Can we all agree Matt is everything we want in a RUclipsr : straight to the point : honest : genuine : young but old enough to understand both sides : good looking : oh yea, also good looking 😂
@@aaronchamberssaabfan7397 My friend used to drive a Saab 99 ( 1972ish model ) in the late 70s. We all loved it, and it was virtually indestructible. It just went on and on and on. By the 80s he used to leave the keys in the cigarette ash tray in the hopes someone would steal it , but none ever did.
An absolutely brilliant car. Toyota engineers were so obsessed with the perfect weight distribution, that they did away with a boot! They didn't want anyone spoiling the driving balance of the car! Brilliant......unless you want to take it away on holiday and there's no room for luggage (unless it's to a nudist colony😂).
I had a 2002 MR2 in about 2014. Paid £1k for it. 110k miles on it. Loved it. No major issues in the 2-3 years I had it. Sold it for £800. I remember it being simple uncomplicated fun.
Matt I'm a bit late to the party but I really enjoy your videos. When you asked "who spends that kind of money on a 600 pound car?" I yelled "I DO"!! I have an 06 Volvo C70 which I adore and have spent a small fortune on Interior, cam belt, clutch and paint work and dont regret one penny...so well done you!
Someone is going to get a beautiful, well sorted car with plenty of peace of mind and fun driving. Now this is how a car dealership should operate, nice one Matt👍😎
Well done Matt on saving another car, i think someone else wouldn't have bothered. My A2 is only worth about £800 but that didn't stop me me spending over £2,000 to fix an engine problem with brand new genuine Audi parts, respect to you mate.
I've also got an A2 which I am spending the cash on, it's a 52 plate 1.6 fsi which has done about 98,000 miles, it had a new cambelt, water pump in early 2021 on about 85,000 miles, I took it off the road April last year and to get it ready for its MOT I've spent nearly £650 so far, hopefully next week it should get it's full MOT followed by a good valet and polish ready to be sold on, I've owned the car since 2016 and it's always been a reliable motor
Can I just say, thanks for the car vertigo link, my daughter went to buy a BMW 1 series and I done a check before she handed over any cash, well it still had HP on it, she was gutted as its perfect for her, we've had a chat with the seller and told him we know about the outstanding finance, i told him its actually illegal to sell the car as its not his to sell, car vertigo gave me the finance company name, policy number, when the finance was taken out, how long it was taken out for and a company phone number, we're just waiting on his decision to see if we go ahead this coming weekend, but at least we can call the finance company to check before handing cash over, so thank you Matt, we could've been taken for £6k without that vehicle check 👍
This is a very cool car, an emerging classic definitely. Well done Matt for ensuring this car lives on for many more years. Hope you sell it for the advertised price, after all the restoration work you’ve done, you deserve it❤.
It looks absolutely superb. A good price should be paid for it. Good on you for getting it to look like new. A 1.8 vvti 16v engine with such a low weight must be fun.
I Was waiting for that “I have massively overspent” On the other hand, it’s good that it’s saved as it definitely would have been scrapped especially at that age, also when they are not at a great appreciating value. These were always in the shadow of the MX-5 and who thought it was a good idea not to give a boot to a car at Toyota… great video as always.
The bins behind the seats are quite big and can hold quite alot, granted they are a little awkward to use. I pretty much use one of these as my daily driver all year round and find it to be no problem.
I owned one of these for a few years. What you have there is a pre-facelift model. The aircon is unusual for UK cars. It's a chain driven engine and the chain tensioner is known to cause issues but is fairly easy to replace. If it is unmodded, it will have the Toyota 1ZZ engine. They are lovely cars. There is a hero in South Wales who replaces the roof with a mohair one for around £350. Lots of people think when the engine starts to burn oil it damages the pre-cats which in turn damages the engine, but I'm not convinced by this. I had a face-lift model and wound it up to 180K miles with no engine issues. (For any owners out there, pop the 'frunk', which would be the bonnet on a normal car and remove the plastic cover. 10 minute job and everything is visible. Watch out for rusty brake pipes and power steering pipes). Your car looks very smart!
The pre 2004 1ZZ-FE engine which this one has had piston issues that caused oil burn. Fixed 2004 onwards. Leave the mods as at this price point it may appeal to a buyer. Have a look at Danny DC2 on RUclips he races one....also a 1zz.
I remember when they first came out, I thought they looked like a Porsche Boxster but one I could actually afford to buy. I should say I was into bodybuilding in those days and am over six foot tall. You can only imagine my disappointment when I went to the dealership only to find I couldn't even get into the car! It would've been like trying to get my size 11's into a size 7!
Yes I had a Mk1 I am 6 foot 2. I could fit in the thing with no issues and I had a silver metallic version with the T top. It was fantastic fun, reliable and looked great for the time. It was a quality affordable car and had the nickname of the poor mans Ferrari which indeed it was. When I went to see the Mk3 I could not believe how bad it was. From the point of view of being a massive set steps backward. For one thing I could not fit in it easily at all, when I could in the Mk1. There is no boot at all on the Mk3, where there is on a Mk1, even if it is small, you could fit squashy holdalls in with ease. Not so on the Mk3. I had a huge argument with the salesman in the main dealership that I was viewing the Mk3 in. He was boasting about how Toyota would sell millions of them. I told him he was wrong. He just said I did not like Toyotas. I pointed out I had run a Mk1 for seven years and was in the MR2 club. He shut up then! And I turned out to be right. They never sold massive amounts of the Mk3, it was the least popular of all the MR2 range. They never topped the Mk1, that was such a hit they sold in huge numbers and still have a cult following today, where no one remembers the Mk3 with the same fondness.....
