for sale 1985 Toyota MR2 *SOLD*

[Matt Harwood]

 

*SOLD* Yes, yes, I know. Japanese cars aren't collectable. They're just imported crapola and don't belong anywhere near the AACA. I almost would have agreed with you other than the fact that we've sold a number of vintage Japanese sports cars recently and there's genuine enthusiasm there that's very much like what owning an MG would have been like in the '60s. Just because the country of origin has changed doesn't mean the good times are different. And I have to say that the MR2 was a game-changer that represents a milestone in automotive history--the rebirth (and subsequent re-death) of affordable 2-seat sports cars with minimal frills. "Automobile" magazine pitted an MR2 against a Ferrari 308 back in 1985 and gave the win to the Toyota because it was more comfortable, more economical, more reliable, and 95% as fast. That's pretty cool. And while you can get all kinds of terrifyingly fast cars today, where can you get one where you can drive it ALL THE TIME at 9/10ths and not endanger the countryside? Ask the MG guys and they'll tell you that driving a slow car fast is a lot more fun than driving a fast car slow. And that is what the MR2 is all about.

 

OK, all that said, this is a really good car. It has been owned by the same person since new and shows just 12,172 original miles (not a typo or 112,172). It's so original that it's still sitting on its original Dunlop tires. He has used it sparingly only in the summer, but his advanced age (he was already in his 50s when he bought it) means it's time to go to a new home. I can find nothing on the car that has been broken, replaced, or fixed up beyond normal maintenance items like the battery and muffler. The bright red paint is 100% original, which means no bondo or rust underneath, and I feel that the flying wedge origami styling has aged pretty well--still a product of the '80s but not comically so. It is built with typical Toyota quality, so there are no squeaks and rattles and panel fit is pretty good for a car that cost less than $11,000 when it was new. Even the black rubber trim is dark and smooth, not faded and chalky--the sun isn't kind to cars like this.

 

The interior is fantastic. Two-tone buckets are as comfortable as they look and really do hold you in place without being confining for larger guys. And if you're tall, don't worry, Toyota engineers have you covered--my 6'3" neighbor sat in it without issue. The square dashboard is a little crude and the steering wheel is '80s funky, but everything is at your fingertips and fully operational and big, round gauges are easy to read. The A/C blows cold and still has its original R12 inside, the AM/FM/cassette radio sounds decent if not great, and that shifter feels like a toggle switch. The lift off roof panel and super slender pillars make it feel bright and airy inside and by using both trunks (front and rear) you can take a trip in this car without feeling like you have to mail your clothes to the hotel. It still feels like a real car.

 

On paper, the specs are modest: 1.6 liter DOHC 4-cylinder with 97 horsepower and 113 pounds of torque. But the reality is that it pulls with enthusiasm and is buttery smooth all the way to 7500 RPM, so you never feel like it's working too hard. Performance is energetic since the thing only weighs 2600 pounds and I bet you've never driven a manual steering car with effort this light and precise in your entire life. You could run over a dime and tell if it's heads or tails. It's a Toyota so you know it'll run forever, and parts are cheap and easy to get, a bonus of basing it on economy car parts. The little four has a rorty engine note thanks to a new muffler, but quiets down on the highway where the ride is actually pretty decent. Later cars got more power but Toyota also softened the handling to comply with mushy American tastes, so this one feels like a scalpel on the road and you can use every bit of its performance envelope in public--try that with your new mid-engined Corvette! Original wheels are unmarked save for a little corrosion that's probably a function of time, and as I said, the 14-inch Dunlops are original so I'd change them before I went out to play.

 

This might not be an '80s Japanese sports car place, but please, come try this MR2 on for size. You might just be as pleasantly surprised as I was to find that there's a genuine sports car waiting for you. Asking price is $16,900, and it's ready for HPOF at Hershey as well as the best drive home EVER! Thanks for looking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 19, 2019 by Matt Harwood (see edit history)

[CarNucopia]

I’m probably in the minority on this forum, but I absolutely love these cars. I wanted one very badly when they were new, but ended up with an IROC because the deal was to good to pass up. 

 

Fantastic time capsule. 

[Matt Harwood]

SOLD! Thank you!

 

What a neat little car. The closest thing to motorized sneakers you'll ever drive.