Faults:

Well, after 241,000 miles (and having the car 18 years) head gasket blew at 110,000.

1st engine got full of carbon and rings scored the pistons. I was told some of the 4A-GEs did this and nobody knew exact reason although 4 valves in a tiny combustion chamber probably has something to do with it.

General Comments:

I have had this car for 18 years and never tire of driving it. It weighs about 2250 lbs so even with a 112 hp engine it goes (0-60 in 8 seconds). I think given the current market one could call it a "poor man's Lotus Elise".

Steering response is instant and it corners flat.

Seems a bit to me like a 7/8ths scale version of a Lotus Esprit, although you want to find one with the rear spoiler - improves the back end looks tremendously.

Engine loves to rev - 7200 red line - get 30 mpg in town and 35 on the road.

The one complaint I've had is that the driver's side foot well narrows a bit giving one a bit of a claustrophobic feeling on long (600 mile day) trips. But I rarely take it on such long trips. It is a perfect urban car for zipping in traffic.

This month's issue (4-07) of Automobile Magazine mentioned this car along with the Acura NSX and early Porsche Boxster as one of the best "affordable mid engined cars" - I have to agree. Of these 3, "Mr. 2" is by far the most affordable - although finding decent examples is getting difficult.

Faults:

Sump rusted and became porous, had to be replaced.

Needed new front steering bush to get rid of clonking sound.

Has had new radiator, alternator and water pump.

General body corrosion, especially rear arches and sills.

Has had reconditioned brake calipers all round.

Stainless steel coolant pipes at rear of engine corroded and were replaced.

General Comments:

Although the car has needed a lot of new parts in most cases they were replacing the original items. It has still been expensive to run, with manufacturers parts being excessively expensive. Dealers don't know how to look after the car - find a good specialist.

To drive the car is as good if not better than when I first had it. I have been looking for another car recently and tried out an M3, TT and Boxster, but none of them gave the same precision or connected feeling as the MR2. It's eager rather than super fast, but always fun to drive. For the money, what else are you going to find?