90K miles?! Winner! Good score for the price. I'd do it up back to as original condition as possible and sell it at a good profit. It's a nice example for its age.
They are hard to sell, I have a 2004 facelift with 35000 miles, totally mint above and underneath plus matching hardtop and genuine style/roll bar, soft top is as new...I couldn't get £4500 for it so i'm keeping it.
Colour is actually Lagoon Blue. I used to have one as a company car back in the day. Was a fun 3 months with it during summer. Basically a cheap Porsche Boxster
i had one for about 18 months, I think it was a 2002 model, back in 2012. Best sports car I have owned for handling. I have had 5 including the MX5. They used to say it was a Go Kart on steroids. Didn't burn oil, a comfortable ride, a Toyota engine, perfect. Yes, I do regret selling it.
Great work, Matt. I reckon this is one of your best turnarounds on the channel. Looks amazing. If you lose any money on this car, we'll all have a whip-round and square you up. Right guys? Brilliant content 👍
I worked at RRG in the late 80s early 90s and I remember a guy from Toyota said the MR2 Stood for...Mid engine...Rear wheel drive...Two seater. Great video Matt.
For a minute I got you missed up with a chap called Lester who used to work for Merrick Brothers in Heywood and then RRG Rochdale. Lovely chap. Sold my dad his original A plate Landcruiser. I bought my MR2 from Rochdale - chap called Edward. Used to be a great dealership and tgey looked after my dad quite well with some old school mechanics. All went downhill and too corporate later on and I think they took the piss with my dads bills.
A fine looking machine. The new roof has made a world of difference. Reminds me of a Porsche Boxster in miniature. Thank goodness for those replacement grilles. Refitting the badges would finish it off nicely. When you see badges off or wrongly positioned it always casts that doubt over has the car had a bump. Thank you.
When i met my wife nearly 20 years she had the same car in the exact same colour, I used to scoff at it until i drove it, she couldn't get me out of it, Brilliant little car & i wouldn't mind another. Anyway it looks fantastic, well done.
I picked one up with 80K miles, same colour with the same state hood for around the same price. Spent double again to get new clutch/brake disks/exhaust repair/service and another 400 on some paint refurbishment and now have a solid "rav 4 reliable" fun motor that will run for years. Classic :)
I bought my wife the MR2 roadster, racing green with detachable hardtop and after a year she wanted a larger cabriolet, I used the roadster till I could part ex it. I ended up driving it for 6 years and was gutted when I sold it. One of the greatest cars I have ever owned. Unpractical but I never drove it without a smile on my face.
Excellent job bringing new life into an old car, Matt! The MR2 looks amazing!!! I love the care and compassion you have towards older cars, it really shows what an incredible person you truly are. If the car could speak, I'm sure she would be thanking you. Well done!
Bought my wife one years ago. Still her favorite car that she’s had. I’ve bought her a Cooper convertible, we’ve had 2 Porsche, etc, but that’s still the car she pines for. Sadly had to sell all of them.
My suggestion had been going to be - spend whatever it needs and Raffleshack it. I sold these new and they were amazing to drive (for an ordinary Joe used to driving ordinary car) and only the Celica in the range came close. They corner as if on rails. Glad you have saved it. Great car!
The reason the bonnet catch is in the glove compartment is to prevent theft from the frunk. It is assume the roof might not always be up, so the level is placed in the lockable glove compartment instead.
Toyota made a miscalculation with the VVTI on that engine and it cuts in too late, Honda nailed it, there is a remap that lowers the cut in of the variable timing and it sets the engine free to do what it was designed to do. Rev.
Looks great. I would also replace the exhaust manifold for an aftermarket unit that doesn't have any pre-cats. The pre-facelift cars (1999-2002) have an issue with the pre-cats breaking down and being sucked back into the engine. Just some peace of mind for the new owner 👍🏻😊
That's one of those old wives' tales - it's already lasted 23 years and 90k miles so it will be fine! New roof was always going to be the killer in terms of cost, though they can be done for a fraction of what Matt paid (albeit much less quality). If looking to buy either find one where soft top has been sheltered by a hard top for most of its life or someone else has already shelled out for the replacement.
My friend brought a grey limited edition one , 6 months ago , 62k, full Toyota service, 2 owners in perfect condition for £1250 !!!! I think £3995 is alot , good luck.
Love these vids, especially that you don’t make us wait to see the end result. I reckon the pleasure you get from these projects means breaking even wouldn’t be the end of the world……keep saving ‘em Matt 👍🏻
I have a 2005 MR2 and love it. Bought it in 2012 with only 13k on the clock. Only fault other than usual items was a radiator a couple of years ago. No oil leaks. New hood from a place in Stockport last year. 2003 facelift models are the best bet. Great to drive and 41 mpg.
Wonderful work. Carry on saving all that you can. I'm entirely behind your saving this midship runabout. As an aside, I always enjoy the titbits, your nuggets of trivia and random knowledge Plus your sensible, polite and well bred approach. From a fellow petrolhead with a small random collection and landlord, keep it all coming. Gaydio on the stereo eh? Good lad ;)
Bought mine in 2010 for a couple of grand still used ever summer, taken on holiday to Cornwall and Scotland for the NC 500 . Same year and colour as yours, still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.Aircon models also came with a hard top when new, Replaced the hood on mine with a mohair one for £700 took me a day to fit it, chain driven engine beware of oval bores and remove the "Pre Cats", mine is on its third engine!
Great convolessing video, had prostate cancer 2 weeks ago so I had it removed. Major surgery!! Not fair only 52 year old 😒 Love all 3 series of the mr2, you've made that one probably the best about
Not a practical car for me but the final result looks divine. I'm sure somebody will be happy to fork out the cash for this. A good looking car with plenty of life left in it.
