Toyota’s MR2 scored on a lot of characteristics – a sharp, light platform; wedgy 1980s styling, even if it is awfully similar to other cars of the same period; a truly enjoyable powertrain; and legendary reliability and durability. Of course, like many 1980s Japanese cars, it had a strong propensity to rust and a rather plasticky interior. And that’s the basic MR2, to which you can add more 1980s features like t-tops and a wedgy spoiler, or a pop-out moonroof. But if you’re looking for more power, the factory offered a supercharged version that was good for an additional 33hp and dropped the 0-60mph time by about 1.5 seconds. Unfortunately for the budget-oriented car enthusiast, they’re not too readily available, but for today let’s take a look at this 1988 Toyota MR2 Supercharged for sale for $3500 in Medford, OR.
Adding to the pluses on this particular car is the 5-speed transmission – a number of the supercharged cars were made with an automatic transmission, which takes some of the joy out of such a driver’s car. The seller is a Toyota enthusiast, and seems more interested in trades for other 1980s Toyotas like a HiAce van or AE86 hatchback. All panels are said to be original, with all but one showing the original VIN-encoded stickers. The 5-spoke chrome wheels won’t be everyone’s taste, but are easily changed – the OEM teardrop wheels are really quite attractive on this car.
Mileage is not given, but they’re likely to be high, and the car shows the kind of wear you might expect of an unrestored car that’s 27 years old. Though the car came stock with a spoiler, the design somehow looks less cluttered without it – if you removed it, you could be like that guy with the Evo X/WRX STi with no spoiler. It’s nice to see all the factory striping and badging present, along with the air deflector over the rear window, which cleverly reflects the Toyota script onto the glass.
This is as much of a detail shot as you get of the interior, which the seller rates a 6 out of 10. Everything visible looks to be original and intact, but on the downside, the t-top seals are failing and the windshield has a 4-inch crack. The seller offers detail shots upon request, but seems to hit the major spots in the posted photos.
The engine compartment looks cramped as you’d expect in any mid-engine car, and the intercooler looks to have some bent fins. There’s a gel cell battery visible, and the car benefits from a fresh tune up, including distributor cap, rotor, spark plugs, and plug wires. Oil is said to have been changed every 2500 miles during the owner’s tenure, though with the amount of cars visible in his driveway, that might only mean once a year. On the whole, this car looks to be a decent deal and worth a closer look – just make sure to map out some twisties for your test-drive.
Tags: aw11, Feature, japanese, mr2, sports car, supercharged, toyota
Rusty But Trusty 
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