MR2 3rd Gen

If you are bad at driving you may or may not snap oversteer
They tried to fix it in this car, but if you are an absolute retard it's going to happen

>>16547599
the snap oversteer was greatly numbed on this model no?

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>>16547608
>they tried to fix it in this car

Without a doubt one of the best looking roadsters on the market..especially given the price. Looks like a cross between a ferrari and a porsche.

Never been in one but looks a bit underpowered from the spec sheet, but I guess that isn't a concern if it's being bought as a mx5 alternative

i would get one in a heart beat.

In short no rear mid rear will always want to snap oversteer.

The right tyres and suspension setup can minimise it happening but it's not possible to stop it entirely.

At least it's a cheap shitbox

They're pretty nice cars, quite reliable.

I wouldn't know about rust (I live in the south so I'm not worried)

But overall it's actually going to be better than an MX5.

Just don't be stupid and try and brake hard during a corner, the rear will kick out and you may get hurt.

what are the main issues to look out for when viewing one and test driving?

>>16547648

A common swap is to put the 2ZZ in in place of the 1ZZ to give it actual performance car characteristics.

They're undervalued specifically because of that, but they're decent cars with questionable styling.

>>16547648
Actually, the power/weight of an mr2 spyder is the same/slightly better than the NB miata

>>16547493
>>16547599
>>16547657
Snap oversteer is a joke unless your a bithering idiot. I own an AW11 with 31 year old shocks, struts, and bushing with 148k miles. You can't imagine how bad the suspension is (yeah I'm getting to it). And I have never felt unsafe in a turn. Just don't drive it like a FWD car or a front engine RWD car and you'll be fine.
Aka don't brake midcorner.

>>16547829
>>16547817
As these guys said, stock, they are fairly quick and very nimble much like the AW11. With the 2zz swap, which is pretty easy I hear, they go from quick to fast.

>>16547798
Same as any other car. There's not really anything special. As far as I know I haven't heard about any specific weak points.

>>16547493
Back to OP.

Pros:
>cheap
>reliable
>lightweight
>mpgs
>handling
>easy engine swap to 2zz

Cons
>small aftermarket (compared to mx5)
>ugly (subjective)
>practically no storage space

How do I avoid the dreaded oversteer and not into tree?

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>>16547493
they are ugly stock tbqh

would an mr2 mk3 be more reliable than a miata?

>>16547493
I got one as a cheap shitbox and the only complaint I have is the engine. The 1zz gets it around decently, but even as a shitbox engine it's pretty shit. It is just not smooth and doesn't like revving high. And even though the car only weighs 2200 lbs and has a lazy 1.8l engine the fuel economy isn't spectacular. The chassis itself is fairly solid and it handles very well. The way the tires are set up, it tends to understeer in most corners, but you won't expirence any unless you are really pushing it. I have only had it oversteer in very tight and slow corners. I have yet to have it 'snap' into oversteer, it tends to gently let go of rear grip, with chinese tires it is very easy to controll oversteer, but I don't know if that would still be true with agressive performance tires. Honestly, the only way I can see someone getting snap oversteer is if you drive like a complete tard and have no idea how to control oversteer.

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>>16549010
>Aka don't brake midcorner.
Honestly you don't even really need to worry about this when it comes to normal, everyday driving. It only becomes an issue if you're doing some spirited driving or the road conditions are kind of shitty. People act like if you accidentally touch the brake while casually making a 90 degree turn onto your side street the car is suddenly going to lose control and rocket itself backwards into the nearest tree.

Not braking while cornering is still a good habit to get into though.

Also own an AW11 with shitty suspension (also getting to it).

If you're getting a pre-face lift model then check the pre-cat.
They had a bit of a habit of breaking and getting recycled back into the engine.
Any model with the front fogs and 6 speed had this pretty much sorted.

Pre-cat removal is easy as balls anyway.
http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/topic/70844-pre-cats-what-you-should-know/

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Posting superior alternative

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>>16550794
posting superior version.

>>16550814
Because that's in OP's price range

>>16547493
I have one
Great car really
Be wary of the pre cats as they can destroy the engine

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>>16550345
guy who owns a stock aw11 with all 31 year old shit on it reporting. I like to oversteer on purpose in the rain and snow on the regular, yet I've never experienced snap with exception to once in my time owning it, and I was trying to on purpose

>>16550850
>Be wary of the pre cats as they can destroy the engine
FD's have the same problem. It's illegal to do so, but most owners take them out and install a downpipe. The car can still pass emissions in any state so long as it's fully warmed up when tested.

>>16550794
Listen to this OP. The 986 is better. People will think you have money. It will have a much more powerful flat 6. Higher quality interior. It's prettier.

>>16551365
>People will think you have money
lol

You're right about the other stuff though

>>16551477
Depends on where you live I think. Normies are badge whores

>>16550794

Why would you want to curse the poorfag?

$1,000 annual upkeep. Nice car if you can afford it. Money pit if you can't.

>>16549882

It's a Toyota, of course it would.

