Hi all,
I'm looking for a fun project/weekend car and have always loved the SW20 MR2's. I've tried doing some research with google but a lot of the information I've found is not specific to Australia.
I'm hoping members here can confirm some things for me.
 
1. Did any Aus delivered MR2's come with airbags? I believe they started becoming standard in other markets from the 94MY.
2. Can you put bucket seats and a 3 point harness in them? I ask because I can't see where the harness points would anchor in the body.
3. Correct me if I'm wrong, but we never got any turbo ones locally. Has anyone put a turbo on themselves?
 
Cheers,
Kwando

1 I'm not sure.
2 yes to both. There is couple of ways of doing the harness. Bolt it straight to the fire wall or run a harness bar between the pillars. Better to attach it to a roll cage
3 yes Australia only released the non turbo. Some have put a turbo on but better to swap the whole drive line so you get a better results. Stronger box, drive shafts. Or just buy a turbo one 

In relation to your first question. Yes Aus delivered MR2's in the SW20 range had airbags. Dont know about pre 94 but 94 onwards did. 

Thanks for the responses.
 
I was browsing carsales last night and the only cars which I saw had airbags were 96 onwards models.
Does this mean that some people changed their steering wheels on their earlier models? I thought this was illegal?
Did any incarnation of the SW20 have passenger airbags as well or driver side only?
 
 

It is technically illegal but it is very hard to regulate as there are very few people that know much about these cars. On the other side of the argument most of the airbags at the age they are dont work correctly anyway. 
 
To my knowledge it was only the last generation of SW20s that got passenger airbags; could be wrong however. Before that it was just the driver's steering wheel airbag. 

 
"It is technically illegal but it is very hard to regulate as there are very few people that know much about these cars".
 
True, but any cop that stops you may know that your SW20 should have a wheel with a padded centre, and any aftermarket wheel without (like most of them) would be spotted straight away.
But many people still fit them anyway lol.

Thanks guys.
Is there a resource or thread somewhere that details year to year changes of the MR2 in Australia? What would you say was the best year for the SW20?
*EDIT* - Found this 
 
Also does anyone know if it's still possible to import turbos under SEVS?
 
Appreciate all the feedback. 

Reddtarga
 
True, but any cop that stops you may know that your SW20 should have a wheel with a padded centre, and any aftermarket wheel without (like most of them) would be spotted straight away.
But many people still fit them anyway lol.

I totally agree. Was more referring to if a cop was to question why the drivers airbag had been removed. The cop would have to know that there was one there in the first place. Which is difficult for them as the early model SW20's to my knowledge didnt come with an airbag at all. So the early model guys can swap out their steering wheels and not get booked provided the wheel meets regulation; which as you have mentioned most don't 

I bought my 1994 Aus delivered MR2 GT brand new and I can categorically say that the driver's airbag was standard for the GT models only. The Bathurst models did not have an airbag, not even as an optional extra.

Also missing from the Bathurst model were:
Power steering;
Cruise control;
Driving lamps; and
Remote central door locking.

The only optional extras available for the Bathurst model were;
LSD;
ABS;
TVSS (Toyota vehicle security system); and
AirCon.

Cheers, M

Hi Monika,
Thanks for clearing that up for me. Looks like the GT's are the ones to go for then. Not only for the airbag, but the LSD and ABS.
 
Cheers.