Discussion
Craikeybaby said:
What should I be worried about?
Just the well documented piston ring/precat issues and subsequent oil consumption issues. Yours being a facelift shouldn't cause you any sleepless nights.Other areas to watch are rotten rear crossmembers, Steering column UJ and sticky brake callipers.
All in all very little but not as mechanically bullet proof as a MX-5 but less likely to rust badly
Thanks! I'd read about the precat issue, hence getting a facelift. Cross member is on my list of things to check, as are squeaky brakes, which hopefully isn't a sticking caliper - I had enough of them to deal with on my first MX-5 (before it rusted away 
).
).Edited by Craikeybaby on Friday 3rd October 12:49
I've not updated this for a while, but the MR2 has had a varied September, whilst I was away on holiday it went to Manhattan Motors in Coventry to have the passenger door and rear 3/4 panel resprayed, after I scraped it on my garage.
After that I did about 1,000 miles in it over a week, going to the PHSS at Silverstone:
PistonHeads Sunday Service Silverstone September 2014 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Then up to Yorkshire for a long weekend. We managed to fit our weekend bags in - and had enough space that the missus could do some shopping too. I had been looking forward to taking it for a hoon over the North York Moors, but the weather was pretty crap, so couldn't see much:
MR2 North York Moors by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Since then it has been parked on my drive, as I have been in Japan for business. The reason it is on my drive is that it's space in the garage is occupied by an Elise (unfortunately not mine):
Lotus in the garage by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
After that I did about 1,000 miles in it over a week, going to the PHSS at Silverstone:
PistonHeads Sunday Service Silverstone September 2014 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Then up to Yorkshire for a long weekend. We managed to fit our weekend bags in - and had enough space that the missus could do some shopping too. I had been looking forward to taking it for a hoon over the North York Moors, but the weather was pretty crap, so couldn't see much:
MR2 North York Moors by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Since then it has been parked on my drive, as I have been in Japan for business. The reason it is on my drive is that it's space in the garage is occupied by an Elise (unfortunately not mine):
Lotus in the garage by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
I really like it, I've also had a couple of MX-5s and they would still be my choice for a daily driver, but as a fun weekend car the MR2 feels more special. The handling limits are higher, but it is snappier and of course, they aren't particularly partical without a boot.
The pre-facelift models are meant to have engine issues, hence I went for a facelifted one.
The pre-facelift models are meant to have engine issues, hence I went for a facelifted one.
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
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 FlickrAnd added a new sticker:
Pistonheads sticker on the MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nice colour. My Mk3 is a lighter silver. In over 3 years mine has been reliable ('03 facelift car), with only a lambda sensor giving grief. They're great cars; I still enjoy driving mine despite owning some V8 powered stuff that would use the MR2's engine as a starter motor. Having had MX5 Mk1, S2000, MR2 Turbo in the past the Roadster is still the sharpest and most direct on the road.
How was it on track?
How was it on track?
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.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!
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!
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