New MR2 owner, need some advice

[sw20GTS]

Hi all,

I am new here and hopefully will be an owner of a white 1994 MR2 GTS soon.
I am currently driving a Honda Prelude.

I am just a bit worried since the Prelude forum guys are saying that the MR2 turbo's engine is very troublesome and not reliable.

I had a go in the MR2 and it pulls strong in every gear. No hesitation and turbo works as it should. Gear change was solid. Only mods on the car was the stainless steel exhaust and a blow off valve.

However, the current owner did say sometimes the Catalytic Convertor light(?) will go on but he had it checked and said was just a faulty sensor. I never seen it go off during my drive.

Long story short, I am wondering if anyone here could share their experiences with me? Just feeling a bit jittery at the moment that's all.

Thanks for reading.

Sorry if I am posting this in the wrong section. Please move it to the relevant section if so. Thanks.

[Ayshe]

I have owned my MR2 turbo mk2 for about a month now and not had any problems with her. I've never heard of them being unreliable, it's just the fact that working on them isn't as easy as other cars, due to the space in the engine bay and the location of it.

Coming from a Honda you may notice differences in reliability and they are near enough bullet proof, but you will find the MR2 much more of a 'drivers car' if you see what I mean.

Hope this helps you make your mind up

[sw20GTS]

I have owned my MR2 turbo mk2 for about a month now and not had any problems with her. I've never heard of them being unreliable, it's just the fact that working on them isn't as easy as other cars, due to the space in the engine bay and the location of it.

Coming from a Honda you may notice differences in reliability and they are near enough bullet proof, but you will find the MR2 much more of a 'drivers car' if you see what I mean.

Hope this helps you make your mind up

Wow, thanks for the fast reply. Just a lot of negative press going on in the other forums lol. Things about engine blowing up, gearboxes dropping off etc. Really got me scared since I already paid a deposit for the car.

I like the Prelude, it's smooth and so far pretty reliable but I would prefer, as you say, something of a driver's car.

My mom owns a 1996 corolla and its still going strong now. So fingers crossed eh!

[Ayshe]

I wouldn't worry about it, if you've already paid the deposit there's no going back now!!! Just look forward to driving it and enjoying your new car, problems can always be fixed

[sw20GTS]

I wouldn't worry about it, if you've already paid the deposit there's no going back now!!! Just look forward to driving it and enjoying your new car, problems can always be fixed

True Thanks for the comforting words bud. You know the feeling of nervousness when you are about to get a new ride All the bad press from other forum doesn't help either hehe...

edit: noob question but only Premium members get avatars I presume?

[Ayshe]

Tell me about it, everyone said to me when I told them I was getting one...oh my god your going to die, women should have slow cars I've proven them wrong so far

[sw20GTS]

Tell me about it, everyone said to me when I told them I was getting one...oh my god your going to die, women should have slow cars I've proven them wrong so far

Ah you are a woman driver Nice to know the MR2 is appreciated by both genders!

Thanks a lot though for the comforting words and advice, just the thing I needed now.

[Ayshe]

No problem at all mate

[jimGTS]

only prob has a bad press on your prelude forum because they realise the rev3 mr2 turbo would kill almost any prelude on that forum in terms of handling, speed and acceleration!

rev3+ turbo engine are reliable, more so than the rev1/2 engine mainly due to the headgasket being a metal one on the rev3+, and crap on the rev1/2.

gearboxes, i never hear of gearbox issues on this site, and ive been on here 5 years....certainly not enough to warent comments that they are bad.

engine wise there pretty buller proof. suspension, brakes, they will wear like any other car, but again, are decent.


its when you start modifiying behond 300hp that things tend to need looking at.

[Rev5GT]

as already stated they are pretty good reliable cars HOWEVER you have got to consider the age/mileage and expect things to go wrong (sometimes) as with all performance cars of this age..

Reminds me of when i first bought a sapphire cosworth (many MANY moons ago) and all my mates were saying they are crap cars, blow up, headgasket and turbo problems etc..etc.. and I never once had any problems with it...!!

