Mr2 Problems?

[04yfzkid]

Well I am new here guys as you can tell. I have been researching and researching on what kind of car I want to get. I have currently a truck and have been into the desert, but I have more fun in cars. My budget is around $6,000 for a car and the older mr2's caught my attention. My half-brother's dad is a head service guy at Toyota and he has said that the mr2's are notorious for having problems. My question is what is the problems these have, or what problems have you guys had with your cars?


Thanks guys,
-Mike

[kbrew8991]

tech guys typically love over-state problems IME

which generation are we talking?
turbo/na/sc?
etc..

[04yfzkid]

Well I haven't actually talked to the guy but thats what my brother told me he said. I am looking at the mk1's so anything they are prone to have problems with would be helpful if you could list them.

-Mike

[kbrew8991]

no Mk1 experience here unfortunately but with that narrowed down I bet we can get a knowledgeable guy to chime in...

[Timon]

It is a Toyota so either way it will last as long as you treat it right. My experience with my MKI has been a good one so far. I currently own a 1987 MR2 MKI NA <--- this is what kbrew was referring to. NA (Naturally Aspired) means it has no forced induction (turbo or super charger). The MKIs came in NA from the release date in '84 to '87, and they offered a SC (Supercharged) version in '88 and '89. The MKI was never offered with a turbo ( .

History
As far as my experience, I've had nothing but good luck. The original owner was a doctor and kept the car in really good shape (garaged, all maintenance done regularly). He then donated the car and it was auctioned off and bought by the PO. He had the car for a couple of months and replaced all the belts (timing belt, drive belts, and alternator belt) and did a tune up on it. I then purchased the car and have been driving it ever since.

Problems
The only mechanical problem I've had was it did not start one time. It wouldn't crank at all. It was a very cold morning, so this may have had something to do with it. I got out and popped the hood, looked around, and tried again. It started right up and I haven't had a problem since. From what I've seen on the forums there isn't really any particular problem the MKIs are prone too, other than stupid POs. I believe I have seen someone mentioned MKIs having issues with oil leaks? It was never specified where when I read it, but I haven't had any issues (other than I spilled a few drops when filling it up).

Someone with a longer term of ownership will most likely come in with some more thoughts, but as far as I'm concerned, "Treat your car good and it will treat you better."

P.S. As for the SC, I have read they tend to have more issues as opposed to the NA.

[Mista 2]

ok, i dont want this to go down the wrong way because i LOVE my AW11 but...

first thing to go was my cooling system, well the past owner was an ass and didnt look after it and this eventually lead to a blown head gasket, but it was fu(ked!!!. alternators are a problem as an air vent is just above it and water drips down onto it. parts can be another issue as toyota were not too nice and mix and match with some of the parts from differant years. other than that it has been good.

so yeah i must reiterate that i love my MR2 and i just put this in to be informative, everyone has their own view.

[muffinman]

The only problems i've had in the past 20 years are timing belt,alternator (which is badly located), air conditioning and brakes. but these are problems you would have with any car. If your budget is 6k why not look into an MK2, theres a better chance of finding a car with lower miles and less aftermarket crap on it.

By the way in my personal experience the Toyota techs i've dealt with didn't know much about the MK1s. I have many stories of dealer tech nightmares.

But like everyone has said the car is very dependable as long as you treat it right.

[lsgheero]

if your budget is 6k and you want a mk1 do what I did. Find a good shell and just replace the engine and most the accessories. (I bought my shell for $300 and engine plus all new accessories *alternator belts, starter, etc* and a paint job was still less then 3500 and my car drives, and looks great. But as mentioned they only run great if maintained.

Now there is alot of stuff that can be harder to reach in the mk1 but its just like any other car. and the engine is the time tested mother approved mighty 4age so it can take a beating

[TechX]

Other than rusted rear fender wells and alternator placement, most people have no serious issues with the MK1. And a typical lazy headlight motor or something. Otherwise the engines and trannys are strong in their own right. No real issues internally. With that kind of budget you can do a large variety of changes to negate those issues anyway. You have a lot of room to play with a budget like that, I'm sure everyone can give you some good options if you do choose to go for a MK1... also... as you spoke about tech guys, no ill intention to family, but hardly anyone who currently works for a Toyota garage has any experience with the mk1's because of age and rarity nowadays. Toyota's are known for outlasting other domestic vehicles with the same schedule of upkeep. Ask around for the 200k plus members to tell you how well the Toyota's hold up.

[04yfzkid]

Well I was thinking about buying one for about 1500. Probably an NA since I can't seem to find a supercharged with in 300 miles. I was then thinking doing springs, shocks, sway bars, and rims/tires. Learn how to drive then worry about the motor. Anything wrong with that?

[kbrew8991]

Originally Posted by 04yfzkid

Well I was thinking about buying one for about 1500. Probably an NA since I can't seem to find a supercharged with in 300 miles. I was then thinking doing springs, shocks, sway bars, and rims/tires. Learn how to drive then worry about the motor. Anything wrong with that?

learn to drive like autox/track/?

[04yfzkid]

Well I am 16 and coming from the offroad world, cars a totally different. I have a 4 door f150 right now. I was meaning more towards learn how to drive like how the car reacts to situations and also autocross. It is going to be my DD but also will see autocross like once in a while.

[kbrew8991]

I'd drive the car stock in some autocrosses until you get a feel for what class you want to be in (or to find out if you even might care about car classing in the future)

you'll learn more driving the stock car, and its easier on your wallet and wrench time to wait that way

[TechX]

smart idea. do the minor improvements you mentioned, then once you get the feel of the car then you can tweak power and handling as you want it. if you havent been in one and driven it before, you will find for a small engine they are very reactive, handling is different than most other vehicles you will drive, and they are just such a neat little car to own. I outran a 305 s-10 on a rural highwy one day and when I pulled off he pulled in behind me and wanted me to pop the front hood, when he saw there was no engine I could only chuckle, when I showed him the 1.6 in the back he asked "Is that all??".... you can't put a price on times like that..

[monkeydemond]

Originally Posted by TechX

smart idea. do the minor improvements you mentioned, then once you get the feel of the car then you can tweak power and handling as you want it. if you havent been in one and driven it before, you will find for a small engine they are very reactive, handling is different than most other vehicles you will drive, and they are just such a neat little car to own. I outran a 305 s-10 on a rural highwy one day and when I pulled off he pulled in behind me and wanted me to pop the front hood, when he saw there was no engine I could only chuckle, when I showed him the 1.6 in the back he asked "Is that all??".... you can't put a price on times like that..

lol i have had situations like that. i relocated my battery to the front trunk, so when people are like "pop ur hood man" i do and then all they see is a battery....


i tell them its battery powered

[TechX]

should put a small 1ft wide electric motor in the front, and the battery, and when they ask that and you open it up, and there is a belt coming off the little motor going into the front firewall(and dead ends where they cant see), then they literally crap themselves... lol....