Great video Matt , this takes me back a few years , i bought one of these from toyota with 40.000 miles on the clock , i can remember it cost me 4.500 and what a fabulous little car it was much better than an mx5 . ok a poor mans boxter but put a smile on my face every time i drove it
There is a company in Swansea who specialise on cloth tops and do the mr2 at an extremely good price. It's a mohair replacement and you can get it in red, blue and black if I recall. As of 3 years ago the cost was 550 fully fitted same day
I remember buying one of these just for 2 weeks in teh lake district, with the roof down. Loved it, ended up keeping it for a year. Its like driving a go-kart. Someone will deffinately buy it.
Spending £1,550 on that roof is a bit insane, there's a place in Swansea called JR Autotrimmers that made my MR2 roof for £450, including a new rear windscreen w/ demister. Also have you done the pre-cats? They have a nasty habit of breaking up and falling into the engine, destroying it in the process!
Don't know if that Jack Smith place in Swansea is still open, I've read he is closed down now. He did a great job, I remember seeing pics of his work on the MR2 owners club site...you could have various colours in them. His price's were ridiculously cheap.
It’s chain driven. I bought a green one last fall as a project. Very fun to drive. Not fast but doesn’t feel slow. You need to change the header or gut the cats on the factory header as it’s a known critical failure point.
These are incredible little cars, best normal priced lightweight base for a track car, too. When people speak about buying a Miata, I always say try the MR2 before you buy an MX5 :)
My brother had one of these many years ago in silver with the red cloth seats which I thought looked smart. They drive great. Lots of fun and basically as painless to own as a Corolla of the time. I can never decide if I prefer this or the MX-5... Both great. That said money no object I'd have a late mint S2000.
@@serenityinside1 a car that triumphed in a market where there was very very little competition. And that the journalists got a hard on over. I have never met a grown man that actually wants one.
Having driven all 3 and owned 2 MX5s, the Honda S2000 is far superior and more likely to achieve classic status IMHO. It drives beautifully and feels very solid. But what a gorgeous job on this lucky MR2.- you deserve to make a good profit on this car. Sadly at my age (77) I can no longer get in or out of these fun cars.
@@kevincockburn7805 although I have an MGF (don’t judge me) I’ve known plenty of grown men who are also MX-5 owners. There is also autoalex on RUclips who converted his to a V6.
Great watching, good to see an element of restoration offering sustainability for a soon to be classic. These episodes fit well in amongst run of the mill vehicles.
I really appreciate your efforts in getting these cars looking good and making them mechanically sound. Of course you overspent massively. That's one reason why I watch the videos. Keep saving the old cars...
Splendid work on the MR2! Toyota Japan should indeed be appreciative of your work. I often ponder why you've never applied any black conditioner to the plastic trim on your cars. It would really make it stand out and appear as if it just rolled off the factory floor! Cheers!
Maybe it’s because those black conditioners only last a few months at most so it could be perceived as misleading. Maybe less so if you’d supply a bottle of such a conditioner with the car.
There’s not much plastic trim on this anyway, but doing them with that stuff would put me off, it gives the plastics a shine that they shouldn’t have and to me it looks worse than clean and slightly faded. That goes 10x for interior plastics, they shouldn’t ever be shiny, they weren’t when the car was new and it looks terrible in my opinion.
@@robinclaidlaw Well, it's a bit of a puzzler, isn't it? I mean, when you're all gung-ho about giving your car the full-on royal treatment, taking care of those faded plastics is just par for the course. So, what gives, right? Why put in all that elbow grease only to let a couple of odds and ends stick out like a sore thumb? It's like getting yourself all spruced up for a bash and then forgetting to fix that one wily strand of hair. Doesn't quite jive, does it? Got me scratching my noggin, that's for sure!
Consider the ULEZ in London and other cities that are following suit. France is clamping down on older cars. You have to pay for a disk displaying the emissions from one to five. Think long and hard before purchasing your next classic.
My daughter had a 6 speed one of these. Dynamically it’s a great car to drive. We found going up by 10 weight on the oil specs it stopped burning any oil. Handbrake is a major weakness, always leave it in gear when parked.
I have dealt with many second hand at dealers in my time, and I can honestly say that I have never come across a second hand car dealer anything like Matt. To get all this expense work done on this car, and many more that I've watched on YT, over many months, I just find incredible, and speaks volumes on the Character and Honesty of Matt, he's got to be as rare as a None Lying Politician. I wouldn't hesitate in buying a second hand car from him, knowing it's been sorted before a sale. You're a Top Bloke Matt, you have my respect.🙂👍
I had an MRS TRD imported from Japan, loved it. Sold it to a drift racer who showed me what it could do around a roundabout. Cracking little car, much more engaging to drive than the mk2 MX5 my wife had at the time (in my opinion).
I almost bought a Mk1 (205 GTI instead) and few years later looked at a new mk3 in the showroom. I was not convinced by its looks. Currently driving a Superb, which is a brilliant car ( thanks to your videos ) but would love a cheap modern classic sports car at some point. Perhaps I will take another look at an MR2.
Well it’s its great to see it having such a new refurbishment. I’m sure it will appeal to someone as they have lots of appeal and certainly this now would now be a a collectors choice. Good luck 👍
I had one of these when they came out with the removable hard top -mine had little lugs on the back which were factory fitted. Great car but absolutely no luggage space… took the spare wheel out so I could use the ‘boot’ in the front and a bit behind the seats… but the handling was sublime. I came back from Scotland on the back roads with a mate following on his Yamaha thundercat and even he commented how good it was! Happy days. Great video thanks 👍
I was going to mention the luggage space myself, but you beat me to it. One time, when I was taking my mum to a holiday chalet, I had to make the trip twice: once for her and once for the suitcase!
