Mk3 Toyota MR2 V6 Track Car Review
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- čas přidán 22. 03. 2019
- Let's face it, the final iteration of the Toyota MR2 was never as well loved as the two which came before it. But does the addition of a V6 and some trick suspension turn this car into a budget track weapon - or a half price Lotus?
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These should have come out of the factory like this
I never used to like these when they came out but they really appeal now. This particular example looks great and sounds even better! Beautiful V6 snarl.
I miss my old MR2 roadster. Easily one of the best cars I've owned. More fun than a Z4M and in some ways better than my VX220 but a fraction of the price. I wanted a 2zzge or a V6 but didn't make sense financially for me as I could buy an Elise or VX220 instead. In my opinion JayEmm, you aren't doing it wrong but you could be doing it better, small light mid engined cars are just more fun than 1.5 tonne high powered cars. But that's my opinion from experience.
Richard Fanders....what year was it?
Loving the content and diversity of this channel thanks for the hard work
My pleasure Chris. Thanks for your support
Toyota should have offered this car with a v6. It would have been a very serious street car and a hot seller.
It would have competed with the Lotus's, which is why Toyota put in the 1ZZ instead of the 2ZZ in the first place. They've had a close relationship with them and probably didn't want to step on toes
I had a stock one for 6 years... took it everywhere and had fun with each yard forward. An extremely rewarding car to drive. Have to keep an eye on the oil if you have the stock 1ZZ engine and also make sure you gut those precats. Tick those and you're happy. Best combo is the stock car, wider tyres and a 2ZZ, NA or SC'd for that instant throttle response (as this car is all about response). I'm in an M235i now and despite being an outstanding vehicle and a true power monster compared to this, I do miss the simple fun feeling that came with the often overlooked little Yota.
@Bob Climax yep, you are better off just getting a facelift (Nov 2002 onwards) which have the redesigned pistons and o-rings.. I had a prefacelift from Nov' 02, so one of the last ones to roll out and although I gutted the cats at 75k, it continued to drink oil until I swapped it out for a facelift engine which used almost no oil... it's a shame Toyota didn't recall and just pop the 2ZZ in there... it would have been a cult fave by now....
I went from a BMW M140i to a mk3 MR2 and prefer the MR2 in every way. So much fun to drive. Mine is standard except for stainless manifold, stainless backbox & Tein lowering springs.
Man I own one of these and I cant wait to do a 2zz or 2gr swap!
2zz fk the world lol I'm building an 05 xrs. Always wondered how quick it would be to just shave off 200lbs lol
Great review! Good to see someone on track.
This really is a budget Cayman/Boxster. Good alternative, thats for sure.
It’s better than the cayman. I’ve driven cayman S and k24 mr2 back to back. As far as handling wise cayman isn’t a match for the MR-S
@@beanvo9924 this just simply isn’t true... it’s a small fun car but can’t compare a stock MR-S to a stock cayman handling wise
Love this!! Looks like a ton of fun.
the sound is amazing.....
I really enjoyed this video. If I was in the UK I would had offered you my MR-2 spyder with 1ZZ Turbo conversion for a video.
BEAUTIFUL VIDEO
V6 in a small light weight car is always going to be abit quick. I remember years ago my mates civic vti raced a Citroen c2 vts expecting to leave it well behind but turned out to be other way around. Later found out it was stripped out with a v6 in
I agree with a V6 in a go kart is going to be a bit quick, but both the Crossfire and SLK have 3.2 6 cylinder engines, and both handle like a pair of house bricks.
2:34 that wild screamin’ GT3 pass by 😏
No frickin way dude, love the shirt..
Love the video! I wish you had a turbo 2zz to compare to 👍🏾
Ahh a proper car at last, although I am biased being an owner of one, albeit a standard example 😁 great vid again J
I owned a MR2 TTE Turbo Version back in the days. - This summer I plan to get one back just for the weekends. Searching for the best options since January.
No worries man, you're not alone. I have 13 MR2s and I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a toyota fanboy and deeply obsessed 🤣
Fantastic MR2 great job 👍👍👍👍💗💗💗💗
Snetterton is one of my favourite circuits James
Great 👍 place although a little windy 😂
i reckon with that v6.. having a gt300 wide body kit with wider tyre will be fun in the track..
mine is a bone stock.. cause I daily my car.. if I would, I would go for the 2zz stock motor.. is more than enough power to play with in the track..