>>16547493
as someone who's aiming to get it soon they're really good.
+
>insane fuel economy for a sports car
>MR layeout
>you have to carry an anchor to stop the car from floating away when parked motherfucker so light
>2003+ models come with 6 speed and chassis reinforcement
>fucking cheaper, more reliable, dailiable lotus
>aftermarket isn't all bad
>quite quick even with a tiny 1.8l engine
>great steering, gear changes and drive feel
>you can swap in a 2zz, same engine used in lotus elise
>you can remove power steering
>insanely reliable
-
>1zz drinks oil, you might want to swap in a 2zz
>no cargo space
>questionable styling
>people will be asking you about your porsche

other considerations:
>SMT is a ticking timebomb
>automatic makes the car way way slower
>if you get one get one with OEM hardttop
>if you're gonna swap in 2zz, get a model that came with 6 speed manual
>early models had some problems with fuel sensors.

>>16547493
Probably the best out of all the MR2's

>>16552433
>$1000 annual upkeep is somehow considered expensive
Some of us have jobs

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>>16550976
is that an ontario plate I see?

>>16552734
Red text, look like California to me

Sorry Fraser

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>>16552753

DELET THIS

>>16552702

Enjoy being working poor then. I can think of better shit to do in a car for 1,000 a year. Over a four year period, that's a forced induction with a rebuild on the engine. It's a suspension, wheel and tire upgrade. It's taking a driving class with a few hours of private instruction to learn how to drive at speed to maximize the car you have.

>>16552734
>>16552777
Cali bb

>>16552919
If all it takes to make you working poor is $1k then you should stick to a Civic and used copy of Forza than a fun car

>>16552937

If you're this bad with money, you should keep recommending people to buy porsches.

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>>16552948
damn, son.

>>16552948
>>16552919
>>16552433
These posts reek of someone who has never owned a car in their lives and only drives their mom's minivan

>>16552919
Have you never maintained a car in your life?

And $1000 a year? Maybe if you take it to the dealership for everything

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>>16552948

Actually I'm not the anon recommending Porsches and I'm not sure how me recommending that he save his money makes me bad with it. I'm also lost as to how recommending a several thousand dollar mid-engined fun car is frugal on a delicate budget anyway. I recommend you look up what "working poor" means and then tell me a 3rd gen MR2, or any car for that matter is a good idea for someone on a sub-poverty line income whose livelihood would be ruined by a grand a year. Maybe if you saved your money rather than blowing it on sub-200bhp turds you'd be able to stomach the annual maintenance costs of a budget sports car.

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>>16547493
just get mx5

>>16553951
Slow as shit and everyone has them

>>16552614
>you can swap in a 2zz, same engine used in lotus elise

please do not do that

the BLOCK from the 2zz was used in the elise but it was roided out with a bunch of yamaha racing shit, don't be misleading

>>16554456
Nah bro it's true

And a $8000 BMW 8 series totally has the V12 from the Mclaren F1

>>16554456
No, the 2zz is based on the 1zz and tuned by yamaha from factory. 2zz powered Elises make 5-10 more horsepower because they have slightly less stringent emissions. SUPERCHARGED versions of the Elise make substantially more power only because it has a supercharger bolted on. The base model Elise had a N/A 2zz with only changes in the exhaust system.

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OP here, since all of this fighting about working poor and poorfag will ruin livelihood with any car purchase, I want to clarify.

My budget for this car would be max 3000 euro, thats for the car, not costs after. I am a poorfag, with a shitty income, so I would be trying to keep costs as minimal as possible.

Good idea/bad idea?
I was going to get a mx5 either, but they are getting hard to get in UK without being rustbuckets.

>>16553566

You've never owned a porsche have you?

>>16554510

This.

The 2ZZ is also an oversquared engine with a shorter stroke, but bigger bore to give it a nearly 9000rpm redline. The 1ZZ is as basic of an economy car engine as you can get.

>>16555058
Is this going to be your only car? These cars have barely any space

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>>16555077
Whatever helps you sleep at night

>>16555128
No I would have a daily.

>>16555130

And my girlfriend is pic related

>>16555167
>falling for the 3DPD meme

>>16554416
>Slow as shit
aren't they about the same power as the equivalent mx5 (140bhp)

>and everyone has them
can be an advantage when it comes to cheap parts. unless you need to be a special snowflake

>>16549882
My one has 300xxx kms and was having oil issues just going through it too quick, everything else was stock and serviced

Ask about the pre cats. But it's not something you can get a feel for unless the car is close to blowing up.

>>16555594
Likewise check the soft top drains for plugs, as that is a big indicator of poor owner upkeep. Check the carpets. The driver side ones have a hole where they hook to the floor, if it's missing it buy another one. The car burns oil too, make sure to check the oil at least every time you get gas. Ask or check the suspension. It's the first thing you're going to want to upgrade.
Other info:
Red trim carpets are rare.
Chrome wheels are also rare: but they rust easily
Soft top window is heated glass.
It has a double din head unit slot.
No cruise control
Leather seats are the luxury option.
The most common mod is swapping the stock antenna with an S2000 one.

