The 2nd gen MR2 is a fabulous car, as is the first one. But the "R" in "MR2" stands for "runabout." BTW, those straps behind the seats aren't for "your stuff." The MR2 came with two padded bags for the T-tops and a T-top is stored behind each seat.
This is my dream car of the 90's. I actually think it's cooler than the Mark IV Supra. I'm so glad you did a video on it, but I'm really mad that it's probably going to get even harder to find one now.
If by harder, you mean expensive then you're correct. This one specifically is already almost 25k and still has 8 days to bid on it. A very nice example but still. Good luck with your search, don't give up
Never drove an MR2, but I sat in one at a car show in '92 and flicked that shifter back and forth, and it set the bar for every other car. (I enjoy driving my '92 Toyota pickup, but the end of the shift lever travels from nearly the dash to the seat as you go from first to second. Clutch-pedal travel will give your leg a real workout too.) This is one of the few impractical cars I really would like to own. Particularly when you include the T-tops - one of those '80s/'90s features I really miss - and pop-up headlights.
I've owned 2 of these in the 1990s. Very tail happy in the wet but like a go kart when dry. One of mine was previously upgraded with aftermarket suspension. My God. It was so hard that if you hit a bump in the road, your rear end would bounce and give your driving skills a severe test 😂😮 Love both of mine. Also hard a all wheel steer Celica. Loads of electrical problems tho. The rear engine compartment wasnt easy to work on tho. Loads of back ache.😮😢😂
Doug is the kind of guy to review Tuk-Tuks and every car under the sun EXCEPT VW R32s and Nissan 300ZX. Where’s the love Dougie? Please review these greats
Best car I've ever owned. It's raw it has a gen 4 3SGTE out of a JDM Caldina and it has an aftermarket turbo and it is a raw, nasty fun car. This car will kill an unworthy owner, and fast. All the better to own it.
the straps behind the seat are for the T-tops. not stuff. Also, parking brake placement (as is common on a lot of 90s cars) is in the same spot it would have been on a RHD car being sold in Japan, mainly due to mechanical simplicity purposes. not an afterthought.
One of these in this exact color recently burnt to crisp in Puerto Rico. Only had 12,000miles. It was from a private collector that had it in a Porsche dealership Service warehouse along with a few other cars.
This was a stunningly beautiful car when it came out (still is, except now I'm noticing the tail is actually rather economy-car looking if you ignore the wing) and I remember the commercials set to opera music that really made it seem like a Ferrari. But, it wasn't really THAT lightweight at 2940 lbs - a 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman H-4 turbo is the same weight, but with 100 more hp and countless more modern safety and comfort features. A CRX Si of the same era weighed 2100 lbs for comparison.
"Cool probe!" - actually me to Mr.2 owner before i knew what a Mr.2 was. She got SO MAD. One of my first introductions to the 'car scene,' which should have been a warning to stay away forever lol. Especially now that cars are terrible appliances where it sucks being a car enthusiast and caring about cars.
Cars And Bids Staffer: "But Doug, you just had your vasectomy yesterday. You can't film a video today!" Doug: "Grab me a bag of frozen peas and a lawn chair."
It would be cool if Toyota revived the legendary 3SGE and 3SGTE engines. Back in the 80s and 90s those engines where absolutely bullet proof, rev happy little bundles of joy. When Toyota first announced the GT86 I was hoping they'd also revive the 3SGE with a new generation of it but sadly they went with a Subaru boxer instead. Toyota used to make some of the greatest engines ever and it sucks that apart from the excellent GR Yaris that they're outsourcing the engines for the 86 and Supra. Bring back the 3SGE and 2JZ!
The TTops were a hot the item, and by the 90’s they were putting the key lock as standard. They were so desirable that people would break the windows to steal the TTops.
The turbos also had the driving lights, you can always tell if it’s a factory turbo by looking for the driving lights. With most swaps, people didn’t swap the front end to the turbo model. The area behind the seats with the straps was where you stowed the TTops.
How dare you say twin turbo and let that make it to the final edit!!! About time you made this video though. I have 3 SW20's, my favorite car since I was like 14
Fun fact: In French-speaking markets, the vehicle was renamed Toyota MR because the abbreviation "MR2" sounds like the profanity "merde" when spoken in French.
Around 1999-2001, the non turbos were $5-7K for an excellent one. A nice turbo was $15K while the 94+ turbos were $22K for showroom condition examples. They have been destroyed and butchered for the most part. High mileage rough non turbos are now $6-7K minimum. Before 2030, someone will probably pay $100K+ for a 94 or 95 turbo that is flawless and has below 30K miles.
That's my oldest brother's car I sold for him ❤ paperwork on that's beauty started from new and was a whole binder of all Toyota factory maintenance u til I sold it to Bob Pham
Hmm. Twin scroll or twin intake is twin turbo. Maybe thats why my n55 also markets twin power on the engine cover instead of twin turbo. Ill say, sometimes marketing gets people, and sometimes it gets people that cant be got.
Wow I've never given two craps about these things and largely consider them to be slow and old. I reckon that turbo version was decently quick back then though. Edit: it had a surprising (to me) amount of tech and coolness to it. Interesting indeed. Doug is right though, they are all gone.