Paint the mesh bits black, put some new discs, decent pads, decent tyres on it…..and do a few track days in it. If the pre cats haven’t been knocked out then that is definitely worth doing. Saves them turning your oil into grinding paste as they disintegrate. If you’re gonna refurb the wheels you might be better finding a good set of later wheels as the rears are 16’s and look nicer. If the steering feels funny like it gets heavier and lighter, it’s the universal joint on the steering column.
Best car I’ve ever owned. Sadly had to sell mine to get through tough times in covid. Better off getting a hard top for it than repairing the roof. Unless, you want the roof down option
Brought back great memories there Matt, I had a W reg black one as my first “proper” car when I finished training. Did 80k miles in it and loved every minute. Never let me down. Like driving a roller skate! You did the right thing!
The thing I love about Matt is his approach to every car like this is if Matt was going to buy a used car as a regular buyer (not trade) what would standard of used car would I want to buy. The only thing is he Matt wouldnt be thinking in 3rd person ...
Hi Matt , I do a lot of detailing and if there's one thing on camera that stands out like a sore thumb is that whoever details your cars never clean the leather steering wheels and they just let down the interior and make your hard work look incomplete , leather should never be shiney ! Just a thought . Great videos though .
Mid-engined, rear wheel drive, this is the perfect beginners track day car. If this was my car I would give it a full service, get some good tires on it, get it a better suspension and have as a light sportscar. Nice video as always!
I had one of these back in 04. Great car to drive, interior very good and robust if a bit plastic. The amount of Boxster owners who flashed hello at a distance only to hide behind the wheel once they realized it is not the same as theirs always made me laugh. Happened almost everyday! It's a mid engingined, 50/50 wieght distribution with rear wheel drive. Great fun. It's suspension was quite harsh from New but I used it everyday.
Love the colour It pops ! Glad u saved it Matt It looks fantastic I doubt there would be many left on the roads, and not in that excellent condition. 👍
Love what you’ve done to save the car as a former mk3 owner myself. I do think that 4k might be a hard sell for a pre-facelift. What I’ve found is that it’s hard to make money back on a new roof. Even seen some hardtop cars that only commanded a minor premium on the market.
Best selling the hardtop and fitting kit separately..... getting £1000-£1200 now. I paid £450 for one plus fitting kit in 2012 when I bought my MR2, it was off a late car and had been stored indoors most of its life. Travelled from Belfast to Whitley Bay to pick it up🤣 Left my house at 6am, ferry, pick up/ fitted and home in time for tea😂 Had the best drive ever there and back on the country roads. I was gonna sell earlier in the year and I couldn't get £4500 for it with the hardtop....35000 miles and mint above and underneath so I decided to keep it, I'd never get another as good. All poly bushed, all under tray fittings/nuts and bolts etc stainless steel, all arms etc powder coated....it's cleaner underneath than on top🤣
Can we all agree Matt is everything we want in a RUclipsr
: straight to the point
: honest
: genuine
: young but old enough to understand both sides
: good looking
: oh yea, also good looking 😂
Thanks! 😊
Steady on with the double reference to good looking. You could have mentioned ‘well turned out’ or ´well attired.’🕺🏻😜
I think Matt looks like Ronan Keating
@@HighPeakAutos Get your coat mate, you've pulled.
Massively overspent not really your still making a profit think I’m doing that on a 630i I bought.
You have made it look incredible. You saved her, Dude. This one's definitely not about the money. A future classic for sure.
Matt, you are a good person. Saving old cars is a good thing.
He's earning positive 'car'ma!
Unless it's a Renault. Regards, I bought an old Renault. 🙄
He's the opposite of Sadiq Khan
Old seriously lol
@@aaronchamberssaabfan7397 My friend used to drive a Saab 99 ( 1972ish model ) in the late 70s.
We all loved it, and it was virtually indestructible.
It just went on and on and on.
By the 80s he used to leave the keys in the cigarette ash tray in the hopes someone would steal it , but none ever did.
An absolutely brilliant car. Toyota engineers were so obsessed with the perfect weight distribution, that they did away with a boot! They didn't want anyone spoiling the driving balance of the car! Brilliant......unless you want to take it away on holiday and there's no room for luggage (unless it's to a nudist colony😂).
I had a 2002 MR2 in about 2014. Paid £1k for it. 110k miles on it. Loved it. No major issues in the 2-3 years I had it. Sold it for £800. I remember it being simple uncomplicated fun.
Sounds like my ex
If only it had a boot - I need to cart kit between home and work 😢
Matt I'm a bit late to the party but I really enjoy your videos. When you asked "who spends that kind of money on a 600 pound car?" I yelled "I DO"!! I have an 06 Volvo C70 which I adore and have spent a small fortune on Interior, cam belt, clutch and paint work and dont regret one penny...so well done you!
wasn't a big fan of this guy when he was singing in Westlife ,but his youtube channels are the best
Lol
I love how genuine Matt is. Integrity in the used car market is unfortunately a rare trait.
Someone is going to get a beautiful, well sorted car with plenty of peace of mind and fun driving. Now this is how a car dealership should operate, nice one Matt👍😎
Well done Matt on saving another car, i think someone else wouldn't have bothered. My A2 is only worth about £800 but that didn't stop me me spending over £2,000 to fix an engine problem with brand new genuine Audi parts, respect to you mate.
I've also got an A2 which I am spending the cash on, it's a 52 plate 1.6 fsi which has done about 98,000 miles, it had a new cambelt, water pump in early 2021 on about 85,000 miles, I took it off the road April last year and to get it ready for its MOT I've spent nearly £650 so far, hopefully next week it should get it's full MOT followed by a good valet and polish ready to be sold on, I've owned the car since 2016 and it's always been a reliable motor
@@peterg6677 My 2006 Z4 cost me the best part of 3 grand this year.
