Mk3 Toyota MR2s (also known as W30s) are increasingly sought-after in the enthusiast market. It's easy to see why too - a great mid-engined drivetrain, fine rear-wheel-drive handling and faultless reliability make them a superb choice. Considered by many to be the best handling of the three MR2 generations, it's a brilliant thing to drive on winding, twisting roads thanks to being smaller, lighter and nimbler than its immediate predecessor. The W30 generation was also the only MR2 to be offered only as a roadster, enabling the driver to enjoy genuine wind-in-the-hair motoring. With no replacement on the horizon, it could well be the swan-song for the much-loved model.

This MR2 in particular is in fine fettle, and has been fastidiously maintained by its one and only owner. They assure us that they have only ever been caught in the rain a handful of times and the car has always been stored in a garage. Clearly, this has paid dividends, as it presents in superb mechanical and cosmetic condition.  As one of the earliest MR2s of this generation to be supplied to Europe, it's a rare and special vehicle.

Unfortunately, the car has not seen much use in the past 5 years, with only 1000 miles being covered. Due to the lack of usage, and the fact that the owner is soon to lose storage space, the car is now offered for sale.

The car's one and only keeper, Ian Matthews, was an exterior designer for Lotus cars in Norfolk. Ian bought the car in Germany in 2001, whilst he was working for Opel as an exterior designer. The car then stayed in Germany until 2012, when the car was then exported to the UK as Ian had taken a position in Nissan's advanced design studios in London, and later took a position at Lotus.

This provenance, together with the extensive archive of history, documentation and the service record, should give any potential buyer real confidence in the quality of this delightful little sports car.

Featuring a high shoulder line and supportive sports seats, the W30 MR2's cabin is perfect for a small sports car. With everything you need and nothing more, it focuses attention completely on the driving experience. The cabin itself is in near perfect condition, almost like-new. Quite incredible when you consider that this is a 22 year old vehicle.

When the car was initially delivered, the owner had the interior fully protected to prevent UV damage to the fabrics and plastics. The fabric seats are prone to ripping, so the owner installed seat covers to protect them while the original Toyota mats were protected with two more mats on top to preserve them. This level of near fanatical care really shows - there are no rips, scuffs or scratches on the interior that we could see at all. All the touch-points – gear-shifter, steering wheel and door handles – are in excellent condition too and many original dealer stickers remain in place. One of the most unusual features is the original Toyota radio/cassette, which is becoming very hard to come by these days, and here is in good working order. Even more unusually, the headlining of the fabric roof also appears to be in 'as-new' condition, with no signs of sagging, no tears and no staining. It's an oft-used term, but this really is in "time-warp" condition.

Besides the cabin, the MR2 benefits from small front and rear luggage compartments which are, like the cabin, in superb condition for their age. In the front compartment there is a full-size spare, complete with its original black vinyl cover. In the rear there is the original jack, toolkit, warning triangle and first aid kit. All are complete and in exceptional condition.

To be honest, the interior is in stunningly good condition. There may well be other examples out there that are as well-kept, but we certainly haven't seen any.

This little roadster is presented in fabulous Spectra Blue Mica paint. Overall, the paint is in fabulous condition, free of dulling, swirls and scuffs. There is, however, a small car park ding on the driver’s door, but this is hardly noticeable and it should be a simple fox for a PDR expert. The colour really shows off the curves and lines of this charming roadster, complementing its sporty nature well.

All of the external trim, such as the plastics, rubber seals, badges, glass and lights look to be in tremendous condition, with no significant wear or damage. Even the 5-spoke alloy wheels, so often the victims of curbing on a car of this vintage, boast their original finish and have never been refurbished. They are completely free of damage, scuffs or scratches and must be as good a set of original alloys as you'll find. As a roadster, the MR2 naturally sports a convertible fabric roof. Here it is also in like-new condition with no UV damage, rips, scuff or tears evident.

Due to this being a German-supplied car, this MR2 came with genuine Toyota winter steel wheels, with quality Yokohama winter tyres. It's a very rare thing to come across these days, and is perfect for anyone that wishes to use the vehicle year round. Each wheel comes in a protective bag and are all are in good condition, as are the winter tyres. Also included are the German headlights for right-hand-side driving, as well as some spare (and hard-to-find) stainless and rubber hot water hoses, bought purely as a precautionary measure. 

Although the powerplant in this generation of MR2 only pushes out 138bhp, it's a very light car (with a curb weight of just 996Kg), so that power goes a long way. And, with the VVTi system and manual gearbox, makes for a rev-happy, engaging and thrilling driving experience – and a surprising turn of speed. We're assured that the car goes very well, the engine pulling strongly in all gears and the shift having a nice, positive action.

In the last 500 miles, the owner has had every fluid changed: the brake fluid, gearbox oil, clutch fluid, engine oil, coolant, and power steering fluid. All four brake discs are new, and the calipers have recently been refurbished. Having recently been put through an MOT, the car boasts a clean bill of health with no advisories. The wheels are fitted with Pirelli tyres, all of which have plenty of tread and are in good condition.

Under the bonnet the engine bay is very clean and tidy, with no evidence of leaks, corrosion or damage. While the MR2 is known as a very reliable car, pre-facelift examples sometimes suffered with pre-catalyst issues. Although this example has not experienced any issues, as a precaution the owner removed them in 2018. Thanks to careful ownership, recent servicing and low mileage, the owner assures us that this car drives 'like new', with no unexpected noises or issues from the transmission, suspension, brakes or engine.

A nice bonus is that car also comes with some boxes of original parts. Most of these were removed when replacements were needed, but the owner kept them in case part numbers were needed in the future, and also to maintain a record of precisely which parts had been changed. These have been neatly sorted into divided boxes, which really does show how meticulous the owner has been.

A beautifully light, rev happy, balanced sports car, the MR2 is a pure joy to pilot down any British B-road. As a driving experience, it's absolutely spot-on for a small sports car. The ride is supple and extremely well-judged for a roadster, never feeling crashy or over-stiff, therefore making for a very pleasurable driving experience.  The engine itself is a peach: enough low-down pull for it to be simple to drive around town and on the motorway, yet a characterful sports car when pushed on track or down a B-road.

With one very careful owner from new, genuine low miles and an incredibly in-depth provenance, this could be the perfect usable future classic. One thing's for certain, you'd have to look long and hard to find another example as good. Whether you want a genuine daily alternative to a Lotus Elise, or a modern classic that's sure to increase in value, this would be a fantastic choice.
 
Reliable, practical, and beautifully maintained, this is one of the finest little sports cars you'll see.