Remarkably original
The Toyota MR2 could with its poor man’s Ferrariimage since it came on the market in 1989, it has always counted on the approval of young people. As a result, virtually no MR2 remained free of larger wheels and spoilers. This original copy is therefore rightfully a special spot.
The Toyota MR2 that AutoWeek forum user HarmenA photographed had seven owners in its 31-year life. It seems that none of them gave in to the temptations of the wide range of aftermarket finery that came on the market over the years before the model. The second generation of the MR2, which debuted in 1989, often fell prey to people with tuning plans. With its smooth nose with pop-up headlights, exhausts on both sides and air intakes behind the doors, the second-generation Toyota MR2 quickly earned the nickname poor man’s Ferrari. That increased the reputation.
Not that the model became a resounding success because of that. In the 90s there were more sporty coupes on the market. The MR2 therefore had the necessary competition. In addition, the Japanese was certainly not the cheapest, maintenance regularly required extra workshop hours because of the midship placement of the engine and it was not particularly fast. With an empty weight of almost 1,200 kg, the second MR2 – called SW20 – was considerably heavier than its predecessor.
The extra weight was partly due to more luxury and a larger engine. The block with which the MR2 was delivered in the Netherlands has a capacity of 2 liters, with which it produced 156 hp. The MR2 was smooth with it, but not more than that. Please note: we are talking about a car that came on the market in 1989, and that was some time ago. With the second facelift in 1994, the power source was upgraded, so that it now delivered 175 hp.
Popular import
It is reported that Toyota sold about 500 units of the second generation MR2 in the Netherlands between 1989 and 1999. As mentioned, a significant part ended up in the hands of tuners. The car not only looked sporty, but also lent itself to engine adjustments. Some put a Toyota V6 behind the front seats, others screwed in the turbocharged block that came in the MR2 in other markets. It remains to be seen whether it really drives him better: by default, the pre-facelift MR2 could already be cunning, because the ass could suddenly die. Toyota therefore made adjustments during the facelift that made it slightly more forgiving, such as wider rear tires and a different wheel geometry.
However, the copy in the photos, a variant with T-top (with removable roof panels), managed to survive its seven owners. This does not apply to approximately half of the second-generation MR2s originally delivered in the Netherlands. Yet there are more than 600 on registration, because more than 300 were imported. Original or not, enthusiasts know the model.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl