Toyota MR2 Message Board - View Single Post - Year to year changes, best performing and/or reliability year?

toyotaspeed90 · 11-03-2009, 12:06 PM

Swaybar doesn't make much of a difference.

the 85 hardtops are the primo when it comes to the lightest of the first gens. However, the 85's also have an odd electronic climate control that was not offered in the later years -- so if anything goes wrong with it, it's very year specific.

The t-bar roofs are the heaviest, and the s/c's are by far the heaviest (all S/C's in the US were t-top roofs). The benefits to these cars is the near bullet proof transmission and the better rear brakes. But, to buy a stock s/c is going to cost significantly more than an n/a.

In all of my MR2's the t-top is the most fun when it's in the sun, but the windshields crack easier and they are heavier. My favorite car to drive in terms of performance is my JDM supercharged 87 hardtop with a C52 from an ae92 in it. The most reliable MR2 I've ever had is my wifes 86, which was purchased without an engine or trans, and I basically built the car up from the dead and it's been going strong for several years now. It has a C50 in it with no popout issues.

11-03-2009, 12:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
toyotaspeed90 No Skills Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 2,404 Thanks: 0 Thanked 148 Times in 143 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Swaybar doesn't make much of a difference. the 85 hardtops are the primo when it comes to the lightest of the first gens. However, the 85's also have an odd electronic climate control that was not offered in the later years -- so if anything goes wrong with it, it's very year specific. The t-bar roofs are the heaviest, and the s/c's are by far the heaviest (all S/C's in the US were t-top roofs). The benefits to these cars is the near bullet proof transmission and the better rear brakes. But, to buy a stock s/c is going to cost significantly more than an n/a. In all of my MR2's the t-top is the most fun when it's in the sun, but the windshields crack easier and they are heavier. My favorite car to drive in terms of performance is my JDM supercharged 87 hardtop with a C52 from an ae92 in it. The most reliable MR2 I've ever had is my wifes 86, which was purchased without an engine or trans, and I basically built the car up from the dead and it's been going strong for several years now. It has a C50 in it with no popout issues.