Hi guys, I just signed up here today= ive been looking at and test driving a few MR2's ( well 2 so far) both were 1990 Targa Top's , one had some sort of odd rattling noise from the engine bay and shifting gears was hard?, gave it a miss, the guy said his roof didnt leak. The second one that some young guy has spent a lot of cash on looks stunning,after I drove this one I was sold my next car has to be an MR2!.
 
But after reading for the last few days about common faults I see now that nearly every single Targa Top Model leaks water inside the car ( usually badly),I went back today and sat in the car while the owner sprayed water onto the roof and it leaks in pretty badly and hose was not on with much pressure at all!. looks to coming in where the Targa Top Panel rubber butts up against the seal on the door frame, I dont see how it could possibly seal out water here anyway because the Targa Panel seperates from the door seal and you have that join so naturally the water would come in there or am I missing something?.
 
Also very oddly I could see a fair bit of water ended up on the panel behind the passenger seat but we could not see where it was coming in from, maybe from one of the drain hoses near the quarter panel windows??,It looked like the water was coming in somewhere behing that decorative plastic trim below the quarter panel window.
 
The rest of the car is pure magic but this BADLY leaking roof situation really put me off paying out $10,000 for a 1990 car that leaks water,Ive read over the last few days all the tricks guys do to stop the water coming in
Eccentric Top Guides.
Silicone/Cling Wrap.
coax Cable behind the seals
Im just concerned that I could buy this car and never get it to seal out the water properly or fixing it only to have the water start coming in again later down the track cause it will ruin the interior and start to rust from the inside out!.
 
I currently have a Nissan 180SX that Im gladly offloading due to a 4 year battle of trying to get a missfire problem sorted, even 4-5 jap workshops cant find the cause so I give up and its going out of my life,plus it chews out tyres every 6 months and hard compound ones last  only a year. Thats with no burn outs but alas I dont drive like nanna either,LOL! . The car is very low and my tyre shop buddy says that the 180SX is designed to crouch down at the rear on take off so this coupled with it being lowered chews tyres for breakfast,every other car I have owned the tyres last years ,even on my 308 LX Torana ( still have it ,now a weekend driver).
 
 I tried to google and see if you can buy the MR2 Door / Targa seals in Australia but I see for the lot that Toyota want $1000!!!!, Sure TWO'SRUS  in the U.S has them cheaper but god knows what postage costs would be!?..  I really love that MR2 I drove yesterday,the acceleration,the gearbox,the clutch felt fantastic! just a shame about this leaking roof situation they all have.....

Just remember that the SW20 also came in a hardtop (Japan market only) if you don't need a targa.
They are harder to find and are usually more desirable.
 
Don't be worried about buying new targa seals, Last set I bought ended up being a few hundred dollars shipped from Canada.
Also with these cars buying parts from overseas is very common and is much much cheaper than buying locally. Do not worry about this, there are many reputable trusted sources for parts online.

Postage isn't too bad from Twos R Us.  Hardtops don't generally leak, Targas are bad for it and will only be getting worse with age.  If the cheap and easy fixes don't work, new (supple) seals will probably be required.  The top of the window should really be putting some pressure on the seals.  Can probably try adjusting the window guides so the top of the glass sits tighter against the rubber seals.
 
Got any links to the car you are looking at?

Thanks for the replies guys,ive been constantly thinking about buying that MR2 and keep changing my mind, many say im completely insane for wanting to pay $10,000 for a 1990 Toyota espically concidering the Aircon doesnt work( condenser and dryers are gone for some reason?) and that roof leaks bad.
 
Its going to be raing here in W.A next week and winter just around the corner so a badly leaking roof is not going to be much fun at all.There is 1 HARDTOP MR2 for sale here in W.A on gumtree but the guy wants $12,500 for it = its out of my price range
   tried to paste the local Gumtree  MR2 links here but wont let me do it ?
 
I really dont understand how the Hardtop panels can possibly seal water tight anyways?,cause you will allways have that open join in the rubber between the Hardtop panel and the rubber on the door frame......

I have a gen 3 (research this) targa top 95 mr2 for sale in Perth.

Best of it's immaculate, modded, rebuilt and...

Doesn't leak!!

Get this car

http://www.mr2australia.c./MR2play/tm.aspx?m=69796

Soaren1

I have a gen 3 (research this) targa top 95 mr2 for sale in Perth.

Best of it's immaculate, modded, rebuilt and...

Doesn't leak!!

Get this car

Sorry mate way out my price range......
 
GUYS= what is the stud pattern on the 1990 MR2 = ive been googling and getting conflicting info on stud pattern specs?

For under $500 shipped you can replace every seal relating to the roof panels and doors, and I guarantee you won't have any leaking issues after doing this. You might not need to go this far, but its good to know.
I had a small leak, and pulled things apart to check the drain hoses and try the usual silicon and coax tricks. Spent many hours and ended up with an even bigger leak! Replaced the seal with new in like 15mins and its perfect now.
 
Stud pattern is 5 x 114.3 I'm pretty sure. Same as the Supras and Skylines, so wheel choice is fairly good, but offsets can vary a little.

Blacky is right for stud pattern.
 
Sellers like DB8 (forum sponsor) and two'2rus (non affiliated) sell brand new hard top seals. They are not a 'hail mary' - if you haven't found the source of the problem (could be drains..) You have to have wise eyes look at yo' car.

I had the same problem, the water that leaks in, is thequarter panel glass take it off and stickaflex it back on also round the targe over time the seal moves leaveing a large gap pull it close as poosible stickflex and no more leaks

IMO targa tops are great, and one very good reason to buy an MR2.
Take the tops off in summer, and take the shades off in winter - really transforms the car.  A hard top? no way!
 
But let's be realistic.
Any car you buy that is over 20 YO is bound to have some probs that need fixing, and with SW20's the targa tops may be the least thing you need to worry about.
 
Anyway targa top rubbers will last a long time if properly maintained.
On my '90 model they don't leak, and they still have the original rubbers as far as I know.
However my car has always been garaged, so that may be the reason why.