The other day I was offered $800 for my MR2 Supercharger.
I decided to keep the car for two reasons. First it is rare. Second, you see my yellow teeth from the compulsory grin when I drive it.
Rarity is double edged sword. On one hand rarity can lead to increased value – on the other hand rarity automatically means small reserves of replacement parts…
Rarity doesn’t always lead to increased sports car value – but with less than 20,000 manufactured globally, the vast majority of which long since disappeared from roads, the MR 2 Supercharger is – by far – the rarest model of MR 2 ever produced which may one day it will be the most valuable. Collectable? You bet.
I’ve owned my Supercharger since 1994 i.e. for 20 years! It was imported from Japan [the Supercharger model was only available new in Japan, USA and Canada] with around 60,000km on the clock.
Way back in 1996 I posted the below comment on MR2.com and reading it again in 2014 much of it still rings true
I have owned the above MR2 for 2 years. The car was bought in desperation after having to put up with driving a "regular vehicle" for so long. I'm sure you know what i mean when i say regular vehicle. A regular vehicle sort of rolls around corners has as much go as a BMW powered by a Morris Minor engine and the appeal of soap opera.
Well no more Goeff. After evaluating a 1.6L normally aspired vehicle, a 1.6L supercharger and a 2.0L normally aspired vehicle the conclusion was the supercharger. Why didn't i evaluate the 2.0L turbo you might ask? Two main reasons, Price and handling.
The early model MR2 Turbo was decried by motoring magazines and the Press as being "uncontrollable" in the wet. Things were corrected by Toyota Japan in 1993 by improving the rear suspension (almost complete re-vamp) revised chassis and increasing both front and rear wheel & tire diameters. Even the 1990 normally aspired MR2 came under criticism for its handling. The UK "CAR" magazine said the 2.0L MR2 was an improvement in the straight line performance but a backward step from its predecessor in cornering. The problem was the increased weight at the rear end causing the car to be "tale happy". Having given a 1990 MR2 a really hard test drive in twisty outback roads in New Zealand i can certainly testify to the "nervous and twitchy" nature of the 2.0L MR2.
Not having enough budget to climb into a 1993 or later MR2, the Supercharger was for me the choice. The Original normally aspired MR2 for all its cute looks just doesn't have enough go. Jump on a twisty road with a mate sitting next to you, with the air conditioner unit on, and er.. sorry, not enough horse power folks. The 1990 MR2 was not a lot better. What it gained in horse power it almost lost in increased weight. Performance wise, the 1990 MR2 was no match for the late 80's supercharger. The Supercharger offered a superior power to weight ratio, being lighter than the 2.0L but with almost the same power output. The Original MR2 also had one other significant advantage. Unknown too many, Toyota commissioned "LOTUS" sport cars of the UK to refine the suspension design.
LOTUS, with years of design experience with vehicles such as the Elite, Elan and more importantly the Espirit (a mid-engine rear drive vehicle) waved their wand over the Original MR2 and produced by even today’s standards one of the finest handling sports vehicles around. The latter MR2 was not so fortunate.
Since owning my vehicle it has undergone several modifications to improve performance. First was a free flow exhaust, which gave me another 5 Hp on the road. Second was an oversized pulley for the supercharger, which provided another 10 hp on the road. The two mods together give me around 160 Hp at the flywheel and approx. 130 Hp on the deck. This is good enough (due to lower weight and faster power application by the supercharger) to challenge the later model Turbo. I have an extensive data base on the performance of all versions of the MR2 collected from Motoring magazines around the world. A quick comparison between a modified Supercharger and an unmodified Turbo is not recommended reading for a Turbo owner.
Although now looking a little dated, the original MR2 was at least distinctive. You can't say the same for the smooth shapely curves of the latter model. Although a good looker, many a latter model MR2 owner has treated his pride and joy to a revised spoiler and aerodynamic kit. This is generally not to improve performance but an effort to look different. The Original MR2 doesn't need bits tacked on to look different because it already is.
Another difference between the two generations is visibility. The MKII while offering fantastic visibility (by mid-engine standards) was a backward step from the original. You see more from a MKI.
The MR2 Supercharger must rank as one of the "best bangs, for your buck" as far as sport cars are concerned. What other vehicle can you buy for 10 grand that gives you a mid engineed , rear drive layout?
Bought two years ago, the following upgrade and maintenance work has been done.
2.5 inch Freeflow exhaust designed by TOTAL PERFORMANCE,Lower Hutt.
Oversized Supercharger Pulley by TOTAL PERFORMANCE, Lower Hutt.
Replaced Cam Belt, KING TOYOTA, Lower Hutt.
Replaced Supercharger belt,(was slipping) KING TOYOTA, Lower Hutt.
Heavy duty clutch Kit, Flywheel grind, KING TOYOTA, Lower Hutt.
Replaced Both Rear Wheel bearers.
Above resulted in around a 15 Bhp difference at the rear wheels and a good increase in performance.
0-50 Km/h 3.2 sec
0-80 Km/h 5.0 sec
0-100 Km/h 6.7 sec
The real winning department however is the in gear acceleration times which are better in some areas than the 2000 cc Turbo (due to the quicker response of the supercharger and max torque at 4000 rpm, plus weight advantage). Certainly the car is far quicker than 2000 cc normally aspired version.
I would like to hear from others on the success or otherwise of modifications undertaken, in particular the following:-
a) HKS Power flow air filter
b) TRD Cams ie 256'
c) TRD ignition
d) Enlarged Throttle body
e) Reprogrammed Computer (state make and difference noticed)
Enough of my rambling. As you can no doubt tell I’m a MR2 addict. Whether it be a MKI or II, i like most owners hope that Toyota doesn't give up on the MR2 concept.
The MR2 is the vehicle of choice, to real people who can't afford ferrari's, but want to experience the joys of sports car motoring.
Well as earlier mentioned that was written in 1996. I was a bit younger then and I’d be a bit more circumspect on comparisons between different MR2 models today.
For the past 12 years the car has been in storage as I’ve been doing my OE. When I finally returned to NZ in Dec 2013 I found the car in terrible condition. Despite being locked up in a garage surface rust had spidered its way across many of the cars panels. Heart breaking really.
Further, the following work was required just to get it back on the road….
Cleaned and rebuilt rear brake callipers with new seals and refitted to vehicle
Skimmed brake rotors, new calliper kit & supply hose and new end or pipe.
Reassembled front and rear brakes, surfaced all brake pads and bled out entire brake system
Replaced clutch fluid line and hose, bled out clutch.
Removed fuel tank and cleaned out loose rust
Replaced fuel pump
Refitted tank to vehicle and connected all fuel lines, filler hose and breather pipes
Added 2.0 litres of oil to engine
Replaced 2x drive belts
Replaced battery
Replaced 2 tires for WOF.
So, it runs again and it is still the go-kart for adults that I remember it being….
For the next four to six weeks the outer shell and panels will be completely stripped back so the rust can be repaired.
Below are some of the rust issues found. All the common rust areas for MR2 can be seen together with a few problem areas uncommon for the MK1 MR2.
So…… Just a little bit of work to do and consequently a fairly significant $ “investment”. All the rust needs to be addressed, all the surfaces repainted and finally rust protection applied to doors, bonnet etc.
The car will be re-sprayed in its original Toyota “Super White” colour. Further, new decals will be designed by a local graphics company to replace those lost during the above works.
I will provide updates as we progress. Let me close for now where I began – rarity is a double edged sword.
May be one day you will see me flying by.