Toyota MR2 | PH Private Area

Credit where it’s due to Toyota, it’s really been trying hard to create proper enthusiast-focused cars of late. As the commitment of other makers to genuinely fun cars appears to have wavered, so Toyota and the Gazoo Racing performance offshoot has doubled down on its pledge to make great fast cars. Then race them, to make better fast cars for the road. There’s been a combination of new ideas (think GR Yaris and Corolla) with some old school fun as well (86s and Supra) to breathe life back into Toyota’s enthusiast credentials. 

For a long time now, there have been suggestions that a few more famous old badges could return, most notably MR2 and Celica. Names are trademarked, technology is patented and hints are dropped at motor shows, without a full commitment ever being announced. The recent FT:SE concept, along with the Yaris powered by a mid-mounted 2.0-litre, have been the most obvious clues that Toyota is keen to resurrect the two-seat sports car with an engine behind the driver. But, once again, there hasn’t been a firm pledge to make it. They have to, right? Until that point, we’ll have to remain occupied with the old guard, and specifically this time the Mk3 MR2, the last ones of which were sold here 20 years ago come 2026 

As seemingly just about everything from the 90s and 2000s appreciates, including older MR2s, so these stay conspicuously affordable. Basically no luggage space was always the Toyota’s main demerit from a usability perspective, though that’s far less of an issue if it’s being saved for summer sojourns – as this one has been. And some might want a spicier powertrain than the 140hp 1.8-litre 1ZZ that powered all these cars if it’s being kept for best, but then there’s very little MR2 to shove along. And the 190hp, 8,000rpm 2ZZ can be swapped in if so desired…

That would seem a little drastic for a Mister Two as nice as this one, though. It’s a 2004 car, meaning it benefits from the facelift that introduced the six-speed, a sturdier manual than the five-speed of the earlier models. There’s just 67,000 miles on it, too, which really isn’t many for a car that celebrates turning 21 this year. It’s totally unmodified, and the current owner (who’s had it for five years) has only used it in the summer, garaged it the rest of the time, and serviced it with Toyota. The underside has been treated to Dinitrol as well. Everything you love to see, basically, when contemplating a modern classic sports car. The tyres are new, for those wary of a mid-engined layout and old rubber. Tick, tick, tick. 

In a world where S2000s continue to soar value-wise, rust-free MX-5s are pounced on and even mid-engined MGs are starting to become collectible, an MR2 with this sort of provenance sounds like it might cost a pretty penny. But as they continue to fly under the radar, prices are low: this one’s for sale at £3,650. When Shed money is now £2,000, that’s very little. 

Hard to imagine good six-speed MR2s ever being worth much less than that, surely, as a reliable, fun, easy to maintain throwback to the days when mid-engined, rear-drive roadsters were a viable production prospect. And you never know; if Toyota decides they are once again, then owning the previous MR2 might turn out to be a canny move after all.