MR2 Owner's Reaction to Doug Demuro’s Review
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- Опубликовано: 19 июн 2024
- I was happy to see the Toyota MR2 getting some big attention on Doug Demuro's channel! I thought I'd share a few corrections and additional facts about the car.
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Absolutley having MR2 Owners make MR2 content is whats needed, in the UK we keep it all amoungest ourselves theres so much miss informed content out there & so may americans with a biased view of the MR2.... great stuff matey you have got a subscribe & like :-)
Your own MR2 looks to be gloriously well cared for, nice to see it! Glad you put this video up. I've always felt Doug would have fewer "quirks" and questions if he'd just read the owner's manual. Good job!
He is being kind to Doug. 😆
Thanks, I try to preserve it the best I can
Doug does seem to read the owners manuals as he will point out odd bits about them. But this is why people should always be cautious about believing everything that is reported about the news. If Doug can get things wrong about a car that is right in front of him and easily researchable, imagine what the news gets wrong.
You have no idea what you're talking about the original with no mods unlike yours goes for much more money collectors want original@@CanadianGearhead
@@CanadianGearhead You have no idea what you're talking about a real collector wants an original with no mod's mod's actually lowers the value especially in America
I remember when I was younger, I went to a car meet and met a 2nd gen MR2 owner who agreed to take me for a ride. I asked if he ever had a snap oversteer accident and he said no in an annoyed manner as we got on a highway.
He tried to do a pull and almost immediately lost control. Luckily we didn’t hit anything since no one was around us and we even missed the walls. He stopped at a gas station and just told me to get out before he drove off and my friends (who were following us) scooped me up.
Never saw him at the car meet again.
That's hilarious!
You cursed him with your negative mojo! You’re lucky he left you at a gas station rather than on the side of the road. 😂
@@LuckyCharms777 pretty sure he was to blame, you know being the driver and all
Doug reviewed the gen 3 MR2 a few years back (A model I once owned) where he opened the frunk to reveal the the term 'midship runabout', and made comment about the name meaning. So while watching the vid on the Gen2 I was surprised that he suddenly forgot what MR2 means. :)
I still call it Toyota Mido, because the japanese generally have problems in pronoucing english. So its Mido-1 (1980s), Mido-2 (1990s) and Mido-3 (2000s). Or Mido-ich, Mido-ni, Mido-san.
Imagine reviewed 300 cars between them.
@@patricklopes-vtec that's a bit racist. and the reason they can't pronounce english is the fault of their writing structure. it forces them to pronounce everything using only japanese characters and their limited sound-effects.
@markasread4349 blame the algorithm. just like with instagram, "engagement" gives them money. so it's consequently full of garbage content that exists JUST to bait people into correcting deliberately false statements. the algorithm also doesn't care what like or dislike happens. it will continue to push videos as long as they are getting the thumb in EITHER direction, therefore the content creator earns more money. So guess what? since its far easier to make an AWFUL video that makes people angry than to make a good video, there's a lot of people out there who make awful videos on purpose to get the hate watchers and that makes them rich. This has dire consequences for all platforms, as it incentivizes people to be content creators of bloat and spam, rather than actual good content.
@@twrcrew8852 so wrong pronunciation is racism? Not today, child.
I think the snap oversteer reputation was proven by the racers in the fire hawk series that found that the MR2's rear suspension got toe out when the suspension was extended (like under braking). So it wasn't your run of the mill trailing throttle oversteer, it was actually an issue where the rear tires toe-ed out, something they corrected in '93.
That kind of explains why lowering and stiffening the suspension helps a lot with this. Then it just can't extend as far. The pre-93 actually responds better to these mods than the later I believe.
I'm also pretty sure Doug didn't know that the 3SGTE had been in America in Celicas since 1988. He mentions "From like 90-93, the Celica GT4 had that engine." But that was the second generation of All-trac we got in the states, the first gen (ST165) also had a 3S turbo with 10 fewer horsepower.
I was waiting on this one 😂
Edit: 6’4” 225lbs and I fit very well. The stock seats may as well have been fitted for me.
This video was awesome. There is a sizable back catalog of “car famous” reviews on the SW20. You should start a mini series
Not a bad idea!
Hey Man! That's an SW20 right? I have a MK1b AW11 and luckily it fits right for me at 6'3 with stock seats too! But I'm thinking of an SW20 as well.
@@oberonb-6129
Definitely. If the MKI fits you well, the SW20 will have you in luxury! Do it. It’s a fantastic platform.
you hit all the points that i was pulling my hair out during that review haha. love his channels, but this was a much needed update video, thanks! also, i was very surprised Doug did not mention the different top configurations which were available on the sw20.
Thanks for watching!