Mines is a 93 2.3 (stroker engine so a 5sgte) on e85 with 450 hp and carbon fiber trunk, fenders, hood and engine lid. So yeah, even lighter and scarier haha I will never sell this car.
Corrections: SW20 MR2s have one turbo, not two, but it says "twin entry" due to the design of the intake and turbo assembly. The area behind the seats can be used for regular storage but they are designed especially to hold your T-tops when they are off. Some people put small subwoofers there. The compartment in the middle is designed to perfectly fit 6 cassettes in their boxes.
I was just about to comment on the t top storage but you captured it very well. That's why it had the straps and clips behind the seat. Toyota made a big deal about the twin entry ceramic turbo
I think he probably miss spoke. It just means twin scroll turbo. But yeah you pointed out all the things I noticed. Also those "shelves" if you don't have the factory subs open up and are decent size little bins
I wish Doug had pointed out the glass T-Tops fit nicely behind the seats, and the sun shields went nicely in the trunk. The curve of the rear glass is a masterpiece in itself.
Yeah that's a pretty big thing, like the straps and clips aren't there to "hold stuff in" they are there for the the T-Tops, which exactly fit behind the seats. The straps would keep them from risking flopping around during spirited driving. I'm also a bit disappointed that the central storage area was just described as "having a shelf". The width of that area and the shelf are very specifically for CD cases which were fairly new at the time of the '91 MR2. It really is a very well thought out car and even more so in the era.
I got one at age 40, now I am 60 years old and this thing still put a smile on my face when looking at it or driving it, it will stay in my garage til I expire...
It's the most fun car I've owned and I only had the UK T-bar 174bhp version. I used to terrorize the roads next to the farm I lived on until I was accosted by a farmer at the local shop who told me his cattle were stupid and would step out onto the road and end me. I'm not sure his cattle had already agreed to this threat. None of them ever did. The farmer also thought it was a lotus so props to both of us... Luv and Peace.
I'm a proud owner of a SW20 MR2 Turbo. I swapped the 2nd gen 3sgte to a 4th gen 3sgte but still love it everyday. I made some small upgrades like the Geometry kit and Feal coilovers, so no snap overstear for me. I have it in my favorite color - Aquamarine Pearl (Dark Green). It was my dream car for 2 decades. I bought it was I was 34. Still have it at 40 years old. So glad Doug was able to review a 95.
Also now that Doug has reviewed the SW20, he needs to review the ST185 Toyota Celica All-Trac turbo. And not the RHD GT4. The OG All-Trac USA spec. Doug wants to talk about rare, there you go. He featured it in this video, now time to find one! Luckily, I own one, but I also swapped it with a 4th gen 3sgte haha.
@@mr2marc 1990-1993 celica alltrac turbo are chassis code ST185. 1988-1989 chassis code is ST165. they're similar mechanically but aesthetically they are far different. I have the 1992 ST185 Celica All-Trac in teal metallic. I see what you thought I meant by OG, but I mean the USA Spec OG ST185. I was not referring to the 165 at all.
I have to admit, the crotch vent is one of the best and most used features in my MR2, why manufacturers got rid of them in cars remains one of the greatest mysteries to me.
Along with other stuff mentioned here in the comments related to the t-tops, this video missed MANY MANY quirks -- at least according to my memory, which might be 80% accurate: 1. You could disengage the interior cable to open the trunk by putting the key in the trunk lock and turning it flat (to the left I believe). I'll grant you this was a feature more cars had back then, not just the MR2. Sure would be a great feature to have again with all the car break-ins these days. 2. If you twisted the headlight controller forward one click, then pulled back on the entire stalk twice, the headlights would pop up but not be lit up -- handy for cleaning or replacing them. 2a. I think there was also a way to "flash" the headlights through some other odd combo of movements, wherein the headlines would rise up, turn on briefly, then go back down immediately. Unfortunately, I can't remember the control sequence. 3. The panels beneath the t-top storage area flipped up to reveal (going from hazy memory here) some odd part of the metal floor??? Handy for small items you really want to hide and potentially lose. 4. Put the key in the driver's door and turn once to unlock just the driver's door; flick twice to open up both doors. 5. The underside had large plastic panels covering much of it (though not the engine). Really a high-end feature for the time. 6. All MR2 rear suspensions try to kill you, the average driver. That said, 1991 and (I believe) 1992 iterations REALLY try to kill you. Toyota revised the later models to reduce snap oversteer, but it's still best to gas out of corners.
Point number 6 isn't as big of an issue as you might think. The car grips like crazy until you push it too hard, and then it doesn't anymore, just like most other cars. The issue with the suspension is that the rear tires would toe out under droop, drastically reducing grip. With the majority of the weight being behind the driver, that means that when under heavy braking, the rear-end lifts up more than on other cars, and when you add turns to the mix, i.e. you're coming into a turn too hot and panic brake to slow down in the middle of the turn, the back end loses grip and spins around. This really only happened at high speeds (90+ mph) which is where a lot of inexperienced drivers want to hang out because the car has so much grip. If you aren't going too fast and you lift off the throttle in the middle of a corner, you're not going to have an issue, but at higher speeds, things happen so fast that no human can react fast enough to stop the uncontrolled spin. The later models had increased tie rod lengths (from 11" to 15") to help mitigate this, causing the car to toe in on droop, which makes the car more predictable through tight corners at high speeds, but also makes the driving experience feel more stale.
