Defying The Doomsayers
Newcastle Herald
Wednesday January 8, 2003
BACK in 1987 Toyota Australia introduced a car no-one really thought the company was capable of building.
It was the MR2, a diminutive two-seat sports coupe with its engine mounted behind the cockpit and angular (but stylish) good looks.
For those up to speed on Toyotaspeak the name said it all. `M' meant `mid', ``R' meant `rear' and `2' denoted the number of seats. In other words, MR2 stood for mid-rear (engine) with two seats.
Simple.
In 1989 Toyota pulled the MR2 from its model range but not for long, reintroducing it in early 1990 with stunningly rounded bodywork and a removeable targa roof. The styling drew favourable comparisons with the legendary Dino Ferrari and the car was quickly nicknamed `the baby Dino'.
In February 1994 the MR2 was due for an upgrade but, rather than introducing new styling, Toyota simply gave it more power, upped the refinement level and added a variant called the Bathurst as a tribute to its success in the short-lived 12-hour production car races.
At the same time a luxury model known as the GT was added.
BODY STYLE, MODEL LEVELS: The styling was, in a word, beautiful and owed way more to Europe than it did to Japan. The little two-seat coupe, with its removeable targa roof panel, was beautifully proportioned from every angle.
Model levels were simple and divergent. There was not actually an entry-level car, more two models for two different purposes with the lighter, lesser-equipped Bathurst for the wannabee club racers and the heavier, better-equipped GT coupe for those who wanted their sports car with a luxurious edge.
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: The engine was a chirpy, responsive double overhead camshaft, fuel-injected, inline, 2.0 litre, 16-valve, four-cylinder developing 125kW at a high 7000rpm and 186Nm of torque, enough to give the little sportster plenty of urge.
The only transmission available was a five-speed manual but nobody seemed to complain about the lack of an auto option.
EXTERIOR: The MR2's lines were jaw-droppingly stylish yet at the same time simple using a tried and true formula. Long, shapely nose, a close-coupled cockpit, sloping rear C-pillar masking an upright back window which curved around the engine bay and a short, flat deck to cover the engine compartment and tiny rear boot, the whole thing topped with a big rear wing which perfectly suited the car's overall look.
The front spoiler was deep and businesslike, the headlights folded into the forward bodywork for maximum aerodynamic effect and the big alloy wheels with their wide sports tyres showed this was not a car to be trifled with should a twisty, testing road come into play.
INTERIOR: Toyota is known worldwide for building practicality into its cars and the MR2, despite its pure sports car design, was no exception to that rule.
The interior was compact, certainly, but roomy enough for tall Aussie frames and wide Aussie bums and the instrument layout was first rate, as was the steering wheel-pedal-gearlever relationship. In other words, Toyota built a car to be driven as well as admired.
Standard equipment on the Bathurst model included power mirrors and windows, cloth trim and a four-speaker radio/cassette player which was upgraded in November 1995 to include a single CD player.
The GT added central locking, a driver's airbag, remote central locking and an alarm system, cruise control, leather trim, power steering and a six speaker radio/cassette which was also upgraded to include a three-disc CD changer in November 1995.
OTHER FEATURES: Alloy wheels were standard on both cars, as were four-wheel disc brakes (with ABS on GT). GT had front fog lights.
CHASSIS: Remember the letters MR? They meant that Toyota had slung the engine/transmission package sideways behind the seats (and just centimetres away from the occupants) to drive the rear wheels. Steering was by rack and pinion (power-assisted for GT, unassisted for Bathurst but still quite light) and braking was handled by four-wheel disc brakes. Wheels were 15x7-inch alloy.
The chassis was delightful - pin-sharp and responsive steering, excellent handling and a very firm but not overly-hard ride. The rear engine could prove a trap for young players, however, because once the chassis had passed its very high handling limits it was prone to suffer from b-i-g oversteer, requiring plenty of skill and deft driving to recover it.
DIMENSIONS: MR2 was 4180mm long, 1240mm high, 1700mm wide and had a 2400mm wheelbase.
VERDICT: Great to look at, exhilarating to drive, ultra-responsive and comfortable. Just don't plan on carrying a lot of luggage although the little boot will actually hold a set of golf clubs or, for the practical among us, a week's worth of groceries.
The Toyota badges ensure servicing does not cost an arm and a leg.
PRICES: MR2 Bathurst: 1994, $27,700; 1995, $29,500; 1996, $31,500; 1997, $34,300; 1998, $38,100; 1999, $41,900
MR2 GT: 1994, $33,800; 1995, $36,000; 1996, $38,400; 1997, $41,800; 1998, $46,500; 1999, $51,100
© 2003 Newcastle Herald