TOYOTA MR2 MkI

The original MR2 is a cracking classic buy – here’s what to look for if you spot one in our ads

CHECK ANY PREVIOUS REPAIRS

Most MkIs have had body repairs, although full restorations are rare; low values and poor panel availability mean that most are patched-up instead. Rust is most likely to be found in the rear wheelarches before spreading to the quarter valances – missing rear mudflaps are the giveaway.

LOOK FOR SIGNS OF LEAKS

Check that all the bungs are in the various holes on the underside of the chassis, especially under the footwells and seats, because water can enter here through damaged underseal and go undetected beneath the carpets. The inner bulkhead can rot and then leak. Leaves in the inner front wheelarch liners – and later models’ side skirts – can lead to rotten A-pillars, too..

DOES IT JUMP OUT OF GEAR?

The five-speed manual gearbox can suffer from worn synchromesh on second gear. Slack also develops in the selector mechanism at around 100k miles, which leads to excessive movement of the gearstick in top gear, and develops into jumping out of fifth gear. Caught early, the fifth-gear components can be extended, but badly worn components must be replaced.

SEE HOW IT LOOKS INSIDE

Compressed sealing rubbers on T-bar models lead to water leaks in the cabin. New seals are £260 per set and can be tricky to fit. Retaining clips and screws should be replaced at the same time to prevent leaks. Perforated leather upholstery in late T-bar cars cracks if neglected. Check the electric windows too, as the driver’s side switch is prone to failure, which may leave you stuck with the window down.

HOW DOES IT RUN?

The engine’s ECU can pack up and new ones are becoming increasingly difficult to source, but used replacements are around £50. The alternator can overheat, thereby cutting its life expectancy, so make sure that it’s charging properly. An exchangerebuilt unit costs around £100, plus fitting. The oil pressure should read in the top third of the scale with the engine running above 2000rpm, so check this on a test drive.