1986 Toyota MR2 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Awesome car. Very reliable so far, especially for its age. Very fun to drive. Handles well and it's easy to drive. This is my first car with a manual transmission. I have replaced the parking brake cable, clutch, wheel bearing, headlights, air filter, clutch, valve cover gasket, and oil cooler hoses. Upgrades include leather aftermarket seats, aftermarket steering wheel, stereo, rims, exhaust, and a rear sway bar. I painted the calipers and valve cover red. I plan to add a remote locking system and eventually turbocharge it or do an engine swap.Sep 29, 2012

It's not the fastest, it's not the most expesive, nor the most exotic car in the world. For the money, the size, and what is was built for, it is the best car money can buy. Handles like its on rails ! Great acceleration, awesome braking ! The fit and finish is awesome ! Everything fits perfect, no clutter, no usless nonscence in the driver seat. What you need, and nothing more Great on gas, powered by the tiny (and famous) 4AGE Toyota engine (same one that powers the RWD mid-80's carolla's) Very little servicing needed. I said it once and I'll say it again; Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, best car money can buy for fun factor and just plain old coolness !Nov 16, 2010

possibly the greatest car ever built. The handling quality is unmatched and makes up for the lack of horse power. The gear ratios are perfect for a mid engine car. The little 4age behind you loves revs and there's nothing like having that thing screaming behind you. It gets amazing gas mileage. The car is also amazingly unique unlike the run of the mill hondas or anything today. In my opinion it looks better than the two generations after it, one must respect it. There is nothing like carving a corner in the first generation midship runaboutFeb 18, 2010

Mine is NA, so it's not the fastest thing in a straight line. Braking was fine, but I never bedded the brakes, so they could have been better. Handles excellently! (needs a spare tire in the frunk to fix the small amount of understeer that I get) Mine needed a lot of repairs, but that was because the person I bought it from tried to fix everything with duct tape, and melted latex gloves. Looks great from far away, because the paint is really sloppy up close. Mileage was around 30mpg, and it's a challenge to work on. The car is SOO much fun to drive :].Jul 28, 2009

A revelation compared to what I'd driven before (mostly variations on the Camaro/Firebird theme). First time I drove a car that both rode and handled well. Never thought that was possible. Established my love for small sports cars. First manual shift car I'd ever owned and a good one. Black with black leather interior, looked like Darth Vader's ride. Everything I wrote about the '88 applies here, except this one was a little tighter, probably due to the lower mileage.Jul 04, 2009

It was a fun small 2 seat car to drive. For only having a 4 cylinder it was quite snappy and fast. Had better styling inside and out compared to the Fiero. Wish I still had one, but they don't work well with a family. It made a great touring car with actual trunks out front and in back. Best sports car made by Toyota next to the Supra. And more fun then the Celica Supras of the 80's.Jun 09, 2009

this car was fast, triangular, and handled better than your mom. I wish i still owned it, because it completely owned so many others who tried to race it. The 4age ran perfect all the way to the 75000 rpm redline, not to many other cars can say that; however maintenance was a whole other issue. Headgasket went out, and parts for that car are hard to come by.Dec 22, 2008

Out of all the car's I have owned this was probably the worst. It was a dog all round. What I loved about the MR2 was iits styling I have a real love of the classic eighties wedge and pop up lights. The car was fun to drive, nice slick gear change engine revved to around 8000rpm (very impressive for something from 1986). The car was rear wheel drive which was fun but you always have the feeling if you push it too hard it could kill you. Mid engined rear wheel drive cars have a savage reputationfor this. The signs were not good from the start in terms of general condition. Signs of a little rust starting which took over a dodgy respray. It started to leak in water, eventually to a grand scale which lead to an embarrasing episode for one of my friends upon borrowing it (Jonny u know the story, if youre reading this). The reserve tank is non existant either as I found upon a daily commute and found myself out of fuel at the side of the road. Overall not the greatest of experiences but the car was 20 years old at the time and it ticked the box in terms of fun driving. Jul 31, 2008

Bought this from my neighbor in 1994, drove it until 2007, had 450,000 KM on it's second motor, originally imported from New Zealand.Great inline four with a 7,600 rpm redline. Was getting 35 mpg until it needed a new headgasket, sold it cheap to a guy in Chilliwack. I was considering keeping it to convert to electric for about $6000 dollars but had no time or place to start the project, next time for sure!Jul 29, 2008

This car is extremely unforgiving at first, taking a corner at like 60 and trying to drift was my first mistake. The car spun every-which way, until it stopped just in time to do no major damage. After taming the vehicle, it is easily the most fun car I've driven; the tail will come out pretty much whenever i want it to. Not the most practical car if you're looking to go grocery shopping or trying to carry luggage, but it fits my toolbox in the machine gun trunk, and the spare in the front, that's about all i can ask for.Mar 28, 2008

My wife bought me an 86 a few years ago and i sit and watch Overhauling all the time thinking what it would be like to have a "perfectly" restored MR2. Wow, if i could drop a 6 in it, digital dash antilock brakes and bring the life back into it. I just drool at the possibilities. Mr2 is the affordable Racecar. Sitting in it feels right, nomatter how old and run down it gets. I will never get rid of it just because it represents Toyotas passion for fine driving performance!Nov 01, 2006