Those who regularly follow Auto123.com’s used vehicle reviews may be surprised to see a vehicle dating back to the early nineties in this week’s column. Though it’s still wintertime, spring will soon be right around the corner—and many a budget-minded shopper will be hitting their local classified ads looking for an affordable used sports car buy.
Looking for something cheap, fun, and durable? Want to go racing or drifting? Where affordable, stylish and fun sports cars are concerned, few machines can match the Toyota MR2. In addition to its distinctive styling and celebrated handling dynamics, this machine also came exclusively as a rear-wheel drive with a mid-mounted engine—making it amongst owners involved in motorsports.
Add in relatively affordable aftermarket support, solid reliability and attainable repair parts, and you’ve got a machine that’s sure to remain a popular used coupe buy for years to come. Of course, low market pricing and robust mid-nineties Japanese engineering and electronics make the MR2 appealing to do-it-yourself mechanics, too.
The so-called ‘SW20 generation of the MR2 was available to us Canadians from 1990 to 1995. All models were two-seat coupes with an available T-roof, depending on the year in question. All MR2 models featured a four-cylinder engine—namely a 2.2-litre, 130-horsepower unit or a 2-litre turbo mill that generated 200 horses. Automatic or manual transmissions were available in four or five speeds, respectively.
Look for features like cruise control, power accessories, air conditioning and antilock brakes. If you’re lucky, you’ll even find a used model with the factory cassette deck still on board.
MR2 owners typically rave about the styling of their machines, as well as handling dynamics, exclusivity, performance and manoeuvrability. The MR2’s small size and tight steering make it easy to dart around in traffic and into parking spots, and drivers aren’t likely to have a twin at every traffic light, either.
Common complaints are typically space-related, as the MR2 had a small trunk, no rear seats, and limited at-hand storage on board. It’s also a tight fit for larger drivers, somewhat noisy and delivers a relatively stiff ride, especially on rougher surfaces. Note that the T-Roof assembly may become noisy, rattly or leaky as it ages—so stick with a coupe if you’re concerned.
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| 1990 Toyota MR2 (Photo: Toyota) |
Looking for something cheap, fun, and durable? Want to go racing or drifting? Where affordable, stylish and fun sports cars are concerned, few machines can match the Toyota MR2. In addition to its distinctive styling and celebrated handling dynamics, this machine also came exclusively as a rear-wheel drive with a mid-mounted engine—making it amongst owners involved in motorsports.
Add in relatively affordable aftermarket support, solid reliability and attainable repair parts, and you’ve got a machine that’s sure to remain a popular used coupe buy for years to come. Of course, low market pricing and robust mid-nineties Japanese engineering and electronics make the MR2 appealing to do-it-yourself mechanics, too.
The so-called ‘SW20 generation of the MR2 was available to us Canadians from 1990 to 1995. All models were two-seat coupes with an available T-roof, depending on the year in question. All MR2 models featured a four-cylinder engine—namely a 2.2-litre, 130-horsepower unit or a 2-litre turbo mill that generated 200 horses. Automatic or manual transmissions were available in four or five speeds, respectively.
Look for features like cruise control, power accessories, air conditioning and antilock brakes. If you’re lucky, you’ll even find a used model with the factory cassette deck still on board.
MR2 owners typically rave about the styling of their machines, as well as handling dynamics, exclusivity, performance and manoeuvrability. The MR2’s small size and tight steering make it easy to dart around in traffic and into parking spots, and drivers aren’t likely to have a twin at every traffic light, either.
Common complaints are typically space-related, as the MR2 had a small trunk, no rear seats, and limited at-hand storage on board. It’s also a tight fit for larger drivers, somewhat noisy and delivers a relatively stiff ride, especially on rougher surfaces. Note that the T-Roof assembly may become noisy, rattly or leaky as it ages—so stick with a coupe if you’re concerned.
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| 1991 Toyota MR2 (Photo: Toyota) |