Mk3 Toyota MR2 - Toyota's Biggest Mistake, or Best Kept Secret?

[@LukeEvans55]

Friend of mine has a modified 2ZZ swapped one of these; making it the car with the engine it should have had. Really cracking car.

[@postmortemarg]

So much fun when driven around 5-6 thousand rpm

[@garethmcrae668]

@@postmortemarg Yes, great upgrade. The lift kicks in on the VVTL at 6250 ish, up to over 8k, so got to keep it spinning! The 6 speed box from the Celica 190 has to be swapped in too, to keep it 'on cam'.

[@thecsslife]

1ZZ is a lot more practical. It's more fuel efficient and has more torque at lower RPM

[@aivarusk218]

This will probably raise a few eyebrows but I was considering a 2zz swap for my mr2 until I drove one… and Ive decided to stick with the 1zz, the 2zz is amazing when you’re on the boil but day to day driving the 1zz is much nicer because of the more generous torque curve at low to mid rpms.

[@aivarusk218]

@@thecsslife correct, the 1zz is much nicer for daily driving and is much easier to exploit the power and torque down some back roads.

[@mr2bmw]

I've owned my 2001 MR2 since NEW, and I still am totally in love with this car. Excellent handling, reliability, and looks fantastic. I absolutely love this car!

[@postmortemarg]

I recently bought a 370z Roadster. Looks better, drives faster, etc, but my 2ZZ MR2 is still way more fun. Never letting mine go.

[@cee5212]

Eh...agree on everything except the looks. The MK2 was beautiful, this looks like more of a hairdressers car imo.

[@twrcrew8852]

@@postmortemarg the Z has worse visibility though, as all modern cars do. You can't beat mid engine visibility, especially designed in the 90s.

[@twrcrew8852]

@@cee5212 and that's without even considering the gemballa GT clones this car is capable of being made into. that is Toyota's own design, that kit.

[@postmortemarg]

@@twrcrew8852 Absolutely. I was just thinking about that yesterday when I drove the ZZW30 after a while. As soon as you get in the car you have an almost panoramic view of everything around you and rear view visibility is very decent, I have a hardtop so it is even better. Compared the the Z34, the front pillars are in the way and the mirrors cancel a good portion of your field of view on the side. Rear view vis is probably better in the coupe, the visibility from the roadster is a joke.

[@henrydinnick]

Ffs. I have been saving up for one of these for a year. They are now going to rocket up in price.

[@keirbourne5323]

Nah. These are never going to be worth much.

[@Goodman-4525]

I wonder which one of you will end up with egg on your face lol

[@placeholder2924]

They're certainly appreciating, but despite the newfound appreciation for these cars, it'll be quickly hit a wall. Like the AW11 MR2, it is unique and sporty and should be a contender for a cheap tuning platform, but the car has hardly any aftermarket support and the best way to get power out of the engine is to swap it. As adding a turbo to engines that commonly have 150k miles or more only sounds like trouble. A GT86 is a better deal and has better support in that sense. Relegating the MR2 Spyder to a bit of a collector's item.

[@16bmidniterfoxo]

@@placeholder2924 These mk3s have skyrocketed in the USA already and us unfortunate buyers in Canada never had these sold which meant they were always expensive via importing from the USA. I did hear that the Mk3's have remained cheap in the UK and Europe however I think prices may start trending up once people start seeing what a bargain it is as Miata/MX-5 prices go up.

[@jonathanellis6097]

Yep, I was just thinking of getting one as a occasional car!

[@BaileyEvans]

I just purchased a 2002 mr2 Spyder a few days ago rather impulsively, and im shocked. I feel as if i have really been missing out on one of the best handling cars of all time.

[@philzvids3577]

These are great cars. I bought a used one and kept it for about 5 years, wound it up to about 165K miles. The facelift models have 16" tyres on the rear and 15" on the front, which makes the spare an issue. I carried a spare and a can. The storage behind the seats is actually better than it looked in this video. Two large sports bags will easily fit in for a weekend away. I used mine as a daily driver and it was great in all weathers. Very refined and brilliant with the roof down at all speeds. Everyone will tell you about the precat issue. I never experienced a problem on my 04 reg car. If you pull out two lambda sensors you can visually inspect the precats for damage. Plenty of solutions exist including fitting a Toyosport manifold to replace them. If you are going to buy one, check the sub-frame, power steering pipes and brake pipes. Other than that, not much to worry about.

[@KevsCollectibles]

I bought one a month ago. Most fun and amazing handling car I've ever driven, and that's coming from someone who's owned an MX5 RS and MX5 Mk1. Mid-Engine makes it feel exotic and there aren't that many around anymore. I love the interior styling and the speedometer dials have this cool white frosted backlit effect with an orange font color at night. I think it's an amazing looking car, each to their own.

[@postmortemarg]

I miss the stock orange glow. I changed my tacho and instrument pannel lights, so lights are white now, but orange looks much better at night

[@petrak4610]

​@@postmortemarg I feel like I bought your car 😂 and I love it, going to the garage to look at it until my new roof arrives 😊 so in love with this car ❤ my husband doesn't know and it makes it so 007 😅

[@twrcrew8852]

plus, unlike the MX5 - this chassis is far more capable of making raw power AND putting it down - thanks to the all wheel drive-like traction of a mid engine car without the AWD mechanical nonsense tying itself in a knot on tarmac. A K24 swap or 2zz turbo are very well paved roads to ultimate power. It took me 2 MX-5s to realize that trying to shove any more than 200whp through that tiny toothpick of a transmission is too much, it just can't ever be fast and the axles are too miniature even if you get around that problem. the mk3 roadster MR2 has been the winner in desguise all along. lighter than the mazda, better visibility, less rust, larger interior, longer wheelbase (more stable), better traction, better MPG (when you want it), AND less loved (more for me!) Also, MX5 HVAC systems are trash, the mid engine design lets the toyota work frigidly when there's not much up front to compete with in terms of heat.

