Questions on buying used Toyota MR2

[skybolt_1]

Hey everyone,

My girlfriend is currently driving a 1991 Dodge Caravan with 74,000 miles. It is a huge gas hog and looks absolutely gross (the paint is peeling and there is some rust). I have been trying to find a car for her and I have found, in her neighborhood, a used 1989 Toyota MR2 with 151,000 miles. This car has been sitting in some guys driveway for the better part of two years because he bought another car and hadn't had the time to deal with this one. I took a look at it yesterday, and overall, it appears to be in good condition. The engine is dusty and there are some leaves in there, 3 of the tires are flat (so they will need replacing), and there is some minor rust in the rear wheel wells.

Overall however, it seems to be in pretty decent shape. He said that he knew of one problem, that the car would sometimes overheat in the summer because the radiator fans had a loose connector. I took a look at it and it looks the the entire radiator assembly is held in by 4 bolts and can be easily removed and serviced.

Is the fact that this thing sat for two years a bad one? I know cars have to be driven regularly in order to keep their guts clean, but I figure that if we get AAA to flatbed this sucker over to my garage, and I drop all its pans (oil, tranny) without starting it up, I should avoid a lot of heartache with internal deposits.

Oh yes, price - I figure that I can get this thing for no more than about $400 bucks. KBB puts the figure at $1500, so I think that it should be a pretty good deal.

What do you think?

skybolt_1

[Warthog]

IMO, if you can do a lot of work yourself, $400 is a pretty good deal for a decent running car...

[RobRich]

The price is right, and you probably will not hurt even if a few mechanical repairs are needed. The only real problem I have with the MR2 is that owners think they are sports cars. They run the little 1.6L four-cylinder engine for everything its worth, which in turn leads to an ongoing maintenance nightmare. To be truthful, I am surprised a MR2 can make 151k without an engine rebuild.

Does the car you are looking at have the factory supercharger? Not likely, but if so, then leave the car setting in the guy's driveway. Anyone purchasing a supercharged car with over 100k is asking for trouble IMHO.

Robert Richmond

[OuTpaTienT]

You can't get a much better car than a Toyota. You can get faster ones, better looking ones, more prestigious ones, etc. But Toyota engines are real workhorses. All they need is minor matainence and they'll run practically forever.

That's not just my opinion it's also my mechanic's opinion. Well, my ex-mechanic's opinion. I've only seen him a few times since I bought a Toyota, and that was only to stop by and say hi...seriously.

[OuTpaTienT]

Rob's right about the supercharger though. Stay away from any supercharged engine.

[skybolt_1]

I don't know for sure if the guy has a supercharged engine or not, but from what you are saying, it looks like if it is I should just stay away from it huh?

Thanks for the great advice!

skybolt_1

[RayH]

A car beat to hell when it was running with 151K and has been sitting neglected....sounds like my kind of car for primary transporation!

[electric]

a car thats been sitting there that long in one place is not a good thing
especially if its park on grass

guessing here but the brakes are probably seized,seals in engine
probably dried out as well as gaskets

there is some minor rust in the rear wheel wells speaks volumes of
the condition of the car
kicker parts are expensive
save your money

my 2cts

[RedFury]

Best thing I can advise is to pop a couple squirts of oil in the cylinders through the spark plug holes before you turn it over. Or, if you don't mind a mess, fill the engine full of oil, let it sit a week, drain and fill to proper levels, then start. Works wonders on a stuck motor, although it makes one helluva cloud of smoke once it does start ( although, I've never done this with a fuel injected car...might want to stop short of the oil level coming up to the injectors ).

My wifes uncle dry started a 440 in his motor home that had been sitting for 12 years. It started right up and ran that weekend. Long story short, it don't run no more.

My first car sat for 10 years and I drove it for 3, my brother for 2 after we fixed it up.

You get what you pay for, but for the price, and if you have a garage to mess with it, I'd be all over it for the money.

[skybolt_1]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for all the advice. I just got off the phone with the owner, and after a brief discussion we determined she was looking for $900 for the car!!!!! I was like, are you kidding me? The thing would need at least $400 plus worth of parts to make it roadworthy again.

So the whole thing is a moot point... not a chance in hell of me spending that much on it.

Thanks again!

skybolt_1

[jmebonner]

I'd keep after it, people have a funny way of changing their mind about that kind of thing.

[Mike]

I'd keep after it, people have a funny way of changing their mind about that kind of thing.

Especially if no one else is going to even consider buying it.

[RedFury]

Yup, best tactic I've seen is offering a price, they balk, then leave them your phone number "in case they change their mind"