KecikMiao I had the 2zz before this and it just wasn’t enough, these car can handle much more power.. you will fall in love with a V6 and probably more reliable. 👍🏼
I wouldn't be surprised if mk3s have their own little renaissance before too long, although lots of them are being parted out. Apparently, you can take the 6-speed gearbox from one, and adapt it to fit the 4-AGE engine in a mk1 MR2.
The MR2 C52 gearbox can be easily converted to a six speed
My Mitsubishi GTO used to auto lock, even if you left the keys in the ignition. Fortunately, one can always gain entry in one of these with a garden cane. I won't say how in public, but a useful thing to know.
4.30 mins thing start sounding very good.
Love that body kit not to over the top.
Great car. I miss my Mr2 turbo rev 3. Shame I stacked it🤔😡. Would be good if you had a chase car for some on the move exterior shots to edit in.
I've owned 4 mr2s One of 'em was a 1mz V6... an RX8 an old gsl-se rx7, a couple of sport motorcycles F3 600 and an RC30 [ the weight of the rc30 was so low and nice ] , an FR-S, a 240Z and 280zx[first car] a V6 Fiero[Don't ask], I've never owned a boring car IMHO.... for the last 6 years I've driven a well maintained '08 135i... I really wanted something with some good torque and hp... but I always yearned for the polar moment of inertia the mr2 has... So I bought my 4th MR2, which are getting expensive now... For the first time a turbo... I completely agree with what Jay says at 11:40 ... "In terms of actual driving pleasure.. It's more fun than my m3"... There's something about a small mid-engine car... With the mr2 you get the turn in of a lotus with the comfort of a Japanese econobox... Best of both worlds in my opinion. The chassis can take a lot of power and suspension upgrades... While my sw22 [ a 94 mr2 ] suspension is mcpherson at all 4 corners and is not as advanced as modern suspension... At the speed you can drive on the streets... I think it's actually more fun.. Esp if you keep your wheel size at 15" to allow for sidewall soaking up of the imperfect roads... By far the most perfect mid-engine car for driving up to 80-100 mph imho.
Wow, Clovis' MR2 looks great‼️ When did he get it resprayed⁉️😜😜😜
Had a MK 2 T bar, what an incredibly fun car, now seriously considering the MK3, as a viable replacement.Not heard good things about the 1 VV engine though......
How much horsepower does this mr2 have? How is the Company called? Woodspor? Can't find it. Can someone give me the link pls :)
What type of transmission is the MR2 running?
I was wanting a built and turbo'd K20/K24 for my MR2, but now im kinda thinking i MIGHT go with a forced induction 2grfe.
I’m tossing up the same now but n/a builds. I just want 250/300 n/a whp super responsive and high revving (I love the sound and already have a big turbo Falcon).
What did you end up going with mate?
Sounds gorgeous! How much power and torque does it have?
glenmiester it has 280bhp and 346 torque 👍🏼
Me likey! A great cheap mid-engine fun car. I think I would have preferred a hot forced 2.4L 4-cylinder to reduce the lump effect but that V-6 sounds glorious
2GR is very light for its size still indeed a bit heavier than a K24. In comparison with the stock 1ZZ it adds about 70 kgs.
Yea as the other person said, it's not too much weight. If you get lightweight and wider rims it would probably even it out. Definitely be superior to an na 4 cylinder with the aluminum v6.
So the original 1.8L I4 vs this 3.5L V6, that's almost double the displacement! Plus the bore vs stroke on the 3.5 is superior (oversquare) in my opinion. I don't like engines with longer strokes than bores... just seems unnatural lol, like it really hates to rev up. Are you talking about a Hondas k24 turbo? That'd be a showstopper of a swap IMO. 2.4L 4 cylinder, with a turbo in this car it'd be a rocket!
@@hunteraltman4762 K's are as heavy as the 2GR, the 2AR makes almost 300whp without FI, so K's are pretty pointless in these.
Been thinking about doing the same with my mx5, except with the rocketeer kit, maybe check one of them out
Awesome kit but big money
Mazda KLZE V6 swap. 7500 rpm v6 that weighs about as much as the old engine. It will sound better and the Durpatec is a piece. Of course you'll have to do it all yourself.
