Should I MR2?

I found an AW11 MR2 I like a few days ago and have been emailing back and forth with the owner. I hadn't asked the obvious early on, and I got an answer to my question about whether it runs and drives.

It ran good, but has been parked for a couple of years, so fuel tank will have to be dropped and cleaned for restarting.

The car in question is an 85' MR2, 90k, 5spd. Doesn't appear to have any rust in the pictures and the owner claims it has none. Price is under $1k. I haven't owned any toyotas but they did make some generally bullet proof vehicles and engines in the 80s. If I were to make this thing a daily driver, would swapping to all fresh fluids and cleaning the gas tank be enough to see if it runs? How strong is the 4AGE if being waken from hibernation? Also if I do go inspect the car next week what things should I be looking for considering I can't take it for a test drive. (At least I don't want to try starting and driving it yet.)

Buy it now. Plan on a bad headgasket. Nobody parks a good-running MR2 and doesn't have the occasion to drive it for a few years. Rust or HG issues are the only things that stop these cars.

I would change the oil, put a teaspoon of oil in each plug hole, crank it without plugs for about 30 seconds. Put the plugs in it and drive it off.

Check for rust in the rear wheel arches.

I wouldn't even bother with the gas tank junk. Just pump it out and refill it, if you're real anal about it.

I bought my Celica after it sat for two years. I fired it up on the gas that was still in it.

Buy it. It'll be fine.

I agree on all said here. I would want to get to the reason it does not run. The reason is not the gas tank (which by the way, is the center console.)

The epicenter of all things is the MR2 owners club at www.mr2oc.com.
You will have to register to get into the website but it is safe and well worth it.
All you answers can be found there.

John, former owner of '88 MR2 SC

There is a drain plug in the gas tank, but after 25 years undisturbed and rusted-in-place, I would leave it alone. Top it off with fresh gas, or if you're really anal and not opposed to the remote chance of being consumed by a massive fireball:

Unscrew the banjo fitting from the fuel filter in the front left of the engine bay and put the rubber hose/fitting into a gas can.

Jumper the +B and FP connections in the "diagnostic" port and walk away for a while.

Personally, I would just top off the gas tank and fire it up..except for that blown HG that it probably has.

You can get a 20V engine for what, $650?

not all 85 mr2's had tank drain plugs. my 85 doesn't. I learned this while trying to install my cut in half tank in my autocrosser.

Hrmm. I've never actually owned an 85. All of my Mk1s have been 86 and 87s. At any rate, dropping the gas tank on any MR2 royally sucks.

Buy it. Now. That car looks just like one I drove for a year, a red 85 with a sunroof, except the one I drove had badly faded paint and quite a bit of rust.

These guys have said it. MR2OC is your friend. These cars are quite reliable and extremely fun to drive. Good on gas, too! Change out the fluids but beyond that (and the potential head gasket) you should be good to go. The lack of rust is amazing on this one, at least to me.

Does anyone have a link to a head gasket or timing belt job on an MR2? I was looking for one on mr2oc and didn't turn one up. Am I going to want to shoot my self for working on a mid engined car?

How good is the gas mileage? Better than 30mpg?

Here is some good reading that should keep you entertained.
20V conversions:
http://dr_hess.tripod.com/The_Beast.htm
The Good Doctor, Dr. Hess himself is often a contributor to the GRM board.

http://www.padandwheels.com/mr2/blacktopproject/blacktop.html
Lots of good MR2 maintainance info here.

Where to get the much respected Factory Service Manual also known as the Big Green Book (BGB) http://www.mr2oc.com/showthread.php?t=228868

Lastly, a whole wealth of info including downloadable BGB files.
http://opc.mr2oc.com/

No, you will really not want to kill yourself any more doing a HG on a mid car than you would want to kill yorself doing a HG on any car. You may find it best to remove the engine from the car and that is best done by taking it out the bottom. See the writeups on the 20V conversion for tips on this.

For fuel economy, back in 1985 when your car was new, the window sticker read 27city / 32 hyw. People report 30mpg easily.