I paid because I love it.
It deserves to live on.
Luv and Peace.
We knew you'd overspend on it, Matt. But this time.... Worth it!
That is indeed a modern classic. Great job! 👍👍
Can I just say, thanks for the car vertigo link, my daughter went to buy a BMW 1 series and I done a check before she handed over any cash, well it still had HP on it, she was gutted as its perfect for her, we've had a chat with the seller and told him we know about the outstanding finance, i told him its actually illegal to sell the car as its not his to sell, car vertigo gave me the finance company name, policy number, when the finance was taken out, how long it was taken out for and a company phone number, we're just waiting on his decision to see if we go ahead this coming weekend, but at least we can call the finance company to check before handing cash over, so thank you Matt, we could've been taken for £6k without that vehicle check 👍
This is a very cool car, an emerging classic definitely.
Well done Matt for ensuring this car lives on for many more years.
Hope you sell it for the advertised price, after all the restoration work you’ve done, you deserve it❤.
I hope so too!
It looks absolutely superb. A good price should be paid for it. Good on you for getting it to look like new. A 1.8 vvti 16v engine with such a low weight must be fun.
My 2005 Corolla has the same 1.8litre engine
@@ashishbadoni5191VVTI or VVTLI (T Sport Corolla)
I Was waiting for that “I have massively overspent”
On the other hand, it’s good that it’s saved as it definitely would have been scrapped especially at that age, also when they are not at a great appreciating value. These were always in the shadow of the MX-5 and who thought it was a good idea not to give a boot to a car at Toyota… great video as always.
The bins behind the seats are quite big and can hold quite alot, granted they are a little awkward to use. I pretty much use one of these as my daily driver all year round and find it to be no problem.
I owned one of these for a few years. What you have there is a pre-facelift model. The aircon is unusual for UK cars. It's a chain driven engine and the chain tensioner is known to cause issues but is fairly easy to replace. If it is unmodded, it will have the Toyota 1ZZ engine. They are lovely cars. There is a hero in South Wales who replaces the roof with a mohair one for around £350. Lots of people think when the engine starts to burn oil it damages the pre-cats which in turn damages the engine, but I'm not convinced by this. I had a face-lift model and wound it up to 180K miles with no engine issues. (For any owners out there, pop the 'frunk', which would be the bonnet on a normal car and remove the plastic cover. 10 minute job and everything is visible. Watch out for rusty brake pipes and power steering pipes). Your car looks very smart!
The pre 2004 1ZZ-FE engine which this one has had piston issues that caused oil burn. Fixed 2004 onwards. Leave the mods as at this price point it may appeal to a buyer. Have a look at Danny DC2 on RUclips he races one....also a 1zz.
I definitely think its worth 4k especially with the new roof. Makes a big difference much smarter 👌🏻
Fair play Mat, absolute Gem of a car. Glad to see one rescued. Although I would say, this is screaming for a Raffleshak competition 🤔😉
I remember when they first came out, I thought they looked like a Porsche Boxster but one I could actually afford to buy. I should say I was into bodybuilding in those days and am over six foot tall. You can only imagine my disappointment when I went to the dealership only to find I couldn't even get into the car! It would've been like trying to get my size 11's into a size 7!
Small car for people with small lives
@@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24 People with a big penis can afford that.
Probably more reliable than a Porsche 😝
Yes I had a Mk1 I am 6 foot 2. I could fit in the thing with no issues and I had a silver metallic version with the T top. It was fantastic fun, reliable and looked great for the time. It was a quality affordable car and had the nickname of the poor mans Ferrari which indeed it was. When I went to see the Mk3 I could not believe how bad it was. From the point of view of being a massive set steps backward. For one thing I could not fit in it easily at all, when I could in the Mk1. There is no boot at all on the Mk3, where there is on a Mk1, even if it is small, you could fit squashy holdalls in with ease. Not so on the Mk3. I had a huge argument with the salesman in the main dealership that I was viewing the Mk3 in. He was boasting about how Toyota would sell millions of them. I told him he was wrong. He just said I did not like Toyotas. I pointed out I had run a Mk1 for seven years and was in the MR2 club. He shut up then! And I turned out to be right. They never sold massive amounts of the Mk3, it was the least popular of all the MR2 range. They never topped the Mk1, that was such a hit they sold in huge numbers and still have a cult following today, where no one remembers the Mk3 with the same fondness.....
Did they wheel you over to a Landcruiser?
Good decision Matt. Kept a great little classic alive. Next owner will enjoy many years of fun.
90K miles?! Winner! Good score for the price. I'd do it up back to as original condition as possible and sell it at a good profit. It's a nice example for its age.
They are hard to sell, I have a 2004 facelift with 35000 miles, totally mint above and underneath plus matching hardtop and genuine style/roll bar, soft top is as new...I couldn't get £4500 for it so i'm keeping it.
Colour is actually Lagoon Blue. I used to have one as a company car back in the day. Was a fun 3 months with it during summer. Basically a cheap Porsche Boxster
I bought one new in 2003 and the air conditioning was only available with the hard top. Great fun car and very reliable.
Mine was a 2001 X plate. No hardtop. Had AC.
Mine is 2003 with no hardtop and AC
i had one for about 18 months, I think it was a 2002 model, back in 2012. Best sports car I have owned for handling. I have had 5 including the MX5. They used to say it was a Go Kart on steroids. Didn't burn oil, a comfortable ride, a Toyota engine, perfect. Yes, I do regret selling it.
