About kits, options and mods.

[Petrus]

Following the point Jason made ánd the TRD kit on ebay I dug up a photo




The body kit known as TRD Stage II was in Japan the dealer fitted Fun Sports Package.
If I were to buy it, I would have to pass technical inspection with the Toyota docs. and a certificate of fitting by a certified garage. The authoroties see it as a modification to mý car and will if everything is kosher add it to it´s registration docs. because it is an option. Oh my, now I have a headache 

Now the tank lid for sale I cán without a worry fit even though it is a modded option 
A crucial difference is that it does not change the overall dimensions of the car nor is sticking out.

[Ardent]

every day's a school day.
There's some options I've never seen before.

[Petrus]

every day's a school day.
There's some options I've never seen before.

There may be more as right from the word go the MR-S was marketed as a fún with the sporting bit very much on the backburner. There was even a feel good girl model!
Lót of body parts, bling and special edition limited coloured runs.

Another clue are the VM180 Zagato and VM180 TRD; both all plastic, very little if anything else. Even the TTE ´sports´ pot designed to not make it a gó faster option.

Then there is the TRD sportivo kit. A moderate handling kit not making the car gó any faster.

The only exception is the TTE Turbo. That took yéars, was out of proportion expensive and designed to not be further tuneable.

With the 3rd generation, Toyota was adamant not to make the same mistake as with the 2nd gen.
Loads of power parts available for that 2nd gen, even up to 500 hp from official outlet Toyota TechnoCraft!! currently known as Toyota Customising & Development.

Hence, bar óne exception, no bolt on power for the 3rd gen yet a myriad of optical options.

The magazine HYPER REV vol.63 Toyota MR-S  seems to list most options & mods: http://japan-manga-craft.blogspot.com/2009/08/hyper-rev-toyota-mr-s-no1-vol63.html

[Petrus]

I'm out of touch with Gen 2, but why was that a mistake?

Too much car availeble at an affordable price for a wide public with accidents as a result and the finger pointed at Toyota.
They pulled out of the US market some 5 years earñy.

[Ardent]

There may be more as right from the word go the MR-S was marketed as a fún with the sporting bit very much on the backburner. There was even a feel good girl model!
The magazine HYPER REV vol.63 Toyota MR-S  seems to list most options & mods: http://japan-manga-craft.blogspot.com/2009/08/hyper-rev-toyota-mr-s-no1-vol63.html

Brilliant. Have saved that link.
Said it before, saying again now. Mr T, put your focus here. Never mind the T badged Z4.
You got this right. Keep the styling as much as you can, add some lightness, an "eco" 1.4 (alfa 170) or the alfa 1750 as the power plant. If it has to be a hybrid, and adds weight, just make sure it's torque/launch focused. Job done.

[Ozzy]

I'm out of touch with Gen 2, but why was that a mistake?

Wouldnt call it a mistake but it had really bad snap oversteer which caught out a lot of drivers, hence it's nickname The Widowmaker. Tonnes of videos on youtube I bet.

Basically think of our Roadsters now with their sharp precise steering but with 2 or 3 times the power minimum and much more weight swinging around at the rear. Not a car you could hoon about and push to the limit everywhere. The back end would easily step out and snap back the opposite way like crazy and spin you out when trying to counter it. Similar to early supercars like Porsche and Ferraris but this was more affordable and sold in great numbers so more got smashed of course. They made many changes throughout the models to reduce it later.

Reducing the body length, weight and power in our MK3s reduced this snap oversteer greatly and made it safer. Wonder if that's one of the reasons why it never came with a 2zz or a turbo... That said been tempted to get a MK2 lately.

[Petrus]

Reducing the body length, weight and power in our MK3s reduced this snap oversteer greatly and made it safer. Wonder if that's one of the reasons why it never came with a 2zz or a turbo... That said been tempted to get a MK2 lately.

Why?
It´s obvious retracting the model from the US market cost Toyota dearly.

Oh and the Spyder wás given a Turbo albeit as the very well thought through TTE dealer option.

Lastly. Do try a gen.2 first. Ok, so maybe you will prefer it but in all objectvity the gen. 3 is the best of the lot. When looking to buy one I was very, véry tempted by a pérfect TRD2000GT wide body replica with bágs of engine mods shaming hypercars but it was one of those rare moments that common sense prevailed. Ánd it was not a convertible ;-)

[Ozzy]

No denying that but I'm certain that wasn't the deciding factor. Safety and keeping a good rep was a huge part of it.

Yeah there was the TTE turbo but it wasn't standard and only available several years later as more of an afterthought. If there were turbo 1zz and 2zzs available as standard in huge numbers, would imagine there would be many smashed up in a very short time by inexperienced drivers getting caught out. It would be a repeat of the MK2 all over.

Taking power out of it as I've got other cars for that, I would agree the Mk3 is probably more fun overall which is why I have one as a daily but the Mk2 is better visually by far I'd say.

[1979scotte]

Mk2 is heavy and in Na form slower than Mk3. It needed to Turbo to make it worthwhile imho.

[Petrus]

No denying that but I'm certain that wasn't the deciding factor. Safety and keeping a good rep was a huge part of it.

You have lost me now. Never mind.

[Petrus]

Mk2 is heavy and in Na form slower than Mk3. It needed to Turbo to make it worthwhile imho.

Only on racing tracks is a gen.2 turbo quicker than a gen.3.
Over here on B-roads there is no match.
Just imagine a Touge competion on narrower road with less smooth surface.
And thén we go dóóównhill :-)

That does not mean I do not appreciate the gen.2 lines.

Back to the point; there are too many factory performance upgrades for the gen.2 to list. There are. bar the TTE turbo (which only became availeble after stopping sales in the US), nóne for the Spyder.  Striking it is.

[tom256]

Front bumper from "Fun Sport Package":

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-MR2-Roadster-Genuine-Front-Bumper/124004323002?hash=item1cdf3bceba:g:NSgAAOSwNotd8BLa

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-MR2-Roadster-Genuine-Front-Bumper/123979281026?_trkparms=aid%3D1110001%26algo%3DSPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40733%26meid%3D277b3d1cb1964a3285db3b6e6c47d1d8%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D124004323002%26itm%3D123979281026%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1

[Petrus]

In my eyes all three gens are very good examples of contemporary industrial design. The pérfectly represent their respective eras with all three very accomplished both at the time and now.

The mk.1 I like best with as little cluttah as possible
The mk.2 in TRD20000GT wide body replica
The mk.3 with hardtop and wing as Kai Kogashiwa´s in IntialD and Spirit´s touge special MR-S

Just for perspective I list the ultimate versions of each:
222D
Sard MC8-R
Super  GT (2007)

The first two being options, the latter a mod ;-)

[tom256]

The mk.1 I like best with as little cluttah as possible
The mk.2 in TRD20000GT wide body replica
The mk.3 with hardtop and wing as Kai Kogashiwa´s in IntialD and Spirit´s touge special MR-S

The mk.4 - Hybrid SUV