The story starts way back in 1989.
..I was married with 2 young children, on holiday in North Devon and came across a brand new white MK2 in a carpark. That was it I was gobsmacked, the car absolutely blew me away, nothing else that was around at the time in that price range had that effect on me. Obviously at the time with young kids and hefty mortgage there was no way I was in a position to have one so the car became a dream car for me and I said to myself one day when I can afford it I will have one.Fast forward 15 years to 2004 when I've been divorced a year and starting to get back on my feet financially and I decide it's time to make my dream become a reality.
I lurk on here and the OC without joining to gain buying advice and get some idea of what's what, all the time searching Autotrader and Ebay. It soon becomes clear that there are lots of sheds out there for sale so I decide to take my time and wait for the right car to come up.After 3 months of searching I spot a car on Ebay, it's a UK Rev2 with only 37K on the clock and only 2 previous owners, it's in a garage that's only 40 miles away so I go over to look at it.
It is in immaculate condition, a completely standard unmolested example with a spotless interior, full service history, the only negatives being one rear tyre was low on tread and although it had had one cambelt change due to age not mileage it was overdue it's next (10 years). The garage was asking pretty much top book price at the time (£3795) which I agreed to pay on the condition that a new tyre was fitted along with a service and cambelt change.A week later I was the proud owner of the car as pictured below
(actual garage advert pics)
Even though the engine bay if fairly clean by most standards I decide things need improving so I clean things up and spray a few bits.
Before
After
I then decide that it is time to do some minor performance mods the first of which was to source an Apexi induction filter for which I made my own adapter and rainshield, fitted this and I really love the sucking induction roar that you get from one of these.
Next on the list is a Mongoose stainless backbox.
..as luck would have it a 3 month old example comes up on ebay complete with de-cat and I snaffle it up for £200, when I go to pick it up there isn't a mark on it so bargain for me:) And the noise now at full chat is sooooooo addictive!!Mongoose
Fitted
Next thing I looked at was the original 15" wheels, I'd already had a full set of Kumho Ecsta tyres fitted front and rear and the rims although not particularly bad were showing signs of wear and corrosion so I had them powder coated and laquered.
Before
After
It's at this point that my other half has a bit of a run in with the back of an Audi A3 which dents, scratches and scuffs the front nosecone, so I decide it's a good opportunity to get it resprayed and while I'm at it relocate the front number plate.
I've always though the MR2 interior to be a bit bland and monocolour so I bought and fitted a set of speedhut dials and at the same time sprayed the dash inserts to match the cars body colour, not everyones cuppa tea but I like it.
I then decide that I need some 17" wheels for the summer months and purchase a set of Rota Torque Alloys 7.5" front and 8" rear from Rarerims.
I fit Kumho Ecsta KU31 tyres to these 215/40 front and 235/40 rear (cannot fault these tyres). At this point in the cars life it is on standard suspension so looks a little 4x4 ish lol.
Much as I like the pop up headlights on the two, the standard barn door ones I have always thought stuck up a little too much and since I'm not a great fan of the sleepy eyed look on standard lights(they look broken) the only alternative for me was to fit a set of Rogue Rev6 quads, so this was next on the list and while I was at it I fitted some clear front corners and side repeaters.
I think these mods really modernise the front of a two. I also decide that the body shop hasn't made that brilliant a job of the nosecone (ripples where the old number plate holder holes were) so I re-locate the number plate back on the front of the nosecone, which is a shame since I quite like it in the lower grill.
I then decide that the enginebay isn't shiny enough so set about polishing bits and adding some stainless covers and a crossbrace from a T-Bar.
It was now time once again to turn my attention towards the interior, I've always thought the one thing my car cried out for was a nice leather interior.
I wanted something different to the all black seats and doorcards available on ebay, and since my car had the blue interior anyway I decided to get a local company to retrim my existing seats and doorcards. Again not to everyone's taste but they suit me.
Next on the agenda was to improve/replace the existing suspension as I was getting the dreaded knocking and rattling that all these cars seem to suffer eventually.
To that end after much research I decided to fit the following.Yellow B6 Bilstein shocks
Tein S-Tech Lowering springs
New droplinks fr
& rNew balljoints fr
& rFull High
& Tight Poly bush kitGoodrich Stainless Steel Braided brake hoses.
Parts before fitting
After fitting
The car looks much better lowered and has a lovely stance I think, but I decide that after a year living with the Teins which whilst giving fantastic handling on smooth roads are a real back breaker on bumpy ones, so I bite the bullet and sacrifice looks for comfort by fitting Eibach Pro-kit springs which are much more comfortable but still have it where it matters in the corners.
After Eibachs fitted
I've had only one major fault with the car since owning it and some of that was my own doing.
Whilst attempting to remove one of the rear lower arms, the captive nut inside the subframe broke free and ultimately I had to source another subframe and swap them over.To summarise my MR2 ownership.
...it's been a blast and everything I dreamed it would be, I don't think I will ever stop modding/improving it as long as I own it. In fact it's going to Woodsport in March to have a V6 fitted so watch this space 
I've no intention of ever selling it so I'm going to be around a lot longer to bore you all to death.
PS.
..Just worked out the total amount of money spent including purchase of the car £8100 
and that's without another £3300 for the V6 swap...but who cares it's only money and a hobby after all Cheers.
...Bob
And such a nice color to.
