I believe TRD offered it as a warranty-compliant upgrade back in the day). That should liven the thing up pretty substantially!
Hopefully that modest TH-camr budget increases. It'd be great to see you come to the States and try some of the oddball stuff we get here that doesn't cross the pond. You're welcome to my 944S for your use if you're ever in the region.
Which region are you in?
JayEmm on Cars - New York, so the Northeast (Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, etc)
@@chriscushing1275 I'll probably be out that way next year
I took an MGF camping. Myself and my ex, tent, bedding, clothing and a few extra bits n bobs.
I do miss that car, people laugh and joke about the little MGF, but it was a nice car to own and drive. Never missed a beat and was a hoot.
As to why toyota didn't put the 2zz in the mrs, I'm not sure if this is true but I've heard that it may have been some part of their deal with lotus in supplying the engines for the elise at the time. With only slightly heavier weight, same MR layout, and much cheaper than the elise, a 2zz mrs could have damaged the demand for the elise. Again, not sure if this is true. At any rate finding a cheap mrs with some engine issues and swapping in a 2zz, and putting it on some nice suspension is a great way to have a budget car similar in many ways to an elise.
I heard that story too but I doubt it, the Elise was way more expensive than the MR
@@JayEmmOnCars hence why the story makes sense. It happened with the Honda Accord v6 on 2015. they put the same engine as the acura TLX but rated(not detuned) at a lower HP. When people dynoed the Accord and found out how much actual HP made the TLX sale drop
@@junitoortega8656 Except Acura and Honda are related companies. Lotus and Toyota are not
A Minivan is what you need for camping....and a mid-engine car is for driving....and the Twain shall never meet
i have had my mk3 mr2 for half a year for a daily and i love it
I currently own a fairly pristine and low mileage '89 MR2... The last year for the MK1 body style which some mistook for a Ferrari when it first came out in 1984. This is my second MR2... I also owned a 1986 which brand new on Guam I bought for $12,000.00.
Whereas my' 86 was white, my '89 is Toyota Super Red and really stands out in the crowd. You should see people's heads nearly spin off their necks trying to figure out what just drove by.
Inside, full leather, pwr windows and door locks, and cruise control (which I never use). It's capped off by a T-Top which is removed manually in two pieces and stows behind the seats. The only thing that would make the car better for its breed would be the supercharged engine which first became available on the 1988 MR2.
So yes... My car looks fast but is far from it. Nonetheless, the high rev growl from over your shoulder.... The light weight... And the manual steering rack (Like the Lotus Elise) make this car an adults go kart... And much better than the Mini which has been destroyed by BMW. Being low to the ground provides the sensation of speed... Especially around corners... Even when going slower than everyone else.
The second generation MR2 is probably the most popular with styling cues from the even more popular Supra. But I've always liked the MK1 best and the MK3 least... Probably because of my personal nostalgia for the former... And for the latter...Not my favorite because Toyota tried to make the car something it wasn't by making it a roadster which sealed it's fate against the Mazda MX5 Miata.
There are rumors that Toyota may revive the MR2 in 2021.
>>>The MK1 has a decent size trunk and a frunk. Easily enough room for two for a week
Lol dude... Storage You take the spare tyre out, and keep a can of tyre weld... Then you got the rear 2x storage spins... Then the rear storage shelf..
I have one and have shifted the battery to sit on top of the front cross member and that about does the trick. easy modification, less that £30.
Loved my little red 52 plate model. Didn’t put a foot wrong in 4 years except the pre-cat issue (sorted for free by my dealer on a recall), was nippy, economical and most of all fun even though the front end grip at high speed gave me less confidence than my Laguna dCi that I had at the same time. Still gutted I had to sell it though 😔
Thanks a lot for all the great videos on cars, Jay - just wondering; how does this compare to the MX-5 ND 184 horsePower version?
Surprised by all the handling issues. The 3d gen is supposedly the best of the MR2s, and I find my mk3 to be a much nicer handling car than the Miata I had. More predictable and stable, and it's stock. But it's the later model, so maybe that's the issue. And it's hugely tyre-sensitive.
I don’t think Jay really pushes the cars he drives. Also terrible tyres. These don’t even have snap oversteer like the mk2s..
Like the fact that he said the mk2 has better handling goes to show he doesn’t know what he’s on about
There was a licencing deal with lotus regarding the 2zz, Toyota agreed to not put the 2zz into the MR2 as it would directly compete with Elise. So Toyota got a deal to supply engines, but lost the ability to put it in the MR2. It was a big mistake for the MR2.
I have owned a TR-6, MG Midget,Jeep Wrangler and MR2….for the price range the MR2 has provided the most fun without having to fill my trunk with tools!
Bro, 1zz has more tourqe in the low rpm range & only requires the cheapest gas. Thats a win right there.
Great video! I have a problem with the MRS, I just don't like the look at all. The Mk2 Mr2 was and still is a dream car for me but the MRS just doesn't do it for me. That being said, its a good car and I appreciate it for that
I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say the 2nd gen is the better handling car. I’ve always heard that one was the low point of the 3 as far as handling was concerned
I have 220K on my 2001 MR2 5 speed. Had the oil problem at 160K and rebuilt 1zz with urdated cams w/o changing the computer. RI dosent allow any alterations but with the rebuild I got 30 hp increase with out any hiway mpg change but the city suffered. I get 38 hiway and 28 city real mpg. The only problem is the tires, live in New Englind and there are no multy season tires available for thei weight class. Most people dont drive this car correctly. 4000 rpm is this cars cruising rpm. This is 80 on the spedo. It will get 38 mpg at 4000 rpm all ady and night. please stop driving at 2k and call it weak, its not where it should be driven at. If i drove my motorcycle at 2 K it wouldnt go worth (you know)
Pat, (an automotive engineer)
That sounds good to me, did you have to change the injectors?