Great work, Matt. I reckon this is one of your best turnarounds on the channel. Looks amazing. If you lose any money on this car, we'll all have a whip-round and square you up. Right guys? Brilliant content 👍
I worked at RRG in the late 80s early 90s and I remember a guy from Toyota said the MR2 Stood for...Mid engine...Rear wheel drive...Two seater. Great video Matt.
For a minute I got you missed up with a chap called Lester who used to work for Merrick Brothers in Heywood and then RRG Rochdale. Lovely chap. Sold my dad his original A plate Landcruiser. I bought my MR2 from Rochdale - chap called Edward. Used to be a great dealership and tgey looked after my dad quite well with some old school mechanics. All went downhill and too corporate later on and I think they took the piss with my dads bills.
A fine looking machine. The new roof has made a world of difference. Reminds me of a Porsche Boxster in miniature. Thank goodness for those replacement grilles. Refitting the badges would finish it off nicely. When you see badges off or wrongly positioned it always casts that doubt over has the car had a bump. Thank you.
When i met my wife nearly 20 years she had the same car in the exact same colour, I used to scoff at it until i drove it, she couldn't get me out of it, Brilliant little car & i wouldn't mind another. Anyway it looks fantastic, well done.
These were fantastic cars. I preferred the Mk2 but they looked great
I picked one up with 80K miles, same colour with the same state hood for around the same price. Spent double again to get new clutch/brake disks/exhaust repair/service and another 400 on some paint refurbishment and now have a solid "rav 4 reliable" fun motor that will run for years. Classic :)
That new roof was definitely worth it - brings the car to life.
I bought my wife the MR2 roadster, racing green with detachable hardtop and after a year she wanted a larger cabriolet, I used the roadster till I could part ex it. I ended up driving it for 6 years and was gutted when I sold it. One of the greatest cars I have ever owned. Unpractical but I never drove it without a smile on my face.
Excellent job bringing new life into an old car, Matt! The MR2 looks amazing!!! I love the care and compassion you have towards older cars, it really shows what an incredible person you truly are. If the car could speak, I'm sure she would be thanking you. Well done!
Bought my wife one years ago.
Still her favorite car that she’s had. I’ve bought her a Cooper convertible, we’ve had 2 Porsche, etc, but that’s still the car she pines for.
Sadly had to sell all of them.
My suggestion had been going to be - spend whatever it needs and Raffleshack it.
I sold these new and they were amazing to drive (for an ordinary Joe used to driving ordinary car) and only the Celica in the range came close. They corner as if on rails.
Glad you have saved it.
Great car!
You’re right. They still handle well all these years later
It was said they came close to Elise standards for handing and grip - and lightness
The reason the bonnet catch is in the glove compartment is to prevent theft from the frunk. It is assume the roof might not always be up, so the level is placed in the lockable glove compartment instead.
Of course you did…
Not gonna lie is he…
Yes I did ❤ don’t need too lie
In life you always come across a fool nice to meet you 😂
I’ve seen some go for free but it’s only because it was broken and the transmission was fucked
Toyota made a miscalculation with the VVTI on that engine and it cuts in too late, Honda nailed it, there is a remap that lowers the cut in of the variable timing and it sets the engine free to do what it was designed to do. Rev.
Interesting. Is this why when you blip the throttle there’s a delay? I’ve noticed that on a couple of Toyotas, irritating as hell 🤔
Fair play for saving this car! You're a legend Matt!
I had a 1996 mk11 picked it up it was 18months old most reliable car I’ve ever owned and was fun to drive .. oh to be young again 😮
Looks great. I would also replace the exhaust manifold for an aftermarket unit that doesn't have any pre-cats. The pre-facelift cars (1999-2002) have an issue with the pre-cats breaking down and being sucked back into the engine. Just some peace of mind for the new owner 👍🏻😊
That's one of those old wives' tales - it's already lasted 23 years and 90k miles so it will be fine!
New roof was always going to be the killer in terms of cost, though they can be done for a fraction of what Matt paid (albeit much less quality). If looking to buy either find one where soft top has been sheltered by a hard top for most of its life or someone else has already shelled out for the replacement.
Had one of these from new in 2001 and after owning a MK1 TBar it was a big dissapointment. Good work in bringing this one back to life.
Great recovery. That car deserved a few more years on the road. Great video as always !!!!
My friend brought a grey limited edition one , 6 months ago , 62k, full Toyota service, 2 owners in perfect condition for £1250 !!!! I think £3995 is alot , good luck.
Love these vids, especially that you don’t make us wait to see the end result. I reckon the pleasure you get from these projects means breaking even wouldn’t be the end of the world……keep saving ‘em Matt 👍🏻
Thank you very much!
I have a 2005 MR2 and love it. Bought it in 2012 with only 13k on the clock. Only fault other than usual items was a radiator a couple of years ago. No oil leaks. New hood from a place in Stockport last year. 2003 facelift models are the best bet. Great to drive and 41 mpg.
Quirky and fun little Toyota Matt, as always Matt can save any car, you made it look showroom ready!
Great buy and video as always Matt! :D
Thanks! 👍
In the States we'd be lucky to find one for less than 8,000 USD now. 600 is a steal in comparison.
Wonderful work. Carry on saving all that you can. I'm entirely behind your saving this midship runabout. As an aside, I always enjoy the titbits, your nuggets of trivia and random knowledge Plus your sensible, polite and well bred approach. From a fellow petrolhead with a small random collection and landlord, keep it all coming. Gaydio on the stereo eh? Good lad ;)
Bought mine in 2010 for a couple of grand still used ever summer, taken on holiday to Cornwall and Scotland for the NC 500 . Same year and colour as yours, still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.Aircon models also came with a hard top when new, Replaced the hood on mine with a mohair one for £700 took me a day to fit it, chain driven engine beware of oval bores and remove the "Pre Cats", mine is on its third engine!
