Discussion
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
_MG_8734.jpg by Bob Craik, on Flickr
IMG_2351 by karl.mckenna, on Flickr
I've been having some trouble with my BMW daily driver, so I managed to convince my wife that we should take the MR2 for our annual jaunt to Devon. With Baby Craik on the way it could well be our last chance for a trip away in the MR2 together for a while!
As we were in the MR2 we decided to come off the M5 early and take the A39 over Exmoor - one of my favourite roads. We managed to hit it at a good time, the rain had just stopped as we got to the top of Porlock Hill, so I pulled in to drop the hood and let the traffic clear. The run down in to Lynmouth was one of the best blats I've had in a long time. After a quick lunch in Lynmouth we carried on towards Croyde, roof up again as there were a few flakes on snow! With the diversion it was about 200 miles door to door and we both didn't feel any worse for it.
The next day we decided to take a day trip to Dartmouth, via Dartmoor. I'd only ever skirted round Dartmoor previously, but open moorland roads are my favourite. The detour didn't disappoint, even if we were up in the clouds crossing the moors. At Dartmouth we took one of the small ferries across the estuary - ferry is really a glorification, it was a raft big enough for 6 cars, towed across by a tug boat. We took the A377 back to Croyde. the road looks wiggly on the map, but it was better in real life, driving along an empty, awesome road, with pine forests on one side and a wide, shallow fast flowing river on the other I felt like I could have been in the Scottish Highlands. This was another 200 mile day in the car.
After a day where the MR2 was only used for a fish and chip run to the next village, we spent the next few days heading home, via Glastonbury, Bath and the Cotswolds. The MR2 worked better as a GT car than I'd expected, we are used to travelling light from backpacking days, and the seats were surprisingly comfortable. But when the roads got interesting, the lightweight nature of the car and feedback through the seats and steering meant I could make the most of it. I was falling in love with the MR2 all over again.
At Bibury, 550 miles into the 600 mile trip:
MR2 in Bibury by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
After all that driving I took the MR2 to my local(ish) MR2 specialist for a service and to get the squeaky rear brakes looked at. Even though the car hasn't reached 54,000 miles this was to be the 100,000 mile service, along with a brake fluid change, as the pedal has been soft after my Donington track day last year, even after bleeding the brakes.
The front callipers were rebuilt, without anti squeal shims, as the could have added to the pedal softness. The discs have probably only got one more track day in them, so they were reused and I'll change discs and pads after my next track day.
At the rear, the cause of the squealing brakes was traced to irregular wear on the inner face of both brake discs, probably due to poor adjustment of the handbrake mechanism. So the discs and pads were replaced with OEM items and the callipers were rebuilt and adjusted correctly.
They also identified a small oil leak from the drive shaft gaiter, so that was replaced.
The bill was £700, but the car is driving so much better, especially on the brakes, the pedal is firm and the brakes seem much more efficient. Slowing down from 50mph for the first right turn after the workshop I nearly headbutted the windscreen. Now to get a track day booked to see how they hold out...
As we were in the MR2 we decided to come off the M5 early and take the A39 over Exmoor - one of my favourite roads. We managed to hit it at a good time, the rain had just stopped as we got to the top of Porlock Hill, so I pulled in to drop the hood and let the traffic clear. The run down in to Lynmouth was one of the best blats I've had in a long time. After a quick lunch in Lynmouth we carried on towards Croyde, roof up again as there were a few flakes on snow! With the diversion it was about 200 miles door to door and we both didn't feel any worse for it.
The next day we decided to take a day trip to Dartmouth, via Dartmoor. I'd only ever skirted round Dartmoor previously, but open moorland roads are my favourite. The detour didn't disappoint, even if we were up in the clouds crossing the moors. At Dartmouth we took one of the small ferries across the estuary - ferry is really a glorification, it was a raft big enough for 6 cars, towed across by a tug boat. We took the A377 back to Croyde. the road looks wiggly on the map, but it was better in real life, driving along an empty, awesome road, with pine forests on one side and a wide, shallow fast flowing river on the other I felt like I could have been in the Scottish Highlands. This was another 200 mile day in the car.
