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Review of Toyota MR2 Mk1
"The only classic on the road more than the Garage! "

I recently got my self a 1986 MR2-MK1-TBar .

I won't do a review as such as I have only owned it a few weeks. Although so far I think it's fantastic, fun to drive, quick and so far reliable, but what I will do is compare it to my MGB-GT.

Cost: My MGB cost my around £5k and still wasn't right, I resold at £2k, A loss of £3k! MR2, £1100 and spot on macanically (bit of rust around the arches however) I don't know the resale as I still own it, but as its not costing me anything to do up, surly I can't lose a lot on it, infact if I gave it away for free it would still have lost less cash than my B.

Reliability: The B, was highly unreliable British craftsmanship, I must say I would love to support the British motor industry... But I can now see why it failed. MR2, well my dad had one (that's the reason I got one rather than A MG-TF/MX5) and macanically not a lot needs doing, odd bits of maintence when you get to your MOT as any other car.

Look: I love the look of MR2, it's the good looking TR7, but I must say, my B was a better looking car, but as it spent a lot of its life in my garage awaiting another fix its looks were waisted in the dark.

Parts: Well, so far the bits I've needed have been quite easy, eBay usually does it. The B was easy to get parts for, but that's only due to the fact that evey week you need parts.

Speed: The B was as so slow it should be dropped from the Sports car category. The MR2 accelerates very quickly and unlike the Bs grown of stress the MR2 growls with excitement, a very enjoyable noice.

Handling: I think the B and the MR2 are about matched. Both seam the same in the wet, although the MR2 is going faster and still leavel pegging with the B if the B was up to the same speeds it might lose this one.

Insurgence cost: I'm in my mid 20s with a bump on my record, so insurgence ain't easy for me. The B is around the £250 mark, the MR2 is around £100 more, but that will be due to the extra speed, so I'm happy with that.

So, I recon the MR2 wins hands down. As I say, the MR2 only loses out on looks to the B, however, it's still a very good looking lad!

Three categories missing (and I can say this as my Mum had an MG Midget:

Roof leakage...

Heater in a soft top...

Hairdresser, sorry, handling rating...

Roof leakage: My B was a GT so didn't have a soft top, although it had a wabasco roof, no leakage. The MR2 TBar dose not leak, however this is due to the previous owner putting silicon in places. But in renewing the rubber seals. The MR2 can leak as much as a B roadster or a MGTF or a MX5. It's part and parcel of a soft top. What I would say is if you look afte it and fix the seals/joins they should not leak. Basically there all as bad as eachother. I only use mine in the sun so it's not as much of a worrie for me.


Heating: In the B, pants, but can be modernised, as I say, I only go out on sunny days (few up in t' North)  but I did have to go out in the MR2 early and it was frosty, as quick as my modem car (Citron Xsara) at heating up as just as warm.

Hair dresser: Sounds like something a hardtop car driver would say! If you look at any of the soft tops in the classic/moden-Clasic range (apart from American) the MX5, MGF/TF, MR2 Mk1 TBar, Z3/4, New Mini, New Foat 500, TT, MG Roadster, MG midget, any of the TRs they all have that "hairdresser" badge. Get in a soft top like a MX5 or MR2 with the roof down on a summers day, you will be fine with the 'hairdresser' badge. All I can say is there must be a load of hairdresser around.

Quote from: Vulpine on 13 October 2012, 08:59:56 PM
Hair dresser: Sounds like something a hardtop car driver would say! If you look at any of the soft tops in the classic/moden-Clasic range (apart from American) the MX5, MGF/TF, MR2 Mk1 TBar, Z3/4, New Mini, New Foat 500, TT, MG Roadster, MG midget, any of the TRs they all have that "hairdresser" badge.

I went Lotus - nothing 'hardressy' about the Elise S1.

Lotus is a good move! Very good looking car. Just above my price range.... But come on it is a tad "hairdresser" not as much as the mr2 but a tad

I've never had the MR2 down in the hairdresser category, that was dominated by MX5's, MGF's, etc or the MR-S which replaced the MkII.  The MKI was never my cup of tea though, just a little too wedge shaped for me, I was more a fan of the MkII, especially the Turbo version.  There's a cracking Ferrari conversion kit you can get for it as well!

The MK2 with the conversion kit did tempt me. However, my dad knows someone who had a MK1 then a MK2 and he was so disappointed he sold the MK2 and went back to the 1.

The Kit (that does look amazing) is between £2-5k depending on the one you go for. Is it difficult to for I here you cry? I was quoted £150 to fit, it's a days work and just bolts on.

So, you're comparing a car designed 50 years ago, and that is going to be at least 32 years old, to one designed in the mid 80's?

Is anyone even remotely surprised that the newer vehicle is going to be "better"?

Newsflash: M1A1 Abrahms is found to out-perform Soviet T-62 battle tank!

Cheers, Martyn
--

Yeah, but new doesn't always equal better does it?

Metal knife developed c4500 years ago - still in use.


Electric knife developed c40 years ago - still in use?

Hi Raider4, actually I'm comparing my 1980 B to a 1985/6 MR2. Not many years between, yes the B had been manufactured for a long while, however it did evolve along the way. Also, my point is wich one is better, as Luddite pointed out new ain't always better, otherwise nobody would have older cars.

As I also pointed out the B is almost as good at handling, better looking and easier to get parts for, so it's not always cut and shut (unless you buy your car in Middlesbrough, it's always cut and shut then).

Nice exsample lud:
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