FS: 89 T-top Automatic 146K $1800 East TN

carcrazyguy · 10-13-2006, 01:56 AM

Hello, I am selling a 1989 MR2 automatic with t-tops, plus it has the power and aero package. $1800 firm.

As many of the local MR2 club guys know, I bought several MR2's back in the spring with intentions of restoring them, but plans have changed and I no longer have a place to keep them, so unfortuantely I am selling them off one by one.
Anyway, I bought this car from the original owner a few months ago - title still open. The best way to describe the car would be a typical 89 model car...shows wear for its age but has potential. The car was an Atlanta car so it has never seen any hard winter, but has seen plenty of sun over the years.
Since this is over the internet, I will try to describe it in full lengthy detail so you will probably not have many additional questions.

Exterior: As is always the case, the pictures lie a little, but the car looks just as seen in the pics from a few feet away. As a daily driver, it looks fine and I have even had a couple compliments on it - but for a pefectionist like me, I can nitpick anything. Here is an up close description as to what you will see in person:

It has a true dent in the passenger's fender. Lukily it is only cosmetic and the front bumper is fine. I have access to a perfect fender for $40 (or any parts needed) - but will leave that up to the buyer. Also, it appears to have a "kick dent" in the driver's door and about 3 or 4 walnut dings in the hood area. Otherwise it just looks like a typical 89 car with dings, scuffs, etc. that you notice up close. The paint is still glossy and the car still has all of the OEM stickers with appropriate wear so this car probably has not seen a wreck other than the afore mentioned. As with all MKI's the T-tops drip under moderate rain or washing. It has the original seals so replacing them would probably stop the drip...or one could simply caulk the joints for the season.

Interior / Electrical: The interior is medium blue and is straight with no major rips or funny business. Naturally it shows wear for its age...just what you would expect for a car of its age but is totally fine for daily driver use. I will include a basic Alpine cassette deck, good dash speakers and have a good factory under seat sub, however other options are available if desired. Everything works electrically. The AC is cold but you occasionally you get belt squeal from the AC belt, so it could surely stand a freon charge (original owner said he never has).

Running: This is the real strong suit of this car.
The car runs just as it should. The engine bay has never been cleaned, so you can see for yourself how tight the engine is. The engine bay is easily the dryest and free of leaks of any MKI I have owned (and I've had many). This is surely due to the automatic tranny - no direct load on the engine and easily 1/2 of the revs over a lifetime versus a 5 speed make this engine still feel like half the mileage it has on it. By the way, the automatic was a nice suprise to me...doesn't really give up much off the line to the manual, mainly due to the low first gear, but the real advantage comes in on the highway with tall differential of the automatic where you run 70 at 2800 rpms (versus 3650 for 5 speed) and easily see 40 mpg due to this.
I guess the only thing the car could stand mechanically would be a good set of tires.
I have driven the car quite a bit and on a couple out of state runs, so I would feel comfortable driving this car anywhere.

The bottom line: This is a good car with potential and would make a nice daily driver too. It is still an 89 and was never treated as the special car it is -rather just as a daily driver since new. Regardless, the car has many years of life left if treated properly, it still feels tight. Plus with the abundance and cheap cost of MKI parts, one could potentially make this one heck of a car, or simply use this as a neat looking daily driver or even as a "budget Miata" since it is a t-top car. Hopefully this extremely long description will cover everything, but if not, shoot me any questions.

carcrazyguy · 10-16-2006, 02:14 AM

BTW, email me direct if anyone wants higher resolution pics.

singleslammer · 10-19-2006, 09:10 AM

I saw that you posted in my wtb thread. If only this car was a stick, it looks great!

carcrazyguy · 10-26-2006, 04:36 AM

Last call...
If nobody is interested, I guess I may title the car and drive it until spring.

singleslammer · 10-26-2006, 08:39 AM

I am still very interested. I am just trying to find a donar car that I can steel clutch lines, pedals and linkage off of. The car looks great and would come get it this weekend but I cant seem to every get a day off work. How does the auto affect its handling feel in corners, cause I know that I at least feel more in control with a manual. Let me know. Thanks, Jordan

madrvr · 10-26-2006, 11:15 AM

If you were closer to Colorado I would be very interested. It is just to expensive to drive my trailer out and back, plus the purchase price. It is exactly what I am looking for my son. Rats!
Very nice car! Good luck.
Mike

carcrazyguy · 10-26-2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by singleslammer

I am still very interested. I am just trying to find a donar car that I can steel clutch lines, pedals and linkage off of. The car looks great and would come get it this weekend but I cant seem to every get a day off work. How does the auto affect its handling feel in corners, cause I know that I at least feel more in control with a manual. Let me know. Thanks, Jordan

With the auto, you can steer with both hands...

In reality there is so little difference in corners since the NA has so little torque in the first place regardless of tranny.
Either way, if you are all about a 5 speed, you should hold out for one IMO.

carcrazyguy · 10-26-2006, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madrvr

If you were closer to Colorado I would be very interested. It is just to expensive to drive my trailer out and back, plus the purchase price. It is exactly what I am looking for my son. Rats!
Very nice car! Good luck.
Mike

If you had the time, you could get a Priceline flight for maybe a hundred or so and drive it back...
Either way, I am sure you can find something closer.

singleslammer · 10-26-2006, 05:59 PM

well I am fine with it being an auto if you are sure that it wont matter. I am not so sure that I can find anything closer, but I guess I will have to wait and see.

carcrazyguy · 11-21-2006, 09:45 PM

Hello, the car is SOLD!
Moderator, please remove the thread.

