Well I've been a part of this good community for a few months now so maybe it's time to show my...PRECIOUS (forgive me i just couldn't find a title that wasn't taken lol)
 

I have awakened!
 
Specs:
1990 SW20 G-limited
Stock 3SGE. Surprisingly good results from compression reading: 185-195 across all cylinders.
192xxx
GTR/GTSt combo
Mongoose Alarm
 
Bought it back in March for 5k, no RWC. Might have been a mistake on the RWC part. (But of course I expected some form of trouble)
First thing I noticed when I bought it, the temp gauge was going up too slow. Just as I thought, it was the thermostat.
Two major urgent problems with the car was rusty coolant and oil change but also oil leaks from literally all over the place. Typical. Oh yeah and the window regulator on the drive side was stuffed too. I was baked on the hot days.
The cooling system as always with a mid-engine car, was quite the journey.
 

Nulon coolant flush is your weapon of choice here
 
About two months later, the alternator failed on me. This is probably the first time in my life I began to really understand why old cars are a PITA.
I bought a re-conditioned one and fitted it myself. What a nightmare lol. If this was a turbo it would have been a night terror lol.
Anyways other problems started to arise like the door failing to open inside/outside on the driver's side. I crawled in from the passenger side for almost 2 weeks until I had time a money to get it fixed, along with the RHS regulator.
For a while, things started looking up. I got rid of my ****ty tyres/rims and inherited Adrian's GTR/GTSt combo. Thanks mate.
 

Poor man's Ferrari
 
Then the alternator shagged itself again. Or rather, I got a dodgy one. Word of caution: don't buy without warranty and you get what you pay for.
This time, I went straight to the mechanics for peace of mind. Robert Sabbadin is an awesome mech with a great personality and they have good prices too. Also it's like 15 mins from my house :D (Mulgrave)
 

The lone MR2 surrounded by a gang of rotaries
 
Yet, after all these dramas, I still love my car. There is much more to learn about it's behaviour tho, but we'll leave that to the track once she gets a good service
I've just about saved enough for the 200,000km service which will include cylinder head work, timing belt, waterpump etc it's gonna be a big job.
Special thanks to Ian (Reddtarga) on his ever so helpful articles and Adrian (SW20_3sgte) for helping me out when I was in deep s**t. Thanks to all the guys that helped me out whose names I didn't mention, you know who you are.
 
I'll keep you guys updated on the work.
 
 
 

Welcome! Beautiful looking car, I used to have one the same colour - I think my coolant was the same colour too :S
Shame about the problems, but look at it this way - now you know how to change an alternator, and you probably figured out a lot of other stuff about the car along the way (possibly a few things you didn't want to find out, too ;)).
 
That's a nice looking garage at Robert Sabbadin - Is that an AE86 sedan on the far right of that garage, under the s13 180SX on the hoist? Can just see it's tailight poking around the wall. It'll keep your MR2 company :)
 
Also love the GTR/gtst rims, they look good on the Sdub.

Welcome.
 
Rob used to work with a friend of mine from work at Holden.
 
Some time ago he was wiring up a 2grfe sw20 there for a friend of mine (helped fit the engine) you didnt see that at the shop? that must mean its driving around now which is good to hear!

Mate this car is super clean. In real life the paint looks like it was just sprayed out of the gun from factory.
 
The wheels suit your car a lot better me thinks :) I do miss them though haha.
 
More mods, less fix I say haha. Thought about doing the repairs yourself? All a good learning experience no doubt.

Thanks for a warm welcome fellas!
 
@ esskay: I actually met another fellow MR2 driver at the petrol station who was driving my car's twin; same colour, revision, trim level and even hardtop. His car was mechnically sound though lol. That garage is Sabbadin Automotive, and the owner is Rob and he looks no older than 35. I took that pic when I was picking it up - best feeling when the shutters are rolling up and your car is parked right in front.
 
@ kameleon: Small world! Rob reckons MR2s are a "nightmare" to work on lol. He hadn't worked on one for a while but remembers the turbo ones leak like no tomorrow haha.
 
@ Adrian: Yeh my dad reckons she prob got a respray sometime in her life. Good news I found 2 centre caps for the GTSt real cheap :D.
It would be a hell of an experience doing it myself, if only I knew what I was doing. Oil, coolant, general maintenance I can handle but cylinder head recondition is a whole nother level and the tools I lack. Perhaps when I finish uni lol.

yeah robs mentioned that to my friend before. its over rated! theyre not hard at all.
 
people say the same about BMW's :)

Yeh I guess once you do a few healthy back exercises it's not too bad. Just a bit time consuming which would add to the labour cost.
Are Beemers also tricky to get around? German proficiency prob got something to do with that :P

Nice is that an AMP as well, sure looks like it

Packaging on a german car is alot tighter than a Holden or Ford in general, so i guess that deters people. When you work on anything every day i guess it becomes second nature no matter how difficult they are?

What's an AMP?
I gotta admit Holden engine bays do look cleaner, the plastic covers are likely to do with it too.