Great impression of the Operations Manager at Chernobyl, after reving the balls off it. "It's fine, totally, fine. Yes, it's fine. No that's perfectly okay. Nothing to see here."
I like boost but damm v6 sounds good
So boost or v6 mate 🤔
@@oscarfranco9742 why not both
@@nivlac_dj6327
Engine respons, heat, packaging, cost, reliability, weight.
Thanks for that,thoroughly enjoyed that .A much underrated car.The early batch of engines were a problem(oil burners, bore scoring) sounds familiar.But loads of people on here have uprated them with the 2zz engine that lotus had and which Toyota should have put in these.They are fun to drive especially around the country roads .Thanks Again
@Bob Climax I have one of these with standard engine, and your probably right. But didn't the early one's have the size tyres all round and Toyota recognized this and put wider tyres on the back. Having said all that i do enjoy driving it.
@Bob Climax Sorry to hi jack the thread a little, I have a 6 speed SMT, which i have just done the manual conversion and done it as the write up on Spyderchat. the problem i am having is i am not getting the fuel pump to run even though i've done the key programming, all the fuses and relays OK. No power at the pump, i can get the pump to run with direct power and with Techstream ,anyone any ideas. Thanks
@Bob Climax Yes manual Ecu and Manual engine bay wiring loom Ecu came with a transponder, changed the throttle body. had all the kit off Dick Sloan an excellent guy.
It's so bloody obvious that this car was designed from the beginning around 2ZZ. Toyota did big favour to lotus by not offering the MR2 Spyder with the 2ZZ. Still, the car is compromised by it's five speed gearbox as much as it's compromised by it's 1ZZ engine to the point that if someone has to chose between an engine or a gearbox swap i would recommend the latter.
I 'll tell you myself that cars with a 2ZZ conversion leaving the stock 5 speed gearbox are actually worse than cars that have the stock 1ZZ motor and a six speed C65-01B or C66 gearbox. An MR2 with a stock 187 bhp 2ZZ is so similar from 3000 rpm until around 5500 rpm but the real difference is that when at 6400 rpm the 1ZZ dies out the 2ZZ seems like it's just beginning....There is also something that most people never mention, the 1ZZ motor pulls stronger until around 3000 rpm.
Any link about the build ? What is the name of the company which made this? (hard to understand it during your review, sorry to ask)
Wood Sport in the NE,
Were you not tempted to edit out the mechanical over-rev at 7:20? Pretend it never happened? Lol Fair play.
I've owned one of these since July this year and despite having owned all manner of cars, some quick, some not, I'm absolutely smitten with it. But a Woodsport V6 conversion would be my dream car. That noise!
It *nearly* over revved. I just about caught it in time. No damage done.
Man I want an engine swapped one 👌
The hard top doesn't do anything for the car structurally. It's a common misconception that because of the increase in sound dampening the chassis is somehow reinforced as well but it isn't.
It probably has to do more with airflow over the car... TBH I'm not sure HOW it would affect that airflow...
@@ryshask The convertible top is horrible for aerodynamics. It creates a ton of turbulence in wind tunnel simulations.
Tim's old BMW from Apex?
As an owner I must say the mk3 is the best handling MR2. Still prefer my mk2 turbo for power and looks though.
I was not lucky enough to try a Mk2 turbo, I wish I 'd have the chance one day!
MK1 MR2 was supposedly an aborted Lotus project that was sold to toyota
A popular rumour, but untrue
@@JayEmmOnCars There are two rumors about Lotus' involvement with the MR2. The
"official" rumor is that the MR2 was designed "in-house" at Toyota by
Lotus suspension engineer Roger Becker. The other rumor is that the
MR2 was an abandoned Lotus design (possibly the M90/X100).
According to Doc Bundy, Lotusport Esprit driver, the MR2 is the X100.
The official rumour is the correct one
Go mate, if you push on the accelerator same effort as you talk, you win! LOL
One of these with 3k worth of mods, or a Porsche Boxster? Or save up a bit more for a Cayman.
How much did he spend on the swap? And you said 600hp?
7K 280bhp
Love the MR-S, is that 2gr?