[@KevsCollectibles]

@twrcrew8852 perfect breakdown. Yes the visibility is amazing!

[@aerotus888]

it's epic 80s retro! @@postmortemarg

[@MixMasterMaj]

Great review. Very accurate. I have a 2003 with an engine swap. Once you get to 200whp in these MR2s, it's the most fun out of all the MR2s. Oh, also, many agree the MK3 is the best handling generation.

[@jackleonard2088]

I bought one new in 2001 in Solar Yellow. I got more positive response for this car than anything else I’ve owned. Even non car people would want to look it over. My wife and I loved the car and took it on vacations and as a daily during good weather. Got around the storage problems by using a trunk rack and removing the spare in the frunk.

[@postmortemarg]

My first one was solar yellow too. OEM wheels powder coated black. What a beauty. My current one is blue/black 💙

[@Laser2120]

The insurance on mine is £97 he's a young diver so bound to be more expensive 😂. The space at the front is only meant for the spare tire its an odd shape becuase its able to hold the whole wheel that was removed ( I think this was unique with similar cars from other manufactures you had no were to put the dirty tire you had replaced other than on the passenger seat). The problem with the bores going is for some reason they only put one oil return hole on the piston on the later revisions they added more which solved the engine wear problem. The hard top really improves handling I was actually surprised by how you can feel a notable difference between driving with it on and off. Nice to hear you mentioned the handbrake cable my handbrake was naff from new but it got worse and eventually had it replaced, the rubber boots at the ends break up and water gets in and rusts them up. The cables a pain to change becuase it runs over the fuel tanks which needs to be taken out to get to the cable. I think I have had all my break calipers changed possibly on my 3rd at the rear it really feels like they need changing every other time I have new break pads. Something you didn't mention the steering rack connector thing ( I forget the name u-joint possibly ?) this is prone to rusting up as its pretty exposed becuase no engine at the front but its also hidden from view from all the plastic covers below and above I would get it checked if it hasn't been you don't want this failing symptoms you have a problem with be the steering going heavy then light as you turn. Its not a fast car so you wont beating many off at the lights but you will be able to break a lot later and take corners at a much greater speed than most cars on the road.

[@Laser2120]

@@rosiebragg Well the first problem is you have been with the same insurance people for 5 years. I’ve only ever been with the same one max 2 years in a row because they quoted same as the previous year and other quotes were similar price. Insurance is all statistics the price is set more by the majority of people than personal. If you insure a car which insurers hardly ever have any claims for the base price will be really low then add your individual details which could be favourable like yours sound to an already low base price and you have a cheap insurance quote. The mr2 is a rare car now so there will be less people making claims (if any) now. If any claims are made it will be cheap for them as they aren’t expensive (ignoring the recent 2nd hand car prices rising). Think of car insurance as having a base price for each model set by statistics then add on your personal details which will add to that base price. You might be near the base price for the car your insuring but if you have been with the same insurance company for 5 years, every year they will have pushed you further away from from it. When it comes to renewing this time use a compare site that actually gives you money not a cheap plastic toy or cinema tickets (I could give you a ref link to the one I use if you want) make sure you buy insurance 3 weeks before it’s due as statistics have shown those who wait last minute are higher risk this will save you about £10 ish

[@Dildaphone]

I loved mine. Would drive it just for the sake of it. Capt. Weir's maf mod made it just that little bit more fun.

[@SpyderLEE]

The first person to explain the pre cat problem properly. Much respect 😎👌 mine has one or 2 modifications

[@RogerBaileyOnCars]

I have just had mine bare metal re-sprayed and it’s a gem. I use it every week it’s never once required a repair of any kind, not even a bulb.

[@mog398]

I just finished swapping a 2ZZ into my MR2. It's fairly stock otherwise. I'd be happy for you to have a go!

[@zedfender9423]

I want to do a swap in mine 2zz is an option is it just motor gearbox and ecu? How much if I do most of the work myself. K series is an option but its not straight forward id say I did see a 2AR swap from a camry that looks good as its all toyota parts bin and its a 2.5 4cyl from rav4 and camry. But 2zz seems the easiest.

[@mog398]

@@zedfender9423 2ZZ is comparatively very simple because it's compatible with the MR2's gearbox, engine mountings, etc. It is essentially straight forward, but there are lots of small obstacles to consider along the way, for instance: The ECU either needs an adapter ($200), or manually rewiring and programming to your key You'll need to adapt the air intake, fuel rail, dipstick, engine mountings, throttle to fit in the bay The higher gears from the 1ZZ box (and the LSD if you have one) should be moved to the 2ZZ box for better cruising gears. The manifold will need to be replaced in order to marry up to the original exhaust. There's probably a tonne of other small bits that I'm forgetting. None of it is particularly hard or complicated, but it's still an undertaking. Well worth it, though! I did it myself just a little less than £1000 (not sure what that is in $ right now), but I was lucky to find a cheap engine, did the ECU wiring myself and fabricated the intake, manifold, etc. I'd expect to pay £3000-£4000 for a professional garage to do it.

[@zedfender9423]

@@mog398 thanks for the info. Its hard to find real information about the bits that cause the problems from experiencing them. 👍🏻

[@Khanvict1986]

Hey any chance i could take a ride in your car ? I have a mk3 but with a 1zz wanting to see what difference it has ?

