When the second-generation Toyota MR2 debuted, it was like many other second-showings: greatly improved over the somewhat roughshod first-born, but with a loss of that ragged edge that made the earlier edition so interesting. The earliest MR2s were mid-engined just as this one is, but road test editors found them hard to handle and Toyota took their complains to heart. This 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo was a far better car on paper, but also came across as somewhat sterile in comparison to the wild supercharged car it replaced. Still, stock examples are hard to find, which makes this 1991 MR2 listed here on Facebook Marketplace worth a look.
In general, the MR2 seems a bit underrepresented in today’s rush to collect the most iconic sports cars of the 1990s. We’re in a serious nostalgia boom, where GenXers and old millennials are snatching up the vehicles they wanted to own in high school, and paying a fair price for them. This movement seems to have left the MR2 behind, even if there were a few blips over the years of top-notch examples commanding real money. I just don’t see sustained excitement or interest in this model, even though it’s hard to find a desirable turbocharged model that hasn’t been modified to death.
One thing the Japanese do well to a fault is exorcising faults to the point that a car becomes too predictable, or easy to live with. A key reason why I stick with European marques that need constant upkeep is because there’s some bizarre attraction tied to the fact that you can’t just set it and forget it (cue the whole wild girlfriend versus the dependable bookworm analogy for those us still living in this context.) Adjustments to the rear trailing arm setup, longer rear lateral links, and larger wheels and tires all combined to make the handling more stable in the new-for-1990 MR2, but did Toyota over-engineer the fun out of it at the same time? It’s hard to say. These were still very compelling machines, capable of sub-7 second runs to 60 in a functional, if not bland, cockpit.
The twin-cam engine delivered an impressive 200 horsepower and the same amount of torque, all mounted right behind your head. Because they were cheap for so many years, these MR2s have been subjected to poorly-executed modifications, engine swaps, and body alterations that have made finding clean, unmodified examples incredibly hard. Rust is a problem, too, as it is for most Japanese products from this era. The fact that it hasn’t emerged as a desirable driver’s car is a shame but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look to enjoy one if you find the predictable nature of Japanese engineering more enticing than the attention-seeking behavior of the European brands I tend to “invest” in. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Lothar of the Hill People for the tip.
Very fun and fast cars. Had some seat time in one just like this. 👍
I always loved mr2s from the 1st generation to the final generation . If someone can’t afford a Ferrari this is the way to go plus you get Toyota reliability. Can’t go wrong with these pocket rockets.
Street-legal go-kart. Crazy fun.
When this version came out some of us thought it was from an Italian design house! Even now it’s lines are svelte and graceful like something you’d expect to see as a gas miser for an Italian marque-except it starts and runs 99% of the time.
1st time i could recall seeing RWL tires on an import.
Compare this to the current ugly toyota? supra.
It has indeed an Italian flavor. My X1/9 mechanic once has MR-2 on the lift for service and when i asked him he told me looking from below that it is a cm by cm copy of the X1/9. Credit to the Japanese that they waited until Fiat (Bertone) stopped producing the X1/9 before producing the copy. Also at the time some journalists in the know asked why it had no back luggage compartment (as per X1/9) and the answer was the cost! A great car anyway.
I loved the original and worked at a Toyota store when they came out. So I was able to have some fun with one. I never had a chance to drive the second addition, but a friend bought a turbo and absolutely loved his once the rear suspension was recalled for eating rear tires. Cool body style and cool mechanicals. Everything fits my idea of a fun vehicle.
I looked at one of these to replace my 1985 VW Jetta GLI, but other than the almost obligatory Toyota dealer gouging of $3k or more over sticker, my big turn-off was the lack of either T-Tops, a Targa roof or a convertible in the first year, a shortcoming that the third-generation “Mister Two” corrected with a fully retractable cloth top. These only came with a sunroof, IIRC. To me, the words sports car aren’t complete without the word convertible in front of them, LOL!
The T-Tops came later, IIRC, since this one has them, but by the time these got T-Tops I had already bought a Miata instead!
I owned an 86 and later after that a 92, both normally aspirated. Great cars, super handling, well made.
Without the turbo, was this gen MR2 still faster than the V6 fiero?
I remember reading an issue of Motor Trend about this car and how it measured up with the competition and how it ran circles around the cars in it’s class. I always liked this MR2 above all the others just couldn’t fit into one.
o0OP, this is not the 1st gen 5 yr run but 2nd gen 10 yr run. Dont have any info on it. At least it’s still mid engine (or is it? May B over rear axel instead of in frnt of rear axel?)
Different car. We rehabbed/modded/sold a 1st gen (C other posts).
This (just by looks) might B heaver, less tossable?
All 3 gens of the MR2 are mid-engine. I like the 3rd gen the best, but have never driven any of them. I just like the idea of a light, evenly balanced droptop, even though they lost the turbo and some ponies.
VW showed a Blue Sport concept car that was surprisingly similar to the third-generation MR2 in size and concept in 2009 at the Detroit Auto Show, but nothing came of it (see link below):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Concept_BlueSport
Interesting, I never have seen this VW concept before. Maybe penned by the same person that did the TT?