Toyota MR2 1985–2005

Badges

The name on the trunk. Each one has its own page, with every generation that wore it.

• MR2 Spyder

Generations

• 1985–1989

  1st gen 1985–1989

  Toyota's first mid-engine two-seater, a wedge-shaped coupe with a twin-cam 1.6L four, and a supercharged version for 1988 and 1989.

  1 rare catch

  • Rust in the trunk and side buckets All years Walk away if found

    What to check: Lift the rear trunk carpet and look into the side buckets and under the spare tire. Check the T-top seals and look for rust and mould around the seats.

    Classic Motorsports says a leaking trunk seal lets the buckets rust through until the ground shows; Hagerty warns of terminal rust. Brake and clutch master cylinders can leak into the trunk and lift the paint under the spare. In one GRM thread on a cheap 1987, three members warn about rust, and one calls it the biggest enemy, with front fenders gone and rear panels cut and welded.

    Sources ^1,2,3

  4 warnings

  • 1985
  • 1986
  • 1987
  • 1988
  • 1989

  Options, colors and years for the 1st gen →
• 1991–1995

  2nd gen 1991–1995

  Bigger, heavier and rounder, with T-tops, a 2.2L four or a 200 hp turbo, and a reputation for snap oversteer that the 1993 changes eased.

  No walk-away warnings.

  • 1991
  • 1992
  • 1993
  • 1994
  • 1995

  Options, colors and years for the 2nd gen →
• 2000–2005

  3rd gen 2000–2005

  A light, mid-engine soft-top roadster with a 1.8L four, one well-equipped version and a choice of manual or, from 2002, the clutchless SMT.

  10 colors, 8 interiors

  • Pre-catalytic converter breaking up All years Walk away if found

    What to check: Ask whether the pre-cats were replaced or removed, and have a compression test done. Walk away from low compression or heavy oil burning that follows a pre-cat failure.

    The pre-cat in the exhaust manifold can crumble from heat and vibration, and the debris can be drawn back into the cylinders and score the bores. A 2000 owner writing in Design News lost his engine to it under 30,000 miles. Taking the pre-cats off is not legal on the street.

    $8,500 in repairs, in one owner's account in Design News

    Sources ^4,5,6

  4 warnings

  • 2000
  • 2001
  • 2002
  • 2003
  • 2004
  • 2005

  Options, colors and years for the 3rd gen →

Timeline

1. 1st gen 1985–1989

   What changed, year by year (5)

   1. 1985 New model, reaching the US a few months after Japan, with the 1.6L twin-cam four and a 5-speed manual.^1,7
   2. 1986 The rear anti-roll bar is removed to calm the tail-happy handling.¹
   3. 1987 A T-bar roof becomes available.²
   4. 1988 The Supercharged arrives, with 145 hp and a stronger gearbox.^1,7,8
   5. 1989 The Supercharged gets a rear anti-roll bar again. The third brake light becomes an LED strip in the spoiler, and the door handles and mirrors are body-coloured. The last year of the 1st gen.^1,7

2. 2nd gen 1991–1995

   What changed, year by year (4)

   1. 1991 New model after a year with no MR2 in the US, larger and heavier, with a driver's airbag and an optional turbo.^9,10
   2. 1993 Revised rear suspension, 15-inch wheels in place of 14-inch, stronger gearbox synchros and an optional limited-slip differential. The Turbo gets bigger brakes.¹⁰
   3. 1994 New tail lights and a trimmed rear wing; the Turbo gets solid side mouldings.¹⁰
   4. 1995 The last year in the US. The Turbo is no longer sold in some states, for emissions, and a Base with the T-bar roof gets power windows and locks as standard.^11,10

3. 3rd gen 2000–2005

   What changed, year by year (6)

   1. 2000 The MR2 returns as a two-seat roadster with a 1.8L four and a 5-speed manual, aimed at the Miata.^12,13
   2. 2001 A small chin spoiler is added to cut wandering at highway speed.⁴
   3. 2002 The 5-speed SMT and leather upholstery become options. The yellow cloth interior is dropped.^14,4
   4. 2003 Restyled front and rear with projector headlights, standard fog lights and body-coloured side intakes; 16-inch rear wheels, white-faced gauges, and a 6-speed SMT in place of the 5-speed.^15,4
   5. 2004 A limited-slip differential becomes optional, and added underbody bracing and a taller ride height improve crash protection.^16,4
   6. 2005 A six-disc CD changer replaces the cassette. The last year; Toyota ended production in January 2005.^17,18,4