Yed
He said that :P
I have one with a turbo 2zz 5 speed manual in Aus, love it better than a 987 Boxster S that i had before. Total weight comes in at 1040kg and makes 201kw atw. Weight distribution is the key to its handling. Runs same lap times as an M235 on track. That extra 70kg of the V6 would make the back end a little twitchy for my liking, not to mention the hacked rear frame, its no wonder you need the roof on to reduce chassis flex. Sorry bro just sayin, also you were very slow on track letting that lotus whiz past.
Where are you getting 70kg from? The 2GR weighs less than a 3S-GTE (so say the MkII guys), I doubt a turbo'ed 2ZZ is 70kg lighter than either.
@@jsquared1013
2gr is 174kgs
2zz is 115kgs.
Tbh I’m still looking at a k20/24 hybrid for mine.
I was originally sold on 2zz, then 2gr, now Kseries 😂
does the engine get in the way of a rear sway bar? that would be an unfortunate fate
ike Dmikle no it doesn’t, you can also fit a aftermarket one like many people do. 👍🏼
Which one is better v6 or 2zz?
V6 all day long, 2zz is not much better than the 1zz just revs longer.. just my preference though.
the jdm lotus exige
What brakes are they?
Willwood 4pot big brake upgrade and yellow stuff pads
Idk why the tein edfc is not popular
🙏
Toyota Yaris SR 1.8 review would be good 👍🏾
By budget track car do you mean a car with 15k in parts in it? You are well into Cayman price with all the parts and work thrown at this car..
7k far cheaper than any Porsche
1000kg vs 1300kg.
I would suggest that going for a facelift MR2 (2004+) would be a better base than this pre facelift as they had a lot of extra chassis bracing added so they are much stiffer. Also the V6 conversions have to take a big chunk out of the rear subframe to fit the engine, which must make them even more wobbly, personally I wouldn't do this conversion for that very reason. However I agree that the standard car is a brilliant car to drive, it's just a shame that there aren't any easy ways to get more naturally aspirated power out of them, discounting the 2zz option which is just too revvy and with no more torque. That's OK for the track but too painful for a road car in my opinion.
p jay this car is a face lift version and it has had every brace it can get on it, and yes the subframe has been modified but it is very solid with extra bracing put in place by woodsport when the conversion was done. You really should not let that put you off 👍🏼
@@timbersflooringserviceswar4989 oh is it, what year is it, the reg looked like an 2002?
p jay yes it is however it’s a very late 52 you can tell by the headlights it’s a facelift 👍🏼
@@timbersflooringserviceswar4989 I assumed you had updated the lights and rear bumper because the door card seems to have the pfl tweeter in it. By the way, although the late 2002 to early 2004 cars were face-lifted, they actually added quite a lot more bracing in mid 2004 onwards for additional crash protection, so my original comments probably actually still stand?
I agree with pjay because i thnk a v6 in this car is too heavy. It may be fun but it wont corner very well
Now find a V6 Mk2 :p
I got a v6 swapped w20, but this is a better track car. It's so much lighter.
Never been a fan of the Mk3 although I have nothing to base that on other than the looks of it, I prefer the Mk2 but that said this one is AWESOME and looks amazing to drive. Part of me wonders though what it would be like in the wet......are you brave enough JayEmm? I'm not! lol
Graeme W I’ll answer that.... it’s tricky and you have to be a good driver or very sensible to keep it in line..😂
@@timbersflooringserviceswar4989 Oh I'd keep it in line but the chorus of "Pussy!" from the pits when I got back for driving so slowly would be too much to take 😂....so on that basis I'll leave it to more skilled drivers in the wet!!
Wouldn't be my first choice of car to turn into a race car... seems like more hard work than its worth when you could start with something better suited to track to begin with. Still though that build does seem like a lot of fun to drive.
what would be your first choice ? in the same price range ?
@@guitariste47 Me not being skilled enough to do an engine swap myself would mean id have about 14k to play with as opposed to buying an mr2 mk3 and doing 10k+ worth of modifications to it. With that probably a westfield 7 or a cheap lotus elise. If i could do the engine swap myself then yea the mr2 would make sense financially.
@@1183newman theyre so common you can buy with 2zz in it. I think someone was selling a 500hp turbo 2zz spyder for that price or less.
M&Ms 😂😂😂😂
Poorman lanica stratos
Poor car
money $hifter installed