[@mog398]

@@Khanvict1986 Where are you based?

[@550r]

According to magazines I read at the time the reason Toyota never fitted the 2ZZ in these was due to some agreement with Lotus as otherwise it would have encroached on the Elise with the same engine. Something like Lotus got exclusive rights to use the 2ZZ in a mid engine sports car or similar.

[@nickkings2220]

It was actually so it was a low emissions car in California so it could compete with the miata in one of the largest convertible markets in the world.

[@cranefly7137]

@@nickkings2220 mr2 nick?

[@nickkings2220]

@@cranefly7137 indeed

[@cranefly7137]

@@nickkings2220 the internet is small

[@nickkings2220]

@@cranefly7137 lol

[@Japnut]

Just finished a 2zz swap on mine. It's amazing fun and not a massive amount of work.

[@btownballer27]

I hear it's 1/4 of a k swap in terms of work. Can get 350wheel with a turbo as well.

[@GarnockReviews]

I can see this being a fun 2nd car / weekend runaround. I think the lack of storage would sting as your only car. I also don't care that on paper it is slow, as it is more about how it feels. You only do around 20mph in a golf cart but it feels far faster. If you can plant that right foot and get a grin, who cares what the mph is 😉

[@TheMentalblockrock]

except it's bit embarrassing when a diesel Fiesta overtakes you!

[@Electronica27]

True that! I got a mk1 mr2, you can sustain a smile way longer when it takes longer to break speed limits lmfao.

[@mados3639]

@@TheMentalblockrock bring me the diesel fiesta already xD. The low torque isn't a problem when you're in the redline !

[@freditarenomm7987]

@@TheMentalblockrock It's not considering you're competetive against Focus RS on track after suspension setup.

[@georgewilder7423]

@@TheMentalblockrock ...does Ford still make cars do they??

[@thedroll]

I own a 2000 model. Just finished a 2zz swap and converted the SMT to a manual 6 speed. I've wanted this exact set up since watching best motoring in 2003. Pretty good dream car. Plenty more mods to come.

[@marvinsamuels1237]

I’ve probably mentioned it before on your videos, but I owned 2002 pre-facelift model in red, but with the cloth seats and no ac and it was possibly my favourite car that I’ve owned. I had it for 4 years and approx. 55k miles, using it for my daily commute and the odd longer journey (Manchester to Cornwall was a good one). Although it was nippy enough for daily driving (and embarrassing my mate in his Z3 1.9 of similar age in a traffic light drag race), I always wanted to stick the 190 engine in it. When work colleagues called it hairdressers car, I always pointed out to them that it didn’t have a boot or even vanity mirrors 😀 and when I took out for a roof down drive one sunny but chilly December morning a neighbour felt the need to tell me it wasn’t that warm outside to which I replied “ it has a heater….”, he never spoke to me again 😅 I really enjoyed watching you review this car and it brought back some great memories. Nice work 👍🏾

[@legalactivity6977]

Have a grey one with hard and soft top love it in the summer.

[@Sinner90s]

Blinding review of the MK3 Mr2! Love my TF300 number 278. Currently on 140,000 miles and still going strong! Fitted Tein 30MM lowering springs to mine few months back handles so much better! Highly recommend one of these underrated, reliable and fun motors :)

[@briandeaton3550]

The first time that I drove my MR2 was a 2.5 hour highway drive home at 70 mph when I purchased it. It was tiring, and I had buyer's remorse. I still own the car and love it. At 50 mph on a twisty road, the car is ideal.

[@zahemi914]

You are right on the toresome.if to drive for than 2 hrs. i drove for 4 hrs non stop, and it was tiring giving its small.space..but in short distance road, it is a fun car to show off

[@forgottenautos8461]

Don't judge the MR2 Spyder until you drive one. Best driving experience for the money.

[@robsx4280]

Yep 100% agree

[@arekb5951]

people say the same about MX-5s, but imo nothing gives better driving experience than a rear-mid engine car.

[@BillyBlaze7]

@@arekb5951 Miata is always the answer, the sales numbers alone prove that lol

[@arekb5951]

@@BillyBlaze7 yeah, for an average Joe in midlife crisis Miata might be the answer :) Jokes aside, I'm talking solely about spirited driving, in that case there's no other car at this price point that gives a similar experience. Of course Miata has a lot of other advantages that greatly impact sales.

[@samuelele]

I always said I never wanted one of these. I got in one and a month later I bought one. they‘re sick, also I paid almost nothing.

[@TobinTwinsHockey]

I have owned both a MkI and MkIII both were terrific. The MkI will always be my favorite.

[@davidsmith2356]

I bought a MK1 TBAR in 89, Used it for commuting to work, then at weekends off with the roof.. I filled it up twice the first day I had it.. But it did 50 mpg at a steady 55. Brilliant motor 4AGE was a bullet proof engine… Mid range acceleration was brilliant..

[@timorgano]

A 2zz-ge from the Elise, or even the supercharged engine from the Exige would've been a HUGE improvement

[@mikesanders5433]

It certainly is if you are wanting a more hair raising experience although the 1zz is the better engine for daily driving. Toyota missed a trick not offering both like they did the Celica

[@mikesanders5433]

@@edhot5613 yeah I get you. I had the pleasure of experiencing both engines in a mk3 and I actually prefer the 1zz. Well once I’d tuned it up a little anyway 😂

[@ReclusiveDuck]

Agree with pretty much everything you said. I have a 2005 MR2, 6spd, red, a genuine 45k miles (yes really!) and totally standard even down to the original stereo and also have the optional hardtop though never used it lol. From my experience I'd guess the lack of front end feel you experienced is purely down to the tyres, mine handles great. The steering is just superb, it's funny because even though it has power assistance it doesn't seem to affect the feel one bit, oh and the brakes are excellent. Storage is a problem but mine came with a detachable boot rack so a solution of sorts I guess, though the little cubby-hole on the dash is very handy. All in all it's a great car and cheap as chips to run and the best bit of all was when I bought it about 4yrs ago was the price......£4900.