I owned a 91 Turbo in early 2000's while stationed in Japan. I can attest to how amazing the car was to own and drive, never experienced snap oversteer like so many people claim but I always drove it responsibly without pushing it past it limits. Of course I did drive it fast often, it's the car that really turned me on to sports cars and to be honest I do dream of the MR2 still to this very day. I don't think I'd be happy with the newer MR2 when they bring it back cause they won't capture that same feel going electric or hybrid especially with today's safety standards.
I was working for Toyota from early 80s through 2000,I was able to drive every iteration of MR2 that came my way,my favorite to drive aggressively still is the first gen naturally aspirated,though hardly fast by any standard,it was just a blast to throw around,you could keep the revs up and just full throttle out of turns.
But I prefer the second gen as an overall package. And I do recall those being touted as mid engine,rear drive,2 seater. I still have all the brochures for them, I will look one up and see if it's their official wording though.
I did just replace a timing belt on a turbo car recently, and it brought back a lot of memories of that Era of Toyota quality. And as a side note,your car looks awesome with the wheels you have on it!
I find the 2nd gen to be one of the best looking cars Toyota ever built,they took the chiseled look of the first gen,which was not bad mind you,and just kind of melted it all together.
This car never sold in Mexico, I know about it due to Gran Turismo, with all the hundreds of cars it has I´ve always found this little gem very appealing and intriguing and up to date I want to experience one in person one day, I think it´s a very cool car!!!
Just a little detail... The lid behind the seats DOES NOT ALWAYS OPEN. In my 91 MR2 Turbo only the passenger side opened, the driver's side had a subwoofer underneath (same as the Doug's MR2). On some post-93 models, even the passenger's side had a subwoofer so it really depends on the car and if the sound system optional was chosen at the dealership.
Glad you made this video. I just watched Doug's video last night and remember hearing 95 as the last production year and thinking he must have meant for the US, and was confused when he said twin turbo. Having owned the first gen, I think it would be quite the engineering to fit an additional turbo in there. Twin scroll makes a lot more sense. Great cars! If I didn't already have a wrx, crx and miata, I'd buy one. I always wanted the second gen. I'd say the biggest limitations to this car would be the snap oversteer, but also if you want to take it to the track, cooling and heat soak can be an issue.
doug is pretty pleb-tier, and constantly gets stuff wrong. His vids are great for seeing all the little details you can usually miss on a car though. But the DK Engineering channel does that too, but better, and with wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy cooler cars.
Spun my old 96 hardtop gt turbo twice. Once on the road and no damage, second time hit some cones on a track day. It had early crude traction control which didn’t seem to do a lot. Other things worth a mention.
Engine was designed by Yamaha
Rev1/2 one variable intake via flaps
Rev three on had ct20b garrat turbo with ceramic turbine wheel
They were mostly hand built
They came with a limited slip diff as standard(at least later models did)
Last couple of years only sold in Japan with a breams 200hp na engine option
Very low aero drag resulted in high top speed but j spec had a 112 mph limit stock
Fuel tank in between driver and passenger
Celiac gt4 had air to water intercooler but mr2 just air to air
Nice MR2, looks great.. my first car was an AW11 and I fell it love with it. I ended up going through 3 of them. the last one that I owned had severe rust which led to transmission mount issues so I traded it in back in 2003. now I stick to motorcycles for cheap thrills, my latest toy is a 2008 CBR1000RR
Some of this applies to the '89-93 GT4 celicas too... Twin entry turbo often mistaken for twin turbo etc. - it's basically an early twin scroll design. To note to people looking at these, the '96 onward 3sgte's are referred to as 'square blocks' where toyota strengthened the engine blocks rather crudely with a square looking fix. it was to stop the block cracking on a thinner area of the first (or fourth) cylinder. They're the ones to get if you want to mod them for big power. Same with the celica gt-4 celicas.
Will hopefully own a SW20 one day, driven a couple of them and love how low and wrap around the cockpit is :)
Same misconception with BMW "Twin Power Turbo". They're every now and then said to have a twin turbo setup, but what it actually refers to is twin scroll turbo.
@ to make it more confusing, the ones previously DID have a twin turbo setup. much better IMO if you want to keep the bottom end stock.
In 1991 saw a MR2 turbo in aquamarine pearl in dealership in NYC and fell in love. It was displayed next to a Celica AllTrac turbo, another very desirable car at the time. Tried to buy the mr2 but could not swing it $. A year later I got an Eagle talon tsi awd.
I was considering a MR2 back in 1994 but bought an Integra GSR instead as it was roomier inside. I still have the car to this day (I store it during our harsh Canadian winters). Your MR2 is absolutely stunning.
