Should I Buy this MR2? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

tdoggy57 · 02-14-2013, 08:51 AM

OK, so every day on my way home I see this red MR2 for sale. Looks really clean for such an old car. Today, my curiosity got the best of me and I stopped by on my way home from work to take a look.

Everything looks good and clean on the outside, paint looks good, looks to be original everything. The older man came out to assist me (or make sure I don't steal it, I'm a young colored guy lol) and he ended up being pretty cool. He said that an older lady owned it and all she did was drive it to work at a church every day. He said that the interior looks brand new and tried to show me, but the door was frozen shut lol. I reassured him that I believed him about the interior and there was no need to break the handle off.

So in short, it's a red manual 87 Toyota MR2 with 60,000 original miles with 1 owner. His listed price is $1495 and he said that he needs at least $1400.

Should I bite? I don't know a ton about these cars other than the fact that they're RWD, lightweight, and fun to drive. I've never owned or driven a manual, so I'd be learning on this. It'd be a second car to my FR-S obviously. Is this a car that would be good and inexpensive to mod?

I know a lot of you guys have experience in the past with these, so let me know what you think! Sorry didn't snap any pics.

whaap · 02-14-2013, 09:23 AM

Though I've never driven one I've always been a fan of the MR-2. If it won't throw you in a financial bind I'd have to say yes, buy it. From what you describe I would think you would never have a problem getting your money back, if not more, if and when you decided to sell it.

leon78 · 02-14-2013, 09:35 AM

Get it for sure....pretty much any car that runs and drives if worth $1400, and this one has character.

DanoFA20 · 02-14-2013, 09:48 AM

I know a bit about mr2s that's a great price ! If I'm correct it should have a 4age engine if its supercharged it has a 4agz both are 1.6 liter engines ones obviously super charged other NA. If you are working on it your self they can be tricky but great cars. Careful around corners since having a mid ship is different you can't just lift off the throttle at a quick pace.

Beyer Subaru · 02-14-2013, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdoggy57

OK, so every day on my way home I see this red MR2 for sale. Looks really clean for such an old car. Today, my curiosity got the best of me and I stopped by on my way home from work to take a look.

Everything looks good and clean on the outside, paint looks good, looks to be original everything. The older man came out to assist me (or make sure I don't steal it, I'm a young colored guy lol) and he ended up being pretty cool. He said that an older lady owned it and all she did was drive it to work at a church every day. He said that the interior looks brand new and tried to show me, but the door was frozen shut lol. I reassured him that I believed him about the interior and there was no need to break the handle off.

So in short, it's a red manual 87 Toyota MR2 with 60,000 original miles with 1 owner. His listed price is $1495 and he said that he needs at least $1400.

Should I bite? I don't know a ton about these cars other than the fact that they're RWD, lightweight, and fun to drive. I've never owned or driven a manual, so I'd be learning on this. It'd be a second car to my FR-S obviously. Is this a car that would be good and inexpensive to mod?

I know a lot of you guys have experience in the past with these, so let me know what you think! Sorry didn't snap any pics.

Colored? Really? I hope that you don't refer to yourself in this manner often.

As for the car, 1,400 seems like a drop in the bucket for an ultra low mileage 80's Toyota. But I don't know the ins and outs of the service work that it might need to keep it on the road. I think it would be a real fun "first" manual to learn on.

theenglishmidget · 02-14-2013, 10:48 AM

Paging @Turbowned

Dadhawk · 02-14-2013, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdoggy57

So in short, it's a red manual 87 Toyota MR2 with 60,000 original miles with 1 owner. His listed price is $1495 and he said that he needs at least $1400.

Should I bite? ....

If it seems mechanically sound (get it checked out so you know what you are getting) you might want to buy it before I can drive to Delaware and snipe it from you!

clevrname · 02-14-2013, 11:27 AM

If you can swing the money, buy it.

I've got an SW20 MR2 with a 3SGTE and it's an absolute blast to drive. I've got basic upgrades to it and putting down about 290whp. Granted the 3SGTE didn't come in the first gen.

