3rd gen Toyota MR2 2000–2005

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• 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 ^1,2,3

• Oil consumption All years

  What to check: Check the oil level and ask how often it is topped up.

  Grassroots Motorsports says some engines burn more than a quart every 1,000 miles, and Gear Patrol says it is more common on 2003 and older cars. On CarComplaints.com, two owners, of a 2000 and a 2001, report engines run low on oil and then knocking or failing.

  Sources ^1,2,4,5

• Worn soft top All years

  What to check: Inspect the vinyl top and the straps at its rear corners.

  Gear Patrol says the vinyl top deteriorates with age, and Grassroots Motorsports calls the rear corner straps fragile.

  Sources ^2,1

• Parking brake cables freezing All years One source so far

  The cables can freeze in winter, says Grassroots Motorsports, which advises leaving the parking brake off in cold weather.

  Sources ¹

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Sought after: Over a non-turbo 2nd gen All years One source so far

  In one GRM thread on the 2nd gen, two members point to the 3rd gen instead. One calls it the best of the three for performance, and the other calls it the better buy than a non-turbo 2nd gen.⁶

• Avoid: SMT gearbox All years Less sought after

  Grassroots Motorsports does not recommend the SMT, for its slow upshifts and doubtful lifespan, and Gear Patrol calls it more likely to fail than the manual.^1,2

• Avoid: 2000–2003, for the pre-cats 2000–2003 Less sought after

  Gear Patrol says pre-cat failure is more common on 2000–2003 cars; Grassroots Motorsports says earlier cars seem more prone to it.^2,1

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.