The panels beneath the T-top storage area came with subwoofer cutouts on both sides on mine. Turns out they're compartments for subwoofer enclosures, but you can totally use them for storage too if yours doesn't have those. I bought a pair of OEM subwoofer boxes and woofers and wired up the amps in the door pillar to them, great sound.
He underrated it it with a 6 in styling... it's worth a 7. That would have brought the total score up to 50, tying it with the '87 Ferrari 328 GTS though...maybe why he didn't.
I’ll always remember the first time seeing one on the streets. Blew me away. I had only bought my first car 10 months earlier (91 Eagle Talon). I worked a ton of extra hours dishwashing in addition to somehow talking my step father in to letting me trade it in at a loss. HAD TO HAVE IT!
One day my wife came home and asked me if I could look at her car. Again. She had a light blue Honda CRX HF that was slowly dying. I had fixed different things 3 or 4 times and was getting ticked at her cars issues. We walked out of our apartment (we were just married and living off post at Ft. Benning) and I didn't see her sky blue CRX anywhere. I asked where she parked. She pointed to a white 1992 MR2. Holy moly. Did I say I LOVE MY WIFE?!!! We took it for a spin to get dinner and for the next 6 years, we LOVED that car. Thanks for making this specific video!!
I have a 1993 sw20 with a 2GR v6. This is a beast of a car and is SUPER fun to drive. It always puts a smile on my face every time I drive it! Edit. I also own a 98 ws6 trans am that is monster of a car. But truth be told it can’t compare to my 2GR mr2
After fully restoring my sw20 i know a few more quirky features: The targa tops could be stored in the leather storage pouches in the cabinets behind the rear seats. Those and the glass panels can be strapped behind the seats on top of the storage cabinets. - the european version had a 3sge with >156hp wich had a variable intake manifold - there were japanese versions with different variations of the 3sge Beams with vvte - there are hardtop versions of both versions, but those are quite rare. - the cooling system is a complicated system that has to be bled on 3 different places. - the sw20’s with power steering had a variable assisted electronic power steering pump, which is neat! - most of the powertrain is the same as in the euro/jdm celica and even shares the engine wiring loom and ecu placement(in the rear trunk. - it was famous for snap oversteer, but the 1993> ones had revised rear suspensioj which made it quite predictable. - at it’s time in the 90’s it was the fastest accelerating car from japan, beating the skyline and supra in stock form. I regret selling it now…
@@FWDSUXARSE my ZZW30 has got one even though it's even lighter. It can be disabled by exploiting a bug in the PS controller (turn the ignition off and on while moving), feels perfectly fine without steering assistance, even when parking. I can easily move a steering wheel with one hand while stationary. Way more comfortable with the PS though, and not overassisted at all, so all the information from the road is still present.
@@Agu_Ra My rev3 in the UK made 174bhp stock. The later ones had to reign it in due to emissions. I had a big 3.5 inch exhaust and K+N 54i air intake that made the car sound cool and make more power at high revs but lack a bit of low end torque. My car went for it's MOT and the mechanic who I knew had to stuff the air intake with a messy cloth to get it to pass. He told me in no uncertain terms it would not pass again with that intake. I took it off. Shame. It made the I4 sound like a v8 it was an amazing noise. Can't argue with your mechanic though. Nice of him to do me that favour. Luv and Peace.
The straps behind seats are designed to keep the T-top pieces in place when going hairdryer mode. Twin entry turbo is a bit of a meme in MR2 community, it has nothing to do with twin turbos, but the single turbo is just having an identity crisis. In N/A version the boost gauge is replaced with a voltage meter. Earlier revisions of SW20 have different rear lights (think the Koukis came in 1993-ish) American markets got the short end of stick when it came to N/A engines, 5S-FE from a Camry, whereas European and Japanese markets got 3S-GE with 150-odd hp. Of course the Japanese kept the best versions to themselves, last SW20:s had BEAMS engines and even the N/A was hitting 200hp threshold. Still a typical 90's Toyota, small from the outside, big on the inside.
Twin entry turbo is referring to twin scroll. The intake manifold is segmented in each runner and the turbo inlet from the exhaust manifold is segmented. It’s a more efficient design that sadly many modern turbos don’t use because of extra complexity.
The straps behind the seats are not for “stuff” they are to secure the targa roof panels. There is also a subwoofer below the drives side shelf and another unmentioned storage bin on the passengers side.
Doug was correct, it stands for Mid Engine, Rear Wheel Drive, 2 seats. I’ve owned my MR2 since the 95, worked at a Toyota dealership in the 90’s, read everything on it I could get my hands on and had only ever known this as the meaning of its name. First time I heard ‘runabout’ used was when the MR2 Spyder came out and even then it was in England or somewhere. I’m not a fan as ‘runabout’ is basically a nonsense word.
