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(even to Germany ahhh!!) The problem is I haven't even bothered driving one as after owning two Mk2 turbos both with just over 250bhp I can't help but think I'd be massively disappointed with the performance? 140bhp is not a lot at all really./ own both and can shed some light?/ how you drive. If your after a powerful RWD Japanese car with mile munching capabilities along the lines of a RX7, 200SX, supra etc. then I'd say the mk3 isn't for you. The mk3 is a MX-5 competitor in that respect. Noisier and a bit bussier at speed (although a longish 5th gear means its better on the m'way than a mk1 or NA mk2 I think). Even though it weighs ~250kg less in standard form, it has about half the torque over a much smaller part of the rev range. It has plenty performance for the road(mk3 engine) isn't the more charismatic, but does the job IMO. You said engine swaps are a no-no, but seriously, a 2ZZ-GE engine conversion will give you MR2 Turbo performance, but retain the primary characteristics of the car (apparently - I cannot attest to having tried one) and look / drive alomost factory production car like, and is a fairly straight forward (for an engine swap) conversion, being pretty much bolt-in with the right parts.
sheppy wrote:i think toyota made a bit of a lemon with the mk3, horrible looks and a rubbish engine with no turbo/supercharged option, total rubbish, the mr2 ended with the mk2.
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Rosssco wrote:sheppy wrote:i think toyota made a bit of a lemon with the mk3, horrible looks and a rubbish engine with no turbo/supercharged option, total rubbish, the mr2 ended with the mk2.
Clearly haven't driven one.
and severely underpowered. Put a mk2 turbo vs a mk3 on typical UK b-roads and I think you'd be surprised at how well the mk3 would hold up, sure the mk2 would eat the straights, but I think the mk3 would claw it back through the corners!.. But if you like a kick in the pants from a turbo, then no it is not for you."muches" from that last post when it comes to comparing it to a Mk1 handling though, better but only marginally.
Indeed I am looking at my Mk1 with very different eyes..... 
A few of us on mr2oc do a scottish highland drive once a year and there is normally a range of mk's and models with different modifications and no-one seems to struggle to keep up with anyone else Buying a turbo kit specifically for the mk3 is no where near like doing an engine transplant so maybe thats the way to go if you like boost (if not quicker) as a 340bhp rev3 tubby 
..YES...YES..! (but you would expect that with 15 years R+D?)..? 
...but, having siad that, you would have thought they'd learn a little and have offered the Mk3 with a 2ZZ or a 3SGTE in at least a flagship model...?! / safety regs, but still..........and where's the f***in' MK4, then....!??!! 
Ekona wrote:No-one bought the mk3, why bother with a mk4?
(with a caveat that they might revisit the MR platform with an electric engine instead)....either way the MR2 is dead 
.........!?!? ..!?? Ha Ha Ha! ...was before it had even been launched....trust me....! greglebon wrote:So you're saying no-one wants a mid-engined, 2 seater sports car anymore.
Maybe I just missed them all!Mike N wrote:Has anyone fitted a mk2 Turbo engine to one of these yet, I did a search but couldn't find any.