That doesn't look like the same car. What a little beauty. Too much money but what a great job your guys did.
Thanks 👍
Great convolessing video, had prostate cancer 2 weeks ago so I had it removed.
Major surgery!!
Not fair only 52 year old 😒
Love all 3 series of the mr2, you've made that one probably the best about
Get well soon mate - go buy one of these to treat yourself 😊
Not a practical car for me but the final result looks divine. I'm sure somebody will be happy to fork out the cash for this. A good looking car with plenty of life left in it.
Great video Matt , this takes me back a few years , i bought one of these from toyota with 40.000 miles on the clock , i can remember it cost me 4.500 and what a fabulous little car it was much better than an mx5 .
ok a poor mans boxter but put a smile on my face every time i drove it
That motor definitely lucked out when you bought it Matt. You should get £3995 for it. Definitely someone will buy as a Sunday day out driver 👍
There is a company in Swansea who specialise on cloth tops and do the mr2 at an extremely good price. It's a mohair replacement and you can get it in red, blue and black if I recall. As of 3 years ago the cost was 550 fully fitted same day
Bravo Matt. You saw the potential and have given life back to a 23 yo car. She looks amazing!!
I remember buying one of these just for 2 weeks in teh lake district, with the roof down. Loved it, ended up keeping it for a year. Its like driving a go-kart. Someone will deffinately buy it.
Spending £1,550 on that roof is a bit insane, there's a place in Swansea called JR Autotrimmers that made my MR2 roof for £450, including a new rear windscreen w/ demister.
Also have you done the pre-cats? They have a nasty habit of breaking up and falling into the engine, destroying it in the process!
Don't know if that Jack Smith place in Swansea is still open, I've read he is closed down now. He did a great job, I remember seeing pics of his work on the MR2 owners club site...you could have various colours in them. His price's were ridiculously cheap.
Its possible he closed, he did complain a lot about how old he was when I was down there
Only if it us an oil burner, but better to do .
It’s chain driven. I bought a green one last fall as a project. Very fun to drive. Not fast but doesn’t feel slow.
You need to change the header or gut the cats on the factory header as it’s a known critical failure point.
These are incredible little cars, best normal priced lightweight base for a track car, too. When people speak about buying a Miata, I always say try the MR2 before you buy an MX5 :)
Looks great. I used to have this exact MR2, but in a facelift (6-speed). Sold it four years ago and was immaculate. Wish I never sold it now.
My brother had one of these many years ago in silver with the red cloth seats which I thought looked smart. They drive great. Lots of fun and basically as painless to own as a Corolla of the time. I can never decide if I prefer this or the MX-5... Both great. That said money no object I'd have a late mint S2000.
The Mx5 is always a bit camp. No matter what the journalists say
Indeed - mx5 very feminine and soft … and I think overrated. Build quality can be .. hmmm 🙄
@@serenityinside1 a car that triumphed in a market where there was very very little competition. And that the journalists got a hard on over. I have never met a grown man that actually wants one.
Having driven all 3 and owned 2 MX5s, the Honda S2000 is far superior and more likely to achieve classic status IMHO. It drives beautifully and feels very solid.
But what a gorgeous job on this lucky MR2.- you deserve to make a good profit on this car. Sadly at my age (77) I can no longer get in or out of these fun cars.
@@kevincockburn7805 although I have an MGF (don’t judge me) I’ve known plenty of grown men who are also MX-5 owners. There is also autoalex on RUclips who converted his to a V6.
Great Decision Matt ... Lovely looking little car ! Well Done 👍🚗🚘🇬🇧🇯🇵
Great watching, good to see an element of restoration offering sustainability for a soon to be classic.
These episodes fit well in amongst run of the mill vehicles.
I really appreciate your efforts in getting these cars looking good and making them mechanically sound.
Of course you overspent massively. That's one reason why I watch the videos. Keep saving the old cars...
Splendid work on the MR2! Toyota Japan should indeed be appreciative of your work. I often ponder why you've never applied any black conditioner to the plastic trim on your cars. It would really make it stand out and appear as if it just rolled off the factory floor! Cheers!
Maybe it’s because those black conditioners only last a few months at most so it could be perceived as misleading.
Maybe less so if you’d supply a bottle of such a conditioner with the car.
Boot polish is cheaper and just as good
There’s not much plastic trim on this anyway, but doing them with that stuff would put me off, it gives the plastics a shine that they shouldn’t have and to me it looks worse than clean and slightly faded. That goes 10x for interior plastics, they shouldn’t ever be shiny, they weren’t when the car was new and it looks terrible in my opinion.
@@robinclaidlaw Well, it's a bit of a puzzler, isn't it? I mean, when you're all gung-ho about giving your car the full-on royal treatment, taking care of those faded plastics is just par for the course. So, what gives, right? Why put in all that elbow grease only to let a couple of odds and ends stick out like a sore thumb? It's like getting yourself all spruced up for a bash and then forgetting to fix that one wily strand of hair. Doesn't quite jive, does it? Got me scratching my noggin, that's for sure!
That new roof was really the right thing to do. Not mad at all.
Well done Matt ... You're a credit to the trade, I'm definitely going to look at your stock at my next change ...
Hi matt, at the start of the video , I said to myself, please save this car and you did. It looks fantastic. Thanks
Consider the ULEZ in London and other cities that are following suit. France is clamping down on older cars. You have to pay for a disk displaying the emissions from one to five.
Think long and hard before purchasing your next classic.
This guy has the most poetic way of talking.
My daughter had a 6 speed one of these. Dynamically it’s a great car to drive. We found going up by 10 weight on the oil specs it stopped burning any oil. Handbrake is a major weakness, always leave it in gear when parked.