MR2 was indeed a "Baby Ferrari", and you could buy after market body kits (of varying quality) to make your MR2 look like a Ferrari - mostly like an F355
There was a police interceptors episode years ago where the police pulled over a "Lamborghini" which was registered as a mr2😂😂it was in fact a mr2 which had a kit to make it look like a Gallardo and the guy was heading to the DVLA to get it registered as a custom vehicle
@@darkmatterm4a1not even, the mr2 was mid engine, had rear flying buttress just like the 348 and F355. 3000gt looked nothing like a Ferrari more like an MK3 Supra on Steroids
![[TH] FS vs BME - VCT Ascension Pacific - Lower Bracket Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wnygqsR2Fig/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm simultaneously extremely excited at seeing one of my dream cars reviewed on this channel and terrified about what this might do to MR2 prices.
I'm pretty sure prices just doubled. LoL.
@@Stinger430Cool MR2
Thankfully, the market craze of 2020 is subsiding and people are going broke. So semi-common cars like the MR2 are comming back down (slowly).
@@r4raced4doom2 Even though it's not as cool by 2023's standards I love how it looks. ❤️
@@LuisUrbieta I 1000% agree.
The 2nd gen MR2 is a fabulous car, as is the first one. But the "R" in "MR2" stands for "runabout."
BTW, those straps behind the seats aren't for "your stuff." The MR2 came with two padded bags for the T-tops and a T-top is stored behind each seat.
Midship runabout 2 seater
No, "Mid-engine, Rear-wheel drive, 2 seater"
@@5starmaniac spoken like someone who has never owned one
@@5starmaniac why don't you go back to the lab and check your research. Come back with what you found
@@dave2132 Read my link (if you are able to..? 🤣) ..and go change your diapers!!
This is my dream car of the 90's. I actually think it's cooler than the Mark IV Supra. I'm so glad you did a video on it, but I'm really mad that it's probably going to get even harder to find one now.
If by harder, you mean expensive then you're correct. This one specifically is already almost 25k and still has 8 days to bid on it. A very nice example but still. Good luck with your search, don't give up
@@dubiousf00d lol you used to be able to pick these up for less than $2k all day long
@@n0isyturtle should have bought more domino's pizza or defense stocks a few years back...the future of cars lies solely in investors.
Never drove an MR2, but I sat in one at a car show in '92 and flicked that shifter back and forth, and it set the bar for every other car. (I enjoy driving my '92 Toyota pickup, but the end of the shift lever travels from nearly the dash to the seat as you go from first to second. Clutch-pedal travel will give your leg a real workout too.) This is one of the few impractical cars I really would like to own. Particularly when you include the T-tops - one of those '80s/'90s features I really miss - and pop-up headlights.
Had an N/A one these as my second car, span it 2 hours into ownership 😂 snap oversteer is no joke
I made it two weeks with mine before a wet slippy road and a lead foot put an end to it.
The SW20 is one of my dream cars😩
The straps behind the seats were to hold the T tops when they were off. It also came with leather bags to put them in while they were back there.
The straps were used to keep the glass strapped down. Loved this car
I've owned 2 of these in the 1990s. Very tail happy in the wet but like a go kart when dry.
One of mine was previously upgraded with aftermarket suspension. My God. It was so hard that if you hit a bump in the road, your rear end would bounce and give your driving skills a severe test 😂😮
Love both of mine.
Also hard a all wheel steer Celica. Loads of electrical problems tho.
The rear engine compartment wasnt easy to work on tho. Loads of back ache.😮😢😂
Doug is the kind of guy to review Tuk-Tuks and every car under the sun EXCEPT VW R32s and Nissan 300ZX. Where’s the love Dougie? Please review these greats
It’s unfortunate that Toyota doesn’t make sports cars like this anymore. It would be so cool if they bring back the MR2 and Celica.
The MR2 is coming back
I'll never be interested in any EV's or hybrids
@@jethrox827 as a hybrid, I’ll pass
This was my second car. I learned what lift-off (snap) oversteer was REAL quick.
Love the MR2, fun, reliable and highly tunable proper sports car
Best car I've ever owned. It's raw it has a gen 4 3SGTE out of a JDM Caldina and it has an aftermarket turbo and it is a raw, nasty fun car. This car will kill an unworthy owner, and fast. All the better to own it.
My 5th gen 4Runner is equipped with Toyo Guard. Crazy to think it’s still an option people spring for!
The strap behind the seat is for the t top glass as well
the straps behind the seat are for the T-tops. not stuff. Also, parking brake placement (as is common on a lot of 90s cars) is in the same spot it would have been on a RHD car being sold in Japan, mainly due to mechanical simplicity purposes. not an afterthought.
One of these in this exact color recently burnt to crisp in Puerto Rico. Only had 12,000miles. It was from a private collector that had it in a Porsche dealership Service warehouse along with a few other cars.
One of my favorite cars from my childhood along with the Nissan 300ZX Turbo and Mazda Rx7.
This was a stunningly beautiful car when it came out (still is, except now I'm noticing the tail is actually rather economy-car looking if you ignore the wing) and I remember the commercials set to opera music that really made it seem like a Ferrari. But, it wasn't really THAT lightweight at 2940 lbs - a 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman H-4 turbo is the same weight, but with 100 more hp and countless more modern safety and comfort features. A CRX Si of the same era weighed 2100 lbs for comparison.
My wife had 2 MR2s, a 1st gen and a 2nd gen. We loved them!