>>16555167
>gets proven wrong and tried to change the argument
Stick to taking the bus, kiddo

>>16547798
there's basically no special issues with the MR-S and it's reliable as fuck (ASIDE from the ceramic pre-cats which crumble and kill the engine). if you remove them before they start falling apart, it's ok.

They also fixed this after the first couple years.

>>16550794
maybe a regular boxster (which are probably 10k for a good one but still need more expensive service than a mr-s)

boxster S are 12-15k minimum and probably need more expensive service still

nobody cross-shops these with a fucking 5-6k MR2

>>16554456
but you literally can swap in an elise 2zz with no more difficulty than a toyota 2zz

not sure about a supercharged 2zz from the exige though because of fitment

>>16554482
Ahaha kek you're not technically wrong

>>16555871

>Lies on the internet for fun

Enjoy your pathetic life, old man.

>>16555647
Notes on the 2ZZ: great upgrade. Engine bolts right in from the Elise and Celica with little extra effort.
>>16556066
It was never fixed.

>>16556147
Oh right, that must be his imaginary Boxster

>>16556230
> It was never fixed.

nvm then, just checked and you're right.

>>16556311

>His

What did you mean by this?

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>>16556444
> trips
> shitty meme post

>>16556444
You're so fucking original

What a waste of digits

>>16556085
I got my Boxster for like 7k Canadian pesos and it's served me well for 3 years

A Boxster S may be more expensive but the maintenance is the same, it just has a larger displacement version of the same engine and a easier to work on 6 speed instead of the 5 speed with retarded drain plugs

>>16556862
really huh
i guess the maintenance costs depend on if you get a well kept one or a money pit

how much have you spent on maintenance and do you do most of the work yourself?

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>>16556873
I'd say maybe an average of $500 per year, but a huge chunk of that was changing out the headgaskets which I couldn't do myself

I do all the other work myself, otherwise I'd be paying several times as much for labour just because of a badge
Like it cost me $100 to change a the waterpump but indie shops wanted at least $1000

Pic related, sparkplugs and tubes were pretty fucking simple
And if anyone bitches that you have to jack up the rear and take off the wheels to get to them, then they shouldn't be changing out sparkplugs in the first place

>>16556862
you know 7k canadian is almost 9k us right?

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>>16557619

>>16557625
oh fuck, i did the conversion backwards, nvm
you got a price WAY under what you can get them for in the states then

>>16557634
>>16557619
Lel I wish the conversion rate was like that

Bump for mid-engine justice

Actual mr2 mk3 (as it is in UK)

The 1.8 should be buzzy, they get slow when full of old oil gunk and burnt crap.
The thing about the precat destroying engine has been unproven and is technically impossible (it has no ERG function).
The precats do break up if covered in oil , and will block the exhaust though. a symptom of a engine that was crap anyway.
If yours does use oil, nearly always due to oil control rings gummed up due to bad piston design - not properly fixed until 2006 models with engine numbers in the 2000000.

If raced with standard sump , quite common to wreck the bearings due to oil starvation.

2ZZ almost straight swap , the supercharged version even fits with only needing an extra access hatch cut in the firewall. see monkey wrench racing for parts.

Engine is dead easy to rebuild , and updated design pistons, rings and gaskets set should be less than 250$

If you live somewhere with rust , check the rear crossmember near the cat, the power steering cooling pipes and steering lower u/j.

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>Pros:

>Cons:
It's not an AW11

>>16559687
> The thing about the precat destroying engine has been unproven and is technically impossible (it has no ERG function).

Nobody has had issues with engines spontaneously dying when the pre-cats are removed before they start falling apart, and there are plenty of issues that happen as soon as they start falling apart.

If it's impossible via EGR, how would it happen otherwise? There's a post on mr2roc explaining that the engine does a form of EGR via VVTi.. not sure if that's a retarded idea or not

>>16550345
>implying the guy looking for a sporty car wont drive spiritually.
yeah. the prius wont snap oversteer too if you drive it slowly.

>>16551365
people are accually right. they must know how a money pit that car is. so the owner must be rich!

>>16560480
AW11s are literal rust buckets

>>16560625
Wut

Also check out your local MR2 community. They're usually bros and they helped me out with figuring shit out with my MR2.

>>16560745
Not in the southwest.

>>16565799
I know a guy who bought an AW11 from south California, it's already rusting

>>16549652
Slow in, fast out on corners. Maintain corner speed, no sudden change of throttle, if you're going too fast, stay on throttle. Ever been on a gokart? The moment you try to brake in a corner, is the moment the back end kicks outs.

>>16565843
Yeah but on a go-kart the brake only operates on the rear wheels, so it's just like pulling the handbrake

Good advise otherwise tho

>>16549652
dont fuck with weight transfer

Snap overmeme will ALWAYS be your fault. Liftoff overmeme will ALWAYS be your fault.
remember that and you shall not have it.

>>16566035
Not true, you have to instill good driving habits, because it's easy to lift off in an emergency without thinking