1993 Toyota MR2 T-Bar (UK car) review from UK and Ireland

Plenty went wrong in only 1.5 years of ownership (thought Toyotas were supposed to be reliable?).

Both times it needed new pads, the discs were 'scored' (400 quid) and a seized calipper made it 700.

Rusted heat shield on the catalyst.

Holed radiator - known design flaw (radiator grille is exposed).

Last straw was leaking power steering fluid - whole new steering rack - 1100 to fix.

Servicing costs OK (small 100/big 260) but only 6,000 mile intervals.

Basically a deeply disappointing ownership experience.

Very expensive to insure (group 18) and run (rear tyres 150 each - and they last 5 minutes).

Didn't feel 'fast' - no torque below 4,000rpm and didn't feel safe when I drove it fast - handling always felt 'twitchy'.

Noisy and unrelaxed on motorways.

Great fun for first couple of months - then the hard ride, noise, vibrations and cramped interior become a pain.

The leather seats felt great but gave me a bad back (bad driving position?)

Awful in winter - seals in the roof and doors go so the whole thing freezes solid, (including the locks) then it freezes up again while driving as the heat from the engine is lost from the rear of the car.

Was this a dodgy import? No! One owner, full history, sourced from a main dealer (Octagon, Bracknell) always serviced/repaired at a main dealer (Coxon, Henley).

I have repaced it with a Mondeo - the Ford is SO MUCH nicer to drive (honestly), quiet, smooth, as fast, reliable.