After a day where the MR2 was only used for a fish and chip run to the next village, we spent the next few days heading home, via Glastonbury, Bath and the Cotswolds. The MR2 worked better as a GT car than I'd expected, we are used to travelling light from backpacking days, and the seats were surprisingly comfortable. But when the roads got interesting, the lightweight nature of the car and feedback through the seats and steering meant I could make the most of it. I was falling in love with the MR2 all over again.
At Bibury, 550 miles into the 600 mile trip:
MR2 in Bibury by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
After all that driving I took the MR2 to my local(ish) MR2 specialist for a service and to get the squeaky rear brakes looked at. Even though the car hasn't reached 54,000 miles this was to be the 100,000 mile service, along with a brake fluid change, as the pedal has been soft after my Donington track day last year, even after bleeding the brakes.
The front callipers were rebuilt, without anti squeal shims, as the could have added to the pedal softness. The discs have probably only got one more track day in them, so they were reused and I'll change discs and pads after my next track day.
At the rear, the cause of the squealing brakes was traced to irregular wear on the inner face of both brake discs, probably due to poor adjustment of the handbrake mechanism. So the discs and pads were replaced with OEM items and the callipers were rebuilt and adjusted correctly.
They also identified a small oil leak from the drive shaft gaiter, so that was replaced.
The bill was £700, but the car is driving so much better, especially on the brakes, the pedal is firm and the brakes seem much more efficient. Slowing down from 50mph for the first right turn after the workshop I nearly headbutted the windscreen. Now to get a track day booked to see how they hold out...
More expensive to buy / run by far and harder to get into / out of / slightly less habitable (maybe)... But you'd have room for more than your wallet and toothbrush, ironically enough 
Looking at one myself to replace my AW11. Maybe.
Yours is really nice - these appeal quite a bit for an inexpensive car that gives much of what the Elise offers on the road for a fraction of the cost (unless unlucky!).
Looking at one myself to replace my AW11. Maybe.
Yours is really nice - these appeal quite a bit for an inexpensive car that gives much of what the Elise offers on the road for a fraction of the cost (unless unlucky!).
Craikeybaby said:
Yes, by all logical reasons I should stay with the MR2, but I drove a Lotus around Silverstone and it was the best car I've ever driven.
Having said that, if I can't afford one, keeping the MR2 won't be a hardship!
I've just gone from an MR2 to an Elise, and I have to say the Elise is in another league. You can't dispute the value for money the mr2 offers, and it's a cracking little car, but for me the Elise is a LOT better. I can see Elise prices rising, so now's the time to buy one, if you can....Having said that, if I can't afford one, keeping the MR2 won't be a hardship!
Great thread though, enjoy the updates!
With the nice weather recently I've been having a lot of fun in the MR2!
Over the weekend we went to stay with some friends in Stockport, rather than taking one of the boring cars and driving up the M6, I took the opportunity to take the MR2 through the Peak District. We came home via Bakewell, which meant another run through the Peak District, including the Cat & Fiddle pass. It was perfect convertible weather, warm enough not to wrap up too much but not too sunny that my Scottish skin got burnt to a crisp.
Then yesterday I did a trackday at Donington Park, I'd had put off booking as I didn't fancy a trackday in the rain, but my calendar was looking bust for all the alternative dates, so I had to go for yesterday. In the end it worked out really well, with the track pretty wet to start with a lot of the race cars stayed in the pits and the speed differential between the MR2, which in my hands is usually the slowest car on track, and the faster cars seemed lower. The lack of power probably helped me to stay out of trouble.
In the afternoon the rain stopped and the track dried out the MR2 was still going really well, I felt like I was going faster than the trackday I did at Donington last year. I was able to lap with other cars too which was fun, notably an Austin A30 race car. Just like last time I was there, about 15 minutes before the end of the day the rain started again, last year I pulled into the pits and went home, but with my new-found confidence from the morning, I pulled into the pits, put the roof up and went out for a few more laps! The car had been moving under me all day, especially at Redgate and Coppice, but on my penultimate lap I had a bit of a tankslapper coming out of McLeans, fortunately there weren't any other cars around and I managed to keep it on the black stuff.
