MR2 Roadster

[Craikeybaby]

I had some good drives in the MR2 last month, the highlight being the Midlands run to the Silverstone Sunday Service, following a GT3 most of the way.

I'm also going to the Gaydon Sunday Service tomorrow, so as the MR2 was looking pretty scruffy I spent this afternoon giving it a clean:
Clean MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

And added a new sticker:

Pistonheads sticker on the MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

[Craikeybaby]

Thanks guys.

[Craikeybaby]

It has been a quiet winter for the MR2, tucked up in its garage, but between house renovations and wedding planning I've finally found some time to spend in the garage and have hopefully sorted the brake squeal.

The caliper design is different to what I'm used to (MX-5 & Fiat 500), but now that I've got my head around it I think it is a great design. Whilst I had the front wheels off I took the chance to give them a good clean and a few coats of wax, so hopefully they stay easy to clean for the next few months.

I'm meeting some friends for Sunday lunch in the Peak District tomorrow, so that should be a good run out for the MR2.

[Craikeybaby]

Had a great day up in the Peak District, and I'm sure that the more I drive the MR2 the better it gets. I'm taking it up to Scotland next month, which should be awesome!

[Craikeybaby]

An update on what I've been getting up to with the MR2, it had its first outing on track at the Silverstone Sunday Service the other week. I was pretty much the slowest car on track, which is probably as much to do with the driver as being at least 100bhp down on everything else.


I've got the taste for trackways back, so hopefully I will be able to do some more this year.

I had the car serviced at Rogue Motorsport, a local MR2 specialist, who mainly specialise in preparing racing MR2s, they gave it a clean bill of health, with it only needing an oil change. Much cheaper than pretty much all the fluids being changed like last year.

It also needs MOT'd this month, so gave the lights a quick check and noticed that one of the brake lights was out, annoyingly, it seems like all of the "type in your numberplate to find the right bulbs" services, don't know much about MR2s, as they all recommended the wrong bulbs. Euro Car Parts were the worst though, as the wouldn't even let me browse for the bulbs I needed.

[Craikeybaby]

MOT = Passed!

It was a bit tight on the emissions (again ), but I don't have to worry about that until next year.

I'm taking it up to Scotland next week, I can't wait!

[Craikeybaby]

It felt like the slowest thing on track, but I'm sure that was down to the driver as much as the car.

I agree that they are great cars, I've had mk1 and mk3.5 MX-5s and spent plenty of time driving Boxsters and much prefer the MR2.

[Craikeybaby]

paul1087 said:

They are great on track.
Even a standard one on a twisty track can keep up with some higher powered cars when hustled.

I am off to Llandow in mine next week, hope the weather stays!

I imagine Llandow would suit it, I've driven there in my mk1 MX-5. Silverstone wasn't really the ideal track.

Fattyfat said:

Good to see you're still enjoying yours OP. I sold mine last November mainly due to lack of use. To impractical for me to commute in (I carry a couple of kit bags which just wouldn't fit the Roadster) and with 2 kids, it was really only used for solo sunday morning blats.

I'm also looking for a sensible car, but it will be to sit alongside the MR2! I'm fortunate that both me and my girlfriend can both walk to work, so have been able to get away with me having an unpractical car for a few years.

We're currently packing for a week away in Scotland in it, the good thing is that as we can't take much there isn't much to pack!

[Craikeybaby]

We've made it to Perth, on the first leg of our Scottish road trip. The MR2 was faultless on the drive up, however the future Mrs CB doesn't quite share my enthusiasm, she "Can't see why we're going to a country where it always rains, in a car she can't fit all her luggage in".

[Craikeybaby]

The plan is to head to Inverness via the old military road, then onto Lochcarron tomorrow. Then Applecross Wednesday and back to Perth via the Scotsburgring & Glencoe. Won't be getting to the islands on this trip, but did that a few years ago in my MX-5, the roads and scenery are even better on the Outer Hebrides.

[Craikeybaby]

MR2 on the Old Military Road by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

The MR2 is awesome on these highland roads!

[Craikeybaby]

A few more photos from the trip to Scotland:

MR2 Bealach na Ba by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

MR2 Bealach na Ba by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

The roads up there were perfectly suited to the MR2, slightly gutted that I need to take a bigger car on my next trip north of the border. I do have a run over to Wales to look forward to next month though.

[Craikeybaby]

I had the MR2 out on track at Donington Park last week.It was great fun, but I think I boiled the brake fluid, as the pedal has gone a bit soft.


Donington Park Trackday by Lewis Craik, on Flickr


Donington Park Trackday by Lewis Craik, on Flickr


Donington Park Trackday by Lewis Craik, on Flickr


Donington Park Trackday by Lewis Craik, on Flickr


Donington Park Trackday by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

[Craikeybaby]

Thanks. I agree, they are very underrated cars!

[Craikeybaby]

james_gt3rs said:

Craikeybaby said:

I had the MR2 out on track at Donington Park last week.It was great fun, but I think I boiled the brake fluid, as the pedal has gone a bit soft.

Mine always did that. You just have to bleed the brakes afterwards, the pads and disks last ages. I used the cheap 5.1 fluid from Eurocarparts, never once had any fade on track, only a softening pedal.

That is good to know, need to get some time in the garage to sort it out.

[Craikeybaby]

I've finally had a chance to get into the garage and bleed the brakes, the pedal feels a lot firmer that it did, but still not as good as it was before the track day. The first press on the pedal still isn't as firm as the second press. Could this be something to do with the ABS?

After bleeding the brakes I took it for a short test drive, and after not having driven it for a month I'd forgotten just how fun to drive it is!

[Craikeybaby]

There's still plenty of meat on the pads.

[Craikeybaby]

I got the MR2 out of hibernation ready for the PH Sunday Service at Bruntingthorpe tomorrow. The tyres needed a bit of air, but other than that is was great.

After 2 months driving my BMW, even just pulling out of my drive the MR2 felt much more alert than the BMW - I had a massive smile on my face. I was only meant to be going to fuel up and warm the engine up, but I ended up hooning around for an hour.

[Craikeybaby]

MR2 sailed through its MOT this afternoon, after I took it out for a decent hoon first to get the cats nice and warm. Looking forward to the PHSS at Santa Pod on Sunday, was tempted to take it down the strip, but can't hang around too long.

Got it booked in for a service at Rogue Motorsport in a few weeks, have asked them to look at the squeaky rear calliper, which seems to be getting worse and I haven't had a chance to look at over winter.

[Craikeybaby]

Took the MR2 down the strip at Santa Pod on the PHSS today, happy with a 16.47s run. The MR2 is more suited to the twists, but it was something to tick off my bucket list!

_MG_8734.jpg by Bob Craik, on Flickr

IMG_2351 by karl.mckenna, on Flickr