mk3 MR2 is the 'new' mk1 MX5 - discuss
Discussion
McAndy said:
Ref. the last sentence: seriously? Weekly shops were no problem at all. A weekly shop on a bike would be a fair few factors more challenging!
Perhaps an overstatement by the poster, however we couldnt go weekly grocery shopping in hours. Two people, and say, 6 grocery bags just wasnt workingI think they're simply excellent. The handling is lovely, they're comfortable, they cost hardly anything to run, they look great (IMHO) and the engine whilst unspectacular is perfectly adequate for the job, I never find myself wanting for more power. 138bhp goes a long way in a car weighing 975kg, 141.5 bhp/ton is a perfectly respectable amount for road use.
I tried a MK2.5 MX5 and I simply don't fit whereas the MR2 could fairly be described as snug but I can at least fit all my limbs and head inside. It was hard to get much of an impression of the MX5 when I was driving it with my knees around my ears and my head horizontal.
Mine is a 2003 facelift with the more reliable engine, 6-speed box etc and I love it. I can't get to my pictures at work but I'll post one later.
I tried a MK2.5 MX5 and I simply don't fit whereas the MR2 could fairly be described as snug but I can at least fit all my limbs and head inside. It was hard to get much of an impression of the MX5 when I was driving it with my knees around my ears and my head horizontal.
Mine is a 2003 facelift with the more reliable engine, 6-speed box etc and I love it. I can't get to my pictures at work but I'll post one later.
TurboHatchback said:
I think they're simply excellent. The handling is lovely, they're comfortable, they cost hardly anything to run, they look great (IMHO) and the engine whilst unspectacular is perfectly adequate for the job, I never find myself wanting for more power. 138bhp goes a long way in a car weighing 975kg, 141.5 bhp/ton is a perfectly respectable amount for road use.
I tried a MK2.5 MX5 and I simply don't fit whereas the MR2 could fairly be described as snug but I can at least fit all my limbs and head inside. It was hard to get much of an impression of the MX5 when I was driving it with my knees around my ears and my head horizontal.
Mine is a 2003 facelift with the more reliable engine, 6-speed box etc and I love it. I can't get to my pictures at work but I'll post one later.
Pretty much all of the above (both MR2 and MX-5 Mk2 points), although mine was pre-facelift and the engine failed. I tried a MK2.5 MX5 and I simply don't fit whereas the MR2 could fairly be described as snug but I can at least fit all my limbs and head inside. It was hard to get much of an impression of the MX5 when I was driving it with my knees around my ears and my head horizontal.
Mine is a 2003 facelift with the more reliable engine, 6-speed box etc and I love it. I can't get to my pictures at work but I'll post one later.
Loved my MR2 Mk 3
Got it new and it was the 10th in the country (had to wait months for it to arrive)
Great car.
The advan tyres were almost track sticky (and even left marbles stuck to the side of the car)
The chassis was genuinely sharp (they did reduce the sharpness on later ones after complaints). It could be steered on the throttle and was very nicely balanced.
Plenty of room for me, though the drains where the hood stowed away could get blocked, the wells would then fill with water which would fly out under hard braking and go straight down the back of your neck.
Wife wants a cheap MX5 as a sunday fun car, I have though about persuading her to get one of these instead.
That all said, I did flip mine end over end on the M6.
Got it new and it was the 10th in the country (had to wait months for it to arrive)
Great car.
The advan tyres were almost track sticky (and even left marbles stuck to the side of the car)
The chassis was genuinely sharp (they did reduce the sharpness on later ones after complaints). It could be steered on the throttle and was very nicely balanced.
Plenty of room for me, though the drains where the hood stowed away could get blocked, the wells would then fill with water which would fly out under hard braking and go straight down the back of your neck.
Wife wants a cheap MX5 as a sunday fun car, I have though about persuading her to get one of these instead.
That all said, I did flip mine end over end on the M6.
TurboHatchback said:
138bhp goes a long way in a car weighing 975kg, 141.5 bhp/ton is a perfectly respectable amount for road use.
You would think so, wouldn't you, but the one I drove didn't feel like it had 138 bhp. More like about 120, tops. I think something like a 106 GTI with 120 bhp and 950ish kg would pull its pants down in a straight line (on paper, it shouldn't, maybe it just didn't *feel* fast).paul1087 said:
I have had both,
Never really gelled with the MX5.
I have done a 2zz swap, coilovers e.t.c on the MR2 and its a great little car.
Load space is not great, and yes the boot is a bit rubbish.
But for a weekend / track day car its a lot of fun for not a lot of money!
