1992 Toyota MR2 Consumer Reviews

The second generation MR2 was never liked much by the automotive press due to the expectations from coming from the 1st generation MR2. On the same lines, these cars didn't sell well...mostly due to the 240SX, Probe, Eclipse, and slew of other more user friendly cars at the time. Looking back however, it easy to see that this is one of those cars people now wished they had bought, just like the Subaru SVX, the NX2000, and host of other sports car casualties due to the SUV craze in the 90's. Styling still holds its own to this day however, and the sheer lack of these left makes them an eye catcher. Well, is this the car for you? Typically someone asks this question from biased sources, like people on forums, and people who bought such a car as their first decent car. The best source is someone that has owned several cars and is willing to tell you the pros and cons of a vehicle. Well, this is your lucky day. I will start with the cons first: 1. The most difficult thing is finding a 2nd generation MR2 in good condition. Recently, these have become popular with the teen crowd, so most you will find are "molested". 2. Even without this hurdle, you will not have a whole lot of these to choose from, as maybe half of the original cars sold are probably gone. 3. Next, these cars have little to no utility. You cannot haul even a medium box, so these are a horrible choice as your only car. 4. The engine has good low end power, but hits a wall at 5000 RPMs and sounds like a tractor. 5. DIY service is nearly impossible, as all wear items of the engine are pretty much innaccesable due to engine placement. You will likely have to find a mechanic that has experience in these cars, and you will pay quite a premium. 6. If you are buying a 5 speed, the gearing is horrible. 5th is .82, and the final drive is 4.10, so on the highway the engine buzzes cringinly at anything over 55. The automatic is fine however, as it is a much taller ratio, and actually suits the Camry engine much better. 7. The 91-92 cars have a snappy rear end that is easy to loose control of. 8. By today's standards, the non-turbo models are down right slow. 9. These cars are poor in rain and down right useless in snow. 10. T-top MR2's are leaky, and many owners report leaks even after new seals are installed. 11. Resale is a little rediculous as a rule...as you can buy a 300zx with twice the power (nearly twice the car in other ways too) for about the same money, or 2 240SX...many other examples. The good: 1. Not much looks better than a sharp MR2, especially if you like the look of a small sports car - sort of a mini Ferrari. 2. These cars get good mileage, especially the automatic cars on the highway, plus you can safely run 87 octane. 3. The (non-turbo) cars are pretty reliable. 4. The seating position is above average, and visability is near perfect. 5. The power steering models have an excellent yet light feel that is unequaled in this class due to EPHS. 6. The cars ride smoothly on virtually any surface. 7. Did I already say these cars look cool? 8. Finally, the simple act of driving these cars give you a feel that is hard to explain. So there you go...these are great cars for the right person, but not for everyone. In other words, if you want an MR2 simply because you like the look, or you have a friend that has one, or you happened upon one for sale, or other similar reasons, chances are it is not for you. However, if you are one of the select few that gets these cars, they are ideal.