Is Toyota MR2 A Good Car?

Son that's been driving 90 Daytona is looking at switching to an MR2. Early 90's model. Have found a 91 with 150K that had an overhaul 10K miles previous.
Can't find much on this car in the forums cause search fails with 3 char name.

This one we checked out, the oil smelled like gas to me. It was recently changed too. There was oil on both corners of the oil pan, indicating a small leak.

There was slight mildew smell. They say the passenger t-top sometimes leaks in the rain.

They won't budge lower than $4300. Can't find any more MR2's to pick from.

Any thoughts on buying this car?

 

Personally I think $4300 would be a little steep considering what you've already seen. Might try doing extensive used car search online. I tried autotrader.com and came up with three in your general region that could be better buys. Mileage is from zip 28532 (where we used to live in NC). There are lots of additional on-line auto search sites you can go to.

1991 TOYOTA MR2, White, 5 speed, 103k miles, T-Tops, PW, PDL, Alloys, Very Good Condition, Garage kept, MUST SELL need Bigger Car, $4700 NEG! … more
Distance: 185 Miles

1989 Toyota MR2
Fun, responsive sportscar with T-tops is a blast to drive! Only 2 non-smoking owners, very clean dark blue velour interior. Light blue metallic body … more

Price: $3500
Color: Blue
Miles: 140000
Distance: 284 Miles
Private Seller

1992 TOYOTA MR2, black with black leather, at, ac, ps, full pwr, cc, stereo cass, $2995, 336-886-4004 THOMASVILLE
Price: $2995
Distance: 192 Miles

 

We've been shopping those sites. Don't know if these were sold or if they are new ads.
Thanks! We'll check them out.

 

Wickedly fast deathtrap. I wouldn't recommend it for a young driver. Plus, it's difficult to work on and it will soak you fierce for repairs.

That particular one you are describing sounds like a 1500 dollar car at best. 4300 is way to steep for one of those.

Keep the Daytona and run it into the ground. Your wallet will thank you.

 

The Daytona isn't 'drivable' right now. It was sputtering like crazy last week, and no reverse. Not much forward either, and shooting fire 1-2ft out the tailpipe.
Am suspecting a burnt valve or two. Haven't tested it yet. Or the wreck could have pinned two spark plug wires loose. We can't get to them through the fan being pushed onto the manifold area.

We're going to look at a 91 Celica Convertible tonight. Mom and Dad like this option better than the MR2 death trap.

 

The Celica is a better choice and easier to fix.

 

We drove a 91 Celica Convertible, 5 speed. Minor damage.

BUT, then son found a 95 Eagle Talon TSI turbo 5 speed for the same price. 100K, garage kept, perfect in and out. Well maintained. Looks like a great car for 4 grand.

From the search here it looks like a good deal and good car.

 

Wherever you live, I want to sell my used cars. LOL. 4 grand for that is steep!

The Eagle is flat out junk in my book. It's 1) discontinued, 2) based on a poor platform (Mitsubishi Eclipse) with a lot of problems, and 3) expensive to fix.

With a young person driving, you're asking for trouble there. That's a pretty quick pocket rocket and will soak you fast at this stage of the game.

Given the fact that someone wrecked a Daytona, which is a pretty slow car, I wouldn't step up to faster things right away.

Keep looking, there is better out there . Stick with something sporty looking, but reliable underneath.

My .02

 

Thanks for your quick answer, Joe. He wrecked the Daytona cause the brakes failed.

The searches I did seemed to indicate the Talon to be better than the MR2 and stuff. This guy has kept it up really nice. Water pump and alternator are the two biggies he's replaced.

If he drives responsibly and keeps up the regular maintenance you don't think it will be OK?

Nadaguides had a span of 4-6K on it's value, and with the Celica and MR2 prices we saw, it looks like a good deal for a perfect, unblemished car.

 

Haven't you ever wondered why there's not a 'cent' sign on keyboards? That bugs me!

Joe, what YOU got for sale?

Want to buy a Daytona or a YZ125?

 

In a two way decision between a Celica and a Talon, the Talon would finish fifth in my book. I wouldn't put a whole lotta faith in that value figure on the Eagle. My wife's '95 Camry shows a price range in the same area and there is NO WAY hese would be of equal value.

Side note to joe: What's the scoop on some limited edition Firebird that we towed recently. Supposedly only 110 made and only a handful still left on the planet? Has a hexagonal decal on either front bumper with the original Pontiac "head" logo and the number "50".

 

No. The Talon will soak you. It's at the stage where it WILL start to cost you money and fall apart. There is much better out there for the money, I suggest you find it .

They burn oil, blow the turbos, cost a lot to maintain and have timing belt issues. All of these can get expensive to maintain if you don't do the work yourself. I'd stay with a MUCH simpler platform such as the Celica or another easy to fix Toyota. Parts will be cheaper too as they are shared with other models, which keeps costs down.

TowGuy: There is a limited edition F/Bird to signify the F body's departure. It's a 2002 model. Much in the same fashion that Oldsmobile has done with the Intrigue and other models as their demise is close too .

Nice car, but I don't buy Pontiacs which are not Pontiac powered (that would mean nothing newer than 1981 ).

 

This is something older, joe - 70's-80's vintage; will have to check on the year and maybe get the vin.

 

There were a lot of "special" editions that came out in the 70's and 80's, such as the Fire Am (Herb Adams), the "Macho" T/A (Mecham), The "Bandit" (Trans Am Specialties), etc, etc, etc.

The T/A was hot in the 70's and many companies jumped on the bandwagon to modify them. Most of them are conversation pieces more than anything else, but it depends.

