Discussion
Craikeybaby said:
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".
Sounds like the passenger in mine!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.
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.
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.
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
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
Nice car OP and great to see it being used so well!
My 2000 Roadster was a daily for 2 years, and since then has become a (sadly rather neglected) third car since my commute tripled in length.
Your pic at PHSS in September 14 made me realise I parked a few cars down from you (and remember being a little embarrassed that I hadn’t had time to clean mine)!
Mine’s been pretty painless to own really, it’s needed a battery, a MAF sensor, and following its hibernation on my parents driveway last winter a set of discs and pads all round (ouch) and a caliper for the MOT in March. Touch wood, the clutch is original at 114k miles… the pre-cats were done by previous owner, and yes it does use oil but probably not as much as the average VW/Audi…
My alloys need a refurb though, one of the tyres is losing pressure as a result of the slightly porous alloy and the tyres are in need of changing very soon.
Frankly it’s hard to justify keeping it, especially during a house project… but given it’s not worth much I’m planning to hold onto it and just use it for occasional use and Snetterton trips with my car-mad 7 year old. As a result I’m treating it – and trying to drive it – like an old classic now, rather than the Elise-chaser a newer, fresher model like yours would be.
Clearly I think they’re great cars (this is my second – I had my first about 12 years ago) and wonder why people bother with more expensive stuff – enough performance due to little weight, great handling, practical enough given they’re small mid-engined cars, and cheap to own. They’re also extraordinary value for money at the moment, and as long as I have mine, values will remain low I’m sure!
Keep up the good work!
My 2000 Roadster was a daily for 2 years, and since then has become a (sadly rather neglected) third car since my commute tripled in length.
Your pic at PHSS in September 14 made me realise I parked a few cars down from you (and remember being a little embarrassed that I hadn’t had time to clean mine)!
Mine’s been pretty painless to own really, it’s needed a battery, a MAF sensor, and following its hibernation on my parents driveway last winter a set of discs and pads all round (ouch) and a caliper for the MOT in March. Touch wood, the clutch is original at 114k miles… the pre-cats were done by previous owner, and yes it does use oil but probably not as much as the average VW/Audi…
My alloys need a refurb though, one of the tyres is losing pressure as a result of the slightly porous alloy and the tyres are in need of changing very soon.
Frankly it’s hard to justify keeping it, especially during a house project… but given it’s not worth much I’m planning to hold onto it and just use it for occasional use and Snetterton trips with my car-mad 7 year old. As a result I’m treating it – and trying to drive it – like an old classic now, rather than the Elise-chaser a newer, fresher model like yours would be.
Clearly I think they’re great cars (this is my second – I had my first about 12 years ago) and wonder why people bother with more expensive stuff – enough performance due to little weight, great handling, practical enough given they’re small mid-engined cars, and cheap to own. They’re also extraordinary value for money at the moment, and as long as I have mine, values will remain low I’m sure!
Keep up the good work!
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.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.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!
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!
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.
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.
Good to hear. I've started competing with mine in Autosolos and had a day at Gurston Down Hillclimb School in it last year. More Autosolos to come in 2016. I'm planning to fit a baffled sump and do a few trackdays as well. The autosolo stuff has only brief transient cornering 'g' and doesn't give the oil pressure any grief, but more sustained cornering has me paranoid about oil surge.
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.
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.
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