Introduction

[mr2fr35]

Hi,

Another new forum member here.

I'm the proud owner of an MR2 Mk 2 from 1995 but am trying to hunt down a nice Mk 1 to add to the stable.

I live in France but bought my Mk 2 in the UK which is where I intend tracing down the right Mk 1 for me. I'm in no real rush to find one - I want it to be the right one but for a price I can afford.

Anyway, I'm enjoying reading through the posts and finding useful information in the various threads.

Cheers for now
Clive

[sloopeh]

hi clive where are you from in france?

[mr2mk1chick]

Hiya and welcome :wave:
hope you manage to find a mk1 that you like.
keep looking at the cars for sale pages.

jo

[kevin..in]

a Mk1 will be a rare beast in France as they were never sold there, would have though buying a RHD UK car would be a disadvantage for regular use in France. wouldn't you be better off getting a LHD car from another mainland European country?

[mr2mk1chick]

^^ good point. i forgot about that.
there seems to be a club scene in germany and belgium, so you could try the toyota clubs there to see if any mk1's are for sale

[mr2fr35]

Hi again all and thanks for the replies.

I live in Rennes in Brittany and I currently drive a Mk2 Rev 3 which is RHD. I don't really have a problem with that, I suppose the worst problem is motorway toll booths and pay car parks, but I can put up with minor problems of that kind in order to drive the car I like. There are a number of us in the French MR2 Owners Club with cars from the UK or Japan.

The thing is, MR2s are much cheaper in the UK than here as there were so few sold here.

There are a few MK1s here in France - mostly from Switzerland or the US.

Homologation is an issue due to very strict Type Approval laws - the worst in Europe for anybody that wants to import a car which wasn't commercialised here, but importation isn't impossible; just expensive.

I'm still keeping my eye open for a nice MK1 but I'm trying to find out if importing a Japanese Supercharged model would be more difficult than a UK N/A. I think it probably would and I believe that the Japanese supercharged models are quite rare even in the UK, is this true?

[mr2mk1chick]

the sc models are rare in the uk, but there are 2 in the for sale section that look great.
one is the rare silver and white tim top in the derby area, the other is a red one in Ireland.

[mr2fr35]

the sc models are rare in the uk, but there are 2 in the for sale section that look great.
one is the rare silver and white tim top in the derby area, the other is a red one in Ireland.

I was looking at the Silver / White one on Piston Heads - it appears to be a real bargain and in great condition. I noticed it has a stainless exhaust fitted though, this would need to be replaced for French homologation - do you know if stock exhausts are easy to come by?

Thanks

[mr2mk1chick]

i have an old standard exhaust you can have for free, but it was from an NA not SC so may not fit - can't remember, then you can change back to the stainless one.
Actually, how will they know the stainless one is not a new replacement of the old system? they are all pretty similar. I doubt they would know. Are they very strict?
I know the guy with the silver and white SC - i can ask if he has a standard spare exhaust, but perhaps you should talk or email him yourself. he won't mind you asking.

[kevin..in]

Actually, how will they know the stainless one is not a new replacement of the old system? they are all pretty similar. I doubt they would know. Are they very strict
french regs on any engine mods are very strict, thats why french cars are all body work paint jobs and interiors, so even a SS exhaust that will make an extra 2 BHP is a no go!

french MR2 club gallery
http://www.mr2.fr/php/gallery.php
cars you see in the french clubs gallery with big exhausts are usually Belgian registered
http://www.mr2mk1club.com/images/imported/2010/05/toyotamr1600exhaust-1.jpg

[mr2mk1chick]

will a std NA system bolt onto an sc maifold?
he cen then buy the car with a std system, and then add the ss one later, as they look pretty similar?
can you do that in france?

[kevin..in]

will a std NA system bolt onto an sc maifold?
he cen then buy the car with a std system, and then add the ss one later, as they look pretty similar?
can you do that in france?
yes (I think they are the same)
and no, well not legally its not allowed without tons of paperwork

[mr2fr35]

i have an old standard exhaust you can have for free,
That's really kind, if I can find a way to get an SC registered in france I just might take you up on that, Thanks!

but it was from an NA not SC so may not fit - can't remember, then you can change back to the stainless one. Actually, how will they know the stainless one is not a new replacement of the old system? they are all pretty similar. I doubt they would know. Are they very strict?
An imported car goes through a rigorous inspection if it comes from outside the EU. For instance, importing a Japanese model requires changing, amongst other things, the seatbelts in order to have a pair with the European "E" mark which shows that the piece is approved for Europe. Even if the Japanese part is identical, if it doesn't have the "E" then the car will fail its inspection.

For the exhaust it's not so much that it's an aftermarket piece nor that it's made of stainless steal, it's the noise test. The car will have to go through certain tests at UTAC in Paris - one of these is a 80 km/h drive by decibel test and if the car makes more noise than quoted for the car in when it was new, it will fail.

Yes, it's the strictest Type Approval testing in Europe - perhaps in the world.


I know the guy with the silver and white SC - i can ask if he has a standard spare exhaust, but perhaps you should talk or email him yourself. he won't mind you asking.

Once I manage to get a clear answer about importation possibilities I think I'll contact the seller - provided the car hasn't already been sold. I get the feeling though that this car won't be for sale for very long.

Thanks everybody for your comments, suggestions and offers.

Really appreciated

Cheers
Clive

[mr2mk1chick]

:shock: very tough test then :-:
let us know the decibels and we can test that here. we have a noise tester for the trackdays