Faults:

Well, after 241,000 miles (and having the car 18 years) head gasket blew at 110,000.

1st engine got full of carbon and rings scored the pistons. I was told some of the 4A-GEs did this and nobody knew exact reason although 4 valves in a tiny combustion chamber probably has something to do with it.

General Comments:

I have had this car for 18 years and never tire of driving it. It weighs about 2250 lbs so even with a 112 hp engine it goes (0-60 in 8 seconds). I think given the current market one could call it a "poor man's Lotus Elise".

Steering response is instant and it corners flat.

Seems a bit to me like a 7/8ths scale version of a Lotus Esprit, although you want to find one with the rear spoiler - improves the back end looks tremendously.

Engine loves to rev - 7200 red line - get 30 mpg in town and 35 on the road.

The one complaint I've had is that the driver's side foot well narrows a bit giving one a bit of a claustrophobic feeling on long (600 mile day) trips. But I rarely take it on such long trips. It is a perfect urban car for zipping in traffic.

This month's issue (4-07) of Automobile Magazine mentioned this car along with the Acura NSX and early Porsche Boxster as one of the best "affordable mid engined cars" - I have to agree. Of these 3, "Mr. 2" is by far the most affordable - although finding decent examples is getting difficult.

Faults:

My alternator broke and had to be replaced.

The driver side leather seat have started to wear badly.

I have some electrical problems with the headlights.

I had to replace the rack end pinion, because I hit a curb real bad one day.

The engine doesn't crank up that nice any more, but all it needs is some ignition-cleaning.

The driver's side power window switch gave up. It would cost $300 from the Toyota dealer and none of the junkyards have it. I'll have to pay $300 I guess.

Clutch is slipping and needs to be replaced soon.

The synchronizers have begun to wear.

The front brake rotors need to be replaced soon as well.

General Comments:

This car is really reliable. I drive it every day and I am really pushing its limits all the time. I even drove it up to Philadelphia from Miami and back one time. It handled it with no problem. The car didn't give me any serious mechanical problems so far.

This car has some hidden power. I did 8 seconds (0-60) with the stock engine and maxed it out at 125mph. Compared to its 1.6L 112hp engine and 18 years, it's pretty good. What I really love about it is its high revs loving engine. It starts getting powerful at 4500rpm and. Until that it pretty much has no pickup. The red line is at 7000rpm.

What I really miss is a supercharger. It gives you a little more performance, but it's needed. So if you can buy the supercharged model.

It also loves gas. It's only a 1.6, but does only about 17 miles with a gallon. My brother's Lincoln Town Car does the same... with a V8 in it. On the other hand I have the A/C on all year and I drive like a maniac.

The car handles like it's on rails. No wonder it was awarded for best handling car of the year when it came out.

I heard some people complain about not having enough space for a nice stereo. Well there really isn't much space, but I did put a bazooka behind each seat and even fit a 12 CD-changer on top of the passenger-side bazooka. I also replaced the stock speakers on the front and I put a 400W Rockford Fosquate under the driver seat. Sounds real good.

It is a very good first car if you like sporty driving. I am going to look for a faster car soon, but I know I will miss my MR2.