Friday, April 15, 2016

Low Mile Classic: 1986 Toyota MR2 AW11

The first generation (AW11) Toyota MR2 was introduced in 1984 with a 1.6 liter 4-cylinder engine mounted amidships.  It wasn't the first reasonably priced mid-engine car to be offered for sale, but it was the first from a Japanese manufacturer to be tuned on Willow Springs Raceway by former Formula One driver Dan Gurney.  Find this 1986 Toyota MR2 AW11 with only 30k miles on the odometer offered for $9,500 in Milpitas, CA via craigslist. Tip from KBZ.

That race track development and focused engineering means the MR2 turns in much nicer than the competition like the Fiat X1/9, Pontiac Fiero, Honda CR-X, or Ford EXP -- but it don't expect anything from the 80s that is equipped with all-season tires to pull skid-pad numbers like a Lotus Elise.  However, the skinny tires and light chassis means a fun ride even if the actual limits aren't particularly high.

Powering the AW11 is a 1.6 liter 4A-GE 4-cylinder engine borrowed from the AE86 Corolla.  In stock trim it puts out 112 horsepower as it revs to a 7000 rpm redline.

 See another mister two for cheap?


  1. These are positively lovely to drive. I love that only a select subset of people know what driving one feels like. Most of the world thinks you're too poor to drive a newer car. So it feels like I'm driving a secret. When I was filling my AW11 up at the gas station the other day, I noticed an older man admiring my car from the other pump (at least I hope he was admiring my car and not me). I had managed to source some Watanabe knock offs so I surmise he had once had one. Had a blast in a canyon after that.

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  3. My first car... Got it before even having a license. Had so much fun until it was stolen...


  5. 9.5K seems a bit high for an NA, even in Concours condition. (This is coming from someone on his 2nd MR2 and managed an '89 supercharged at that.)

  6. I bought my 85 in 1990 when I was 17... had a wonderful time with it... it got me several different girlfriends...


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