Thanks! That Integra will be worth something if you look after it
@@CanadianGearhead My GSR has 92,000 kilometers on the odometer. I bought it new in June 1994. It isn't mint due to rock chips but it is rust free. However, it could use light paint correction.
Big mistake, the mid 90’s Toyotas(sw20 mr2, t200 Celica, and a80 supra) were so advanced and refined for the time it’s amazing the quality of build and advancement. The seats are a perfect balance of sporty, comfort, and support the dash, center console and door card materials are good for “cheap plastic and soft materials” the tech was crazy for 90’s, the headlights have auto off without a sensor(maybe the Supra had a sensor though) idk I’ve driven many cars and really go in with an open mind and observation and from my experience yeah Hondas are cool and fun when you pick up speed but overall driving quality and comfort it goes to Toyota, if your in love with VTEC and the race look yeah Honda but if you want a tourer it’s the Toyota
@@eVerProductions1 I daily drive a Camry. I've owned two over the years. Can't beat them for comfort on long drives.
I had an Integra RS 4 door, and currently have an MR2 Spyder. I’ve had a blast driving both cars, but the MR2 is more of a go-kartish and is certainly less comfortable than the Integra since you feel every bump and expansion joint.
I liked the Integra interior better, the MR2 interior looks cheap and the leather seats have cracked. I also like Honda’s double-wishbone design. In a perfect world, I’d combine a Honda double-wishbone suspension, with a Toyota mid-engine design, with a Yamaha engine.
Also, while still a high-revving 1.8 liter, the Integra RS wasn’t VTEC so I can’t compare it against Toyota’s VVTI. I will say if it’s anything like VVTI, there’s one thing I wouldn’t like about it, which is when it cuts off upon deceleration. In the MR2, in fifth gear when the car decelerates to about 55 mph, or maybe it’s 65 mph, the VVTI cuts off and it sometimes catches my attention causing me to think for a split second that the engine shut down. It’s mildly annoying because for that short moment I’m worried that I had engine failure. I guess it subconsciously reminds me of the two times I’ve had timing belts break while driving, once in my truck and once in my Integra. Yeah, yeah, I know, change my timing belts at the recommended mileage; fortunately the MR2 Spyder has a timing chain.
Always loved the mk1 MR2. BTW, yes, your MR2's rims are on point! Way better than stock. Have fun.
The Ferrari 308 (grandaddy of the 348) dates back to 1975, even before the MKI MR2. When the MKII first came out, I was very interested in it because it resembled the Ferrari so much.
yea video has weird bias and throws stones at Doug when he himself is kind of off on many aspects.
this was very informative, thank you for clearing things up
Your MR2 MKII looks great. I had the 1990 GTi 16v T-Top Targa edition NA. It had lowered springs and the 911 tekno carrera sport alloy wheels - it looked sick. The colour was that dark metallic green they used tor the MKII.
Ps.: I did experience the snap oversteer on on an icy roundabout in Switzerland in February - I managed to limit the damage to one alloy wheel. It was the only time I lost control of the mr2. I became really good at driving that car. The ECU was reprogrammed and that was the only modification I made.
Thanks for giving this awesome car some justice - I miss mine but, it's the type of car you should own only if you can store it in a warm, dry garage to protect it from humidity.
This was by far the best looking MR-2 design.
Lmao I was on Reddit just after that video was released and quite a few of us on an mr2 page had quite the laugh at him with his Twin turbo Mid engine RWD 2 seater🤣
Dude, that MR2 with that wheelset is every bit as aesthetically hot as some six-figure exotic cars -- absolutely gorgeous!
I test drove I guess it was a first gen mr2 way back. I think it was just normally aspirated and it was a blast just bare bones. These must by fun to own for sure eh. Thanks for the great vid fellow Canuck.
Interesting to meet another MR2 owner, first time I've been to this channel. Your red beast looks great and I'm sure it is a blast to drive.
I have a beautiful 1994 JDM MR2 Turbo Rev.3 in factory gloss black.
The Japanese spec Rev 3 has the ceramic shaft turbo and puts out 245Hp and with a Fujitsubo Sports exhaust system and Apexi Power Induction manifold & filter it does low 13s on the quarter mile and about 13.8 sec stock. Nice country you have there...hope I can visit one day. Greetings from Western Australia.
my mr2 W2 TRD Supercharged 3vzfe V6 is my favourite car... i also own a lot of more powerded cars.. even a trackhawk... but i love the mr2... this is the one car i will hold till the end of my life
Good content. It is hard to get all the details correct unless you actually drive the car for several weeks in all weather conditions. I always want to know where the switches are to drive in the rain, defroster, and I forgot the name of the switch to get rid of moisture frost on the rear window that heats up the rear window. Defogger?? Either way, a great car, love them.
“It’s a ball cooler and we love it” is the quote of the video! I had one in my 97 Supra and LOVED having it.
The MK 2 MR2 is actually most similar to the Ferrari 308 in terms of size, weight and power. The 308 was launched in 1975. That being said, it would be great if Toyota brought out a new version of the MK 2 and offer either a modern turbocharged 4 or the Camry V6, similar to what Lotus currently has in the Emira. Rear mid-engined cars are a great drive.
A modern MR2 with the Camry V6 would be fantastic
This was absolutely great content; particularly caught my eye because I had similar feelings after Doug’s review of the mk 1 Audi TT which I have owned for 16 years, which also can also be considered an underdog, underrated. Accordingly Doug was very positive with his feelings on the Audi as well. I lived with some of the discrepancies during his presentation because I love Doug’s channel.
Wondering if you followed ‘Sarah n Tuned’ during her restoration of her MR 2 and if so what your impressions were of that content.
Her MR2 came out great!
I owned an MR2 many years ago. Absolutely loved it. But I did not know that the T tops went behind the seat and strapped in. It always annoyed me putting them in the rear trunk and loosing storage space. Wish I knew this years ago lol
Im glad you made this video....I was about to make a similar vid on all the corrections... until I seen yours. :) 👍
Make it anyways!
I had no idea one of these cars still existed or that Doug found one to review. Fascinating. Curious if Doug will do a review on the Ford Festiva next?
Gearhead- Storage compartments behind the seats?! LOL, my '93T had factory subs in both locations(no sweat, though, as the trunk was very usable). CD column, too ;) (although I mounted my turbo timer and boost controller beneath the shelf). Otherwise, you filled in all of the enthusiast's blanks Doug left open during his review. Great commentary!
Fine looking example you have there. I looked at getting mk1 years ago but the prices in the UK went a bit mad. Also looked into a mk2 but ended up with a JDM Eunos Roadster S-limited which is similar to the US Miata LE. Not sure what the mk2s are in north America but over here around £5 - £6k gets a good example if you can find one.
My parents had a non turbo MR2 when I was in high school. It was a fun car to drive. Since you added clarity to the video Doug made, I'll point out a pet peeve of mine from your video. Saying VIN number is redundant. VIN is the acronym for vehicle identification number.😜 I enjoyed your video and it is good to see enthusiasts with these cars. Cheers,
As a 3rd gen MR2 owner, I was quite surprised how many things he got wrong in this review, specially the name. The MR2 spyder review he did 5 years ago he got the name correct and every other fact about the car was correct.
Having owned a supercharged AW11 MR2, an SW20 MR2 Turbo, a GT4 Celica and MK4 Supra the MR2 Turbo was my favourite car. Mine had a TRD 2000 body kit, half pop headlight conversion kit, upgraded adjustable coil over springs, HKS turbo and larger rims with wider tyres.
This Chanel is unbelievably underrated! I was truly shocked when I looked at the views after watching it. Well done, keep it up 🫡
Btw the mr2 is clean af! 🤝
Much appreciated!
I love all mid rear drive affordable sports cars. I own and drive a 2015 Boxster, but I feel happy coming across MR2s at my local twisties. I have engaged in impromptu lead-follow sessions with MR2 drivers. Cheers!!
For reference, Hondas of the 90s typically clocked in around 2000-2300lbs tops. they were literally paper thin and feather light boxes on wheels that could become very quick, really fast because of it. they also had surprisingly long final drives especially when you compare them to most RWD sports cars of the era. (my S14a with a 300zx trans swap and J30 differential cruised at 70mph around 2800rpm. but with the original 4.08 S14 rear and dinky stock 5 speed it was screaming along at 3500rpm by then) Civics with JDM swapped B, D, and H series at the time could compare to what my gearing was AFTER the modifications. The other thing is, those engines could push 200-250whp NA in a car that weighed 2000-2300. So that explains how they were able to be so fast, provided you spun them up into the high 8.5-10k RPM range depending on motor/variant. SW20s seem to have similar gearing to my S14, so I'm willing to bet it's close pre-swap.
Also in Canada, back in the early '80's I was eagerly looking at a couple of small mid-engined cars that hadn't yet been released - The Fiero had tons of hype around it, and the MR2 which had very little. I remember going to look at an early release Fiero and being really disappointed at the spec and interior. I put down a deposit on a MR2 and received a bright red model from the first shipment into Canada in '85. Loved the fit and finish - paint was gorgeous. Interior was really nice, shifting was great. It was my daily driver from Oakville to Rexdale. I would hustle the thing around every on and off-ramp I could find and soon discovered a little handling quirk - the worst and most unpredictable snap oversteer I'd ever experienced. Near the limit the slightest road imperfection would set it off and more than once I found myself spinning onto a highway! Kept it a couple of years and traded for a '87 Supra. Then I could go fast and relax a little. I believe the rear suspension of the next year MR2 was modified to try and improve things,. Not surprising, and in retrospect I'm surprised they let the first year car be released - it was that dangerous.
Wow what a beautiful car. I am a bit of a Supra guy - I am building a MK II at the moment as well as a MK III. Always wanted one of these - they look so good with the right stance and wheels (as displayed). Missed an opportunity a few years back to pick up a black one and still regret it. A buddy of mine had one of the first gen ones back in the 80's and it was a blast. You cant beat this car, still looking for a project car
I too remember when this car was being produced thinking the almost 2,900 curb weight to being heavy. They even mentioned the heavier weight in the vehicle description in Tokyo Xtreme Racer on Dreamcast. Good times, lol.
I had a DC2 Integra and 2,600 lbs was considered average. During the 90s. You had to get down to 2,200 or 1,900 to be considered light weight. Crazy times change.
In the UK, we never got the turbo model, so the consensus was that the car was too heavy to be fun.
That's until the grey import turbos started coming over from Japan a few years later and we found out what we'd been missing. 😁
Great engine in these. Owned a Toyota Caldina GT Four N Spec back in New Zealand. Would love to have one in Canada. A Toyota AWD turbo wagon in winter here would be amazing.
St215 much better => manual + full time 😁
I wanted one of these back in the day. I still do!
I live in Japan and I have owned several JDM MR2s so I am "in the know" about MR2s.
He's probably talking about the clutch return spring. On turbo models it is indeed non-linear. That's why I have a NA Clutch pedal on my 2gr
7:25 agreed!! I've got a 91 Turbo and my 14" wheels suck for options on rear tires. I just ordered a set of Work Meister 17" staggered to replace them. I can't wait to get it all set up.
What wheels and size are those on your MR2?
I had a non turbo and a turbo. Good coverage on corrections. Sometimes I think Doug makes up stuff when he’s not sure, like the T-Top straps. The fog lights also gives away the turbo. Three things I loved about my turbo: linear power with no lag, suspension was solid, and engine internals were ahead of their time for the price.
Fog lights = turbo? Is that a US thing? My NA UK spec came with fog lights.
Actually, for that MR2 those are not storage boxes but speakers some models they were left empty as storage but there was a package that you could upgrade the sound system and you can actually see the speaker covered down below to where there should be a kicker inside
Great insights into a great car - thanks for this video. Btw, Doug's comment wasn't racist (Japanese people do tend to be shorter and weigh less than Americans, statistically speaking - their height is now catching up due to diet improvements), but your "girlie" comment is definitely sexist. Lastly, I'd like to know how much experience you have with electric cars - I've owned many cool, fun, interesting, gas cars in my life including late 60s GM muscle cars (that I restored as a teen), a twin turbo Dodge Stealth, several Acuras, and even a 429hp V8 Hyundai Equus. All were great in their own way, but none came close in overall ownership experience to the electric cars I have now. I believe a true car guy (or gal) would never dismiss an entire segment of cars out of prejudice. Each car (and type of car) has its own benefits and drawbacks. Please try a few electric cars and keep an open mind when evaluating them.
Regarding (light)weight, the 3rd gen "spyder"/MR-S went back down to about 1050-1100kg (2300-2400lbs) so about in-line with the MX-5 of the time.
I recently found a old magazine in Japan fully dedicated to the MR-S where the designer team explained the desire to go back down to lighter weight, though power also went down to 140ps.
Unfortunately the 3rd gen aesthetics didn't fit everyone's taste and is less regarded as a classic than gen 1 and 2. I never drove the gen 1 or 2 but stock gen3 is a blast anyways, plus top down anytime it doesn't rain :)
Former '91 Turbo owner and caught a few of the errors, as well - twin-entry vs. twin turbo, RWD vs. runabout, etc. I was a little surprised there was no mention of the sunroof and hardtop models but full details on the convertible. Calling the Gen 1/2/3 the AW11/SW20/ZZW30 was pretty common-place when I had mine, but perhaps this has changed.
Snap-oversteer on the MR2 is mostly a problem on low-traction surfaces - rain/snow/ice. Mid-engine short-wheelbase cars all have the characteristic, but comparatively, the NSX and S2000 (since you mentioned it) were not nearly as bad when I've driven them under these circumstances. An SW20 in the snow is truly a white-knuckle drive - once you start to spin, there's no recovering... accept the spin or snap it around and spin the other direction - those are your only choices. For what it's worth, the 93+ rear suspension didn't really change anything - the SW20 is just platform that demands slightly higher skill from the driver. I would simply consider it a characteristic, not a problem/fault.