Just get it and enjoy it... It will bring a lot more smiles to the gallon than your prelude - That i can guarantee

Rash.

[sw20GTS]

Alright, I am an MR2 noob, don't know with REV is mine

It's declared manufactured in 94, chassis code SW20 and engine code 3S-GTE.

Also, are the factory suspension on the MR2 by Bilstein? Seen a sticker with Bilstein logo on the engine bonnet.

[irish_dan]

Sounds like yours is a Revision 3. Bilstein suspension comes as standard also as far as I'm aware...

[roadwolf]

Plus the MR2 won't have the rotting wheelarches that Honda's fit as standard.

[notroubleclubber]

If it helps i felt the same.

About 2 years ago i had a n/a mr2 mk2.I put a bodykit on it and loved it (was into fast n furious back then!). However i got tired of it not being a turbo so got rid of it.

I eventually ended up with a escort rs turbo cabriolet.I rebuilt that and it was a very reliable car and quite quick. However i always wanted an mr2 turbo so when a deal come up i took it. I had the jitters as i was using half of some money i had spent ages saving and also i knew the erst inside and out and knew it was reliable and didnt have any probs.
I got the mr2 turbo (rev2) and drove it home and all was well. Ive since noticed things wrong with it like holes in the exhaust,horn not working,car jumping out of 3rd gear,bolts missing in the engine bay and bits and pieces.
I know ive got some jobs to do on this car now but i enjoy using the mr2 turbo more than the erst and glad i done the swap.

[Rossi]

Hi there,
My last car was a 4th gen 2.2vtec prelude, after it died I bought a rev3 turbo which I've had for nearly 2 years now.

The prelude speedo would jump about in cold weather and the rev counter stopped working.
The coilpack blew within a month of having it.
The rear arches rusted through.
The 4 wheel steer light was always getting errors.
Eventually the crank oil seal blew on the motorway and dropped all my oil and the engine seized!

I guess I had a lemon but this was all in 18 months.

Anyway onto the rev3 turbo. I was expecting more maintenance costs but besides the oil changes every 5000 miles the only maintenance I've needed was a front caliper refurb after it was sticking.

It uses barely any oil, after 5000 miles it's still at the top of the dipstick where as the prelude burned quite a bit and so do the other VTECs my family have had etc.

[sw20GTS]

Well finally got the MR2!

It's white with modified stainless steel exhaust and a dump valve (modded in Japan). The exterior looks clean but the interior is very dirty The previous owner didn't wash it plus I think he done a bad job trying to replace the speakers.

He cracked both the door handle plastic trims. Any idea where I can buy spares for that?

Also found out that the windscreen jet spray is not working. I am hoping its the fuse but I think its the pump itself...

Well the main point is she goes like stink! Excellent driving experience. It was mildly wet so I had a little fun around the roundabouts

[Nightfire]

Hey there


Let me just say that i had a 2000 Honda accord type-r 2.2 at the beggining of the year and within 4 months i had lost reverse gear wich led to a transmission re-build. The suspension knocked and banged. Broke 2 driveshafts. And he car felt very cheap.

my MR2 i have had for around 3 months now has had no problems and drives like new (its done 109k where as my honda had done 70k) Read into that what you will.

As they say..............The car in front is a Toyota

[irish_dan]

I cant fault the MR2 either. I've had mine for nearly 3 years now and only had to do basic services to keep it running sweet as a nut. Obviously I've upgraded things here and there but thats a given with a car like this!

[nikaiyo]

He cracked both the door handle plastic trims. Any idea where I can buy spares for that?

Local Toyota dealer mate, they are about £7.00+vat (ish).

I think a lot of the poor reliability reputation is down to people winding boost up without proper supporting mods, dodgy DIY & some garages not really understanding the cars, misdiagnosing problems & quoting silly prices to repair things

[Ayshe]

Also found out that the windscreen jet spray is not working. I am hoping its the fuse but I think its the pump itself...

Just a tip...I thought mine wasn't working but you have to push the end of the stalk like the horn on old french cars, not pull the whole stalk...I did this for a few weeks until I realised thats not how you do it