Toyota MR2 customer review

I wanted my first car to be a Lamborghini.
Nothing could possibly be a bigger statement than a Diablo with  L-plates, right?

It was a silly idea, but one I held onto for far too long. When eventually I came to my senses and realised that I wouldn't be able to afford a Diablo, I held firmly to the  supercar idea for my first vehicle. A Ferrari 308? I could have picked up a cheap one for about $60,000 or so but I was certain I'd regret that at the first service. Plus I still couldn't afford that capital purchase anyway.

It was then that I began to try to distill the essence of what makes a supercar. Two seats. Funky doors. Sexy looks.  Powerful engine in the middle.
The doors were the first feature to go; I knew I could never cope with a LHD-only Delorean, and nobody else made crazy doors for under a bajillion dollars.
I was holding onto the mid-engine, rear-wheel drive ideal, come hell or high water though. Through my extensive video gaming experience, I knew that this layout theoretically led to excellent handling cars, and having driven a Holden Commodore and a Hyundai Getz, I knew I wanted more.

Eventually, my list of cars was whittled down to two:
1988 Lotus Esprit Turbo
199x Toyota MR2

I flew halfway across the country to test-drive the Lotus. It was sensational. It was gloriously loud, held the road like glue, and everybody looked at us wherever we went.

The bank said no to loaning me the funds though. Looking back, I'm probably grateful for this, as the last service for that vehicle cost as much as my whole car eventually did.

So, on to the MR2. It's not a huge compromise on my initial ideals. It has two seats, looks a bit like a Ferrari, and has a 115kW engine mounted in the middle, powering the rear wheels. It's not the most powerful engine in the world, but it's no slouch, either. It set me back $7,200 four years ago, and that price would get you a slightly newer one with more features these days.

On the inside, it's surprisingly spacious. In the passenger seat, I can stretch my 180cm self right out and just barely touch the front firewall with my toes. The seats are comfortable for trips long or short, but alas, egress and ingress can be awkward at times due to the car's low stance.
The driving position is sublime, but due to the low roof, it's suited to a very "laid back" seating. Driver forward visibility is excellent, but rear visibility is somewhat impaired by the spoiler. Checking your blind spot is an exercise in futility thanks to the massive flying buttress right behind your head. Changing lane in busy traffic with this car is perhaps best performed by owls and people of faith.

The equipment is a bit basic by today's standards, but I guess it was top of the line stuff in 1993. You get a CD player (which may or may not still work), an AM/FM radio, and a tape deck. Whatever that is.
Interestingly, you get cruise control, which works as expected. There are no cup holders though. You win some, you lose some.

Surprisingly, the boot is spacious - a fortnight's groceries for two people will fit easily - but don't overestimate its capacity. One of the previous owners of my MR2 tried to fit a large esky in the boot and couldn't, so now I have a large dent and associated crack on the inside of my boot lid.

In terms of performance, the MR2 manages to hit that sweet spot that small sports cars typically aim for. It's well balanced and agile. It accelerates well and has just enough power to get you in trouble, but not so much that it's scary. Well, unless you lose traction, that is.
The suspension is firm, but not spine-shatteringly hard like a Lotus. Driving over potholes is definitely not recommended. It may be a cliche, but the car handles like it's on rails.

Fuel economy is officially something like 7.3L/100km, but let's face it; this is a performance car and that figure is optimistic at best. In reality, I get between 9 and 11L/100km. The engine is quite happy to rev all the way to 7200rpm, and it's just too tempting to do so once you discover that this gets you to 108kph in second gear - plus the noise will put a massive grin on face.

In terms of safety equipment, the 1993 model comes with four-wheel ABS. That's it. In fact, I wasn't even sure my ABS worked until recently, when I deliberately tested it. I have no particular desire to experience that again either; it turns out that the braking performance even with stock brakes is rather excellent, but it may take a while to put your eyes back in their sockets.
There is no power steering (unless you spring for the turbocharged GT model), but you really don't miss it. Without an engine over the front axle, the steering is light at any speed, and in any case, the car gives you excellent feedback on the road conditions  through the wheel.

Airbags are available in later years, if it's a concern.

Reliability.
In my three years of ownership, the only engine issue I've had is an oil leak, which took ages to track down. However, there are some sensor issues; the oil light is stuck on, the fuel gauge occasionally sticks at full, and the temperature gauge is intermittent at best.
I have had a clutch issue. Thankfully, it wasn't the clutch itself (that would probably be hugely expensive, as in any mid-engined car), but one of the cylinders needed replacing, which was not a fun experience.

Given that my model has removable T-tops, it's probably unsurprising that I've had issues with the roof/door seals. Pay close attention to these if you're buying this model, as those seals are surprisingly expensive to replace. I'd recommend treating the owner to a nice car wash, and seeing if you stay dry.

Also pay close attention to the suspension geometry. One of the previous owners did some damage to a non-adjustable part on mine that means I have to source an aftermarket adjustable replacement.

Thankfully, it's the sort of car that attracts a large enthusiast following, so whatever needs replacing can be readily obtained for a reasonable price. Not only that, but it's a Toyota, so the servicing costs are quite cheap. In the course of my ownership, I've more often been surprised at the low cost of the job rather than the high.

Finally, pay attention to the tyres and wheels. The stock car comes with 15" rims, and wider rear tyres than front. Many tyre packages don't take this into account and offer the same size all around. Then, some people fit larger aftermarket rims, but again, may not fit wider tyres to the rear. In either case, this is definitely not ideal, as unexpectedly losing traction on the rear wheels is... well, let's just say it's significantly less fun in a mid-engined car than a front-engined one. You might want to pack a spare pair of underpants.

Ultimately, the car has proven to be excellent value. It gets many looks in town, and is unbelievably fun to drive. And really, that's all any guy really wants in a first car, right?

The Toyota MR2 may not be a supercar but boy, is it a super car.