[@SamFirthDesigner]

Do you want to sell that hardtop?

[@slypanda3655]

@@SamFirthDesigner I knew someone was gonna ask! They like gold dust, Seen some go for the cost of a whole PFL car!

[@javierjuarezvalle6326]

Also mine is red 2006, 40k miles, it´s just for sundays jejeje! take care yours, it´s a great car!

[@tameracingdriver]

Very good and accurate review. Still one of the most fun cars I've ever had. Decent tyres, a 'belly' brace and decent cat back exhaust and these are ridiculous amounts of fun for the money and power output.

[@alexandrospaleologos6274]

Really great video I think it explains on a nutshell all the MR2 Goods and bads! My story with my MR2 is a bit bittersweet I'm afraid mostly because of my fault, but I guess I learned the hard way. I moved to the UK on the summer of 2018 and with the amazing summer we had that year, I got excited and bought the cheapest roadster I could find. That ended up being a 2000 MR2 for £1300 that I bought from a dealer that looked more like a junkyard (mistake #1). I drove it and enjoyed it quite a lot until the point that I noticed it was consuming oil very rapidly (1L every 200 miles). I was very surprised how it could keep up with cars much much quicker on the backroads (S2000, R33 Skyline, Z4's, etc.). Then one day the electric power steering pump went, that is where I found the awesome MR2 MK3 community everyone on FB was willing to help and there is a guy called Dick that breaks MR2's, very professional and friendly I bought a pump from him and fixed my car. Sadly one day the engine went and started making a noise like piston slap. I couldn't afford and didn't want to spend that much money on a car that wasn't that clean so sadly it ended up being scrapped. My advice is even though this cars can be really cheap, do your research, buy a 2nd gen one (especially because of the 6th gear, they are quite loud at motorway speeds), and ensure it has been taken care of, they can be heaps of fun but sadly this one bite me back. I would buy another one for sure just make sure I can buy a really nice well care model from someone in the MR2 owners group, they know how to take care of this little cracking cars !

[@slypanda3655]

Big up Dick Sloan!

[@xk3ll3yx]

I’m still in love with my MR2, she’s a 2002 and I’ve owned her since 2012. Just replaced the top in January, she has 186k miles now and holding up well! About to replace the seats this weekend with aftermarket. It’s been a great car and I plan on keeping her a very long time. Had many people not knowing what kind of car it was, mistaken if it for a Porsche lol.

[@randywatson2103]

Future classic. The 2nd series for me are just so eye catching and definitely my pick…great review of a lovely car

[@wards36]

I'm 21 and currently own a 2003 Black MR2 with only 34k Miles on the clock. It is my absolute pride and joy and wish more people would try these bad boys. I havent driven many cars at my age but this brings a smile to my face every single time I get in a cruise around.

[@postmortemarg]

If these made 300 hp, like the Z cars, Camaros, Mustangs, they could smoke anything on the road including high end cars. I am building a turbo 2ZZ MR2 myself, I cannot wait

[@kantina4765]

@@postmortemarg is that a complicated job? been a dream of mine ever since I saw the spirit mrs on best motoring. my absolute dream car beating out super cars and the like

[@postmortemarg]

@@kantina4765 Not complicated at all, if youre a mechanic. All you need is a reverse blockout shifter mechanism, and a custom engine mount (relatively cheap, all sold at Monkey Wrench Racing). The 2zz + 6sp transmission fit in easily. The tubo kits can also be bough from that website, though they are not cheap.

[@ayayoutuber]

it cheap, it is fast(relative) and super well handling and brakes super fast (cause of light weight) . The only short coming is zero high end power. when over 100 mph, it takes forever to go any faster. Yes , I had one.

[@johnornelas]

i've been casually in the market for one of these for a while, waiting for a good one to show up near me to buy, and they've QUADRUPLED in price in just the last 2 years. people know how good they are, and they're getting harder to find in good condition. there are lots of engine swap options that add respectable power.

[@timredfearn8631]

Brought a 2003 facelift about 4 years ago for 1200 quid , had it two years and loved every minute of it. Sold it for £1450 two years ago and still regret it. I found it for sale again recently for 2.5k 😩

[@feral4mr2]

Excellent review! I've been a aw11 mk1 owner and enthusiast for 26 years now, I still have 2 aw11's left from a collection of 5 3/4. Still own the 1st one I bought, I love the things. I now have a spyder, same colour and year as was used in this review. They are a great car, no doubt about it. Handling is superb, the 1zz imo punts the chassis along quite well, that said, mine will be getting a turbo bolted to it. A stock supercharged aw11 only has a few ponies more power and is a heavier chassis.. The spyder is very much like a aw11, more refined, not as raw. Very happy to own the spyder and thoroughly enjoy flogging it around, a car I see myself owning for some time. But aw11 is still king. 😃

[@dangerpowers123]

Owned a red edition for a few years with a hard top, and it's like driving a fun Go-Kart for the street. Always makes you smile. Great fun little car.

[@denniswmloo6260]

i had a SC AW11, absolutely loved the way it handled, i almost gotten a SW20 but wasn't impressed with just straight lines, no disrespect to SW20 owners, until i found the zzw30, love the way it sashay thru B roads, at any speed.

