Meet Roslin - My 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder 

Thanks! There aren't many mods I'd ever want to do, I'm mostly happy with it as-is.

Most aren't, but if you haven't gutted the precats, I'd look in to it!

Keep an eye on the oil consumption. If it's burning more than 1qt/1000 miles, start making plans. It might hang in there for a while. Mine was burning much faster than that.

You're going to turbo a 2ZZ?

For sure, and I don't think it was ever intended to compete directly, was it?

That's awesome! Have you checked to see the pre-cats condition yet?

@@NeverEndingProjectGarage no not yet. What are tell tell signs of a bad pre cat?

Thanks!

The pre-cats were gutted when I bought it, so I thought I was in better shape. It looks like the previous owner may have gutted them too late.

I wish I knew that before I got rid of the stock seats! It wouldn't have fixed them, but it might have made them a little better.

My 2000 model doesn't have that switch and doesn't have a lumbar support at all. Its a EU-Model...

+MrBloodyinsanity I've been eyeing a TRD front bar!

Left out my discovery of the right bank (Cyl 1 & 3) pre-cat being gutted, left pre-cat intact, and engine code showing down-stream O2 not responding to heater circuit. Removed rear bumper/fascia to get good access to rear/down-stream O2 sensor as it would not budge trying to get from bottom. Replace down-stream and now hoping to drive/check when insurance road insurance starts...plan 5/20/17. Hope this fixed my check engine light, but still have issues, plan to gut pre-cat at cyl 2&4 and hope for the best on oil burn (car has 59K/miles) Mr. P

Your track day looks great! Props on the Hard Dog roll bar, I think that's beyond my capabilities right now.

Good luck! What are your plans so far?

If you haven't yet, do it before it causes damage!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks! Here's an exhaust video, if you want to check it out again: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-had3akvlBRI.html

My first car was a 1992 325i. Not a convertible, but it was a sweet 4-door and I drove it until it was truly impossible to maintain on a young guy's budget. Great driving car!

It certainly hasn't felt that way... but I've also owned a German car and I think I know where you're coming from :-)

That's how it goes! Did you get an ECU with that engine?

@@NeverEndingProjectGarage nope, no ecu. Its just the motor. I still need a transmission, a turbo, driveshaft, harness, new clutch kit possibly, motor mounts, and other stuff lol

I've heard those are really fun cars to drive, I'd love to try one someday.

Maybe that's why I don't like the lumbar support....the switch didn't do anything.

Thanks!

Thanks!

Glad you liked it!

Thanks! No trees yet, we'll see what the future holds.

My car doesn't have traction control. Someone else said it controlled the lumbar in the stock seat. Unfortunately I can't test that anymore!

That would have been fun, but the Spyder's been gone for a bit over 3 years now, so unfortunately not!

@@NeverEndingProjectGarage damn dude... Do you miss the car?

My FiL said he's never put together an exhaust that didn't need some tweaking to fit "right," and he's been working on cars for decades. I guess some variance is expected. Fortunately, no one stoops down to look at it that closely :-)

Thanks!

My in-laws needed an AWD or 4WD backup vehicle after they moved, and at 210k miles, I didn't want to rely on it as much for our daily commuting car. It was a good fit, and I still get to visit!

I sold my 1999 2.5rs Coupé for $4000 about when you posted this comment 😭

If you want this particular configuration or want to do a 2ZZ swap, sure! If you just want a car like this general style, Miatas have a much bigger aftermarket and they were never plagued by the oil burning issues.

Most aren't, unless you get one that's been abused and/or has the early oil burning issues. Most of the parts are Corolla/Matrix stuff, so it's not that bad.

Well that's good to know. I wound up getting a 2001 MX-5 instead. I remember being teased by some friends because of it back then. Oh how little they knew of it's awesomeness.

They're great cars, don't let anyone tell you different!

Mine wasn't a lemon, it had that exact issue. All the other things I replaced were either because of age and wear, or to improve performance.

I made one a month or so ago.... it was totaled unfortunately.

