Tell me about the MR2 MkII

I daily drive my E Stock '91 MR2. I love it. More practical than you would think. The trunk isn't big, but it's small either, really. I can totally go get groceries and stuff.

I get about 25 MPG around town. Could do a lot better if I could drive more reasonably. I've come close to 30 mostly city driving when I take it easy.

Hard tops are pretty hard to come by, but they show up from time to time. The really hard one to find is a '93 Hardtop. That's the year all the autocrossers want. Has the revised syspension but doesn't yet have a passenger side air bag. Personally, I think a '94 would be just as good, and my '91 with T Tops could be 98% as good with a better driver and some allignment tweaks. But you didn't ask about that...

No real problem areas. Seems like the 5S doesn't hold up as well as some Toyota engines. I've seen a lot of them go at about 150,000 miles. If you run a big front bar and race rubber for a while it will rip out the sway bar mounting points on the chassis. Worth taking a look at. Other than that, it's just hard to find a clean one that hasn't been beat to death by a kid or "modded" into something horrible. Ball joints usually need to be replaced. They sorta go through them, but not at an unreasonable rate. E Brake cables are almost always worn out. They get moisture in them and if you live in a coldish climate, the brake will freeze on overnight and you aren't going anywhere. They're not hard to change or very expensive.

I agree with folks who say they aren't the most nimble cars ever. They feel big and heavy, especially with manual steering. Kind of the opposite of a Miata. But man, do they ever hold on. Really fun to feel all those Gs. They're faster than Miatas. They'll stomp them at a ProSolo. On a typical course, they're faster in the sweepers and straights, slower on the transitions. Miatas are king of the slalom.

It's very hard to work on the engine. Timing belt is such a bear that I pay someone to do it. Other than that, pretty much normal stuff. Valve stem seals leak on cars with some miles on them. Got to keep the oil topped up or there is terrible valve chatter on cold start.

My car in race trim weighs right around 2,500 lbs. Seems heavy for such a small car. Not sure why they weigh so much. They say the T Tops cost you 20 lbs.

Sorry for the long post. Just rattling off everything I can think of. I love my MR2.

A pic of mine in action at the Colorado Tour event.

http://action.zenfolio.com/p1014973075/e5884977

Vigo wrote:

Probably because they're high 15s cars at best.

A whopping half second behind a best-case-scenario p71, is what you're saying? hehe Only p71 i ever raced was with my 3.5 intrepid. It was about even.

Obviously this means that the P71 is light years faster.

I'm not sure what the problem with the 5s is, to be honest. These forums are the only place that i've seen people say anything about them not lasting. Everywhere else they seem to have the reputation of being as long lived as the best of the long-lived toyota motors. (22re, 1uzfe, etc)

My last two 5sfe Celicas had/have well over 200k miles on them. (Sold one with 225k miles on it, i know it went another 50k before it was sold again) My current one has 253k on it, was boosted for years, and has had a bunch of nitrous through it. It's been fine.

I've seen at least 5 in person with over 300k miles, one of which had 380k+ miles on it when the owner decided to pull it for a rebuild "just cuz." It ran fine, made good power. After the rebuild, it blew up within 3,000 miles.

I guess the good thing is, if they DO blow, you can pull another motor out of ANY junkyard for $150 or less.

+1 to timing belt being a pain in these cars. Just pull the motor.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

dculberson wrote: I was pretty surprised to see the weight at 2700 pounds. That's a LOT more than a Miata!

They're a MUCH more solid car. They don't feel heavy, per se... but a properly maintained one should feel like it's been machined out of a solid piece of steel. Build quality is pretty incredible. Like i said earlier, it's like "toy" vs. "tool."

I don't doubt you there, the Miata doesn't feel like a SOLID car. And I would hope they don't feel heavy - They still weigh less than, say, an S2000. My current daily driver is almost 1000 pounds heavier.

dculberson wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

dculberson wrote: I was pretty surprised to see the weight at 2700 pounds. That's a LOT more than a Miata!

They're a MUCH more solid car. They don't feel heavy, per se... but a properly maintained one should feel like it's been machined out of a solid piece of steel. Build quality is pretty incredible. Like i said earlier, it's like "toy" vs. "tool."

I don't doubt you there, the Miata doesn't feel like a SOLID car. And I would hope they don't feel heavy - They still weigh less than, say, an S2000. My current daily driver is almost 1000 pounds heavier.

Yep on all counts. The lack of solid is one thing that i intensely dislike about my Miata. It shouldn't feel more fragile than my Escort.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'm not sure what the problem with the 5s is, to be honest. These forums are the only place that i've seen people say anything about them not lasting.

Dunno. Mine went just before 150,000. Second event this season, a guy showed up with is "new to him" '91 with just over 150,000 miles. It blew up on his second run. I was talking to a former E Stock driver at that event who said his went at just about the same mark.

So, a sample of three. Not scientific at all. Most of them are probably just fine. Jumping in and pushing them to the rev limiter over and over probably takes it's toll in a way a street car rarely sees. Lord knows they don't feel like they like revving that much. I'm sure in a Camry they last forever. It certainly wouldn't put me off buying one - as you say, they're not hard to find at all. And you'll be pulling the engine anyhow to change the timing belt! lol

I appreciate all the responses. A couple quick questions: can the NAs run on 87 octane gas?

Anyone want to buy my current DD (CTS-V) so I can swing the MR2?

Fast Eddie: nice car.

