Supercar on a Shoestring II (Toyota MR2 (1990-99))

Member Name: ayjay

Product:	Toyota MR2 (1990-99)
Date:	07/08/01 (1503 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Performance

Disadvantages: Two Seats Only

Supercar on a Shoestring II

Four years ago my love affair with the Toyota MR2 GTS began. The honeymoon is over.
So was it a marriage made in heaven, or did the shoestring snap!
You could now scroll down to the end of this missive for a partial answer to that question, or come with me through the history of ‘ups’ and ‘downs’ of our relationship.
First, let’s look at the ‘Supercar’ scenario.
The car is 14 years old and has covered 62,000 miles. Has it stood the test of time as technology marches on?
Well, the Toyota designers did an excellent job. There are still only a double handful of cars in the world that can match the performance of an MR2 Turbo.
A scan of ‘What Car’ will show you the competition.
TVR make some, as do the Fiat Group (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Masarati etc) the Ford Group (Aston Martin, Jaguar etc) the VW Group (Bentley, Audi etc) BMW, Porsche, Mercedes and others of (Jeremy) Clarkson’s Chancers like Noble and Eggsnog or whatever they’re called.
Some of their products could keep up with 0 to 60 in under six seconds
But how much do those products cost?
Consider this scenario. It’s a sunny evening and you’ve driven down to the coast with the roof off, enjoying the music, playing from the stereo and the exhaust pipes.
The local hostelry beckons.
Will you dare to bail out of your beautiful beast and abandon it in the local car park with never a thought for the potential depredations of the local pond life?
Mr.2 cost £6,500 and, on a good day, is now worth maybe £2,500.
So I will!
And there hangs the ‘Shoestring’ part of the definition.
My costs so far include the paint, which started to peel on the front hood (the ‘bonnet’ to us Brits) after a pre-ownership respray started to go wrong. So I delivered Mr. 2 to the local cosmetic surgeon who resprayed the area and dealt with a small dent in a lower panel for £360.
That, apart from the annual insurance cost, has been the largest single item of expense to date.
Next was rubber costs; a miscalculation on my behalf. In my earlier report I was wrong about the longevity of the rear tyres. The Michelin ZX 225/55R15s lasted only 16,400 miles. Perhaps I’m too enthusiastic with the throttle and tempted by the cornering abilities of the car.
New back tyres have been fitted at a cost of £225.60.
Front tyres were fitted at 48,480 miles, cost £162.15 (they’re cheaper and smaller at 195/55R15) and seem to be lasting well.
We also needed new front brake pads and new brake caliper seals at a cost of around £170.
The car appeared to have a tendency to use coolant. I say ‘appeared’ deliberately.
There were no obvious leaks and a new radiator cap (£17.51) last year did not solve the problem. Two litres (over three years) of top-up Toyota antifreeze has cost around £8.25. Then, when I at last asked the right questions, I was told by a friendly Toyota mechanic (and there seem to be a lot of those. Perhaps it goes with job satisfaction?) that you can’t check the coolant level properly by looking inside the filler cap. You must ‘dip’ the long rubber hose that leads down into the expansion tank. So there! No 'leak' of coolant since.
A small and annoying oil leak, so slight that there has been no need to top up the level between services (6,000 miles) (ever!) is still there, despite a replaced cam cover gasket which seemed to be the source of the problem. So Mr. 2 gets parked over some paper (when I remember) or he leaves his mark on the barn floor. Rather like our cat!
A front wheel bearing was needed at 57,000 miles and two front ball joints at 61,000. At 62,000 new seals where required for the clutch slave cylinder.
Servicing costs over three years, including MoT testing and those noted, have amounted to £1,800.
Insurance still makes me quiver. £465 last year; £411, this year and £1,859 total over four years.
We live deeeeeeeep in the country and have clean licenses, so check your quotation before you buy!
Norwich Union Direct did the job for us.
The overall condition of the car is still very good. Like all teenagers, there are some signs of acne; on the rear spoiler (glass fibre) there is a hint of osmosis, but there is no sign of any rust. The stainless steel exhaust continues to bark joyfully and sail through the emissions test of the MoT.
So did the ‘shoestring’ snap?
I suppose, like most things in life it’s the Curate’s Egg Syndrome; good in parts!
For me, the definition stands. I think Mr. 2 has been excellent value for money.
Regretfully, she who must be obeyed feels otherwise.
She no longer wants my ‘ Supercar’, whether or not it’s on a ‘Shoestring’.
So a divorce looms. But will it be the car that has to go?
Watch this space!!
And on that note I shall end, for now.

Summary: Still the BIZ!!

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