You are spot on sir
I get on a boat to drive to work in New Orleans every day :P
yeah you tell him fee
Why yes it is... ran one for 6 years and I miss it everyday... you can't go wrong for the money... it's a fraction of the cost of a Boxster and I'll wager my wages that it's every bit as fun...
according to autotrend there is no difference in performance either stock for stock other than 0-60 time. 60 to 80 time is same as well
It's a great car. It's a rip off of Porsche 550 Spyder 1955. And it's awesome.
I really enjoyed this video, as usual. Completely by coincidence I picked up a roaster just last week to sit alongside my SW20 turbo (and keep some miles off it). I used to despise the looks but they're grown on me over the years and the thought of a lightweight MR2 to chuck around some B roads really appealed to me. Very happy with my purchase and just hope its as reliable as my SW20's have been.
the rattly and shouty bit of an elise is a design feature... as is leaking of the top in wet weather...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the Lotus Elise uses a bog standard 2zz. They just use the bottom half of it and bolt a finely tuned Lotus top end to it. I have a standard MR2 Roadster with a 1ZZ and find it quite acceptable in terms of performance. It's not overly fast, but it can definitely hold its own on the road and still manages 40MPG in the summer months when its useless choke is mostly off!
It's the same 2ZZ that goes into the Celica 190
Nice review and love the music on the outro :)
Oil issues ruined my engine unfortunately. I got a replacement engine and then went sideways down the M40 during a major downpour - though there was apparently a diesel spillage on the road.
Once you know the car the driver makes a difference. I zoom around the North Bay hills of Sonoma coast and Napa vineyards dusting Mini's and Beamers and stay ahead or keep up with plenty of Porsches up here. At high speeds on highways it did get a little hairy hitting over hundred but the TRD front strut brace fixed that. Might add the big wing but i do like the back end clean and it reminds me of Brad Pitt cruising in his little Karmann Ghia with the top down in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood at magic hour. Happy trails
The pre cats in these were fine. The degradation came from the engine burning oil and entering the pre cats. It was just a side effect of a poorly engine
the early 1zz's until late 2002 had a piston/ring issue. Easy fix. Or just swap in a new 1zz they're dirt cheap.
@@SC-dw3jz Or don’t waste your time and just swap in a 2zz..
Surely the budget Elise is the Vauxhall vx220
Just brought one of these I would love to see a 2zz conversion example
Do you mean bought?
Luggage space isn't a problem. I tow a trailer with mine. Load all the weight at the back of the trailer, floor it on a greasy bend and then lift off half way around. It's great fun for all the family. I laugh every time I see them crawling dazed from the smouldering wreckage.
These cars are great but the 1zz engine isn’t. You get no rewards for revving it to near redline apart from it sounding good with a decent exhaust system. It has nice torque at the bottom end but that’s as far as it goes
They are also oil burners too. More so than any car I’ve ever owned. And mine has no pre cats
Some things you didn’t mention that I felt affected me as a shorter driver having come from an Nb mx5 - the wing mirrors are huge and directly in your line of sight when you’re trying to judge roundabouts so you end up doing the Hokey Cokey in your seat. The doors come quite high up too so you don’t always have as good visibility and made me feel less connected to the road. The four corners are very difficult to visualise for such a small car.
That said, I’m very short and the seats I had were not height adjustable.
Again v an mx5 - this always felt more precise, but the mx5 felt more fun. To me that is. I always felt I’d set a better time with this on track despite their very similar performance stats, but on the road I felt like the mx5 was more fun.
Also. What’s everyone’s obsession with boot space as a daily? Obviously if you’re a pig farmer it’s rubbish, but if it’s just you going to work everyday . . . What space do you need daily? If you’re going shopping, Chuck it in the footwell 🤷♂️
Boot space. C3 corvettes don't have a trunk but never heard a complaint?
Actually the steering is hydraulically assisted but uses an electric power steering pump.
1zz was the only option due to agreement to provide lotus with 2zz. If the same engine was given to mrs it would provide same bang for a lot less bucks
Exactly
More of a fan the mark 1 MR2. These will still beat the NB mx5 in a race. Not sure why Toyota didn't put the 2ZZ engine in these, I mean they put the 2ZZ in a damn Corolla!
I'm a former mk1 mr2 owner and I'd agree, the stying of the 1a and 1b mr2s are the nicest. That classic cheese wedge makes me randy. I wish I didn't sell it, never had anything as unique feeling as that car was and it sounded so damn nice
@@shanebep3135 same here mate. Had a mk1b in silver and it's probably my favourite car I've owned. Had a cheeky stainless steel exhaust which mad it sound awesome.
Thanks for the informative, no-nonsense review, Jay. I’m currently looking at budget MR/FR cars as a fun, reliable daily and this one’s really up there! Would you take the Spyder over a similar-mileage NC Miata 1.8?
No, I haven't driven the NC but I think it would be my choice