The staggered tire sizes were something I was surprised Doug overlooked - definitely not a positive thing when you want a decent selection of tire options. At least Doug reviewed the '95 wheels... the earlier wheels were like mini-Supra wheels and much 'softer' looking.
It's been years since I sold mine, but the behind-the-seat storage shelves... only one of them has storage space, right? I can't remember but I could have sworn that one had a factory-installed speaker or HVAC duct or something occupying like 95% of the box. "Leather" is a stretch for the T-Top bags - mine were canvas-like plastic, but maybe there's more than one type?
Did I miss it, or did Doug completely skim over the fact that the car had electro-hydraulic, speed-sensitive power steering? Other unique details he missed were mainly related to the motor - Yamaha-designed head, variable intake runners, pneumatic boost-control, etc. all weird 90's tech. that he usually loves to highlight.
I owned a 91’ turbo for 10 years and thought all of these issues while watching the video. Great job!
One correction the “storage” box behind the seats is actually for factory subwoofers in higher optioned models.
Great video! What’s your wheel and tire setup?
Honestly, your MR2 is the nicest looking one I've ever seen. I love the wheels you have on it. 👍
3SGTE? Where can u get parts? I have a 89 celica alltrac
when youre the new guy that just got his first mr2 and feel scolded after sharing a few fun things you thought you learned about your new to you car😂😂😂
93 JDM GT-S owner here. Best cars ever. Snap oversteer was pretty much gone with the Rev2 suspension adjustments anyway.
Your MR2 is my favorite style, red is great, that blue they had back in the day was my preference. In the end, I opted for the M3 myself, but I still find yours an underrated car with a fun and sexy design. And yes, your wheels are FAR better.
One of my favorite cars of all-time and the one I miss the most. I had the 1995 Turbo like yours in BLACK and I had similar wheels to yours, but having owned the original, the '95 was a completely different animal altogether and it was a proper supercar for around $26,000.
It drove almost like a completely stable racing kart and I disagree with it feeling twitchy at High-Speeds as I live in Miami, FL and I drove that thing at high speeds daily and it was on absolute rails. The size allowed you to dart through traffic as easily as if you were driving a Civic Si with how compact it was, but in terms of raw power, there was nothing like it unless you went to a Corvette, Saleen or McLaren Mustang or a Supra. The rear end stability was perfect for all intents and purposes but since it's a light car you could break traction if and when you felt like it so like you said, not for inexperienced drivers.
Just a superb car and Toyota should have never killed it. If it does come back it will likely be either electric crap, and regardless of drivetrain it'll be priced at $75K or higher like any other decent car today. Sad.
Great vid and thank you for correcting him on all the points you did.
I think I'm going to start hunting one down for my daughter!
I was thinking a new MR2 can’t be priced higher than a Supra since it’s their flagship sports car, but heck, even a GR Corolla is like $50k, which is Supra territory.
Great reaction! You covered the points that bugged me about Doug's original video. I miss my '92...
New subscriber from Guyana. Proud owner of G Limited JDM 93 model. Good review bro!
Glad to have you here!
That was refreshing. I don’t own an MR2, but I’ve heavily researched this vehicle for a long time and your fact checks are spot on. I think Doug rushed this one and could’ve gotten it right by talking with the owners/enthusiast. Thanks
The Twin Turbo thing was the only one I caught. I was like, uh, no, that wasn't a twin turbski. And that's not because I'm a gearhead, it's just because of Gran Turismo / Forza etc. back in the day.
I took a mid 80s Mark 1 MR2 for a test drive from the dealership . To this day it is the best handling car i have ever driven and i have owned 23 vehicles to date
I test drove a Mark 1 from a used car dealership. I had wanted one since I was 12yo and first saw them when it came out. It was a fun and spirited test drive, but it was smoking oil from the hood vents when I returned it so I passed on it. I wasn’t in the market for another car anyway and only test drove after seeing it while driving by the dealership.
For a car with even better handling, try the Lotus Elise. Not very practical, but fun to drive.
Miss my 93 red with tan leather - aeroware side intakes, updated 94 lights. Said I would never sell it. I did. I hella regret it. Simply put it was an AMAZING car. And yes i did a few 360s but typically due to rain/bald tires or ice.