Superb video lovely little motor for someone, the I've massively overspent gets be every time, keep up the great work saving these old motors
What a lovely car, great value if you can get your asking price, that new hood looks amazing.
These make a fantastic summer runabout - my son had one here in Florida and we both loved it! Must be saved!
MR2. Mid engine roadster two seater. Original used a Corolla fwd mounted in rear with the steering locked out.
I have dealt with many second hand at dealers in my time, and I can honestly say that I have never come across a second hand car dealer anything like Matt. To get all this expense work done on this car, and many more that I've watched on YT, over many months, I just find incredible, and speaks volumes on the Character and Honesty of Matt, he's got to be as rare as a None Lying Politician. I wouldn't hesitate in buying a second hand car from him, knowing it's been sorted before a sale. You're a Top Bloke Matt, you have my respect.🙂👍
I had an MRS TRD imported from Japan, loved it. Sold it to a drift racer who showed me what it could do around a roundabout. Cracking little car, much more engaging to drive than the mk2 MX5 my wife had at the time (in my opinion).
Beautiful Matt absolutely stunning I think you did the right thing
I almost bought a Mk1 (205 GTI instead) and few years later looked at a new mk3 in the showroom. I was not convinced by its looks. Currently driving a Superb, which is a brilliant car ( thanks to your videos ) but would love a cheap modern classic sports car at some point. Perhaps I will take another look at an MR2.
Lovely job, you deserve more profit out of it than that, looks amazing, you’ve got a real work ethic about you
Well done, cracking job, new hood looks superb…..saved another one from the scrap heap
Well it’s its great to see it having such a new refurbishment. I’m sure it will appeal to someone as they have lots of appeal and certainly this now would now be a a collectors choice. Good luck 👍
I had one of these when they came out with the removable hard top -mine had little lugs on the back which were factory fitted. Great car but absolutely no luggage space… took the spare wheel out so I could use the ‘boot’ in the front and a bit behind the seats… but the handling was sublime. I came back from Scotland on the back roads with a mate following on his Yamaha thundercat and even he commented how good it was! Happy days. Great video thanks 👍
I was going to mention the luggage space myself, but you beat me to it. One time, when I was taking my mum to a holiday chalet, I had to make the trip twice: once for her and once for the suitcase!
@@ianbarnes961This made me laugh! It was my only transport… I took up motorcycling shortly after and had more space with the panniers and topbox ! 😂
Paint the mesh bits black, put some new discs, decent pads, decent tyres on it…..and do a few track days in it.
If the pre cats haven’t been knocked out then that is definitely worth doing. Saves them turning your oil into grinding paste as they disintegrate.
If you’re gonna refurb the wheels you might be better finding a good set of later wheels as the rears are 16’s and look nicer.
If the steering feels funny like it gets heavier and lighter, it’s the universal joint on the steering column.
Best car I’ve ever owned. Sadly had to sell mine to get through tough times in covid. Better off getting a hard top for it than repairing the roof. Unless, you want the roof down option
Brought back great memories there Matt, I had a W reg black one as my first “proper” car when I finished training. Did 80k miles in it and loved every minute. Never let me down. Like driving a roller skate! You did the right thing!
The thing I love about Matt is his approach to every car like this is if Matt was going to buy a used car as a regular buyer (not trade) what would standard of used car would I want to buy. The only thing is he Matt wouldnt be thinking in 3rd person ...
I love England's sound. Those birds singing.....that peace...
Hi Matt , I do a lot of detailing and if there's one thing on camera that stands out like a sore thumb is that whoever details your cars never clean the leather steering wheels and they just let down the interior and make your hard work look incomplete , leather should never be shiney ! Just a thought . Great videos though .
Mid-engined, rear wheel drive, this is the perfect beginners track day car. If this was my car I would give it a full service, get some good tires on it, get it a better suspension and have as a light sportscar. Nice video as always!
Exactly, tyres can make or break the experience.
Such a literal car the MR2. No fancy anything. Whatever you need in a midship engine/rwd car is there and nothing more. Love it.
I had one of these back in 04. Great car to drive, interior very good and robust if a bit plastic.
The amount of Boxster owners who flashed hello at a distance only to hide behind the wheel once they realized it is not the same as theirs always made me laugh. Happened almost everyday!
It's a mid engingined, 50/50 wieght distribution with rear wheel drive.
Great fun. It's suspension was quite harsh from New but I used it everyday.
Looks incredible Matt. You should keep it
A lovely looking little gem that you've saved.
The opening shots of that car and the finished result. Incredible turn around, brilliant video.
Love the colour
It pops !
Glad u saved it Matt
It looks fantastic
I doubt there would be many left on the roads, and not in that excellent condition.
👍
I'm glad you've kept another car on the road and you'll be doing the right buyer a huge favour at any price!
Love what you’ve done to save the car as a former mk3 owner myself. I do think that 4k might be a hard sell for a pre-facelift. What I’ve found is that it’s hard to make money back on a new roof. Even seen some hardtop cars that only commanded a minor premium on the market.
Best selling the hardtop and fitting kit separately..... getting £1000-£1200 now.
I paid £450 for one plus fitting kit in 2012 when I bought my MR2, it was off a late car and had been stored indoors most of its life. Travelled from Belfast to Whitley Bay to pick it up🤣 Left my house at 6am, ferry, pick up/ fitted and home in time for tea😂 Had the best drive ever there and back on the country roads. I was gonna sell earlier in the year and I couldn't get £4500 for it with the hardtop....35000 miles and mint above and underneath so I decided to keep it, I'd never get another as good. All poly bushed, all under tray fittings/nuts and bolts etc stainless steel, all arms etc powder coated....it's cleaner underneath than on top🤣