1988 Toyota MR2 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

... last of the Supercharged MR2s. AW11 monocoque; supercharged Formula Atlantic 4AGZE mill. Acquired, February of 1993, after a long, frustrating, exhaustive three year search. Brand new, these cars were moon rocks. You couldn't buy one. The production run was sold out. Had to settle for mine, second hand. Provenance, this car was sold twice, both instances, first to the original owner, then second to me, by the same Toyota dealership: Frontier Toyota, Valencia, California. A Hollywood film producer, who lived somewhere in Santa Clarita, California was this car's original owner. I'm told he was an aggressive, overbearing Hollywood film producer who bumped himself up Toyota's waiting list, paying several thousand over MSRP, to acquire this car. I acquired it bone stock, about 50k on its odometer, with a set of cheap, after-market wheels. This car has 12 hours track-time, and the basis of the rest of its mileage accrued, at the hands of a level-5 driver, whom calls hard core canyon driving his principle pastime. This vehicle holds unofficial time and distance records, on just about every canyon road, here in Southern California, and belongs to Tuna Canyon Road's 5 minute club (e.g., quite an accomplishment). I don't do stupid mods. I don't do mods, at the expense of maintenance. I won't do a modification if it adds weight. I don't do track-car mods. I don't do mods, trying to make this car something it isn't. I've spent thousands, doing all the expensive little things, keeping this car simple; keeping it fresh. A third vehicle, I use it for just one thing... hard core canyon driving. 90/130s for high speed night driving, dance floor suspension, optimized harmonics pushing strong, at 14 psi from its Cusco pulley, Formula Atlantic timing belt, TRD quick-shift, Eibachs on Konis, high durometer TRD suspension bushings, it's quick out of the hole. Optimized for 10/10ths canyon driving. Only 3408 ever made. What few examples remain, perhaps 500, if that, this one's probably one of the nicest Supercharged MR2s in existence. Meticulously maintained. Wherever I driver her, she always draws a crowd. This car is irreplaceable. I watch her like a hawk. I'm concerned about this car getting ripped-off. Stays garaged... Never parked in direct sun-lite, without its car cover. Seldom sees the light of day (e.g., driven only at night). Its incurred two minor, brake-related shunts... both on the Tuna Canyon Road down hill; both on Hawk brake pads. No more Hawk racing pads, for me. Guys in the underground driver's group to which I belong been ribbing me quite a while, wondering when I'm going to finally suck it up, and buy me a Lotus. It's true: the Lotus fit me like a glove. It is otherwise perfect, for me. On account of the car I currently own, I have a unique perspective few people can relate. What I already own, for all intents and purposes, a 20 year old Lotus Exige, the 65 thousand dollar Exige didn't pan out under cost-benefit analysis. What I have now may be a hundred kilos heavier. But, what I have, now, at least I can see out the back window, it has a cruise control, and it insures for a song. What I have, now, was so well engineered, it precludes me the expenditure of a Lotus Exige. Price of an Exige, I could otherwise have an AWD Subaru STi, with enough left over for a Toyota Prius, either of which I could easily sell, anytime. Ever try selling a Lotus, private party? Unless you're selling it at a fire-sale price, you are going to be running your "for sale" ad, most of the rest of your natural life, aching for someone to come along, to bail you out from under that usurious insurance premium. The Exige may be "absolutely" better than what I already have. But, it isn't 20 years better. Pony up 65 large for an Exige, doesn't give me much more than what I already have (e.g., a supercharged Toyota powered mid-engined machine). Pop-up headlights and T-Tops to die for, you ought to see the looks on their faces when I pull into Silver Star Lotus, with my dazzling, sparkling, clean as a whistle Supercharged MR2. My car draws a bigger crowd than theirs do. I get a kick, seeing potential Lotus buyers wandering over, from across the lot, for a look-see at my 4AGZE. If I wanted my third car to be a track car, it wouldn't be a passenger car... I'd pony up for an old Formula Atlantic, a Formula V, or an old Formula Ford. Been there; done that. Race tracks are dives. I don't want a track car. I want a lightweight third car for hard core canyon driving, practical enough to be pressed into service as a second vehicle, without prerequisite for racing shoes. Driving an Lotus, you have to wear racing shoes. A Lotus in my garage, one day having to drive it to work, racing shoes aren't going to look so good with my suit and tie. My cake and eat it, too, no problem whatsoever doing so in my Supercharged MR2. Enough room in the back of AW11, for trips to the grocery store, ample luggage space for cross country driving, for two, it's not the big things; it's the little things. Ever notice something, about the first generation MR2, how comfortable the seats are? How you can sit there, at the wheel for hours, and your arms never grow weary? Toyota spoiled me, rotten, with this car. What I already have is so good, and so well engineered, I don't want a Lotus. Long, sobering look at the first year depreciation curve of a Lotus, the US$75 thousand dollars equity I'd otherwise squander on an Exige, I decided to keep what I've got... paid off the house, instead -- Aug 09, 2014