A Buyer's Guide : Toyota MR2.

Toyota MR2 Mk2 GT T-Bar (Rev 3)

In complete contrast to the modified MR2 featured recently, here we have an absolutely standard Revision 3 MR2 GT TBar.

Despite being 11 years old, this revision 3 MR2 has only 25,000 miles on the clock and is in outstanding condition. It has been very carefully looked after since new by the same owner and has had a full Toyota service every year, despite covering just 2,500 miles per year on average.

MR2 MkII Rev 3

The only upgrades that the car has had are a top of the range alarm system and a tracker horizon which offer first rate theft protection; but you can't even see either of these, so visually the car is exactly as it left the factory.

At the front the car features the standard indicator lenses that were fitted to the Rev 3, unlike many cars of its age which have since been fitted with the more modern looking 'clear corners'.

It sits on its standard 15" alloy rims which are fitted with Yokohama tyres - 195/55 at the front and wider 225/50 on the rear. Under the front hood the car has an unused space saver spare wheel.

TBar

As a genuine UK TBar, the car's list price when new in August 1994 was £19,145, compared to the price of the coupe which was £17,689 at that time. The extra cost of UK TBars included leather seats. On this car, the TBar seals have been carefully looked after so that there is no ingress of water, even in the heaviest of storms. Unfortunately, on the standard UK TBar air conditioning was an optional extra and isn't included on this car. Japanese spec cars of the time almost always include this feature.

ICE

The car does include the premium active sound system which helps to add depth and volume to music. While it's no match for the latest after market In Car Entertainment systems, it does a reasonable job of providing good quality sound, even when travelling at speed with the roof panels removed. The system has 8 speakers including two subs which are securely located behind the seats plus speakers in the doors and the rear side panels.

Performance Specification

In common with all UK MR models of the time, the car is fitted with the two litre 3S-GE engine which in 1994 guise had an output of 173bhp at 7000 rpm thanks to the ACIS (Acoustic Controlled Induction System). Earlier models without this enhancement had a considerably lower power output. Later models also had a slightly reduced output of 168bhp as part of efficiency improvements introduced a couple of years later. The car as an official 0-60 time of around 7.7 seconds.