[@nattcharles]

Great little cars. Shared one with my now ex wife. Was good fun to drive. Chap I work with has one with the 2ZZ engine out of a Celica 190 which was a popular conversion years back. Says its a blast to drive with the extra power.

[@stewester]

Ridiculously underrated car. Miles ahead of the NC MX-5 in terms of handling. Closest thing you can get to an Elise, and you can still get a brilliant one for under £5k.

[@mattholland315]

Really great cars. I have fond memories of my 2003 mk3, including a week’s holiday in Cornwall where my wife and I were able to pack all our luggage in by utilising the fact that when the roof is up you get quite a large shelf to put light items in such as coats. Different league to a similar age MX5 in my opinion.

[@AndyfromSurrey]

My sister had one of these when they first came out and used to regularly loan it to me and I loved it. I was sad when after 90k of trouble free motoring she sold it 😢. But after 17ish years I have just bought my own 🎉. I also think these are so underrated as they are a like a cheaper Lotus Elise and so affordable. Handing from factory is amazing but it does need good fresh tyres. Mine are currently 12+ years old and will be changed in next few days. My only gripe was it was to quiet 🤫. I have this in hand as I have a sports stainless back box to fit to it. Brilliant cars and I think they will start to appreciate in value as thanks to videos like this people will start looking at them differently. Be quick though as prices are going up already and there are not as many to choose from as say an MX5! Great owners groups out there to and they were so helpful with advice on what to look for.

[@MrMr1ish]

Had one as a daily for 4 years. Loved it.

[@tykykable]

The precats can be replaced with a stainless steel manifold relatively cheaply and inexpensively, and the car will still pass an MOT and won't flag the post cat heater coil. We have a 2003 facelift model with a custom cold air intake (located near the air scoop on the passenger side), a stainless exhaust manifold and stainless sports cat fitted (just passed MOT with this in place also), and the car came with the TTE roof bar, exhaust tips and back box. It has about 75k miles on it now, and in total (including purchasing the car and fitting the aforementioned parts ourselves) it's cost around £3,000. Throttle response is really sharp now, engine pickup is improved immensely, and it makes an incredible noise - it makes the top end of the rev range feel a lot more rewarding. Everything else is bone stock, and handling is still incredible for road use. It's well worth getting a good example before they really start to go up in price.

[@sumtingwong665]

Techno Pro-Spirit MRS has to be the coolest MRS build yet

[@nigelmattravers5913]

I have had my 2003 MR2 for about 10 years or more and love it, it’s like driving a roller skate. In terms of storage I bought a luggage rack to fit above the engine cover (it was not expensive). With this the wife and I were able to take the ferry to Guernsey for a holiday with no concern for space. The biggest problem is the corrosion of the rear subframe. It’s mounted in a place which collects water and crap, but it is also carries the hot engine. Heat and water are not the best of friends when it comes to longevity; I am on my second sub-frame. I got a new roof from a specialist in Devon, mohair and a price around what you mentioned. My car needs a respray and from what you have said about prices I may invest in one!

[@theninethrees8044]

Yess! I love my 05’ MRS it is super underrated. Here in Canada we don’t have these so when I drive around it turns alot of heads and people with S2000’s and MX5’s are shocked to see this car. I know in the UK these are like normal everyday cars but on this side of the pound it’s very special. It doesn’t have the best engine, but it’s popular for 2ZZ swap (Lotus Elise, Celica GTS Engine), which is the engine the car should’ve came from factory.

[@gsk5161]

In America the model Jay is driving and the condition it's in would be a 7500 to 10000 car nowadays.

[@adriansong3839]

My Spyder sports a set of Potenza RE11S semis on OEM wheels and that makes it such a fantastic track toy!

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Fun little car. Thank you for reminding me it existed. Nice video. Shame it lacks many QOL features, the lack of frunk space is very disappointing. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

[@tsmith7146]

Having owned all 3 versions of the MR2, the Mk1 and Mk3 are similar in weight, dimensions and handling characteristics (Mk3 especially needs good tyres though). I absolutely loved both versions. I had my Mk1 well over 30 years ago now and at that time, it was peerless with its wonderful 4A-GE engine but i think the Mk3 is a better ownership proposition in 2022. The Mk2 was a disappointment. In turbo form it may have been faster in a straight line, but it was heavier and more like a GT car, with poorer handling. Mk1 and Mk3 are more like go carts, and all the better for it. I have a S2 Elise now, which i love so much, but handling and ride are more hard-core and i still miss the Mk3, which pound for £ offers the best handling car money can buy, at least in the UK where prices seem to be much lower than in other countries. The luggage pods behind the seats have more than enough room for multiple soft bags for a weekend away. I think most people who criticise the misunderstood Mk3 MR2 have never owned one.

[@aerotus888]

You can't beat the thrills of an MR2 with 2zz engine. The mid engine config just sticks to the road wherever you point it! Steering has a lot of feel. Sport seats fit like a glove with excellent lumbar support. Howl of the 2zz engine in lift is epic with a cobra quad exhaust. If you want a raw and pure driving experience, hard to beat at its low price point. Just make sure all the suspension parts have been renewed!

[@3z3qq]

in about 3 months i hopefully have my driving license and as a first car i can drive a mr2. it got tuned to, i can't wait to drive it

[@jasonal1769]

Thanks JayEmm for a great review. To be honest I wasn't a believer in the MR2 but after having driven this car I agree with you. It is one of the sweetest handling cars and rewards you in the corners more so than many other modern cars you can buy today. The MR2 is all about chassis and handling and a true drivers car at that.

[@midshipmaniac8406]

I'm glad I got mine when I did, being in the states. I got mine in 2019 and as soon as the pandemic hit the prices started going up and pretty much doubled what I paid for mine. Absolutely my favorite car for handling, it just holds on the road for days.

[@Beechams1042]

I had a mk3 MR2 - loved it. Managed o get enough stuff into it for a week away - just pack smart and use soft bags. The big issues for me - and in the pre-facelift cars - was the pre-cat. These can begin to age and disintegrate, sucking parts into the engine, scoring the bores, leading it to burning oil and ultimately needs an engine change. That's what led me to selling mine. It was one of the best cars I've owned.

[@Beechams1042]

I commented before the end - and Jay touched on the pre-cat issues!

[@kieranmz4614]

Is it just a matter of swapping in a stainless manifold? Will it have trouble being mot'd (post pre cat removal) if not full warmed up?

[@martijnkosters9024]

@@kieranmz4614 There are oxygen sensors in the precats, not sure if that can get iffy.

[@peugeoting]

@@kieranmz4614 yes, i swapped a stainless manifold on because of the precat issue, and it comes with two mountings for the factory oxygen sensors. passed MOT with no advisories twice, so i don’t think there’s a problem with the emissions - it barely makes a difference

[@HumbleHonkingEnthusiast]

Flipping a corolla around backwards sounds like a funny formula for an enthusiast car, but this is one of the best budget drivers cars available

[@MGMutt]

They did the same for the MGF, except it was a metro flipped and that was much better

[@ethantasou3951]

and the new alpine a110 and the megane

[@kjb9001]

You don't even need to flip anything. In a corolla the engine is in front of the front axle, and here it is as well. Only the entire front axle got moved backwards haha

[@philipmarlor6919]

I bought my MR2 Mk 3 about a year ago and absolutely love it. By the way, you have just drove past my house in Silverstone 🙂

[@hotwheelshuntinguk]

This and the last generation Celica are up there with my all time favourite cars. I just love them!!! I think mainly due to the fact hey are so overlooked and you can pick them up for bottom dollar for a pretty good for it’s time car.

[@gsmoto9790]

I am glad you mentioned the engine on this car before you mentioned the storage because for me the engine is the only thing I do not like. So I put a 2zz engine in mine and left everything else completely standard. If you would like to try it please get in touch. It will probably get a louder exhaust at some point this year

[@colinsweetman6745]

We've had Mark3 MR2's in our family since 2000. My first one was replaced for another new one in 2002 and it changed ownership to my son a few years ago. He's done the mohair roof and engine swap and it is still a super little car. I've told him he can't sell it without speaking to me if he ever wants to replace it. I'll buy it from him.

[@zahemi914]

Am I glad I came to your channel, now I m convince to keep mh 21yrs old MRS a bit longer. I bought 2nd hand. All in its original condition only with some fierce side skirt and its head lights slight covered to make it look like a Boxter, and indeed, at a glance, it does look like a Boxter.

[@deaks25]

If I remember rightly, the 2ZZ was designed by Yamaha, so I was always sad it only saw service in the Celica 190, because it's basically a bike engine! An MR2 with an over-sized bike engine sounds awesome! I do think this is destined for Classic status. With Mk2 MX-5's slowly going extinct due to rust and MG-F/TF's dying off due to expensive head-gaskets, there aren't many of these every-day, fun-to-drive, affordable sports cars left. I did spend some time trying to think what else there is that is viable (ignoring the CC-craze, because they were all crap!); Celica, Mk 3 MX-5 were all I could come up with. The RX-8 all eat their pistons so are in the same bracket as the MG's. So based on just the options for a cheap, fun sports car, the Mk 3 MR2 should become a classic as simply a 'last of the breed'.

[@Nickoboss29]

Vauxhall VX220 ?

[@sambedford5842]

Had one of these and celica t sport ( 190hp ) at the same time . Was hoping to chuck the 2zz in the mr2 but alas eventually 1 had to go and as I carry a fair bit with me for work it was the mr2. Definitely going to have another one day ! Great review as always! Keep up the good work.

[@gsogymrat]

I have a 2003 black MR2 and love it. It is simply fun to drive, economical, and reliable.

[@bladelee193]

I had my first one after my É Elise S2 and was pretty happy with it but after installing a 2zz and a turbo wow what a little rocket it was.

[@vaughanwarburton9623]

I've had 1 for around 5 years now cheap to fix , repair, run & insure BIG TIP buy in winter when the boys / girls of summer get fed up I paid £750 it's passed every MOT and hyper reliable great video

[@adriansmith8555]

I’ve owned mine for 10 years. Great handling car. Cheap to run and insure

[@zedfender9423]

Still a bargin under appreciated I've had mine 2yrs and it's never missed a beat. A old lady reversed her honda jazz into it a few weeks ago and moved it across the car park and the mr2 was just scuffed up. Tough, reliable the engine is in the middle the roof comes off and you won't see many about but you will see lots of mx5s

[@matthewmorton6462]

My dad has had multiple over the years and loves them

[@Hawkeye2001]

I bought a 2003 new 20 years ago. I have about 180,000 miles on mine. Only a couple serious issues in 20 years. I hope to drive it many more years, and when its finally done, it will go in a barn or museum.

[@mikesanders5433]

I had a TF300 edition (TF117) Roadster and it was a year round daily for near 5 years. Best car I’ve owned and after years prior driving hot hatches and thinking I knew about car balance and how to properly handle a car that thing taught me so much about actual car control (had a few hairy moments on and off track 😂). The one car I absolutely regretted selling (had no option at the time 😔).