That is lovely. Its pretty much what I would have wanted mine to be had I bought one, but in the end, getting it to that sort of standards opens you up to other more powerful (as standard cars). I bet that is a riot. Why they didn't at least offer this engine in a hot variant is beyond me.Never really gelled with the MX5.
I have done a 2zz swap, coilovers e.t.c on the MR2 and its a great little car.
Load space is not great, and yes the boot is a bit rubbish.
But for a weekend / track day car its a lot of fun for not a lot of money!
TameRacingDriver said:
That is lovely. Its pretty much what I would have wanted mine to be had I bought one, but in the end, getting it to that sort of standards opens you up to other more powerful (as standard cars). I bet that is a riot. Why they didn't at least offer this engine in a hot variant is beyond me.
When they had two previous generations both offering very hot versions this was a bit strange. Kind of 'down graded' them. I thought about one when I was in the market for a cheap 2 seater convertible but didn't go there primarily because it had a tiny boot and also the lack of performance. I had no idea there was storage behind the seats until I read this thread!!!!
deltashad said:
When they had two previous generations both offering very hot versions this was a bit strange. Kind of 'down graded' them.
True, although I could be wrong here, weren't the previous hot versions Japanese market only? Did they ever do a hot version of the Mk3 in Japan? I remember they did the Supercharged Mk1 and the Turbo Mk2 and the uber rare BEAMS engined one (that must be worth a fortune now?)The mk1 with its 1.6 16v was very quick in it's day. I went for a ride in one back around 1990 driven by an insane friend of mine, it could easily wipe out the hot hatches.. revved to heaven and back.
Not sure if the MR2 turbo was offered in the UK. I thought they were but am waiting to be proven completely incorrect..
Another friend of mine chopped in his Delta HF turbo for a Gen 2 MR2 Turbo, after a few quid and a and few hours chucked in the car became a missile.
It was as if the 3rd incarnation became a 'nice' convertible and went a completely different direction. I don't understand why they kept the MR2 name.
On another note both the Mk1 and Mk2 had the looks of mini supercars, the Mk3 although a good looking car, just didn't have the same wow factor.
Not sure if the MR2 turbo was offered in the UK. I thought they were but am waiting to be proven completely incorrect..
Another friend of mine chopped in his Delta HF turbo for a Gen 2 MR2 Turbo, after a few quid and a and few hours chucked in the car became a missile.
It was as if the 3rd incarnation became a 'nice' convertible and went a completely different direction. I don't understand why they kept the MR2 name.
On another note both the Mk1 and Mk2 had the looks of mini supercars, the Mk3 although a good looking car, just didn't have the same wow factor.
Edited by deltashad on Thursday 9th June 17:21
M1C said:
This miht be a stupid question but does the 190 engine from the Celica T Sport not fit in them? That would be fun!?
If you see mention of the 2zz engine (like a few posts above), that is from the Celica 190.And yes, they do fit. As does the Camry 3.0 V6, but it's a lot more work.
I've just taken this from Wikipedia, never heard of this before;
"Also for model year 2007, the United Kingdom received 300 models in a special numbered TF300 series. A special 182 bhp (136 kW) turbocharged variant called the TTE Turbo (TTE standing for Toyota Team Europe) was available as a dealer-installed package. This package was also available for fitting to customer MR2s."
Martin350 said:
I've just taken this from Wikipedia, never heard of this before;
"Also for model year 2007, the United Kingdom received 300 models in a special numbered TF300 series. A special 182 bhp (136 kW) turbocharged variant called the TTE Turbo (TTE standing for Toyota Team Europe) was available as a dealer-installed package. This package was also available for fitting to customer MR2s."
That is incorrect. The TF300 had the same 138 bhp engine as the rest..."Also for model year 2007, the United Kingdom received 300 models in a special numbered TF300 series. A special 182 bhp (136 kW) turbocharged variant called the TTE Turbo (TTE standing for Toyota Team Europe) was available as a dealer-installed package. This package was also available for fitting to customer MR2s."
http://media.toyota.co.uk/2006/05/toyota-mr2-roads...
SonicShadow said:
Read it again. The TTE kit was an option.
Yes, cost about 4Khttp://www.evo.co.uk/reviews/6431/toyota-mr2
200Plus Club said:
Fun with 138bhp, would be superb with 200. Seen a couple for sale with swaps done for 3-4k or so. Not sure obviously how good a job done but it's an easy conversion having seen one in the flesh it drops straight in with one different engine mount.
What about the rest of the job?
deltashad said:
200Plus Club said:
Fun with 138bhp, would be superb with 200. Seen a couple for sale with swaps done for 3-4k or so. Not sure obviously how good a job done but it's an easy conversion having seen one in the flesh it drops straight in with one different engine mount.
What about the rest of the job?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff