Discussion
Not much has been happening with the MR2 over the last few years, kids and bikes have got in the way. It had a new battery towards the end of last year, the battery I replaced was a Panasonic one with lots of Japanese writing on it - given that mine is a UK car, it was probably the original battery from 2004!!! It was getting to the point where I had to connect the battery conditioner every time I parked it up.
When I took it for its MOT last week, it failed on emissions, probably due to lack of use. I had taken it for a hoon beforehand, but obviously wasn't trying hard enough. I ran a can of "Emissions reducer" through it and gave it a real thrashing cruising in 2nd/3rd gear over 5k rpm etc and it sailed through the retest.
I don't have any plans for this year, other than driving it and washing it - I haven't washed it since 2016! I would like to fit in a track day, but will have to see how money is, it could also do with a new set of tires, as I will have had the car 6 years and have not replaced the tyres. Oh, it is also off for a (hopefully cheap) trip to Rogue Motorsport next week for a service.
I don't have any new pictures of the MR2, but it has got a new Toyota friend at home, bought from the same garage that originally supplied the MR2:
Yaris by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
When I took it for its MOT last week, it failed on emissions, probably due to lack of use. I had taken it for a hoon beforehand, but obviously wasn't trying hard enough. I ran a can of "Emissions reducer" through it and gave it a real thrashing cruising in 2nd/3rd gear over 5k rpm etc and it sailed through the retest.
I don't have any plans for this year, other than driving it and washing it - I haven't washed it since 2016! I would like to fit in a track day, but will have to see how money is, it could also do with a new set of tires, as I will have had the car 6 years and have not replaced the tyres. Oh, it is also off for a (hopefully cheap) trip to Rogue Motorsport next week for a service.
I don't have any new pictures of the MR2, but it has got a new Toyota friend at home, bought from the same garage that originally supplied the MR2:
Yaris by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Today was service day for the MR2, it had only done a few thousand miles since the last one, but I like to get it done annually for peace of mind. I take it to Rogue Motorsport, who are the leading MR2 race preparation specialists. They are also fairly local.
The guys gave it a full check over, but all it needed was an oil and filter change.
The guys gave it a full check over, but all it needed was an oil and filter change.
I've been driving the MR2 a lot recently - almost a full tank of fuel in the last week.
My little boy left his favourite toy in his grandpa's car on Monday, and was inconsolable. So I met my Dad at Caffeine and Machine to collect the toy. Of course I took the MR2, with the roof down. I had forgotten how much fun roof down in the dark is!
Unfortunately it started to rain while we were in Caffeine and Machine, but it actually worked out to be quite photogenic:
MR2 at Caffine and Machine by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The drive back in the rain was still fun!
My little boy left his favourite toy in his grandpa's car on Monday, and was inconsolable. So I met my Dad at Caffeine and Machine to collect the toy. Of course I took the MR2, with the roof down. I had forgotten how much fun roof down in the dark is!
Unfortunately it started to rain while we were in Caffeine and Machine, but it actually worked out to be quite photogenic:
MR2 at Caffine and Machine by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The drive back in the rain was still fun!
The MR2 hasn't had much use over the winter for various reasons, mainly involving bikes and children.
I had a perfect opportunity to use it the other week - dry, salt-free roads, and an errand to run necessitating a hours cross country drive after the kids were in bed. I went to the garage and the battery was flat. So flat that I couldn't charge it, with either of the chargers I had available. Completely my fault for neither driving nor fitting the battery conditioner. I managed to jump start it a few days later and after an hour hooning around the countryside the battery was charged back up and I used it a few more times until the recent cold snap.
However - today was a significant day, my youngest son, Henry, got his first ride in the MR2!
Henry MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
He absolutely loved it!
It was only a trip to the supermarket, as the MR2 is too small to take a pushchair, so we are restricted on where we can go. I do like having the least suitable car in the parent and child spaces though!
Henry MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
I had a perfect opportunity to use it the other week - dry, salt-free roads, and an errand to run necessitating a hours cross country drive after the kids were in bed. I went to the garage and the battery was flat. So flat that I couldn't charge it, with either of the chargers I had available. Completely my fault for neither driving nor fitting the battery conditioner. I managed to jump start it a few days later and after an hour hooning around the countryside the battery was charged back up and I used it a few more times until the recent cold snap.
However - today was a significant day, my youngest son, Henry, got his first ride in the MR2!
Henry MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
He absolutely loved it!
It was only a trip to the supermarket, as the MR2 is too small to take a pushchair, so we are restricted on where we can go. I do like having the least suitable car in the parent and child spaces though!
Henry MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The MR2 hasn't been getting much use recently, partly due to a new big sister (which is way more practical), but also the crappy weather we have been having. I have been thinking that I ought to plug the battery conditioner it, so I popped out to the garage at lunchtime - my hunch was correct. No response from the key showed that the battery was flat. Again. Fortunately this time the battery conditioner alone was able to recover it.
With the MOT almost due, I decided to buy a bottle of the "emissions reducer" that I used to get through the MOT retest last year - at £7 I felt like it was worth doing. As I was going to Halfords anyway I thought I could get them to test the battery - an excuse to take the car out for a spin!
Having spent the last few weeks driving my van, it felt tiny! And sluggish off the line (the 2.0TDi in the van has double the torque, likely from way lower revs). Although the higher up the rev range the MR2 felt much better and more fun! There was no lazy accelerating without changing down a gear either - but that is what I like about the MR2, it needs to be driven properly! Coming from the van makes me appreciate that more!
I didn’t think I would say this, but I actually prefer the higher seating position in the van, with the reclined steering wheel. Both have similar gear knob placement, with the van actually having the slightly better shift action, maybe because the stick is much closer to the gearbox?
Anyway, Halfords declared the battery to be fine
, and I surprised my son by picking him up from preschool in the MR2, which he was really excited about! Now I've got the fun job of giving it a good thrashing for 100 miles with the "emissions reducer" in the tank before taking it for an MOT.
With the MOT almost due, I decided to buy a bottle of the "emissions reducer" that I used to get through the MOT retest last year - at £7 I felt like it was worth doing. As I was going to Halfords anyway I thought I could get them to test the battery - an excuse to take the car out for a spin!
Having spent the last few weeks driving my van, it felt tiny! And sluggish off the line (the 2.0TDi in the van has double the torque, likely from way lower revs). Although the higher up the rev range the MR2 felt much better and more fun! There was no lazy accelerating without changing down a gear either - but that is what I like about the MR2, it needs to be driven properly! Coming from the van makes me appreciate that more!
I didn’t think I would say this, but I actually prefer the higher seating position in the van, with the reclined steering wheel. Both have similar gear knob placement, with the van actually having the slightly better shift action, maybe because the stick is much closer to the gearbox?
Anyway, Halfords declared the battery to be fine
, and I surprised my son by picking him up from preschool in the MR2, which he was really excited about! Now I've got the fun job of giving it a good thrashing for 100 miles with the "emissions reducer" in the tank before taking it for an MOT.I checked the fluids at the weekend and found that a filter/dipstick had been added to the washer bottle - I can only image at the last service. It really confused me!
Had a good run out with my 3 year old to drop Mother's Day cards and presents at my Mum's house (left them in the garden did not touch anything/anyone) - it was a perfect day to be out in the MR2. And got the 100 miles driving I needed to do with eh "Emissions reducer" in the petrol tank. So now it is ready for an MOT, but as it isn't an essential car, I will just keep it in the garage until things have sorted themselves out - I must remember to plug the battery conditioner in again.
Had a good run out with my 3 year old to drop Mother's Day cards and presents at my Mum's house (left them in the garden did not touch anything/anyone) - it was a perfect day to be out in the MR2. And got the 100 miles driving I needed to do with eh "Emissions reducer" in the petrol tank. So now it is ready for an MOT, but as it isn't an essential car, I will just keep it in the garage until things have sorted themselves out - I must remember to plug the battery conditioner in again.
I decided to SORN the Roadster, I can't justify having two vehicles on the road when I can't drive either of them. It will also mean that from next year I won't have to tax both at the same time in February.
So the MR2 is in self isolation in the garage, hooked up to the battery conditioner for the foreseeable future.
So the MR2 is in self isolation in the garage, hooked up to the battery conditioner for the foreseeable future.
I retaxed the Roadster in June, but didn't actually get round to driving it until July. Managed to drive it a bit since then it is such a big jump coming out of my VW Transporter and in to the MR2.
I had it serviced at Rogue Motorsport last week, it was a big one - £474! Although I'm not complaining, as have had six years of pretty cheap motoring. It does need new tyres all round - and probably an alignment after that.
