After driving that GT-S in Japan I've not quite been able to shake the idea of a SW20 MR2. Nowt inherently special about this one, but low miles, recently recommissioned, and a rather lovely colour on it www.iconicauctioneers.com/1997-toyota-... - ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

antonyingram.bsky.social • 2 days ago

After driving that GT-S in Japan I've not quite been able to shake the idea of a SW20 MR2. Nowt inherently special about this one, but low miles, recently recommissioned, and a rather lovely colour on it https://www.iconicauctioneers.com/1997-toyota-mr2-rec14652-1-nec-0325

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Comments

petrospect.bsky.social•2 days ago

Been thinking about these lots too influenced by your go in one too; on the other end of the spectrum there’s a red V6 swapped one on https://link.mobile.de/hHu2DE8qJU9gq1Ww5 as we speak and however inadvisable the idea may be, taken with the idea of one right now!

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antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

Intrigued how the swapped ones drive. Probably has quite long legs, and I assume it sounds better than the 4cyls. Though a 4cyl just seems "right" for a relatively compact sports car like these.

geekygearhead99.bsky.social•2 days ago

I wonder what four cylinder swap options there would be. First gen could have 4AGE, and third gen gets 2ZZ swaps pretty often. Maybe one of the naturally aspirated Beams engines for Gen 2?

geekygearhead99.bsky.social•2 days ago

Oh wait, it looks like you might’ve mentioned that in a different branch of this thread lol

petrospect.bsky.social•2 days ago

On that note; the supercharged 4AGE variant the AW11 got I’m REALLY curious on

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

Ditto, though that's another car that's already an absolute hoot in nat-asp form - spent a week with one a few years back, and it's one of my all-time favourites. Though a later black/silver-top version of the 4A in one of these might be just about perfect.

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petrospect.bsky.social•2 days ago

Farah drove a super sorted white one at a One Take years ago, idea has legit stuck around.
The right Toyota V6 sounds incredible too…
And definitely, there’s a drag race Best Motoring did with a MR-2 Turbo vs a 348 and it really did look half its width!
Super, super small cars

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

It's always stood out to me that the GT-S has been very quick in some Best Motoring races against cars you'd normally put in the class above it - RX-7s, Skylines etc. A stock GT-S is similar power to my RX-7 but I think a bit lighter, so they definitely punch above their size.

brendanmcaleer.bsky.social•2 days ago

The V6 swapped one can be amazing. DIY Evora except hundreds of pounds lighter.

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antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

Supercharged too, nice.

Have to say though, at least based on that GT-S I drove, the steering of an SW20 still isn't a patch on an Evora... Lotus *really* knows what it's doing with that kind of thing.

petrospect.bsky.social•2 days ago

Exactly the thought. Gorgeous!

petrospect.bsky.social•2 days ago

There was a wonderful challenge they had with used examples, ITR, S14 and a MR-2.
If I find the vid, Tsuchiya was at the wheel and it looked like a proper handful.

By comparison too, W30 was hampered by the engine. Caught them in the bends, lost them in the straights. Shame!

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

W30s are lovely. They seem to have a weirdly bad rap but that's mainly in the US where I think power is more of a factor. I remember in a very early test in Evo, a W30 actually beat a Lotus Elise.

maaronweber.bsky.social•2 days ago

The ubiquitous 2-GR V6 is all aluminum and weighs considerably less than a 3SG and maybe even an 5FS or whatever crap we got here

petrospect.bsky.social•2 days ago

I saw this yesterday and Heaven is a Place on Earth with a 2GR MR2. Blew me away!
https://youtu.be/5GvZMdKWfOg

maaronweber.bsky.social•2 days ago

🤤🤤🤤

srichgtr.bsky.social•2 days ago

There's some tasty stuff in that auction. Watched the harry video on it earlier 🙂

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

After the MR2 my next favourite is probably the Whizzkid https://www.iconicauctioneers.com/1979-suzuki-sc100-gx-rec14613-1-nec-0325

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glenn9k.bsky.social•2 days ago

Go for it! Would love to see someone else post W20 content on here. :)

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

Not remotely in a position to at the moment unfortunately. Though if I eventually do, I'd want a turbo, as it felt like a perfect level of performance in that chassis.

glenn9k.bsky.social•2 days ago

As a JDM GT owner, I would love to have a NA W20 as well actually. Especially one of the later ones with closer to 200hp, they seem to move quite well

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

Was just talking about those Beams ones in another part of the thread. I like the idea of them as I like revvy engines, but the turbo just suited it so well. Still felt responsive, but really punchy without giving the engine absolute death. And a pretty refined cruiser too.

rich1068.bsky.social•2 days ago

The one I had was lovely but I quickly realised I'm a barge kind of guy rather than two seat sports doo daa.
Definitely an itch that needed scratching though.

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antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

I often think I'm a barge kind of guy and then veer off at the last second into something small/lightweight/daft. Happens all the time so I've never got around to owning a barge yet...

canyondriver.bsky.social•2 days ago

I still miss mine and it wasn't even a turbo.

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

Does seem to be one of those cars people miss when they no longer have it, I know a few people like that! Prior to last year it was the only MR2 gen I'd not driven, but I totally get the appeal now.

canyondriver.bsky.social•2 days ago

I was readying my '93 for AutoX that year. I met an SCCA driver / champion(?) selling left over mod parts. Bilsteins, front roll bars, extra brake components, etc. I added bracing, Bilsteins, and the front bar, which made the front end feel sharp, especially with a slow steering rack.

davidgaunt.bsky.social•2 days ago

If only it was a turbo :(. This is the year I get one...again!

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

For a while I thought I'd really like one of the late Beams-engined ones and the revviness, but after driving that GT-S, the turbo just suits that platform so well I think.

davidgaunt.bsky.social•2 days ago

Nothing gets close, that's for sure. Apart from that lovely '94 GT-Four a few clicks further down the page. Needs the Recaro seats added though.

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

Yeah, that GT-Four is nice, though if I was ever to get one of those, it'd have to be a 165/185 gen I think.

davidgaunt.bsky.social•2 days ago

They look nice but this little addition list was impossibly cool http://gtfours.co.uk/what/wrc/list/wrc_goodies_list.htm

thefatfryer.bsky.social•2 days ago

My choice. The list is strong with this one. Probably a hangover from Dallas🤣

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antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

I do like an R107, though values are a bit punchy for my tastes - think I'd always end up going R129 with the SL, and enjoying the extra sophistication.

thefatfryer.bsky.social•2 days ago

I have wanted one for years. Tho the other half won’t hear about it… Prefer the older styling.

thefatfryer.bsky.social•2 days ago

It looks class but will the driving match the looks? And the more you enjoy it the lower the value. Is it a keeper?

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

Can't speak for the nat-asp ones as I've only ever driven the turbo. I don't think the mileage is low enough that driving it would really knacker the value though. It's not a concours car, just a really nice one, so far as I can tell. Use and enjoy, just keep away from salt...

overbore.bsky.social•2 days ago

Oh that’s lovely.

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

MR2 only looks better as the years pass, I reckon.

yssman.bsky.social•2 days ago

I often forget that the rest of the world got higher strung engines than what we had in the US. Non-turbo models had the big 2.2L out of the Camry.

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

Just like your Celica right? Can see why as I imagine it just suits US road conditions better. At launch the basic UK cars had a 2-litre but with NA Miata power! Most the UK ever got was this ~170hp version. Never got the turbo, nor the ~200hp Beams version that Japan had.

yssman.bsky.social•2 days ago

Yep, same unit in the Celica too! Good torque, would make door a decent highway drive if geared right. Not very rev-happy, though.

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

Among those older Toyotas I don't even think even the 3S-GEs are particularly rev-happy. In the turbo I drove it doesn't really matter, but the only other car I've driven with that engine (albeit in a very different state of tune) was a mk1 RAV4, and that basically gave up after about 3500rpm...

antonyingram.bsky.social•2 days ago

My Paseo's 5E-FE wasn't that enthusiastic either but those are *very* undersquare engines (74mm bore and 87mm stroke) so definitely tuned for torque.