In reply to jrw1621:

Thanks for posting the links, now I have to find another MR2

yeah i want it! you should get it. and sell it to me later

Also look for rust at the hinge points on the front trunk. 4AGE's are relatively bulletproof. '85 has rear sway bar. I say go for it, but talk him down low.

jrw1621 wrote: Here is some good reading that should keep you entertained. 20V conversions: http://dr_hess.tripod.com/The_Beast.htm

This guy sounds like a bit of a nutcase.

Buy it. Then come to the yearly MR2 meet we have in Kingston, ON. Good times, always.

I love AW11s -- not as much as my Miata, mind you, but almost as much. I love the motor -- it revs and revs. They are also surprisingly easy to work on.

Gas mileage: With my '89 AW11 I have averaged 35 mpg overall for the last 30,000 miles, now have 119,000 on the car. Best was 41 (60mph average on a long trip on secondary roads), worst was 30 including a short track day. Love the car, it only has two drawbacks - it's heavy for what it is (about 2400#), and for autocross use it tends to lock the front brakes - see the parallel discussion for some ideas on ways to improve this. Doesn't work well without some development if you are the king of the late brakers, or a heavy trail braker, but the handling is excellent, and more go is a 20V or GZE away. I've had my '89 for 10 years now, that says something for how well I like it.

Unless there is a fuel pump problem, you do NOT want to drop the tank, it's a real PITA of a job. It seems I always end up doing a pump every time I buy one, and every time I scare and amaze friends and family with my new found vocabulary!

Seriously though, they are awesome cars and I still miss having one. I search almost daily for another, but this time I want a perfect '85...very rare these days!

Hey Dave,

I hate to taunt you but did you know that this is available in your neighborhood?
http://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/1515473331.html

Personally I am haunted by the idea of buying this one. Oh, how I miss my red '88 SC.
http://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/1512353737.html

Shouldn't there be a plug on the bottom of the tank? My Supra and Celicas all did.

SupraWes wrote: Shouldn't there be a plug on the bottom of the tank? My Supra and Celicas all did.

All of my MR2s have, but I haven't owned an '85.

SupraWes wrote: Shouldn't there be a plug on the bottom of the tank? My Supra and Celicas all did.

Seems to be part number 77100 A&B as shown on this parts diagram. The oblong item is the gas tank.
http://opc.mr2oc.com/online_parts_catalog/Engine/fuel%201.GIF

Source:
Found in the engine section of this page as "Fuel 1":
http://opc.mr2oc.com/

So...did you buy this car yet, or what?

I have dropped the tank on an '85 MR2, and swapped the head gasket, and swapped the engine, and just about everything else you can think of. I have a complete writeup on the swap and head gasket job around here somewhere. Dropping the tank is a major PITA, but you can access the electrical leads on the fuel pump from inside the car, so check that out first. Mine had a bad electrical connection and the job was a waste of time and swear words.

The head gasket is no big deal, same as any other DOHC I suppose. You will need a special socket for the head bolts, and buy a complete rebuild kit so you can refresh all the other little things while you have it apart. Take notes, take pictures, take your time, it will be easier than you thought.

My AW11 is not a daily driver, but an occasional driver. I had it out in 10 inches of fresh snow on Saturday! Even buried under snow, it started right up after sitting all week like any good Toyota should.

jrw1621 wrote: Hey Dave, I hate to taunt you but did you know that this is available in your neighborhood? http://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/1515473331.html Personally I am haunted by the idea of buying this one. Oh, how I miss my red '88 SC. http://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/1512353737.html

I do know, I look at the ad everyday trying not to go look at it. It would have to follow me home! Unfortunately the 240Z will need to go first. Anyone need a project car to help with my addiction?

Tyler H wrote: So...did you buy this car yet, or what?

I want it, it is a good deal, but I don't need another project car to get going again while in school. The winter break I have is just tempting the crap out of me. I have a feeling I should use the money for books this semester instead of the MR2. (A quick look today said the books cost more too!)

Somebody else buy it! http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/1513448566.html