This one high-performance, mid-engine sports car you can afford to run, says James Walshe TOYOTA MR2 MK2
Why you want one
The first generation MR2 was always going to be a hard act to follow. This now highly-prized Eighties gem breathed life into the affordable sports car segment occupied by just a tiny handful of others at the time. Up against the MR2, Fiat’s X1/9 looked ancient. However, hot hatches had taken the world by storm and by the late Eighties, the little MR2 had begun to look a bit out of place. A successful replacement would have to be something sportier and altogether more usable. Mazda went its own way with the MX-5 but Toyota set its sights on a level above. Risky, perhaps… but the intense development of this mid-engined two-seater, with its brilliant dynamics and ‘miniferrari’ feel absolutely paid off. More luxurious and tougher in every respect than its predecessor, only now are we seeing a growing flurry of interest from the wider classic car market. Values are on the march, as enthusiasts discover its mix of svelte good looks, performance potential and quality engineering.
Which one should I buy?
At launch in the European market, we got the basic 119bhp coupé without the T-bar roof, spoiler or fog lamps (dropped in 1992). It was a 2-litre 16-valve twin-cam engine – tried and tested, but far from potent. You had to spend a few grand extra for the GT Coupé with its 156bhp and 137mph top speed. The T-bar version was a little extra and got optional leather.
Catalytic converters were fitted after August 1992. Both versions of the engine had electronic fuel injection and the power was fed to the rear wheels via a slick five-speed manual ’box.
Only a handful sold with an automatic gearbox so it’s unlikely you’ll stumble over one of those.
Our sister publication, CAR magazine, grumbled about the handling at launched and indeed, there was a tendency for the early car to snap out of shape, so larger alloy wheels were fitted from 1992 (now 15in instead of 14in) and the suspension was revised in 1994. Also that year, power was hiked to 174bhp and at the same time anti-lock brakes with larger discs and calipers became standard; these face-lifted cars also feature circular rear lights in place of the previous rectangular items, along with a redesigned rear wing. A Turbo version was offered in Toyota’s home market and although this was never sold in the UK, a few examples have been imported privately so keep an eye out. They’re a memorable drive, to say the least!
What to look out for
These are nicely made cars but take a close look at the rear wheel arches and sills, along with the seams where the door pillars meet the floorpan. If the paint has been damaged by stones on the bonnet or its leading edge, rust will have broken out, so look for scars. Red paint doesn’t like to be left in the sun; it turns a pink that can’t be revived.
Beware of crash damage – and poor repairs. Scrutinise the panel fit, look for mismatched paint and ripples in the inner wings and check that the pop-up headlights operate.