[@EmilyRose900]

Balance is crucial and a FF car will give you so little feedback until it's too late from my experience.

[@nielsblume]

I’ve owned all three marks and the mark 3 was my favourite. Had a lovely (understated) body kit on mine, it looked great but drove even better. One of the most enjoyable cars I’ve owned.

[@andreasphotiou1886]

Good to see a balanced appraisal of these fun little cars. They’re fun to own and there’s a great online community and even specialist breakers so sourcing parts isn’t painful.

[@MrJumpyJ]

Bought mine about 2 years ago now. By far the most fun car I've had, and that's comparing it to an engine-swapped EP82 Starlet and a Legnum VR4 (2.5 V6 Twinturbo). Yes, the engine is a weak point but just about any engine that's transversely offered has been swapped into these (Honda K, 1.8 20vT, 1.9 TDI, 3.2 VR6, Subaru EJ, Mitsubishi 4G and 6A, LS and even a 3 rotor). Storage-wise it's not the most practical, but with the spare wheel deleted I can fit a well-stuffed grocery bag in the front, and with my car having it's softtop roof stripped and a hardtop on, there's a ton of space behind me (I bought mine because I can't afford an Exige). Hell, it even makes for a very fun drift car. I can see these cars becoming the next platform for time-attack builds and other grip racing competitions.

[@the5th2000]

I would have one of these in a heartbeat. With a 2zz dropped in. There was a factory supercharged version of these third gen models too, but I think it was super rare

[@LupinYonderboy]

There was a TDR version I think with a turbo for the 3rd gen. There is a factory supercharged 2zz avaible from some versions Corola T-sport

[@alexknightwrc]

Nope. TTE did a turbo kit, which was quite rare, but the 1ZZ was never supercharged by Toyota.

[@the5th2000]

@@alexknightwrc you are correct, it was the TF300 turbo edition I was thinking of, got my wires crossed

[@LupinYonderboy]

@@alexknightwrc no, the 1ZZ wasn't but the 2ZZ was, in some versions of the Corolla

[@alexknightwrc]

@@the5th2000 No. TF300 was the final edition runout of the last 300 cars. It wasn’t turbocharged.

[@matteightytwo]

I love your channel... I have a Mk1 MR2, I definitely consider the Mk3 as "the new one", the 997 is definitely "pretty new" too

[@davidparker1746]

I had a 2005 and I loved it. It was a daily driver. I still miss it!

[@ianedmonds9191]

Never driven a MK3 but the MK2 was my whip of choice for many years. Amazing cars.

[@kipp4805]

These cars are brilliant. Haven’t owned one like the majority of commenters but I still appreciate it. It’s lighter than my NA Miata, mid engine, and has slightly more power. Also despite what the boxy styling may suggest, it has a longer wheelbase than an FD RX7. What’s not to love about these cars?

[@quietlife6956]

I had one from new, in red exactly the same as this one from March 2001 . It was great and women approached me at petrol stations and supermarkets to say how much they like it and wished they had one. The only thing it lacked was straight line speed, I thought about replacing it with an Elise and finally settled on a S2000.

[@JosephKotrieMonson]

Just when I thought my life was trundling alone just fine, I now have to get a new lockup to store the MR2 that I don’t need but won’t forgive myself if I don’t buy while they’re cheap. Thanks Jay! 🥴

[@heilong79]

Nice one Jay, you drove a good example there, I really liked this car when I had it and only sold as I wanted more top end power.

[@felix-bk7ne]

Were you tempted by the Celica engine swap? 😏

[@heilong79]

@@felix-bk7ne I bought all the parts, Loom, ECU and engine mount but space and storage was an issue so then decided yo just sell and get something faster.

[@curtaustin8119]

Good review. I bought three MR2's a year ago from an estate - one from each generation. Quite different from one another in some ways, similar in others. All great fun to drive. The Roadster is the smallest and lightest, of course - the best if you like that feeling (and you should). Regarding the motor eating the pre-cats, it's a good thing since it provides the opportunity to bolt in a 2ZZ.

[@andbkk]

If same money - which gen for daily fun city drive ?

[@curtaustin8119]

@@andbkk I'm not able to put "fun drive" and "city" together - I live within an enormous state park of lakes, mountains, and twisty roads. A good city car is small, so the Mk3. But the Mk2 is the biggest and therefore safest, though in good condition would be the most money. The Mk1 may be the best balance, and it is nearest "collectible" status, making its total cost of ownership the least. In other words, I don't know.

[@andbkk]

@@curtaustin8119 thanks, where I'm leaving turbo mr2 2nd gen is the same price as stock MRS.

[@slypanda3655]

Had my 2004 sable grey FL for 4 years now and I wouldn't dream of selling. Quite simple the most fun and economical car that will always put a smile on your face. The worst thing about driving it is getting to your destination (and when you need a boot!). If your a single a guy with no kids this can quite easily be your daily, like it is mine. I love rocking up to jobs with this babe :)

[@InterstellarMedium]