10-13-2006, 01:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
carcrazyguy Some Skills Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 139 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	FS: 89 T-top Automatic 146K $1800 East TN Hello, I am selling a 1989 MR2 automatic with t-tops, plus it has the power and aero package. $1800 firm. As many of the local MR2 club guys know, I bought several MR2's back in the spring with intentions of restoring them, but plans have changed and I no longer have a place to keep them, so unfortuantely I am selling them off one by one. Anyway, I bought this car from the original owner a few months ago - title still open. The best way to describe the car would be a typical 89 model car...shows wear for its age but has potential. The car was an Atlanta car so it has never seen any hard winter, but has seen plenty of sun over the years. Since this is over the internet, I will try to describe it in full lengthy detail so you will probably not have many additional questions. Exterior: As is always the case, the pictures lie a little, but the car looks just as seen in the pics from a few feet away. As a daily driver, it looks fine and I have even had a couple compliments on it - but for a pefectionist like me, I can nitpick anything. Here is an up close description as to what you will see in person: It has a true dent in the passenger's fender. Lukily it is only cosmetic and the front bumper is fine. I have access to a perfect fender for $40 (or any parts needed) - but will leave that up to the buyer. Also, it appears to have a "kick dent" in the driver's door and about 3 or 4 walnut dings in the hood area. Otherwise it just looks like a typical 89 car with dings, scuffs, etc. that you notice up close. The paint is still glossy and the car still has all of the OEM stickers with appropriate wear so this car probably has not seen a wreck other than the afore mentioned. As with all MKI's the T-tops drip under moderate rain or washing. It has the original seals so replacing them would probably stop the drip...or one could simply caulk the joints for the season. Interior / Electrical: The interior is medium blue and is straight with no major rips or funny business. Naturally it shows wear for its age...just what you would expect for a car of its age but is totally fine for daily driver use. I will include a basic Alpine cassette deck, good dash speakers and have a good factory under seat sub, however other options are available if desired. Everything works electrically. The AC is cold but you occasionally you get belt squeal from the AC belt, so it could surely stand a freon charge (original owner said he never has). Running: This is the real strong suit of this car. The car runs just as it should. The engine bay has never been cleaned, so you can see for yourself how tight the engine is. The engine bay is easily the dryest and free of leaks of any MKI I have owned (and I've had many). This is surely due to the automatic tranny - no direct load on the engine and easily 1/2 of the revs over a lifetime versus a 5 speed make this engine still feel like half the mileage it has on it. By the way, the automatic was a nice suprise to me...doesn't really give up much off the line to the manual, mainly due to the low first gear, but the real advantage comes in on the highway with tall differential of the automatic where you run 70 at 2800 rpms (versus 3650 for 5 speed) and easily see 40 mpg due to this. I guess the only thing the car could stand mechanically would be a good set of tires. I have driven the car quite a bit and on a couple out of state runs, so I would feel comfortable driving this car anywhere. The bottom line: This is a good car with potential and would make a nice daily driver too. It is still an 89 and was never treated as the special car it is -rather just as a daily driver since new. Regardless, the car has many years of life left if treated properly, it still feels tight. Plus with the abundance and cheap cost of MKI parts, one could potentially make this one heck of a car, or simply use this as a neat looking daily driver or even as a "budget Miata" since it is a t-top car. Hopefully this extremely long description will cover everything, but if not, shoot me any questions.

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10-16-2006, 02:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
carcrazyguy Some Skills Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 139 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	BTW, email me direct if anyone wants higher resolution pics.

10-19-2006, 09:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
singleslammer Soon to be feeling the v6 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 266 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I saw that you posted in my wtb thread. If only this car was a stick, it looks great!

10-26-2006, 04:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
carcrazyguy Some Skills Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 139 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Last call... If nobody is interested, I guess I may title the car and drive it until spring.

10-26-2006, 08:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
singleslammer Soon to be feeling the v6 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 266 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I am still very interested. I am just trying to find a donar car that I can steel clutch lines, pedals and linkage off of. The car looks great and would come get it this weekend but I cant seem to every get a day off work. How does the auto affect its handling feel in corners, cause I know that I at least feel more in control with a manual. Let me know. Thanks, Jordan

10-26-2006, 11:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
madrvr No Skills Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	If you were closer to Colorado I would be very interested. It is just to expensive to drive my trailer out and back, plus the purchase price. It is exactly what I am looking for my son. Rats! Very nice car! Good luck. Mike

10-26-2006, 05:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
singleslammer Soon to be feeling the v6 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 266 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	well I am fine with it being an auto if you are sure that it wont matter. I am not so sure that I can find anything closer, but I guess I will have to wait and see.

11-21-2006, 09:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
carcrazyguy Some Skills Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 139 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Hello, the car is SOLD! Moderator, please remove the thread.