I was happy with the 185 miles I clocked up on track, I was doing 15 mins on/15 mins off with no trouble from the car. I had a few people come up to me and say how the MR2 is so underrated. Like my last few track days the brakes have taken a battering, the pedal is now quite soft. When I had the car serviced last month I'd been advised that the front disks only had 1 track day left on them, so I'll bleed the brakes properly when I do the disks and pads. Do any of the (ex)MR2 owners reading have any recommendations for brake pads?
After the last month of drag strip, road trips and a track day I really need to treat the MR2 to a good wash!
Donington Park track day by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Over the weekend we went to stay with some friends in Stockport, rather than taking one of the boring cars and driving up the M6, I took the opportunity to take the MR2 through the Peak District. We came home via Bakewell, which meant another run through the Peak District, including the Cat & Fiddle pass. It was perfect convertible weather, warm enough not to wrap up too much but not too sunny that my Scottish skin got burnt to a crisp.
Then yesterday I did a trackday at Donington Park, I'd had put off booking as I didn't fancy a trackday in the rain, but my calendar was looking bust for all the alternative dates, so I had to go for yesterday. In the end it worked out really well, with the track pretty wet to start with a lot of the race cars stayed in the pits and the speed differential between the MR2, which in my hands is usually the slowest car on track, and the faster cars seemed lower. The lack of power probably helped me to stay out of trouble.
In the afternoon the rain stopped and the track dried out the MR2 was still going really well, I felt like I was going faster than the trackday I did at Donington last year. I was able to lap with other cars too which was fun, notably an Austin A30 race car. Just like last time I was there, about 15 minutes before the end of the day the rain started again, last year I pulled into the pits and went home, but with my new-found confidence from the morning, I pulled into the pits, put the roof up and went out for a few more laps! The car had been moving under me all day, especially at Redgate and Coppice, but on my penultimate lap I had a bit of a tankslapper coming out of McLeans, fortunately there weren't any other cars around and I managed to keep it on the black stuff.
I was happy with the 185 miles I clocked up on track, I was doing 15 mins on/15 mins off with no trouble from the car. I had a few people come up to me and say how the MR2 is so underrated. Like my last few track days the brakes have taken a battering, the pedal is now quite soft. When I had the car serviced last month I'd been advised that the front disks only had 1 track day left on them, so I'll bleed the brakes properly when I do the disks and pads. Do any of the (ex)MR2 owners reading have any recommendations for brake pads?
After the last month of drag strip, road trips and a track day I really need to treat the MR2 to a good wash!
Donington Park track day by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
ex MR2 Roadster owner here, nice write up - I bought one of the first UK registered ones back in 2000, they were quite a rare sight then. Often used to get acknowledged by Boxsters as they approached from a distance before they realised what it was.
No tips on brake pads I'm afraid as mine stayed OEM, but if you squeeze your arm in and push the top of the glass with your fingertips when closing the hood you won't get that unsightly lip sticking up...
No tips on brake pads I'm afraid as mine stayed OEM, but if you squeeze your arm in and push the top of the glass with your fingertips when closing the hood you won't get that unsightly lip sticking up...
I've got some of the official photos from Donington, all from the morning which was wet:
Donington Park Trackday Official Photo by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Donington Park Trackday Official Photo by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Donington Park Trackday Official Photo by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
I got back from Donington and left the MR2 in the garage, unfortunately it hasn't moved since, the brakes needed bleeding, so I jacked it up and removed the rear wheels, then got a bit bored waiting for someone to press the pedal for me and ending up giving the rear wheels a thorough clean/wax.
