2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder

I got to test drive the car tonight and i gotta admit, very nice handling car. Its a middle mounted engine, rear wheel drive, 4 cylinders and i think 1.8 L engine.

Its second hand and about $25,000 AUD. He bought it for $60,000 and its done roughly 40,000 KM. I know the owner well and i know its in good condition.

I like the car personally quite alot and i know thats what matters most, but i would just like some opinions from other people about the car.

Worth it? Anyone own one? Personal thoughts?

You can't go very wrong with a japanese car... if it's really in good condition (and stock). They are reliable.

It doesn't have a very large boot, if I recall correctly. If that's not a problem for you, go for it

Well a two seater, i don't mind. And just a smallish compartment fitting a few bags thats it behind the seats. Doesn't bother me too much, but my mum turned me off by it a bit by saying its a feminine car.

My sister had one, seemed like a good car.

There was a problem with the alloy wheels, I think it affected some Celica models as well.
The finish would bubble and crack, my sis had about 3 or 4 sets replaced under warranty (they replace the whole set to ensure colours match).

Quote from aoun :

but my mum turned me off by it a bit by saying its a feminine car.

It's a mid engine two seater sports car... how can that be girly?! Unless it's pink maybe...

The MR2 isn't a very good car when you take it to the shop, it can be quite expensive.

On the other hand, its a well balanced car, it'll handel like a champ.
MR configuration cars are usualy well balanced and make good cars for performance driving.

MR cars can also be quite dangerous for an inexperienced driver when going past the limit. They have great handling and grip, but when loosing traction, they can be quite a handfull.

Quote from Bean0 :

There was a problem with the alloy wheels

Just had to say alloy wheels ain't actually alluminium, forgot what metal is actually in them but it's not ally, my step mum was telling me and I don't think anyone would argue with her over her metals as she works in a scrap yard.
Well it ain't pour aly anyway because it is mixed with other metals, I think she said you can stick a magnet to them and aly isn't magnetic. I know it isn't anything to do with the subject thought I would just say.

alloy wheels are made out of aluminium, but they still get a metallic paintcoat.

Quote from ACCAkut :

alloy wheels are made out of aluminium, but they still get a metallic paintcoat.

It has other metals mixed in. I will ask her again tonight, see what she says about them, I am shore she said alloy wheels because she was also going on about car wings, I think.

Your mom sounds like she doesn't know what she's talking about. ;]

Quote from sam93 :

It has other metals mixed in. I will ask her again tonight, see what she says about them, I am shore she said alloy wheels because she was also going on about car wings, I think.

...alloy does mean a mix of two or more metals (or non metals) generally.

@aoun, are you a hairdresser?

Quote from danowat :

@aoun, are you a hairdresser?

I didn't dare to ask him

Quote from DeadWolfBones :

Your mom sounds like she doesn't know what she's talking about. ;]

Well my mums doesn't, I said my step mum. If she doesn't know what she is talking about she best stop working down her family run scrap yard. Intresting really how many different types of bronze there is, she only has to look at a metal and she knows what it is straight away. Don't know why they still say 1p's and 2p's are copper though because they haven't used copper in them for a while now.

Steel, cast iron and brass are all alloys containing no aluminium, perhaps you need to consult a dictionary rather than your metal identifying expert. A lot of serious competition wheels are magnesium alloys anyway so you can't even assume an alloy car wheel will contain aluminum.

Quote from sam93 :

Don't know why they still say 1p's and 2p's are copper though because they haven't used copper in them for a while now.

Maybe because they're copper plated?

Alloy - A Metal that contains two or more metal elements. E.g. Brass or Steel
Ally - Short name for Aluminium, usually used by people who can't spell aluminium without looking stupid.
Aluminium - A lightweight metal, extremely common in the Earth's crust, but difficult to extract and process compared to iron.

I don't see how working in a scrap yard teaches you much about metal. Sure she might be able to recognise different metals, but in the same way being able to recognise different car marques doesn't make you an expert on cars.

"lol" for the attempt at explaining how a non ferrous metal isn't magnetic though.

Quote from danowat :

@aoun, are you a hairdresser?

LOL, you are a cruel lot.

I have a 'R' reg MG-F that I got for a steal at a local car auction (£950 with 36k miles on the clock ), even though it is British Racing Green I still feel a bit gay in it TBH . fab fun in the summer around the country roads up here though.

I have not driven an MX-5 myself but apparently it is the one to get in the class. But hey the fact that you know the cars history is a massive plus point. Go for it mate I'm sure you will enjoy the trouble free motoring.

Tristan beat me to it

I was about to say that you should go look up the definitions of 'Alloy' and 'Aluminium'. Some basic chemistry at work there.

My advice would be not to, over here they are classed as hairdresser's cars, id much rather have a tidy version of the older MR2, twin turbo etc.

My advice would be not to plunge yet and keep looking around.

The 'new' MR2 is far better at going round corners, but a bit slower in a straight line. Also, because it's considered as a hairdressers car by those that can't really drive or are worried about the size of their penis (which are, frankly, the two reasons they are considered as such), you can be sure it's not been owned by some muppet like the majority of the older MR2s - this is a good thing.

The MGF is a bit of a liability regarding head gaskets, but some seem okay.

If you like it, if it's fun to drive, and if you know the history then go for it. You'll have a lot of fun embarassing owners of 'faster, more macho' cars without even trying, whilst they drive slowly, badly and dangerously - Evos, Imprezas, Boxsters - all easy meat for the small car like an MR2 (although the Evo/Impreza/Boxster crowd will immediately claim it's not possible in a poor attempt to justify wasting their money on something).

Quote from tristancliffe :

I don't see how working in a scrap yard teaches you much about metal.

Well you do learn a lot about metals from working in a scrap yard you have to know about them whilst working with them, she certainly knows here metals though, her dad has been running his scrappy for 30years now and my step mum is 31 and since she was about 8yrs old she started working in there only on saturdays though, best thing about it when I get science homework about metal I can just give it to her lol.

Anyway back on topic, in my opinion don't get a MR2 for a jap car they aren't very big on the performance side are they, I know I haven't drove one as I am not old enough but I have heard a few people say they are heavy cars for the size of them.

Quote from tristancliffe :

(although the Evo/Impreza/Boxster crowd will immediately claim it's not possible in a poor attempt to justify wasting their money on something).

RRRAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!1!11!1

I've always wanted to drive one of these. They're about 100-200lbs lighter than a 2nd gen miata. According to wikipedia, a 6 speed sequential is standard in the australian market - which can be either a good or bad thing... I'd personally probably prefer a normal h-shifter.

<rant>
That wikipedia article is freaking terrible. Here's a quote:

"The Techno Pro Spirit MR-S was also the first car to be able to beat Tsuchiya's champion AE86 in its own grounds, the touge."

Who CARES!@%
</rant>


Before buying I'd test drive a 99-04 mx-5 to see how it compares. You might prefer the g/b on the miata and the extra storage space will come in handy. Parts and maintenance on the mx-5 are pretty low as well.