These cars are getting older now most of them would be getting on 20 years plus...
 
Finding one with a great/good body AND great mechanical condition with everything working - even for $10,000 will be pushing it.
 
They are out there, and do come up for sale (rarely) but often are snapped up quickly. This goes for turbo and non turbo varients.
 
If you really want to get your hands on an MR2, you could always settle for a non turbo - get accustomed to the handling and driving traits of an MR2 (as its much different to an S13) and move on to a Turbo later. Selling an NA shouldn't be difficult.
 
After driving the NA around, you may hate the fact these cars are so impractical, and decide you no longer want an mr2 - or in actual you may find yourself loving it and buying more then 1!
 
I would recommend looking at that red one that was recently posted, considering the Toyota Red isn't a metallic or pearl and that the bonnet (easily the biggest panel on an MR2) has already been painted - respraying the rest of the car might be quite affordable.
 

That red one
 
Only bit that looks damaged by sun is roof, boot lid (and spoiler) and engine lid - the sides do not look to bad and should be able to be buffed. I am not a painter, but I would assume depending where you go you could get that done for around $1500 (if you go to a non-insurance affiliated spray painter).
 
The bumper is plastic, I had a similar 'dent' in one of my cars - a heat gun and a gentle massage gets it to close to perfect.
 
Everything looks quite complete; front lights (indicators and foglights) are still original OEM items and still looks like it has the original JDM fenders so unlikely had a major prang.
 
That being said, that bumper has come off at some time and looks to have been painted - but that probably would of been done when faded bonnet was re-done.

When its comes to paintjobs here in W.A ,its rediculous prices = Dec last year I got 3 quotes to repaint the 180SX and they all wanted $5000!!!!( no rust dents, just a respray!) so im not keen to buy that $5000 one,says has some rust too so theres more money ontop of the high priced paintjob and says the  leather seats are all cracked. See how you can see the white on the roof etc where the clearcoat had gone, my 180SX has that on the roof and bonnet, the Panel beaters I went to said when like that it has to go back to bare metal or it comes back!? part of the reason they wanted $5000 I suspect?.....
 
Theres a odd coloured MR2 that I see 2 doors down from my mum's sometimes in Safety Bay ( W.A), I can only descibe the colour as a yellow/ gold and has unknown  black mags but looks fantastic!!!.Ive been tempted to knock on the door and ask if the owner will sell it, might be a W.A member on here?.....

Dare I say it, last years many panel beaters and painters were asking a premium as they were still keeping up with the hail damaged cars coming through from 2010!
 
This car is targa, roof is even smaller, rust I have noticed in a few targas that a bit of water collects on the actual targa glass and it starts to rust, depending how severe it would be, I would rule it off.
 
Not sure what the painter was telling by telling to repair faded/cracked paint it requires going back to metal - unless he was fixing rust or filling a dent I cant quite understand that, but as I said I am no painter.
I have had quotes to do my entire car in a solid colour for $3000
 
As for seats, they would be the leather(vinyl)/suede seats, you surely cant expect 20 year old seats to be still in fantastic condition? They are very easy to pull apart, I had mine repaired for $50
 
I think any car will have its flaws - just need to find one that isn't too bad.
Even at the price you're looking at, I think you have a real struggle to find one that needs absolutely no work - there simply aren't enough around compared to 180s/skylines/etc

Doesnt matter now, that $5000 one sold already !!, I can see I'm going to struggle to get one over here in W.A in god cond ( at a reasonable price)

No good mate!, Ive driven that one and  the clutch was terrible, gearbox felt crap to me( didnt select gears nicely at all) and when he started it up or stopped at corner something is rattling, the owner says " the noise goes away when the engine is warm" . It was a shame cause the price is pretty good and so is the body/paint but to me personally I thought it didnt drive very nicely, prior to this I drove that Orange one I was originally going to buy( shoulda just bought that one!!!) the orange MR2 drove simply stunningly and is the reason I want one now!....

None are perfect. 
Bite the bullet & buy one that isn't. 
When I test drove mine, I crunched 2nd on the way down every time.  The guy said once you get used to double clutching it is ok.  It took me a few weeks to stop crunching,
but ...... I own an MR2.   
The paintwork isn't perfect............... but I own an MR2.   
I paid $5500.  She needed the 200,000 service with timing belt & a couple of new tyres, so I factored that in & yyaaayyy............. I own an MR2.
I can't do any of the work myself, apart from keeping it nice & clean & that sort of stuff.    But I own an MR2.
Gearbox will get done after tax time.  I'll get one of those mobile paint repair guys to come & stop the clear coat from peeling any more on the front until I've got enough for a respray.
She's fun to drive whether perfect or not.
 

Can someone give me some info on the 2000 MR2 Spider?, from what I can see these are only a 1.8 Litre and I dont think they are Turbo??. They have some odd Gearbox ( Tiptronic Auto?) did they not make a full manual box for these??

Not sure about the spyders
Gearbox in them was really weak and temperamental
However they had a decent power to weight ratio and look awsome in hardtop form imo
But they are no where near as fun to drive as an adub or sdub
But there are a few that are awsome on the track
Sweet Pete for one has an awsome track one,
And there's a yellow one thats had a lot of money spent on it.

In stock form I think they are a bit of a girly car imho

Shaz
None are perfect. 
Bite the bullet & buy one that isn't. 
When I test drove mine, I crunched 2nd on the way down every time.  The guy said once you get used to double clutching it is ok.  It took me a few weeks to stop crunching,
but ...... I own an MR2.   
The paintwork isn't perfect............... but I own an MR2.   
I paid $5500.  She needed the 200,000 service with timing belt & a couple of new tyres, so I factored that in & yyaaayyy............. I own an MR2.
I can't do any of the work myself, apart from keeping it nice & clean & that sort of stuff.    But I own an MR2.
 
She's fun to drive whether perfect or not.
 

 
Totally agree shazbot, not 'too' many that are perfect out there - however there is one...
 
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Toyota-MR2-Turbo-SW20-Targa-Top-SHOWROOM-CONDITION-79-000kms-Best-in-Australia-/121082369730?pt=AU_Cars&hash=item1c311256c2#ht_587wt_1378
 
Quote... "BEST SHOWROOM PRISTINE CONDITION
PRESENTS IN THE BEST CONDITION EVER SEEN ON A MR2...
RARE INTERCOOLER & HIGHFLOW EXHAUSTS...
semi genuine bucket seats , Brand New Sensible Wheels...
Once in a lifetime oppurtunity for the cleanest ,newest, immaculate Factory Import TURBO SW20 Mr2 left in Australia that is clean, unmolested and not abused ! 
 
I Can Assure this is the best Condition Mr2 turbo import being offered for sale in all of Australia." 
 
end quotes...
 
 
 
 
Seriously, with these cars you can sometimes find a gem, but mostly you have to scrape the dirt off, do some cutting and cleaning up and you can come up with a diamond from the rough.
 
Two ways I think, buy a roughie and put good time, money and effort into it - or buy one where there hard work (and dollars) have already gone into it.