After collecting it from Rogue, I managed to park it on the drive, next to the Transporter, as my wife was out in her car - so took the opportunity to take a photo of my "fleet". I am pretty happy with how I have managed to cover fun and practical.
Roadster and Transporter by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
I had it serviced at Rogue Motorsport last week, it was a big one - £474! Although I'm not complaining, as have had six years of pretty cheap motoring. It does need new tyres all round - and probably an alignment after that.
After collecting it from Rogue, I managed to park it on the drive, next to the Transporter, as my wife was out in her car - so took the opportunity to take a photo of my "fleet". I am pretty happy with how I have managed to cover fun and practical.
Roadster and Transporter by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The Roadster came out of hibernation last week. I had to deliver some boxes to a colleague 40 miles away. My van would have been much more suitable fo this trip, but the sun was out, so I squeezed everything into the MR2. I have barely driven at all this year, and mostly in my van, so it was so good to be back in the MR2, it is so chuckable.
I took my youngest son out for a spin in it too, but he wasn't too impressed, he prefers the van - he has much to learn.
Unfortunately, despite being under a cover in the garage, it has picket up a small chip on the door, so I will ned to sort some touch up paint out.
New tyres are high on the priority list for this year, and I also have a double DIN headunit to fit, which I salvaged as part of an office clearout at work.
I took my youngest son out for a spin in it too, but he wasn't too impressed, he prefers the van - he has much to learn.
Unfortunately, despite being under a cover in the garage, it has picket up a small chip on the door, so I will ned to sort some touch up paint out.
New tyres are high on the priority list for this year, and I also have a double DIN headunit to fit, which I salvaged as part of an office clearout at work.
Used the MR2 for the nursery run last week - I wasn't going to argue with a 2 year old who wanted to go in the "sports car"...
Nursery run by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
However it is back in hibernation now.
Nursery run by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
However it is back in hibernation now.
I have had a few good runs out in the MR2 this week with my boys. An evening hoon out with my soon to be 5 year old, round some local lanes.
Then yesterday I ran some errands with his little brother, who really wasn't that fussed about going out in the "sports car", first he wanted to go by bike, then in my van as a second choice.
Errands in the MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
However, all he has been able to talk about since is "the sports car in the garage", hopefully I have converted him. One of the errands was to the supermarket, and it never gets old parking the totally impractical sports car in the arent and child spaces.
Errands in the MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Then yesterday I ran some errands with his little brother, who really wasn't that fussed about going out in the "sports car", first he wanted to go by bike, then in my van as a second choice.
Errands in the MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
However, all he has been able to talk about since is "the sports car in the garage", hopefully I have converted him. One of the errands was to the supermarket, and it never gets old parking the totally impractical sports car in the arent and child spaces.
Errands in the MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Edited by Craikeybaby on Friday 2nd July 21:50
Took the MR2 for a hoon over to the Elan Valley with a friend in his Z4 yesterday:
MR2 and BMW Z4 on the Dam by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Roadster on the Dam by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
MR2 Roadster on the mountain road by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
MR2 on the Mountain Road by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The drive over, cross country from Droitwich, was possibly even more fun than driving around the Elan Valley, I cannot think of another car I would rather have been in. the only small problem was that I bought a phone holder/charger, but it doesn't seem to be getting any power from the cigarette lighter socket. I couldn't get the fuse out to check it, so will do that later today.
MR2 and BMW Z4 on the Dam by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Roadster on the Dam by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
MR2 Roadster on the mountain road by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
MR2 on the Mountain Road by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The drive over, cross country from Droitwich, was possibly even more fun than driving around the Elan Valley, I cannot think of another car I would rather have been in. the only small problem was that I bought a phone holder/charger, but it doesn't seem to be getting any power from the cigarette lighter socket. I couldn't get the fuse out to check it, so will do that later today.
Edited by Craikeybaby on Monday 16th August 17:48
No idea! Checking the fuse was the easy bit that I could manage whilst also looking after a toddler.
The next step will be to look behind the lighter socket and check the connections, but if I am starting to take apart the centre console, I may as well fit the double DIN headunit I've got sat on the shelf, so that will be a bigger job. With no plans to use the MR2 for a few weeks, I hope to get started on that soon.
The next step will be to look behind the lighter socket and check the connections, but if I am starting to take apart the centre console, I may as well fit the double DIN headunit I've got sat on the shelf, so that will be a bigger job. With no plans to use the MR2 for a few weeks, I hope to get started on that soon.
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