Scott's MR2 Page

Home of the 280,000 mile 91 MR2

March 21, 2007

Its been a long time since I updated any information here, and the last year and a half has been interesting and full of work on the MR2s.  A few times I was tempted to get rid of both of them.  But here is what has happened:

• The 89 had its engine rebuilt - twice.  The first rebuild (after the head gasket came apart) went bad within 1500 miles.  The second rebuild was good, and the car is running great.
• The 91 had its engine removed.  There was a lot of damage in there after nearly 300,000 miles.  So much so that it wasn't worth rebuilding.
• So the 91 now has a used engine in it, and it runs good.  I replaced the shocks and springs again, but still have to do some minor suspension work in the front end before it is done.  It also has an anti-freeze leak that I need to find time to locate.  Probably a bad hose clamp somewhere.

So in a month or so, the 91 will be back up and running in its full glory!  I have already broken the 300,000 mile mark, but with a different engine - but still the original transmission and muffler!

August 1, 2005
The Age Old Question has been answered -
How many miles can a 91 MR2 go before something bad happens to the engine??

The answer is - 299,821 miles.  I think I spun a bearing backing down my driveway this morning, and the engine is now fairly dead.  Hopefully in the next week a mechanic friend of mine will be taking a look at it.

I'm just shocked that I wasn't able to go the additional 179 miles and hit the 300,000 mile mark!!!

I'll post updates as I learn more.
--Scott

July 9, 2004    CRASH!

Well, I sure wasn't expecting this when I went to work this morning.

June 29, 2004

Its been a long year already.  Both of my MR2s are in need of some repairs, and like most home owners, I'm running out of money.

Yesterday, the alternator died on my 89 SC - not to mention that its going through a huge amount of oil and its time to replace the timing belt.  There doesn't seem to be a leak, so its probably burning it.  After talking to a good friend of mine, its probably due for a rebuild.

Then there is the 91 MR2.  Its still going with 283,000 miles on it.  The engine is in good shape, but it badly needs to have some components of the front end suspension replaced. It also is developing rust on the driver side door, so the skin will need to be replaced and painted (and of course someone hit my front bumper and it needs to be replaced - damn stupid drivers in parking lots).  And I need a new set of tires for the 17" wheels as the rear tires both ripped apart on me last fall.  But the engine is still running strong!  I just cannot believe it seems to have no engine problems after this many miles on the original engine!

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A picture from the 2001 Southeast MR2 Meet

hits since March 15, 1999.