I've always wanted a first gen. Take that car, swap a 2ZZ into it and they are a
Blast. Some people even swap the Camry V6 into it for auto cross. It'd be a great car to learn to drive manual in and if you wanted, they're hella fun to mod.

Also, that mileage is crazy low and for it to be a manual, it's a great price. I've got a guy local asking 5k for an automatic in that bodystyle with a little over 70k.

tech4pdx · 02-14-2013, 11:30 AM

Buy it and put an FA20 in it.. .. ..Oh wait, don't do that since it won't be an MR2 anymore.

On a serious note, buy that shit as long as you have the financial cushion for the pushin' in case it ever stops on the road.

Haha

Dave-ROR · 02-14-2013, 12:23 PM

Get it checked out. If all is good buy it.

However it's not exactly the best winter car if that's what you want it for...

CSG Mike · 02-14-2013, 12:33 PM

I've had both a 1st and 2nd gen MR2.

Is this one supercharged?

The chassis will be noticeably floppy compared to the FRS. In fact, it'll be noticeably floppy in general; you'll hear creaks as you angle up driveways and such.

This car is, literally, a go kart.

zygrene · 02-14-2013, 01:32 PM

That's an insane deal for an original MR2 with 1 owner and low miles. Get it checked out by a mechanic, and if it's clean, buy it. Hell if I could find a deal like that in NorCal I would think twice about paying almost 20x as much for a 91 NSX with 72k miles, which is what I'm trying to get a loan for atm.

husker741 · 02-14-2013, 01:35 PM

Yeah I agree, if it checks out, throw your money at the man. I would love an MR-2. Such a fun car. I always hated that a supercharged 2nd gen was able to out accelerate my 98 GS400.

bestwheelbase · 02-14-2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beyer Subaru

Colored? Really?

Wow. Just wow.

@tdoggy57 if the inspection checks out, grab it! That will be a lot of fun for fourteen-hundred bucks.

02-14-2013, 08:51 AM	#1
tdoggy57 Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: Asphalt Scion FR-S Location: Delaware Posts: 447 Thanks: 134 Thanked 127 Times in 80 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Should I Buy this MR2? OK, so every day on my way home I see this red MR2 for sale. Looks really clean for such an old car. Today, my curiosity got the best of me and I stopped by on my way home from work to take a look. Everything looks good and clean on the outside, paint looks good, looks to be original everything. The older man came out to assist me (or make sure I don't steal it, I'm a young colored guy lol) and he ended up being pretty cool. He said that an older lady owned it and all she did was drive it to work at a church every day. He said that the interior looks brand new and tried to show me, but the door was frozen shut lol. I reassured him that I believed him about the interior and there was no need to break the handle off. So in short, it's a red manual 87 Toyota MR2 with 60,000 original miles with 1 owner. His listed price is $1495 and he said that he needs at least $1400. Should I bite? I don't know a ton about these cars other than the fact that they're RWD, lightweight, and fun to drive. I've never owned or driven a manual, so I'd be learning on this. It'd be a second car to my FR-S obviously. Is this a car that would be good and inexpensive to mod? I know a lot of you guys have experience in the past with these, so let me know what you think! Sorry didn't snap any pics. __________________ 2013 Asphalt Scion FR-S Journal: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8778

02-14-2013, 09:35 AM	#3
leon78 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: 13 Whiteout Location: Niceville FL Posts: 666 Thanks: 307 Thanked 241 Times in 142 Posts Mentioned: 23 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Get it for sure....pretty much any car that runs and drives if worth $1400, and this one has character. __________________ 2013 Scion FR-S (Whiteout) GunMetal 16x8+25 Enkei CompE_Cusco OCC_ Kartboy Crank Pulley_Kartboy TMM insert_Koni Yellows_RCE Springs_K&N Drop-In_Eibach FSB_J2 Catless FP_WhiteLine Camber Bolts_NameLess Track Pipe_RBF600_Ferodo DS2500_PTUNING Tuned. Less parking more racing

