AW11 MR2 Craigslist find

"Kenaft - some new kid" (kenaft)
08/22/2014 at 11:19 • Filed to: None

Oppo, is this truly a good AW11 MR2 Craigslist find? I'm scared of the rust, but I like the repairs done recently...

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DISCUSSION (15)

Someone Else's Projects > Kenaft - some new kid
08/22/2014 at 11:23

Most of me says "Rust, therefore run". It's easier to do mechanical repair than body work on something like that.

505 - morphine not found > Kenaft - some new kid
08/22/2014 at 11:28

AW11 owner here. As with all japanese cars, rust is your enemy with the MR2, however, there is a slight issue: while the mechanicals are easy-to-source items from the toyota part bin, the body is all-unique. This means that while mechanical parts are easy to get, there are no replacement body panels to be had. None, zilch, nada. Ok, apart from private pressing companies, like the one i found in Canada, that makes parts for alfas, but also carry MR2 rear wheel arches and full panels, for $275 CAD. Check here:

http://www.alfaparts.net/mr2.html

So in all, you're much better off with a clean body and a shot engine, than with this one. Much much better.

MRtwo > Kenaft - some new kid
08/22/2014 at 11:36

Idk... It better be perfect mechanically and even still I'd be hesitant. Do you have a plan to tackle the rust yourself or with a friend? I imagine having a shop repair all of that rust will costs $1k++ and could end up costing more than the car is worth once you include the purchase price. The thing about rust is that you cant see all of it. The inner body panels could have just as much rust as the outer panels.

With that said, the interior does look nice in the pictures. If you do go see it, make sure to test ALL of the weather stripping (e.g. sunroof, doors, rear window, etc) with a water hose and pull the cap off the distributor to check the cap and rotor points to make sure they do look new.

MRtwo > 505 - morphine not found
08/22/2014 at 11:38

That link is a nice find.

Sn210 > Kenaft - some new kid
08/22/2014 at 11:52

I've been looking at aw11's for a while too and I know how hard it is to find one without rust. This one looks to have more rust than any of the others I've seen...

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Kenaft - some new kid
08/22/2014 at 12:58

You can get new arch parts from TwosRUs.com, but that rocker is gonna have to be made by whatever shop you have do the repair. Other than that it looks clean! Also missing the factory side skirts.

Kenaft - some new kid > Sn210
08/23/2014 at 13:05

What area of the country have you been looking in?

Kenaft - some new kid > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
08/23/2014 at 13:05

Maybe this would be a good opportunity to get the factory side skirts!

Kenaft - some new kid > MRtwo
08/23/2014 at 13:07

Thanks for the tip.

If I bought it (which doesn't really make sense for me financially right now, but it's hard to say no) - I would definitely run it as a beater for a couple of years, before my financial situation would improve. So I probably wouldn't get to the rust yet - as long as it was mechanically durable!

Sn210 > Kenaft - some new kid
08/23/2014 at 13:37

New England. They're all rusty and all overpriced! I'm not ready to buy just yet, but it's fun to look.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Kenaft - some new kid
08/24/2014 at 12:55

I may or may not have one or two spares. I'd have to check.

Desu-San-Desu > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
08/24/2014 at 13:12

Funny thing, I've been looking for the exact opposite- an MR2 that's in good cosmetic condition (as in no rust or major damage) but preferably without an engine or non-running in order to keep the cost low.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Desu-San-Desu
08/24/2014 at 21:35

That's the way to do it if it's your second car and don't mind putting in the time on mechanical work.

Desu-San-Desu > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
08/24/2014 at 23:50

I've made plans to source a K20A2 from a friend in the event that I find the right MR2. :-)

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Desu-San-Desu
08/25/2014 at 08:33

That sounds like entirely too much fun