Great video and thanks for being honest and objective in your review! (I think you got some performance figures slightly wrong: It has just 138bhp (103kW) and the manual version can do 0-60 in about 6.9s (7.1 to 100km/h). Back in 2002 I sold my lovely but sadly unreliable Porsche 911 C4 (964) and replaced it with a MR2 Spyder that I modified using Toyota TRD parts (TRD Waydo Sportivo adjustable suspension, TRD exhaust, chassis bracing, short shifter, Yokohama A052 tires, etc.) I have been doing track days, hill climbs and road trips down to the south of France with this car for over 20 years and it has never broken down once! Even the air conditioning still works perfectly! (And you definitely need it in hotter climates or during a track day!) Its performance on a small race track (like Auxois or Le Laquais in France) is excellent. It's superior agility and fadeless braking performance will allow it to easily keep up with cars that have double the power. Its handling characteristics are brilliant, you can drive it like you are playing on an Xbox: Very late hard braking to get max grip on the front wheels, flick the car to the new direction, then slam on the accelerator to get the grip back on the rear tires. This is what driving should feel like: Fun, technical but forgiving. I agree with your comments about the absurd decision of Toyota not to have offered a more powerful option. The chassis can easily handle 300 bhp as it stands. I hesitated about the 2ZZ-GE swap but that engine (produced by Yamaha) although delightful in its VVT "Lift" range, is infamous for breaking (due to wear on the friction "roller-less" camshafts). I am hoping that Toyota will bring out an all new MR2 that will be fully electric and perfectly adapted to racing (lightweight, fast charging, perfect handling).

[@bartw8547]

I bought a 2006 MR2 in August 2022. Such a lovely car. It's nearly original( TTE exhaust and performance brakes). I'm considering to tune it to around 200 bhp. It's superb the way it is however I'm aware a lot of people say it's underpowered. Toyota Celica 192 horsepower engine would have been a better choice from the beginning. It's a simple car. 2 seats and a big smile on your face when you drive it :-)

[@thetezz0001]

A fair and comprehensive review great job bro

[@eggbod]

I used to own a 2004 model. It was 100% reliable. Tyres in the correct size were expensive though as I could only get Bridgestone. They have a full stainless exhaust system as standard ! it also did 45+ mpg. :) I sold it because my left knee hurt whilst driving.

[@gregou22]

Had a red one, like this one just before my Elise. In fact, 15 years ago, it was the only affordable way to get a small taste of what an Elise could offer, for a much affordable price (at that time). I modified it quiet a lot (coilovers, intake, full exhaust,...) over time, and it did compromised it's versatility, but I absolutely loved it, and even as it was then, it still was way more daily usable than my S1 Elise :) I still think it's a great little car. Yes, the Engine is quiet uneventful, but with a little more sound, it gives it at least 30 hp more. You don't see them at every corner, and to me, it's an important and rare quality. IMO it totally deserves a good place among modern classics. At it's price point, there was simply no other way to get a sporty car, under the ton, with the engine in the right place.

[@seinsmeld13]

I passed on a first generation car and bought a Carolla GTS instead as it was $1,000 Canadian cheaper at the time. I wish now I would have bought that car. Cheers mate!

[@laser-sj]

This had potential to be a great video but you just had to slip in a porsche reference at the start.... maybe just for me 😂😉

[@markdoyle6414]

I've been daily driving my MK3 MR2 for 20k and I find both criticisms of the car not an issue. The bins behind the seats are a little and only a little awkward to use but will take a decent shop. I've carried 125kg of cement, two bags up front and three on the floor. I've also made a bike rack for it that mounts to the two towing eyes. I've even tow a 106, and a MK1 golf (minus engine) and with the roof down it makes a great tow car. I find the power good enough, on older tyres in the wet getting it sideways in 2nd was no problem. Only major problem was a clutch which wasn't too hard to change. The previous owner smashed out the porcelain in the exhaust manifolds, it's major problems waiting to happen. That's my tuppence worth.

[@Genevagirls-h2x]

By far the best fun car I've had so far. Standard suspension mods that you would do on any other chassis as well and its an awesome autocrosser. Slap on a small turbo or swap to a 2ZZ and its a great track car.

[@freditarenomm7987]

I've been racing mine for a few years now and with stock engine it's a cheater car. The tighter the track gets the less horsepower matters. Engine isn't the biggest problem, it's lack of double wishbone and floppy chassis.

[@derekwagstaff3044]

I’ve had one for 14 years 54 plate less than 50 thousand miles needs a new soft top, I’ve had a hard top fitted selling shortly. Silver red leather interior anti roll bar.

[@ianharrison7862]

I had a 2004 facelift model with hard top, aircon few factory option like TTE twin exit exhaust, air con and colour coded leather seats. Had it for a few years and let it go for a song when the clutch started slipping and regret it now. I'm 6ft 3 and surprisingly fitted better in it than a lot of bigger sports cars. Not sports car fast but fast enough and was a lot of fun to drive, especially on the twisties. Definitely a different drive to the MK2 I had a few years before. Other than the things to watch out for that you have already noted, I would also add that the rear sub frame is prone to rusting as it has open holes etc in it. Keep an eye on it and treat it with cavity wax etc and it should last a lot longer. Had a V6 in my mk2 and would have loved to have put a V6 in the mk3 but it involves a lot more work.

[@chrisogrady28]

Good lad indeed, roof and windows always down, even on the motorway. Even in snow and rain with three only proviso being heavy rain at low speeds. I've never used the air con in my car.

[@jamesgreenwood9464]

Former SW20 MR2 Turbo owner here… sooooo underrated and let’s be honest, that black mr2 does look better than the MC

[@Toyota4Life]

I want one of these. Seeing this on the road today they look wonderful.

[@beaches2mountains230]

These used to be dirt cheap bc of the MCPHERSON STRUT setup in place of the double wishbone of the previous gens, people hated on these..Never really got on with the factory looks but once you put a hardtop on them and a decent, well judged kit they seem to clean up very nice..Yes it's not the 3sgte turbo but lightweight makes them fun to fling around.

[@robsx4280]

Great video, I have had a mk1 and 3 mk2s. May well go for a mk3 next.