02-14-2013, 11:27 AM	#8
clevrname Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Drives: 2013 Firestorm FR-S 6MT Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 289 Thanks: 12 Thanked 92 Times in 46 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	If you can swing the money, buy it. I've got an SW20 MR2 with a 3SGTE and it's an absolute blast to drive. I've got basic upgrades to it and putting down about 290whp. Granted the 3SGTE didn't come in the first gen. I've always wanted a first gen. Take that car, swap a 2ZZ into it and they are a Blast. Some people even swap the Camry V6 into it for auto cross. It'd be a great car to learn to drive manual in and if you wanted, they're hella fun to mod. Also, that mileage is crazy low and for it to be a manual, it's a great price. I've got a guy local asking 5k for an automatic in that bodystyle with a little over 70k. __________________ 2013 Firestorm 6MT 2005 Corolla XRS

02-14-2013, 12:23 PM	#10
Dave-ROR Site Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Drives: Stuff Location: Florida Posts: 10,317 Thanks: 955 Thanked 5,965 Times in 2,689 Posts Mentioned: 262 Post(s) Tagged: 8 Thread(s)	Get it checked out. If all is good buy it. However it's not exactly the best winter car if that's what you want it for... __________________ -Dave Track cars: 2013 Scion FRS, 1998 Acura Integra Type-R, 1993 Honda Civic Hatchback DD: 2005 Acura TSX Tow: 2022 F-450 Toys: 2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo, 1994 Toyota MR2 Turbo, 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 Parts: 2015 Subaru BRZ Limited, 2005 Acura TSX Projects: 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited track car build FS: 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 LT CCSB 8.1/Allison with 99k miles

02-14-2013, 09:23 AM	#2
whaap Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Drives: '13 FR-S firestorm, 6 mt - '11 CR-V Location: Tucson Posts: 2,133 Thanks: 243 Thanked 1,387 Times in 657 Posts Mentioned: 36 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Though I've never driven one I've always been a fan of the MR-2. If it won't throw you in a financial bind I'd have to say yes, buy it. From what you describe I would think you would never have a problem getting your money back, if not more, if and when you decided to sell it.

02-14-2013, 11:30 AM	#9
tech4pdx Make love Join Date: Nov 2012 Drives: H8R.. Not really Location: Edge of the Milky Way Posts: 780 Thanks: 524 Thanked 214 Times in 143 Posts Mentioned: 31 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Buy it and put an FA20 in it.. .. ..Oh wait, don't do that since it won't be an MR2 anymore. On a serious note, buy that shit as long as you have the financial cushion for the pushin' in case it ever stops on the road. Haha

02-14-2013, 12:33 PM	#11
CSG Mike Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: S2000 CR Location: Orange County Posts: 14,561 Thanks: 8,941 Thanked 14,211 Times in 6,854 Posts Mentioned: 970 Post(s) Tagged: 14 Thread(s)	I've had both a 1st and 2nd gen MR2. Is this one supercharged? The chassis will be noticeably floppy compared to the FRS. In fact, it'll be noticeably floppy in general; you'll hear creaks as you angle up driveways and such. This car is, literally, a go kart.

02-14-2013, 01:32 PM	#12
zygrene Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 1991 Formula Red NSX Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 218 Thanks: 69 Thanked 59 Times in 30 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	That's an insane deal for an original MR2 with 1 owner and low miles. Get it checked out by a mechanic, and if it's clean, buy it. Hell if I could find a deal like that in NorCal I would think twice about paying almost 20x as much for a 91 NSX with 72k miles, which is what I'm trying to get a loan for atm.

02-14-2013, 01:35 PM	#13
husker741 Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: 2013 Whiteout Scion FR-S 6MT Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 3,272 Thanks: 1,278 Thanked 4,183 Times in 1,415 Posts Mentioned: 28 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Yeah I agree, if it checks out, throw your money at the man. I would love an MR-2. Such a fun car. I always hated that a supercharged 2nd gen was able to out accelerate my 98 GS400.

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