That has to be the cleanest MR2 I've seen. Not to "tuner boy" and not to mild. You have a very awesome example my friend. 👍👍
I had a conversation with a gentleman who drove up to our bike shop in a green MR2 Turbo. This was around 2005 or so. He was the original owner and, other than the paint being a bit tired, it was in exceptional shape with just under 60k miles. He was thinking about selling it. I told him I might be interested and to call me if he decided to sell it. He never did call me. This wasn't my first look at an MR2. In the late '90's when I was living in Boise I spied a white one on the used car lot at a Toyota dealership. I have always liked the idea of a mid-engined sports car and have loved the looks of the MR2. I stopped to look at it and was disappointed. It was a base model with an automatic. Sure did look pretty, though! P.S. In the '70's I owned a 1960 Porsche 356B Roadster. I'm very familiar with "snap oversteer"!
Have you ever driven a Celica gt4? Hows it compare to the mr2. Honestly debating between those two.
I haven't but I'd love to
What is your paiint and code, and what wheels are those?
I haven't watched much Doug DeMuro since he moved to San Diego County so I am impressed that he has 4.77 million subscribers. That's the big league but I like this channel.
Wow I just watched Doug Demuro’s MR2 video a few days ago and noticed a few errors as well. I’m no expert…I owned a 86 and also 88 supercharged back in the 90s. Loved those cars. But I studied 91-95 MR2s quite a bit and had a 92 turbo for a weekend.
The first thing that stuck out to me about one of his errors…and I told my wife this as well while I was watching….was MR2 stood for midship runabout 2 seater….thats awesome you have a fact check video. I love Doug demuro but as you said he can’t have all the facts right of 100s of cars he reviews.
Love your MR2 by the way. Looks great!
Thanks for watching!
My neighbor had an MR2 years ago. I look at it as a baby brother to the Honda NSX. By the way, the Acura NSX did not have a front trunk.
beautiful Mark 2. I have a mark 1 SC. I wish I could find a good but rough mark 2. always wanted one.
I like the way you presenting facts. Thanks a lot! ;)
Thanks for watching!
😎👍 I like your wheels better, too! The OEM 15's are sort of cool to see because no one runs them anymore (limited tire selection for 15's is also a consideration). Up until I finally got new wheels in 2017, I used to joke that I was the only MR2 owner in Ontario running the OEM 1993-96 wheels.
Good point on the tire selection!
You can get just about anything in 15” tire size. Now 14” is where you get into issues. My 68 RS/SS Camaro has 14” wheels and the only company making 245/60/14 for rear tire is BF Goodwrench T/A Radial. It’s my tire of choice anyways but the difference between 235 and 245 is huge especially when it’s a 4 speed Muncie with Eaton posi. A lot of people switch to 15” wheels for this reason but the car doesn’t sit or look right nor does it hook as well becuase it gets the rear up higher kinda raking car forward when they are meant to sit looking like they’re flat or almost leaning to rear.
Cool info, just picked up an 88 Trooper II 2 door to refurb. and had forgotten how awesome cars from this era are. Its so much fun its my going to be my daily moving forward and the sliding rear windows makeit the best Dog truck made, imo. Ha, good stuff.
Btw, your wheels and drop are perfect and really make that car!
Back in the 90's I went out with a girl who had an MR2 Turbo. At the time I had a 1989 Supra Turbo. The Supra was only rate at 232 HP and IIRC, it weighed about 3800 lbs. The MR2 was a stick and the Supra an automatic. I recall the MR2 as being tight for space, especially compared to the Supra. Also, it seemed a lot slower than the Supra. I owned a 2012 Miata and that reminded me of the MR2 as far as acceleration but the MR2 had much sharper handling. The benefit of not having the engine over the front wheels. Although the Miata was a pretty good handling car.
Compare to an old British sports car like the MGA I had or the MG Midget I had for a short while the difference is night and day. Although the handling on the MGA was quite good and the car probably weighed less than 2000 lbs.
We tend to forget how light those British cars were. I owned an XKE and they only weighed about 2500 lbs, that's how much a Miata weighs today.
The Japanese really outdid the British from an engineering standpoint but there was something enjoyably raw about cars like the MGA, TR3, MGB, etc.
I watched a video of someone putting down the convertible top on the MR Spyder. That's all I needed to see to prefer the t-top.
I’ve wanted one of these for 25years. I think I need to get one soon. Not getting any younger
Well, he reviewed so much cars you could only dream of, hard to sum up and dig for all the details. Of course owners know more about it
Wtf you on about, 1 quick glance at the wiki would of stopped most of these errors.
@@breathoffreshair7314 tell him personally then
I bet 1k that you're under 16@@onvamdimon2224
@@onvamdimon2224 The bigger he gets the smaller his margin of error is allowed, especially how he causally spews nonsense which misinforms and gives the wrong impression to tens of millions of his viewers. "Tell him personally then" just makes you sound like a child quite frankly
@@NeonAstralOfficial thanks for explanation. Well, maybe, maybe.. Anyway it’s not that matter to me, but if you correct him should be addressed to him
I've always wanted a MR-2, or a Porsche (VW 914, 916). I'm a big fan of mid engine.