 

Forget the MR2 and the Celica, go for the YZ250 if you want speed and the wind blowing through your hair, otherwise be safe and buy a truck!

 

The thought that crosses my mind is why the kid wants a horse that has been ridden hard and put away wet?This seems to be an issue of looking cool instead of dollar smart.A sports car with hi mileage is JUNK that's why it's for sale.Try to find a car with lower mileage of the uncool cars that weren't beat to death,the insurance is cheaper too.

 

Hey, davo, chill out! You're hurtin' my business here! LOL

FWIW we tow those B.T.S. [figure that one out] kid's cars all the time - Honda Civics, Mitsu Eclipses especially popular.

 

I only know the mentality because my 18 year old son wants a car he can pimp out. A free subaru 4 wheel drive car wasn't good enough for him,my personal hard earned donation to the cause.

 

My first car (among them, I had 2 when I started driving) was a 1982 Oldsmobile Toronado that I paid 3200 for in 1987. My parents gave me $1000 bucks, the rest I paid back that same year by working after school. It was a class act car for the price--my dad got it as a trade in at the Cadillac dealership he managed.

My 1980 Trans Am was passed down to me, but I always had my eye on it, and polished and waxed it all the time for my dad because when he worked at the dealer, he had to work Saturdays and didn't have all the time needed to keep them the way he wanted to . When my dad passed away in 1988, my mother started driving other cars we had and I used the T/A for school.

Never once did I think about changing anything about it. I think I threw out the hot air duct because it was ripped. Mind you I found an NOS one for 7 bucks at a dealer some years later and it's all back to factory OEM stock again .

My theory: Unless the kid is a virtual gearhead and shows early signs of working on cars in a serious manner, he/she should get something safe, slow and sane. As confidence builds up and maturity is shown, bigger and better things come into play

Davo: A Subaru is a baby step above a bus, but for free it beats the bus .

 

The last thing on this planet you should get him is the talan. Joe is right about that car.

One other problem to consider is it is built on the eclipse platform and those are one of the most popular cars to mod in the import world.

He is going to start modding it, and really watch that thing break down.

Take the 4 grand and put in down on a very used low miles toyota tacoma like I did -----and pay payments on 6 grand.

Most high milage imports or american 4 cylinder cars over 10 years old are just not worth buying and keeping, as the parts are VERY expensive, they are more difficult to work on, and are not really designed to last more than 15 years or so.

If you insist on an older car, get an older american v8 powered car, or a newer import with less than 80k on the clock

 

Take the 4 grand and put in down on a very used low miles toyota tacoma like I did -----and pay payments on 6 grand.

---I'd advise against that only because incurring a car payment is not the thing a 17 year old kid should have to do. Plus, it's best to get something that needs some work so they learn and appreciate that owning a car is a priveledge, not a right.


Most high milage imports or american 4 cylinder cars over 10 years old are just not worth buying and keeping, as the parts are VERY expensive, they are more difficult to work on, and are not really designed to last more than 15 years or so.

---Actually, mostly anything US 4 cylinder is rock bottom cheap as far as parts go. Most of the GM cars share parts with other cars, so things like brake rotors, pads, tuneup items, belts and hoses are dirt cheap. On the import side, it depends.

If you insist on an older car, get an older american v8 powered car, or a newer import with less than 80k on the clock

----I'd stay away here too, as V8 means power in most cases---the last thing you want in the hands of someone who is not experienced.

(Not trying to blow your post apart Jeremy)...

Original poster:

1) What is your budget for a replacement car? Who is paying for what?

2) Is your kid handy or does he/she have the aptitude and wilingness (and desire) to learn to repair vehicles?

3) What will the car be used for?

4) How much does style matter? I went to school with kids that didn't care if the car was a go-kart, they were more interested in the freedom of being able to go where they wanted. I always had cool cars. LOL. (still do).

5) As for "trusting" with high powered cars, it depends on the kid, really. I had a powerful (by 1980 standards) car in high school; then again, I was into cars since I was five and still have my original 1978 Huffy bicycle in the garage hanging up in one mint piece. LOL.

What I'm trying to get at is that some kids appreciate property and keep up with things (some make it a passion, which is good), others as the chips fall they fall and "dad and mom will bail me out". Others pay for it themselves, but are hellions at the wheel in these rockets.

What you don't want is your kid to become an accident statistic. Sure he/she could kill someone driving a Geo Metro (any vehicle can be a weapon in the wrong hands), but it's less likely than a Chevy Corvette for instance.


My .02

 

Actually, the 2G DSM cars (Eclipse and Talon from 95 up to 99, I believe) have the lovely crankwalk problem with those 7 bolt Mitsubishi engines.

Foreverkeeps: Your best bet in the import world for a car that is easy to find, easy to maintain (if you dont drive like a maniac) and easy to find parts for is a 1G DSM car produced in the early 90's. The best bet is to find a 91 or 92 Eclipse or Talon with 100k or less with a stock turbo and no mods. Mitsubishi made some great 6 bolt motors and the AWD (TSI and GSX) is awesome in the snow. I know quite a few kids who mod these cars to 12-13 second dragstrip land on a stock engine while driving them daily.

Now if you want to just save money and look bad, buy a K-car.

 

get an older car like a late 80's early 90's subaru tough as hell and long lasting maye a xt or something like that

 

get an older car like a late 80's early 90's subaru tough as hell and long lasting maye a xt or something like that
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Till the exhaust pipe breaks or the body rots. Then it's not worth bus fare .