A few more questions: I think the cars look better without a spoiler or wing. Were those optional, or standard? Will 14-inch wheels fit on the later cars that came with 15s? Are there any options that make the car more or less fun to drive?

I agree that they look better without the rear wing. Very Ferrariesque without it

Will wrote: Anyone want to buy my current DD (CTS-V) so I can swing the MR2?

Absolutely! Of course, price might be an issue. ;-)

Will wrote: I appreciate all the responses. A couple quick questions: can the NAs run on 87 octane gas? Anyone want to buy my current DD (CTS-V) so I can swing the MR2? Fast Eddie: nice car.

Yep they run on 87 octane.

Will wrote: A few more questions: I think the cars look better without a spoiler or wing. Were those optional, or standard? Will 14-inch wheels fit on the later cars that came with 15s? Are there any options that make the car more or less fun to drive?

I don't know if 14s fit over the later cars... I kindof doubt it, to be honest.

14s won't fit on my 92 Celica, won't clear the brakes.

I believe the wing was standard, but i see a lot of people removing them. (I could be wrong, i tend to like the wing anyways. Although... wingless + snorkel looks sweet)

I think all the options on the NA variants were mainly interior things, so no. I WOULD suggest a later car if you can find one. They look better, the 5s is slightly more powerful (if they followed the celica's marks), and the brakes are better.

NAs had the same brakes all the way through. 91-92 Turbos had 2-piston front calipers. These brakes will bolt right on to any NA and fit under 14's. Insanely CHEAP upgrade, as eveybody wants the 93+ Turbo brakes, which are still 2 piston and bolt right on, but will not fit under the 14's. I think the difference is only ~14%? more swept area.

Good fluid and pads and the 91-92 Turbo front brakes are the cheap and easy upgrade.

I ask about the tires only because I looked on Tire Rack, and there was only one style of tire available in the OE sizes for both the 14 and 15...and I thought the one in the 14-inch size was a better tire. I also notice Tire Rack didn't sell a single rear pad for the MkII. Is it hard to find decent pads/tires for these cars?

Good to know about the early turbo brakes, but I think I want to leave the car stock for as long as possible. Even though I have no intent to race the car, I guess I'd like to be able to put in in ES if my ESP car broke.

If I'm able to have a choice of colors, I'd probably pick white or yellow. Are either of those rare enough to give me a problem (especially on a hardtop)? Black would be my absolute last choice.

Thanks again for all the help.

White is somewhat common. Every yellow one i've seen (all two of them) have been turbo cars.

I see more red ones than the other colors combined.

Will wrote: I appreciate all the responses. A couple quick questions: can the NAs run on 87 octane gas?

Funny, I never looked it up before. Owner's manual says "5S-FE engine: Select Research Octane Number 91 (Octane Rating 87) or higher." Sooo, I think that means yes. I run whatever the middle octane is most of the time, and to be honest, I maybe hear a bit of ping from time to time. I run 91 when I have an autocross coming up. It does seem to prefer it.

Will wrote: A few more questions: I think the cars look better without a spoiler or wing. Were those optional, or standard? Will 14-inch wheels fit on the later cars that came with 15s? Are there any options that make the car more or less fun to drive?

They were optional, but it sure seems to be an option that came on 100% of them. Shoot, not sure about the wheels. Rock Auto show the same part numbers for rotors for a '91 N/A and a '93 N/A, so I suspect yes. I know turbos have different brakes. Ah- yes, Rockauto show different part numbers for a '91 turbo rotor vs. a '93 turbo rotor.

I'm 89.641% sure that the answer is yes, they will fit on an N/A, but not a turbo.

Options - well, if I could pick and choose, I'd like to have power steering and ABS. I don't have either. I have sticky summer tires on the later 15" wheels for the street, and to tell the truth, it's kind of a bear in a parking lot.

Will wrote: I also notice Tire Rack didn't sell a single rear pad for the MkII. Is it hard to find decent pads/tires for these cars?

I run EBC pads on my '91. I like um fine. I think you can get other performance pads. Tires, yeah, the stagger is a PITA for factory wheels. I found 15" easier to find than 14", but it seems to change a lot. I have the BF Goodrich G Force Sports on it right now. I haven't looked to see if they're still available for the 15" stock tire size. I hope so, I really love them. They are pretty dog gone sticky!!

In the 14s, I know you could get the Sumitomo HTR 200s. I assume you still can. I really like those- a lot actually. Not as sticky as the BF Goodrich, but they're really inexpensive. For the price, very hard to beat. If I can't get the Goodrich, I'll probably go back to them. God knows I have enough wheels.

For winter I've worn out my Blizzaks and they don't make them in a 14" that I could find. So, yeah, not sure what I'm going to do. But there has to be something out there. Seems like 14" tires are getting hard to find in anything other than the most basic, non fun sizes ever. But I'm surprised that going to 15s doesn't seem to make it a lot better. People are in love with heavy, giant wheels. Guess people don't like to go fast anymore.

Almost every MR2 I see on the street is on after market wheels, at least 16".

Man, I'm long winded tonight - back to the spoiler. It's not hard to remove it if you don't mind filling the holes and painting. Since they're listed as an "option" they're legal to remove for E Stock cars and some people have done it.

They do look cool without them. Shoot, maybe I should take mine off.

(edit) Sorry for the post whoring. I'm too tired to clean it all up into one post. G'night!

the Mr2 has been on my bucketlist if I wanted another sports car. Maybe I should pull that trigger?

^Yes you should.