Now I miss mine!! Ruined it with suspension and flashy fly yellow color to have it wrecked on a highway. Most reliable rocket of the time.
"Cool probe!" - actually me to Mr.2 owner before i knew what a Mr.2 was. She got SO MAD. One of my first introductions to the 'car scene,' which should have been a warning to stay away forever lol. Especially now that cars are terrible appliances where it sucks being a car enthusiast and caring about cars.
I remember when these were dirt cheap and you had to give them away. The turbo ones were selling for 3-5k in decent conditions
Cars And Bids Staffer: "But Doug, you just had your vasectomy yesterday. You can't film a video today!"
Doug: "Grab me a bag of frozen peas and a lawn chair."
I had the Hot Wheels SW20 as a kid and remember seeing a real one for the first time on the road thinking how truly exotic it looked lol
I had one almost identical to this. Only differences were the trim down the side and the leather interior were black.
not a sole came here hopng to find out if Biggs supposedly had one... this isn't about you
@@slowery43 I'm sure people care about your comment just as much.
According to Toyota, MR stands for Midship Runabout.
On one hand I love that Doug is making this video. On the other hand I hate that prices may go up again 😂
Sarah n Tuned here in TH-cam has a great Mr2 she built.
I wish he would review a Turbo Supra Turbo. The one generation before the one made famous in Fast and Furious. The manual ones went too.
Looks like Doug finally found his monkey laugh audio file that he misplaced in 2019. Expect it generously in future videos.
Doug should review the 2nd generation Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T/GSX. Another greatly underappriciated JDM classic.
It would be cool if Toyota revived the legendary 3SGE and 3SGTE engines. Back in the 80s and 90s those engines where absolutely bullet proof, rev happy little bundles of joy. When Toyota first announced the GT86 I was hoping they'd also revive the 3SGE with a new generation of it but sadly they went with a Subaru boxer instead. Toyota used to make some of the greatest engines ever and it sucks that apart from the excellent GR Yaris that they're outsourcing the engines for the 86 and Supra. Bring back the 3SGE and 2JZ!
The TTops were a hot the item, and by the 90’s they were putting the key lock as standard. They were so desirable that people would break the windows to steal the TTops.
The turbos also had the driving lights, you can always tell if it’s a factory turbo by looking for the driving lights. With most swaps, people didn’t swap the front end to the turbo model.
The area behind the seats with the straps was where you stowed the TTops.
Still have mine after 20 years 💪
In red, the MR2 looks like Toyotas version of a Ferrari F355, especially from the side profile. Even the way the rear glass curves towards the edges.
Those straps behind the seat are to hold the t tops in place Doug! Sheesh
How dare you say twin turbo and let that make it to the final edit!!! About time you made this video though. I have 3 SW20's, my favorite car since I was like 14
Great car. Here in Italy was named "the japanies Ferrari".
Very good looking car and fun too. Ale
Every Japanese sports car and alot of American cars were turboed from the late 80s through the mid 90s. It was very common.
I had a ‘95 Camry and that interior looks very familiar😎👍
MR of the MR2 means mid-ship runabout its on the spare tire cover the 2 is 2 seater
Awesome vid. I love Toyota car. Especially this 1995 turbo. Best car ever made
Fun fact: In French-speaking markets, the vehicle was renamed Toyota MR because the abbreviation "MR2" sounds like the profanity "merde" when spoken in French.
Around 1999-2001, the non turbos were $5-7K for an excellent one. A nice turbo was $15K while the 94+ turbos were $22K for showroom condition examples. They have been destroyed and butchered for the most part. High mileage rough non turbos are now $6-7K minimum. Before 2030, someone will probably pay $100K+ for a 94 or 95 turbo that is flawless and has below 30K miles.
You know it’s bouta be a fun video when the monke sound is in the first 10 seconds 😭
Could see this coming back, as a hybrid. Like the upcoming Honda prelude
I’m so glad the mr2 has the ball chiller 3000
Mid-ship Runabout two seat
I believe is the real meaning of the name
I really miss my 1991 MR2 now.
The ball chiller 🥶
That's my oldest brother's car I sold for him ❤ paperwork on that's beauty started from new and was a whole binder of all Toyota factory maintenance u til I sold it to Bob Pham
MR2 stands for Midship Runabout 2 seater
Gorgeous car. Would love to drive one of these.
Doug, the kind of guy that likes to toss cars
toyota MR2 1st gen review would beeeee cool 🔥🔥🔥
The straps in back of the seats where for the T-Tops.
Doug has to find a celica GT Four to review.
130hp? The NA we got here in the UK was closer to 170hp, the 3SGE engine.
Going off the american one
Hmm. Twin scroll or twin intake is twin turbo. Maybe thats why my n55 also markets twin power on the engine cover instead of twin turbo. Ill say, sometimes marketing gets people, and sometimes it gets people that cant be got.
Lovin the Mister Two Ferrari
T-tops need to make a comeback.
Was there no snorkel on these? I always remember the turbos having a snorkel.
I always thought the MR stood for Midship Runabout
Wow I've never given two craps about these things and largely consider them to be slow and old. I reckon that turbo version was decently quick back then though. Edit: it had a surprising (to me) amount of tech and coolness to it. Interesting indeed. Doug is right though, they are all gone.