Not overly dirty to begin with, probably because the brakes weren't properly adjusted:
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Snow foam to get most of the dirt off:
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Looking better already:
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
But still more contaminants to remove:
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
On to the bench for some deep cleaner, 3x sealant and 2x tyre shine:
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
A lot cleaner than the front wheels:
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The fronts had this treatment last year, so should only need a snow foam and maybe another coat of wheel sealant to be looking as good as the rears.
I managed to get my heavily pregnant wife to help me bleed the brakes, but her waters broke the next day and my son arrived 6 weeks early, so I have been spending my days in the hospital with them and haven't been able to get the fronts done. At least the baby will attract lots of visitors to the house so should have a helper sooner rather than later. It also means that the MR2 is going to be pressed into daily driver duty for me when I go back to work after paternity leave - I'm hoping the weather stays nice!
Donington Park Trackday Official Photo by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Donington Park Trackday Official Photo by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Donington Park Trackday Official Photo by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
I got back from Donington and left the MR2 in the garage, unfortunately it hasn't moved since, the brakes needed bleeding, so I jacked it up and removed the rear wheels, then got a bit bored waiting for someone to press the pedal for me and ending up giving the rear wheels a thorough clean/wax.
Not overly dirty to begin with, probably because the brakes weren't properly adjusted:
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Snow foam to get most of the dirt off:
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Looking better already:
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
But still more contaminants to remove:
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
On to the bench for some deep cleaner, 3x sealant and 2x tyre shine:
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
A lot cleaner than the front wheels:
MR2 wheel clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The fronts had this treatment last year, so should only need a snow foam and maybe another coat of wheel sealant to be looking as good as the rears.
I managed to get my heavily pregnant wife to help me bleed the brakes, but her waters broke the next day and my son arrived 6 weeks early, so I have been spending my days in the hospital with them and haven't been able to get the fronts done. At least the baby will attract lots of visitors to the house so should have a helper sooner rather than later. It also means that the MR2 is going to be pressed into daily driver duty for me when I go back to work after paternity leave - I'm hoping the weather stays nice!
Edited by Craikeybaby on Saturday 18th June 12:01
I must be pretty in tune with the MR2 - this morning I thought that I should probably put the MR2 on the battery charger, after it has been sat in the garage for a few weeks. I went to hook up the charger this evening and the battery was totally flat.
I've got my Dad coming round to help me bleed the brakes tomorrow, then from Monday the MR2 will be on daily driver duty for the rest of the summer!
I've got my Dad coming round to help me bleed the brakes tomorrow, then from Monday the MR2 will be on daily driver duty for the rest of the summer!
After a busy spring, the MR2 had a 7 week rest in the garage, but now it is back on the road!
Yesterday evening was one of those perfect sports car evening, not too sunny, but warm enough for short sleeves with the roof/windows down. I too the MR2 for a blast around my favourite local B road loop as a shakedown and was reminded just how good the car is. Even better, it has been moved in to the daily driver role until the roads start to get salty.
Yesterday evening was one of those perfect sports car evening, not too sunny, but warm enough for short sleeves with the roof/windows down. I too the MR2 for a blast around my favourite local B road loop as a shakedown and was reminded just how good the car is. Even better, it has been moved in to the daily driver role until the roads start to get salty.
Sunday morning was one of those days where the MR2 made so much sense.
I met some Midlands PHers to convoy down to the PHSS near Bicester, the MR2 wasn't great on the motorway, but when we got onto the twisties I was able to keep up with the Lamborghinis, Porches and Golf R and really enjoyed the drive. I also had a great drive back, through the Cotswolds and South Warwickshire. Over 100 miles of totally pointless, yet thoroughly enjoyable driving.
Now the MR2 is back on daily driver duties.
I met some Midlands PHers to convoy down to the PHSS near Bicester, the MR2 wasn't great on the motorway, but when we got onto the twisties I was able to keep up with the Lamborghinis, Porches and Golf R and really enjoyed the drive. I also had a great drive back, through the Cotswolds and South Warwickshire. Over 100 miles of totally pointless, yet thoroughly enjoyable driving.
Now the MR2 is back on daily driver duties.
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