Distinguishing a turbo from a turbo conversion

[jubei]

Hi, I'm looking to buy a rev 3 GT-S turbo and have arranged to view one for sale within the next couple of days.

However, when I rang my insurance company (with the registration number) to get a quote they didn't mention it being a Turbo, additionally the increased premium over my 91 GT N/A was minimal. Also, at some stage the boost guage was fitted into the cigarette lighter socket before being moved to / back to where it should always have been in the dash.

Does this sound like it may have been converted from an N/A? and are there any ways to identify a conversion over the genuine turbo other than the engine lid vents and side decals?

I'd appreciate some advice,

thanks

[craig]

Hi, I'm looking to buy a rev 3 GT-S turbo and have arranged to view one for sale within the next couple of days.

However, when I rang my insurance company (with the registration number) to get a quote they didn't mention it being a Turbo, additionally the increased premium over my 91 GT N/A was minimal. Also, at some stage the boost guage was fitted into the cigarette lighter socket before being moved to / back to where it should always have been in the dash.

Does this sound like it may have been converted from an N/A? and are there any ways to identify a conversion over the genuine turbo other than the engine lid vents and side decals?

I'd appreciate some advice,thanks

Genuine turbos have hard top or T-bar (exept US)

They have "Twin Cam 16 Turbo" on the rear side strips

They have a + and - boost gauge in the clocks where N/As have a voltmeter.

Raised engine lid vents.

HTH

Craig

[raptor95GTS]

get the chassis number and go to toyota and ask for a rear suspension strut. They will then ask you for a chassis number which you can supply. If its an import they will give you grief and generally be unhelpful

The other give away and easier to do is is check all the labels / stickers on the back of the sunblinds / engine cover etc. If they are in japanese then its an import, english its a uk car.

Ask the seller if its an import, have a friend as witness. If the seller lies you can have the basturd later in court

[shafster]

in terms of the insurance compnay not recognising it as a turbo, they dont often pick up on that so you have to explicitly state that it is a turbo or else you might find that your policy is void.

[CosmosblueMR2]

I've been told that there is no difference on the log books and with the DVLA on the chasis numbers and things between a turbo model and a na (discounting weather it's an import or not)

so just giving a reg plate number is not really gonna determin it

[Goto10]

Hi, I'm looking to buy a rev 3 GT-S turbo and have arranged to view one for sale within the next couple of days.

However, when I rang my insurance company (with the registration number) to get a quote they didn't mention it being a Turbo, additionally the increased premium over my 91 GT N/A was minimal. Also, at some stage the boost guage was fitted into the cigarette lighter socket before being moved to / back to where it should always have been in the dash.

Does this sound like it may have been converted from an N/A? and are there any ways to identify a conversion over the genuine turbo other than the engine lid vents and side decals?

I'd appreciate some advice,

thanks

It's a common problem with insurers, 9 times out of 10 an MR2 turbo will show up as an NA - it's *your* responsibility to make sure the car is correctly insured as a turbo (make sure it explicitly says "turbo" on your insurance paperwork) - otherwise your insurance is void and not worth the paper it's printed on.

[jubei]

Thanks everyone, I'll have to ring my insurance company and clarify the turbo issue.

The seller has all the original Japanese documents so hopefully i'll be able to establish it was a turbo at birth from that. Just from the pictures I can see the raised vents and 'twin entry turbo' decals.

Assuming the car is in good condition and I can get it at the right price, i'll be sure to post some pictures. I was so amazed to find a rev3 in carribean blue that wasn't in scotland that the nagging 'to good to be true' doubts started.

Thanks again.

[^Trickster^]

Check the plates in the front bonet area, if i remember correctly there will be an engine code or something alkong those lines, i would have to look to check but my car is in my unit.

Im more than sure the code will have 3SGE or 3SGTE, that will tell you if that chassis was built up with a turbo (gte) or NA (ge) engine

Graeme