These days the new hotness is to put a 2GR-FE in them, lightly tune them and get 300whp. That is a proper ride.
doug the type of guy to confuse a twin scroll turbo with twin turbo.
Sounds like you’re describing a modern day Lotus.
Give me a T!
T.
Give me an O!
O.
Give me a Y!
Y.
Give me an O!
O.
Give me a T!
T.
Give me an A!
A.
What is that?
Toyoda......
sold for $35k, probably more than what it originally sold for
soon. soon I will atlast be the owner of one of these and will drive across the USA coast to coast. by the grace of God.
I always thought the MR in MR-2 stood for _Midship Runabout,_ no?
I miss this car. Used to have one and it was destroyed by a drunk driver who crashed into it and knocked it into my neighbor's yard.
Mines is a 93 2.3 (stroker engine so a 5sgte) on e85 with 450 hp and carbon fiber trunk, fenders, hood and engine lid. So yeah, even lighter and scarier haha I will never sell this car.
Aren’t 90s flip-up headlights illegal now?
1989 MR2 turbo owner here. For sale.
where’s my 240sx video??? i been waiting like 3 years🤣
Boosted boys TH-cam channel got fastest MR2 world record
Damn! Shot across the bow!
I've seen a MR-2... on its side!
I wouldn't call the car tossable... look up "snap oversteer" in the dictionary and you'll see a picture of this car... lol
Thats just people who don't know how to drive lol
Corrections:
SW20 MR2s have one turbo, not two, but it says "twin entry" due to the design of the intake and turbo assembly.
The area behind the seats can be used for regular storage but they are designed especially to hold your T-tops when they are off. Some people put small subwoofers there.
The compartment in the middle is designed to perfectly fit 6 cassettes in their boxes.
I was just about to comment on the t top storage but you captured it very well.
That's why it had the straps and clips behind the seat.
Toyota made a big deal about the twin entry ceramic turbo
Surprised he messed that one up..
I think he probably miss spoke. It just means twin scroll turbo. But yeah you pointed out all the things I noticed. Also those "shelves" if you don't have the factory subs open up and are decent size little bins
@@antonthrush5914 US never got the ceramic turbo.
Midship runabout
I wish Doug had pointed out the glass T-Tops fit nicely behind the seats, and the sun shields went nicely in the trunk. The curve of the rear glass is a masterpiece in itself.
Had someone smash my rear glass when I owned mine, was pretty tough to come by a replacement!
I agree about the glass. I really enjoyed how unique and well-designed the car was overall.
That's my nightmare. @@justinbrostrom241
I used to do that, fits like a glove
Yeah that's a pretty big thing, like the straps and clips aren't there to "hold stuff in" they are there for the the T-Tops, which exactly fit behind the seats. The straps would keep them from risking flopping around during spirited driving. I'm also a bit disappointed that the central storage area was just described as "having a shelf". The width of that area and the shelf are very specifically for CD cases which were fairly new at the time of the '91 MR2. It really is a very well thought out car and even more so in the era.
I got one at age 40, now I am 60 years old and this thing still put a smile on my face when looking at it or driving it, it will stay in my garage til I expire...
It's the most fun car I've owned and I only had the UK T-bar 174bhp version.
I used to terrorize the roads next to the farm I lived on until I was accosted by a farmer at the local shop who told me his cattle were stupid and would step out onto the road and end me.
I'm not sure his cattle had already agreed to this threat. None of them ever did. The farmer also thought it was a lotus so props to both of us...
Luv and Peace.
that's true love right there
I'm a proud owner of a SW20 MR2 Turbo. I swapped the 2nd gen 3sgte to a 4th gen 3sgte but still love it everyday. I made some small upgrades like the Geometry kit and Feal coilovers, so no snap overstear for me. I have it in my favorite color - Aquamarine Pearl (Dark Green). It was my dream car for 2 decades. I bought it was I was 34. Still have it at 40 years old. So glad Doug was able to review a 95.
Also now that Doug has reviewed the SW20, he needs to review the ST185 Toyota Celica All-Trac turbo. And not the RHD GT4. The OG All-Trac USA spec. Doug wants to talk about rare, there you go. He featured it in this video, now time to find one! Luckily, I own one, but I also swapped it with a 4th gen 3sgte haha.
@@WeTryMotorsportsstill have my 91 turbo. Nah he needs to review a 74 Te27 Corolla SR5 Mango 👌🏽
@@WeTryMotorsports ST185 the OG All-trac USA spec? You mean ST165?
@@mr2marc 1990-1993 celica alltrac turbo are chassis code ST185. 1988-1989 chassis code is ST165. they're similar mechanically but aesthetically they are far different. I have the 1992 ST185 Celica All-Trac in teal metallic. I see what you thought I meant by OG, but I mean the USA Spec OG ST185. I was not referring to the 165 at all.
sNaP oVeRsTeEr is a crutch for poor drivers.
I have to admit, the crotch vent is one of the best and most used features in my MR2, why manufacturers got rid of them in cars remains one of the greatest mysteries to me.
Yep. Had a few Jeep Grand Wagoneers. They had them also. Keeps the tags and berries cool
Probably because many new cars have more electronics and knee airbags in the same spot.
The climate control seats of the day!
Heated seats.
My 02 sequoia has a crotch vent 👍🏼
Along with other stuff mentioned here in the comments related to the t-tops, this video missed MANY MANY quirks -- at least according to my memory, which might be 80% accurate:
1. You could disengage the interior cable to open the trunk by putting the key in the trunk lock and turning it flat (to the left I believe). I'll grant you this was a feature more cars had back then, not just the MR2. Sure would be a great feature to have again with all the car break-ins these days.
2. If you twisted the headlight controller forward one click, then pulled back on the entire stalk twice, the headlights would pop up but not be lit up -- handy for cleaning or replacing them.
2a. I think there was also a way to "flash" the headlights through some other odd combo of movements, wherein the headlines would rise up, turn on briefly, then go back down immediately. Unfortunately, I can't remember the control sequence.
3. The panels beneath the t-top storage area flipped up to reveal (going from hazy memory here) some odd part of the metal floor??? Handy for small items you really want to hide and potentially lose.
4. Put the key in the driver's door and turn once to unlock just the driver's door; flick twice to open up both doors.
5. The underside had large plastic panels covering much of it (though not the engine). Really a high-end feature for the time.
6. All MR2 rear suspensions try to kill you, the average driver. That said, 1991 and (I believe) 1992 iterations REALLY try to kill you. Toyota revised the later models to reduce snap oversteer, but it's still best to gas out of corners.
Point 2a is literally just pull the stalk towards you and the whole sequence happens before your eyes. At least in my Rev5 that's how it works
I feel like no. 4 is common. My E30 had it, my 95 Camry had it, 8th Gen Si had it.
Point number 6 isn't as big of an issue as you might think. The car grips like crazy until you push it too hard, and then it doesn't anymore, just like most other cars. The issue with the suspension is that the rear tires would toe out under droop, drastically reducing grip. With the majority of the weight being behind the driver, that means that when under heavy braking, the rear-end lifts up more than on other cars, and when you add turns to the mix, i.e. you're coming into a turn too hot and panic brake to slow down in the middle of the turn, the back end loses grip and spins around. This really only happened at high speeds (90+ mph) which is where a lot of inexperienced drivers want to hang out because the car has so much grip. If you aren't going too fast and you lift off the throttle in the middle of a corner, you're not going to have an issue, but at higher speeds, things happen so fast that no human can react fast enough to stop the uncontrolled spin. The later models had increased tie rod lengths (from 11" to 15") to help mitigate this, causing the car to toe in on droop, which makes the car more predictable through tight corners at high speeds, but also makes the driving experience feel more stale.
The panels beneath the T-top storage area came with subwoofer cutouts on both sides on mine. Turns out they're compartments for subwoofer enclosures, but you can totally use them for storage too if yours doesn't have those. I bought a pair of OEM subwoofer boxes and woofers and wired up the amps in the door pillar to them, great sound.
Thank you Doug. I've been waiting for you to review one of these for a LONG time. Keep up the good work
I didn’t realize the internet realizes, according to Doug.
You was waiting for it to sell yours ? 😁
I'm a bit surprised Doug didn't talk about the styling more, this has to be one of the best looking 90s cars!
He underrated it it with a 6 in styling... it's worth a 7. That would have brought the total score up to 50, tying it with the '87 Ferrari 328 GTS though...maybe why he didn't.
@@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785 same score as a miata? definitely should be a 7!
I’ll always remember the first time seeing one on the streets. Blew me away. I had only bought my first car 10 months earlier (91 Eagle Talon). I worked a ton of extra hours dishwashing in addition to somehow talking my step father in to letting me trade it in at a loss. HAD TO HAVE IT!
He didn’t talk about the styling because you can see it
can't compete with FD RX7
One day my wife came home and asked me if I could look at her car. Again.
She had a light blue Honda CRX HF that was slowly dying. I had fixed different things 3 or 4 times and was getting ticked at her cars issues.
We walked out of our apartment (we were just married and living off post at Ft. Benning) and I didn't see her sky blue CRX anywhere.
I asked where she parked.
She pointed to a white 1992 MR2.
Holy moly. Did I say I LOVE MY WIFE?!!!
We took it for a spin to get dinner and for the next 6 years, we LOVED that car.
Thanks for making this specific video!!
@@sigdetcdr did you daily it? Love the car
@@tommasotrana6041 yes.....that was her daily car until it was rear ended on I-45
@@sigdetcdr sorry to hear that,hope everything fine
I have a 1993 sw20 with a 2GR v6. This is a beast of a car and is SUPER fun to drive. It always puts a smile on my face every time I drive it!
Edit. I also own a 98 ws6 trans am that is monster of a car. But truth be told it can’t compare to my 2GR mr2
After fully restoring my sw20 i know a few more quirky features:
The targa tops could be stored in the leather storage pouches in the cabinets behind the rear seats.
Those and the glass panels can be strapped behind the seats on top of the storage cabinets.
- the european version had a 3sge with >156hp wich had a variable intake manifold
- there were japanese versions with different variations of the 3sge Beams with vvte
- there are hardtop versions of both versions, but those are quite rare.
- the cooling system is a complicated system that has to be bled on 3 different places.
- the sw20’s with power steering had a variable assisted electronic power steering pump, which is neat!
- most of the powertrain is the same as in the euro/jdm celica and even shares the engine wiring loom and ecu placement(in the rear trunk.
- it was famous for snap oversteer, but the 1993> ones had revised rear suspensioj which made it quite predictable.
- at it’s time in the 90’s it was the fastest accelerating car from japan, beating the skyline and supra in stock form.
I regret selling it now…
Wow, didn't know the SW20's using electric power steering pump, thought that's just a ZZW30 thing.
I didn't know these even had power steering! My AW11 didn't, but at 2350 lbs it didn't even need it.
@@FWDSUXARSE my ZZW30 has got one even though it's even lighter. It can be disabled by exploiting a bug in the PS controller (turn the ignition off and on while moving), feels perfectly fine without steering assistance, even when parking. I can easily move a steering wheel with one hand while stationary. Way more comfortable with the PS though, and not overassisted at all, so all the information from the road is still present.
Didn't help me avoid crashing though lol. Snap oversteer is real, didn't even have to lift off suddenly for it to snap on me.
@@Agu_Ra My rev3 in the UK made 174bhp stock. The later ones had to reign it in due to emissions.
I had a big 3.5 inch exhaust and K+N 54i air intake that made the car sound cool and make more power at high revs but lack a bit of low end torque.
My car went for it's MOT and the mechanic who I knew had to stuff the air intake with a messy cloth to get it to pass. He told me in no uncertain terms it would not pass again with that intake.
I took it off.
Shame. It made the I4 sound like a v8 it was an amazing noise.
Can't argue with your mechanic though. Nice of him to do me that favour.
Luv and Peace.
The straps behind seats are designed to keep the T-top pieces in place when going hairdryer mode.
Twin entry turbo is a bit of a meme in MR2 community, it has nothing to do with twin turbos, but the single turbo is just having an identity crisis.
In N/A version the boost gauge is replaced with a voltage meter.
Earlier revisions of SW20 have different rear lights (think the Koukis came in 1993-ish)
American markets got the short end of stick when it came to N/A engines, 5S-FE from a Camry, whereas European and Japanese markets got 3S-GE with 150-odd hp.
Of course the Japanese kept the best versions to themselves, last SW20:s had BEAMS engines and even the N/A was hitting 200hp threshold.
Still a typical 90's Toyota, small from the outside, big on the inside.
Yeah instead of looking in the compartment for two turbos he just reads what he thinks he sees on the engine cover.
I thought these got the Corolla's 1.8 4 cylinder engine...or was that the next generation Spyder?
This guy MR2s.
Twin entry turbo is referring to twin scroll. The intake manifold is segmented in each runner and the turbo inlet from the exhaust manifold is segmented. It’s a more efficient design that sadly many modern turbos don’t use because of extra complexity.
@@damilolaakanni Yeah, that was the 1ZZ in the Spyder.
Doug continues keeping it real. The Mister Two was a darling of the old school press and this generation actually got pretty too.
I like it better now than I did back when it was new: It really does look like a bit like a junior Ferrari.
I've owned two of these, and absolutely loved them. They have fantastic interiors, look gorgeous, and they're super fun to drive
One day I plan on getting an SW20. I had the AW11 and that was one of my favorite cars that I've ever owned followed by my 85 Supra.
It’s just as well they NOT bring back the MR2; Toyota might decide to turn it into a junky overly-expensive EV. BLECH!
The straps behind the seats are not for “stuff” they are to secure the targa roof panels.
There is also a subwoofer below the drives side shelf and another unmentioned storage bin on the passengers side.
This MR2 Turbo was the car everyone wanted to have. Still looks good to this day, was not over designed.
MR2 actually stands for Midship Runabout 2-Seater. Glad I got mines because the price is about to jump up on all Mr2s after this review.
Correct. Actually, I think Doug got it right during his MR2 Spyder review too.
Paid £3.7k for mine in 2004ish and sold it for £2.5k
The prices now don't surprise me, but the lack of availability really does. Used to be loads
Mines line the race outfit?
Doug was correct, it stands for Mid Engine, Rear Wheel Drive, 2 seats. I’ve owned my MR2 since the 95, worked at a Toyota dealership in the 90’s, read everything on it I could get my hands on and had only ever known this as the meaning of its name. First time I heard ‘runabout’ used was when the MR2 Spyder came out and even then it was in England or somewhere. I’m not a fan as ‘runabout’ is basically a nonsense word.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
MR2 was indeed a "Baby Ferrari", and you could buy after market body kits (of varying quality) to make your MR2 look like a Ferrari - mostly like an F355
There was a police interceptors episode years ago where the police pulled over a "Lamborghini" which was registered as a mr2😂😂it was in fact a mr2 which had a kit to make it look like a Gallardo and the guy was heading to the DVLA to get it registered as a custom vehicle
I'd say the 1st gen 3000GT was also the "baby Ferrari"
the bodykit is more of a fiero thing, I see tons of fake fiero ferraris on fb marketplace
@@darkmatterm4a1not even, the mr2 was mid engine, had rear flying buttress just like the 348 and F355. 3000gt looked nothing like a Ferrari more like an MK3 Supra on Steroids
@@users4007fieros too, but the better ones used the MR2
I really like analog sports cars.