1990 Toyota MR2 Targa review from Australia and New Zealand
"Should have bought one years ago!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rear lights & front indicators getting cloudy; have already replaced front units with clear items & looking for good set of rear replacements.
Other than that, nothing. I looked for a great MR2 & got one :)
General comments?
My MR2 was bought from an enthusiast who had taken very good care of it. Rays wheels from Japan, body kit, rear strut brace, great stereo (quality, no need for crappy sun woofers!), tinted windows, alarm, induction mods etc.
This car is just amazing. Whenever I approach it, the louvres on the engine cover hint at the fun within. The seats are superbly comfortable, the gear shift a simple flick action, instruments & controls well laid out. It just feels a special place to be. Everything works, both ergonomically & functionally. Every time I'm in it, I cannot believe it's almost 20 years old. It feels more like a well cared for 2000 model.
Mine does not have power steer, but effort is fine. I prefer it without as the steering is very alive in your hands. This is not a car to just waft along in, although it is far from tiring to drive. It requires a certain delicacy of input; sudden movements of the wheel can get the tail wagging... This is a proper car for someone who likes to drive well & for the car to respond to them.
The ride is incredibly supple for this kind of car. Performance is pretty good, but the real performance is in the handling & the MR2's ability to beat other cars point to point.
Is it practical? Yes. It'll take the drive in peak hour if you must (but why would you!), as well as being a fun car for the weekend. You can do some shopping in it, but best if you have another car. I have a Suzuki Baleno for that purpose; why would I want to leave the MR2 in a shopping centre car park?!
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1990 |
| First year of ownership | 2009 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 na Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 150000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 154000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Nissan EXA |
| Date of Entry | 24th April, 2009 |