The styling of the first generation Toyota MR2 is well, a bit different, but there is something strangely cool about it. The mid-engine layout and rev happy 4A-GE engine make these an absolute blast to drive! While they aren’t the fastest ’80s sports car, the smiles per mile/price is hard to beat. Reader Garin M has owned this particular MR2 since new and covered 88k happy miles in it. The time has come to part ways with it though. Garin is asking $2,400 or best offer for it and it’s currently located in Thomaston, Connecticut. If you’d like to make an offer, be sure to send it Garin via the form below!
Asking Price: $2,400
Location: Thomaston, CT
Mileage: 88091
Title Status: Clean
VIN: IC3BJ45K7JG396822
Seller’s Description: It’s only had one owner. It’s never been in an accident. And it’s a great driving car. Willing to negotiate, but please don’t insult! Serious offers only!
Body Condition: Rot over both back fenders. Muffler missing (stolen off the car). Original interior – non-worn nor ripped seats. Cracked sunroof. The only dent is over passenger fender (tree branch fell).
Mechanical Condition: Standard. Still runs great!
Yes, it has some issues, but cosmetic issues can be fixed or you can leave things alone and drive the heck out of it as is! As long as the wonderful 16 valve engine is in well-maintained condition, you should be able to get plenty of miles and smiles out of this car. So, do you see these cars one day being worth enough to justify a full restoration?
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These are fun-to-drive cars, with reasonable performance from the 4A-GE twin-cam four. The supercharged models were surprisingly lively.
Hope it finds an appreciative home, Garin.
I grew up in the 80s and these were such a breath of fresh air among the tiny Sentras and enormous Cadillacs.
I feel like I’m missing out on a good story about that muffler, though.
I don’t know about how interesting… the car was originally stored at my parent’s house. After my father died my mother took in a tenant, who considered himself a amateur mechanic. This kid took advantage of the situation and sold off some antiques formally of my father’s that were put in storage as well. He evidently found a buyer just wanting parts for MR2.
My nephew caught and stopped him from stealing anything else off the car but only after the muffler was gone.
I bought a forest green one new in 1986 specifically for that engine. Perfect 50/50 weight distribution, a blast to drive, reliable, and economical. Two trunks for basic shopping. Hot interior because of the large windshield, even with A/C. Drove it for seventeen years with nary a complaint. Wore out tires quickly, but well worth it.
I’ll never forget the look of surprise/joy on my Dad’s face when I told him to shift at 5000 RPM; perfect and natural for this engine.
Owned several poor man’s Ferrari’s still have 2 an ’87 and fully loaded 89 both white amazing cars. Owned and still own many amazing cars and trucks, but hands down MR-2 was best of them all. Why I still have 1 running, funny thing is, owned 308 Ferrari at same time early 1990’s that spent time most of it not running, I’d drive my ’89 MR-2 to shop where they would be working on Ferrari, guys in shop stopped laughing after a coupe drive the Toyota. Great cars in the late 1980’s M-B Cosworth 190 also XRT4i Merkur w/SVO Brakes and intercooler but the Toyota was really special Im debating buying this car, just have learned can’t buy Northern car that has some rust as Florida salt air will kill it. Hope someone in Arizona buys it and redo rust with metal, its really a great car. My ;87 we installed Lexus v-6 and hunt down NSX’s as my 04 conv. M-3 sits in shop, going on months again! Between older MR-2 & 02 Subbie Forester STI and 2 x 7.3 Power strokes as even 2014 135 boy you buy it because of ego, only to have it shattered and deflated by 1989 Toyota, thank god i held on to them. Best is when someone chases you down, at first you think its unmarked cop, then realize its Mustang GT whating to know “what is that? Where you buy it ?” then I realize the car is older than GT Driver. So you respond ‘Yu can’t anymore!’ OK I know its mean, but when we where kids we knew what cars existed before we’re born, heck even knew Euro cars. Days of really great cars, right? When cars ran without complicated tuning. When gas could be brought in different flavors (oh Sunoco the dial an octane) why did is disappear from street pumps? Heck if I’m paying over $4.00 for gas then let us have the really good stuff. MR-2 they tried to make you new, but tipped scales like elephant in the room and what no two (2x) trunks? See already the 1980s where better thanx for showing $ to sell her.