I have a first gen Mazda RX7, my second. They are front mid engine, very light at 2300 to 2500 pounds, 95" wheelbase almost same as W20. My first had a street port 13 B engine, about 225 HP, with a Dellorto Carb. It had snap oversteer like crazy due to uneven geometry on the DeWatts lingage, when you got a lot of body roll. The cure is to swap it out for a panhard rod. At 225 hp that's almost 1hp per 10 pounds. It's a twitchy car car, takes some concentration and knowledge to drive, but very fun.
My current is gong to have more HP (maybe a turbo), Turbo II transmission, Ford 8.8 diff with some permanent neg camber., and a full-race fully-adjustable suspension, rack and pinion conversion, with big brakes! It's some weird cross between a GS and GSL as it has a sun roof, but manual windows (preferred, lighter, less maintenance issues), no rear wiper (lighter). It has limited slip, 4-wheel disc breaks.
Alas, I don't make much money so not going to get a 3rd Gen RX-7, or anything more exotic/expensive. The 1st gen should be plenty of car for me once done. Then maybe in 10 years a swap to electric as the gas stations start to disappear?
Cheers!
The stagers tires is actually very common, the corvette, Camaro, Transam, Supra, 300zx turbo, Rx7 turbo, zr1, nsx all ones with narrower tires front and wider rear
I cringed my way through Doug's review for all the reasons you've noted here. Thanks for the effort, for all of us,. I've had mine for 26 years...in quiet admiration.
I've only been in a MR2 once in my life (as a passenger). Experienced snap oversteer and was facing down the freeway into oncoming traffic for a moment...
I enjoyed both videos very much and the path down memory lane.
I really appreciate your comments on Doug's video. The corrections were minor (yay!) and they were simply details. You stating that the AW11 is called that due to the chassis code.... *chef's kiss*
I will say as a former AW11 owner (near 19 years) that after driving the various AW11s (Supercharged and NA), SW20s (turbo and NA) and ZZW30 (bone stock) - that choosing which one to get is largely an indicator of your driving style/preference. I am a devout AW11 NA person.
The rough & tumble, and more aggressive in canyons - AW11. The more laid back, but enjoy speed every now an then - SW20 Turbo. The 'I am a mature adult' - ZZW30. These are my observations and generalizations - they are by no means absolutes.
Snap oversteer... It's called: learn how to feel & drive a mid-engined car. That requires a lot of time and slowing pushing your limits, and an incredible amount of throttle control, and keeping your inputs (steering, throttle, brake, clutch) as smooth as possible. Have I experienced snap oversteer? Yes, twice. In an SW20 in the rain and in my former AW11 in the rain. I wasn't being careful enough with the throttle. Other than that, no. And I was known in the Mr2 group that I was involved in as being one of the fastest and most aggressive drivers - I would push very hard on the SW20 Turbo owners on twisty roads. So, again, snap oversteer is about learning the attitude of the car and working within those limits.
Of course, now I need to look for a video of Doug reviewing the AW11...
Ok, I questioned when he said twin turbo. Nobody, outside a major custom builder would twin turbo a 4-cylinder, especially from the factory. Twin Scroll makes way more sense, and, is actually pretty cool considering the time period of the car. Anyway, good video and I love your MR2. Looks clean and I love the rims.
Your MR2 is beyond beautiful! Thank you for keeping it so amazing!
Loved my mk1 MR2 had it 5 years and resprayed it twice , it never let me down and got me through my divorce lol. I was talking today to a fellow motortrader and he asked what the best car you owned for yourself . I replied the MR2 .
If you were in a Toyota car club like I was you called the first MR2 an AW11. We used chassis codes. We were also familiar with engine codes. So that MR2 Turbo would be referred to as a SW20 MR2 3SGTE. At least that is what happens in Australia. I now own a Mazda 3 and am in a Facebook group but I have no idea what the engine or chassis code is. In the Mazda group we use Model codes. So my 2007 Mazda 3 is a BK 2litre 2nd Generation.
Another fact I noticed from this video as a Celica GT-Four owner, he doesn't say Celica AllTrac which is what they were called in USA, not wrong necessarily but an interesting tidbit
Toyota has those gazoo racing (GR models) but their not available in all places. Sadly the Camry GR is not for sale in Australia - despite powerful 4 door sedans being very popular over here
The second generation mr2 is one of the best cars of the era, and one of my all time favorites.
Yeah, except Ferrari used to build cars with this body style in the ‘60s… (greetings from Italy! 👀)
Had one almost identical to the one he reviewed (seats and trim were black) in my early 20s and wrecked it. One of my biggest regrets.