Shifterati

3rd gen Toyota MR2

Buyer's checklist: 3rd gen Toyota MR2 2000–2005

This checklist comes from a draft dossier that has not been approved yet, so read it with care.

What to look for on this generation, worst first. Tick each line as you check it.

Free while the site is being tested. Every line comes from the dossier and keeps its source, and the dossier itself stays free.

Inspection sheet Mark up every panel, what is underneath and how it drives.

Walk away if 1

Any one of these is reason enough to leave the car where it is.

Pre-catalytic converter breaking upAll yearsAsk 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.^1,2,3

Look for 3

Known problems, and how to check for each.

Oil consumptionAll yearsCheck the oil level and ask how often it is topped up.^1,2,4,5
Worn soft topAll yearsInspect the vinyl top and the straps at its rear corners.^2,1
Parking brake cables freezingAll yearsThe cables can freeze in winter, says Grassroots Motorsports, which advises leaving the parking brake off in cold weather.¹

What buyers avoid 2

What owners and the press say to steer clear of.

SMT gearboxAll yearsGrassroots 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
2000–2003, for the pre-cats2000–2003Gear Patrol says pre-cat failure is more common on 2000–2003 cars; Grassroots Motorsports says earlier cars seem more prone to it.^2,1

The boxes are for you: nothing you tick is sent or kept.

Sources