@@NeverEndingProjectGarage yeah i figured anyway your content is very good continue your nice work mate!

Thanks!

I mean, any engine that gets to 290k can't be all bad...

I decided to spend the money it would take to do a 2ZZ on handling upgrades, since all the 2ZZ gains are up top and the torque profile doesn't change enough for me to enjoy it any more.

Maybe...maybe my antenna was just broken the whole time I had it.

The manifold was about $120, and the engine was $900 shipped from a place that drilled and tapped the block for the Spyder axle carrier. The engine was from a late 2000s Matrix.

@@NeverEndingProjectGarage Gotta love it bro... My fave thing getting bargains and gaining awesome information from dudes like you.. thank you! Btw watched the Landcruiser vid you put up... very cool. The things you talk about on Toyota like things before their time on that model cruiser is spot on... I'm 53 been driving Toys for 30 years... recently test drove an 02 spydee sense that had 64 k on her n pics looked gr8 went to meet the people selling it to test it priced at 8700. Took one ride in it n knew it was beat.... they said their son had it for years in Florida. Check engine was on and the trusty obd reader I have came up with a catalytic code and the oil was 1/2 down. I've noticed they're a lot more for sale with prices droppin hard to sell em quickly on East coast with winter coming.. thanks for telling me what you paid that's exactly the route of what I want to pay... take care bro... be safe and take care.

You too, thanks for watching!

It doesn't have either, they weren't available in 2001.

I paid $3800 and while I'd need to verify with receipts, I believe I spent about $3000 more to get it back on the road. However, I could have saved about $1500 of that, I bought a better intake, bracing, muffler, springs, etc that could have just been re-used.

I don't think so, I think I just used the bolts that held the old bracing in.

Never Ending Project Garage ahh okay after some deep deep digging I found the correct size m8 1.25x25mm it's a decent amount longer than the oem bolts I had on mine

I used a Mothers polishing kit, but they're yellowed again. I'm researching a new method I'm going to try this winter, hopefully get some more success.

Never Ending Project Garage ive been told that they need to be coated with a UV protection after polishing then else they start yellowing again. I will be trying a clear coat lacquer after polish and see how it goed

That's probably what I'll try next too.

You should be able to find a good one for way less than that!

@@NeverEndingProjectGarage there was one in Atlanta for $6000. I tried to talk him down, it has 135k on odo.looking at some other states I found one at $4200 same miles. What should one pay for a mr-s in decent shape?

I considered it, but decided to spend the money difference to upgrade the handling on the Spyder.

I considered it, but I decided to stick with a 1ZZ and spend more on handling upgrades.

Matt is that accurate 80 freaking % of 01's.... 🙄

I didn't tally them, but probably somewhere around 3k.

I went back and forth on it right up until I ordered the 1ZZ. Given that I'd already bought a few 1ZZ-specific exhaust parts before I decided to swap, and since the 2ZZ is only more powerful when you're in lift, I decided to take the extra money and put it in to handling upgrades and replacing other worn parts on the car. A month before I knew I was going to have to swap, I passed on a wrecked Celica GTS for $1500. I'm still kicking myself a little!

Good job! By the way, the 2ZZ does have higher compression. It does feel slightly more torquey across the rev range.

@@NeverEndingProjectGarage 😂 save up for 2zz please!

I don't still have it, there's an update video on the channel but I wrecked it about 2 years ago.

@@NeverEndingProjectGarage Sorry to hear it man. Was a nice driver.

Handling, safety features, ease of finding parts, a few other reasons. I like the other gens fine, I just like this one a little more! Also, I've always wanted a convertible.

Where are you located where there are more 3rd gens? In my part of California there is only sw20's and shitty aw11's but rarely a zzw30.

Ease of finding parts, not the cars themselves. The number of 1st and 2nd-gen MR2s for sale is about the same as ZZW30s here.

The switch is for the driver seat lumbar...which may not be on the new seats. -Neal

Yeah I agree

Nope, sorry!

I don't think I do, but thanks!