The MR2 thread
- Thread starter cirno2duo
- 29 comments
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- a baby, candy, it's like taking.
- TexRex72
Chicken.
/s
- 2,216
- Isle of Wight, UK
I've seen a pretty healthy population of AW11s here in Arnhem, NL. Not a car I saw a lot of back in the UK although the later generations are fairly common there.
Lovely cars. Stands out on the road without taking up a bag of room or needing to be super noisy. The owners look like happy people.
Lovely cars. Stands out on the road without taking up a bag of room or needing to be super noisy. The owners look like happy people.
- 11,832
- Marin County
Obligatory ZZW30 with 2ZZ swap video:
A BEAMS-equipped SW20 is also a very compelling package. Honda I4s have always been more powerful, but the Toyota units have always sounded a little sweeter to me.
A BEAMS-equipped SW20 is also a very compelling package. Honda I4s have always been more powerful, but the Toyota units have always sounded a little sweeter to me.
If only I hadn't misplaced my GT2! 
Love the pic by the way. The MR2 just manages to look so 90s, yet holds up to be so cool looking nowadays too. I reserve the same thoughts towards the Mitsubishi GTO and several other cars :3
Also, the Sonic Shadow colour - which is selectable in GT1's inclusion of the MR2 - looks pretty neat IMO.
White also suits the MR2 a lot for me, as do stronger colours like the red one I took a photo of on the first post. Just stands out as it should do ^^
Love the pic by the way. The MR2 just manages to look so 90s, yet holds up to be so cool looking nowadays too. I reserve the same thoughts towards the Mitsubishi GTO and several other cars :3
Also, the Sonic Shadow colour - which is selectable in GT1's inclusion of the MR2 - looks pretty neat IMO.
White also suits the MR2 a lot for me, as do stronger colours like the red one I took a photo of on the first post. Just stands out as it should do ^^
Danoff
Premium
- 34,011
- Mile High City
It's a wonderful car. Not sure it's a good first car, but it's a great car for a sunny drive. I just picked up an ultra-clean low mileage one for a little over $8k. Not sure what prices are like in the UK, but if you're enamored, now is the time vs. 10 years from now when the prices have risen.
- 1,759
- NZ
You get struck with a bug when you own one of these cars. When we head out with the MR2 club we quite often come across people who owned one before and always say the regret selling it. Most were SW owners.
I've not driven the AW and ZZW but I hear they are all different and great cars. But in saying that, every SW I have driven has not been the same.
I've not driven the AW and ZZW but I hear they are all different and great cars. But in saying that, every SW I have driven has not been the same.
- 1,603
- Indianapolis,IN
- JrDarknes
This is why I tell my friend to just hold on to his. He just got a house and doesn’t have time for it like he used to but I’m telling him to keep it covered because you will have time for it one day. I know he will regret it if he sold it.
Plus I wouldn’t be able to drive it anymore if he sold it loll. I can never get tired of the turbo flutter noise.
Danoff
Premium
- 34,011
- Mile High City
I've posted this elsewhere, but it belongs here too. The MR2 came in ostensibly two varieties, turbo and non-turbo. They're very different cars, and I think each is collectible in their own right for their own reasons. MR2 Turbos are so hot right now, but the NA is an overlooked masterpiece as well. The NA is a more linear, direct feel that I think compliments the car very well. The whole car is so analog and connected that the direct connection with the engine feels very right in the NA. The turbo is of course more of a sensory experience, noise, speed, etc.
It is as though the MR2 is actually two distinct uniquely fantastic cars. I know that I'm a little on the wrong side of history here, and that the NA has been somewhat forgotten. Not by me though. Maybe people feel this way about other car models. 911 turbo vs. non for example.
- 11,832
- Marin County
Danoff
Premium
- 34,011
- Mile High City
Was it ever an option in left hand drive? I think my NA is too nice to mod. I could see doing it in another MR2, but I'm not sure I have the space to dedicate to another MR2.
- 11,832
- Marin County
If I'm not mistaken, they were exclusively for the Japanese market, so I'm guessing they were all right hand drive. You could always pick up a 3S-GE BEAMS as a spare (they aren't too expensive) and hold onto it in case your engine ever needs to be replaced. The JDM engine swaps are fairly common, I don't think RHD vs LHD will be an issue, particularly because everything is behind the driver anyways. This guy did a JDM 3S-GTE swap into his SW20.
Man SW20s are good looking cars. They don't quite have the exotic presence/proportions of an NSX, but I think they are a better design.
Danoff
Premium
- 34,011
- Mile High City
You mean pick up the engine as a spare? To do it justice I'd need BEAMS-dedicated car. It does seem like the ultimate expression of that car, but then the NSX is a better car altogether. So I'm chasing space in between my cars, which seems kinda silly.
If I had tons of parking spots I'd definitely want a JDM BEAMS project. It's very cool. As it is, I've only got one more spot (at least for now), so I have to make it count.
- 11,832
- Marin County
You mean pick up the engine as a spare? To do it justice I'd need BEAMS-dedicated car. It does seem like the ultimate expression of that car, but then the NSX is a better car altogether. So I'm chasing space in between my cars, which seems kinda silly.
If I had tons of parking spots I'd definitely want a JDM BEAMS project. It's very cool. As it is, I've only got one more spot (at least for now), so I have to make it count.
I think you need another vehicle storage area.
- 1,759
- NZ
I've just built a house too and no way am I letting mine go.
The BEAMS redtop (GEN4 3SGE) was only available in the JDM December 1997-August 1999 G/G-Limited. The rest of the world excluding USA kept the GEN3 3SGE for those years. Obviously they stopped building SW20s for the USA market in 1995.
LHD vs RHD has no affect on engine swaps as everything is mostly the same for the bits that get changed.
That video has the GEN4 3SGTE which is becoming a very common swap in the USA. The engine is from the Caldina GTT/GT-FOUR which was only ever sold in Japan. I'm in the process of helping two people do swaps here with doing the wiring for them. Most people purchase a harness but for us it's a massive cost to send things to the USA and get it done then get it sent back. I get why most people buy one because there is actually a lot involved to get it right.
I'll be starting to do the harness merge this week for one of them. I have documented everything so far. Just need to put the theory into practice.
I purchased a Caldina JDM wiring diagram that @SVX kindly imported for me. Without that I would have been a bit confused but I learnt a whole lot more about the wiring and how it works.
Just buy a REV5 car. However they are quite rare as they only built around 4000 REV5 for the world. That includes the GT/GT-S models and the non BEAMS cars outside Japan.You mean pick up the engine as a spare? To do it justice I'd need BEAMS-dedicated car. It does seem like the ultimate expression of that car, but then the NSX is a better car altogether. So I'm chasing space in between my cars, which seems kinda silly.
If I had tons of parking spots I'd definitely want a JDM BEAMS project. It's very cool. As it is, I've only got one more spot (at least for now), so I have to make it count.
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