Discussion
Good write up OP. I really enjoyed my MR2. I ended up selling mine as I just wasn't using it; the buyer wanted me to deliver for another £100 (it was a 80 mile round trip so worth it), and when I was driving down, then giving the buyer a passenger ride, I almost changed my mind. Fab little cars for very little money. The perfect little runabout.
Got the hard top on, heater is fierce, properly cooking hot.
I had to get the exhaust flexi coupling replaced, as it was blowing, looks to have upset an O2 sensor, getting an error code on the O2 heater circuit, nothing serious but will need sorting before MOT, just resert it when it does come on. Might be a new sensor or bypass with a resistor, still running closed loop okay, so I might try the resistor as a start.
Headlights are decent for old school halogen bulbs, high beam is particularly good, must be the large headlights lenses.
Starting to look closer at the possible engine upgrades, 1zz turbo, 2zz, 2zz & turbo or VAG 20VT. Will certainly add an additional degree of fun, but wonder if the 5 to 7K is worth it.
I had to get the exhaust flexi coupling replaced, as it was blowing, looks to have upset an O2 sensor, getting an error code on the O2 heater circuit, nothing serious but will need sorting before MOT, just resert it when it does come on. Might be a new sensor or bypass with a resistor, still running closed loop okay, so I might try the resistor as a start.
Headlights are decent for old school halogen bulbs, high beam is particularly good, must be the large headlights lenses.
Starting to look closer at the possible engine upgrades, 1zz turbo, 2zz, 2zz & turbo or VAG 20VT. Will certainly add an additional degree of fun, but wonder if the 5 to 7K is worth it.
craigjm said:
I use Osram nightbreakers in mine and refresh the lenses and it’s decent
Tried one with a zz2 and it really wasn’t all the different until you are wringing the neck of it because al the extra power was so high up.
The power curve is crazy on the 2zz, more extreme vtec yo! than the K20.Tried one with a zz2 and it really wasn’t all the different until you are wringing the neck of it because al the extra power was so high up.
QuantumTokoloshi said:
craigjm said:
I use Osram nightbreakers in mine and refresh the lenses and it’s decent
Tried one with a zz2 and it really wasn’t all the different until you are wringing the neck of it because al the extra power was so high up.
The power curve is crazy on the 2zz, more extreme vtec yo! than the K20.Tried one with a zz2 and it really wasn’t all the different until you are wringing the neck of it because al the extra power was so high up.
My son has one of these, facelift model in black, and I can't think of a more fun car for the cash.
It's got a whiff of the exotic with the rear engine setup, standout looks in an image of dreary conformity and Toyota reliability.
Out of the box they drive better than an mx5 of any model (and I've owned them all). Such a lovely pointy drivers car.
The only things that have gone wrong in a year are a failed sidelight bulb and brake lines that froze on in the cold.
Prices are still very cheap, can't stay that way much longer.
Enjoy OP!
Cheers,
Drew.
It's got a whiff of the exotic with the rear engine setup, standout looks in an image of dreary conformity and Toyota reliability.
Out of the box they drive better than an mx5 of any model (and I've owned them all). Such a lovely pointy drivers car.
The only things that have gone wrong in a year are a failed sidelight bulb and brake lines that froze on in the cold.
Prices are still very cheap, can't stay that way much longer.
Enjoy OP!
Cheers,
Drew.
2ZZ swap seems to quite a simple job if you get a complete Celica, poor mans Elise which is no bad thing. I've not seen any V6 swaps in one of these but they seem quite common in the earlier models. Coming from MX5's I've always had an eye on these, but they manage to be even less practical!
Sko77y said:
2ZZ swap seems to quite a simple job if you get a complete Celica, poor mans Elise which is no bad thing. I've not seen any V6 swaps in one of these but they seem quite common in the earlier models. Coming from MX5's I've always had an eye on these, but they manage to be even less practical!
They are not really that was practical. Take the spare wheel out of the frunk and replace it with an inflation kit and then use soft bags in there and in the bins behind the seats and you can actually carry quite a lot of stuff Sko77y said:
2ZZ swap seems to quite a simple job if you get a complete Celica, poor mans Elise which is no bad thing. I've not seen any V6 swaps in one of these but they seem quite common in the earlier models. Coming from MX5's I've always had an eye on these, but they manage to be even less practical!
Aye, they're not practical and it speaks volumes when an MX5 is more practical by a considerable margin.markiii said:
QuantumTokoloshi said:
markiii said:
V6 conversion for the win
Not investigated that much, a free revving six, might suit the car, more linear power delivery, MR2 rocketeer type deal.craigjm said:
Yeah and they do zz2 etc too but it’s quite pricy considering the price point of the cars these days. Not much change from around £7000.
for £7K, plus another £3K for the MR2, gets you into Boxster S territory, which makes the decision marginal, £3K or 4K it makes sense to do, unless you are going for massive power 400BHP+ then the 7K + makes sense, but for ~200 BHP, it is marginal.QuantumTokoloshi said:
for £7K, plus another £3K for the MR2, gets you into Boxster S territory, which makes the decision marginal, £3K or 4K it makes sense to do, unless you are going for massive power 400BHP+ then the 7K + makes sense, but for ~200 BHP, it is marginal.
MR2 is way more fun than a Boxster. Even with the standard power. It also doesn't have a grenade for an engine.Ive said before about practicality- its not a transit van for storage, but its not a matchbox either. If you need more storage, take the interior plastics out and the behind-seat storage space doubles. Take the spare wheel well out and the frunk is actually very big, just watch for your stuff falling into the road or snagging on axles etc. pack carefully.
a 1MZ conversion is great - you can drive everywhere in 3rd it is so tractable, - makes it great on real roads when youre just driving about. It runs out of steam at 5 or 6k, but just change up and ride the torque. Kept an early impreza honest up to 70ish in a traffic light drag. Its a great conversion for effortless overtaking and generally going quickly enough, but it isnt a track/sports car. Go for a 2zz (and supercharger) for that kind of revving racy drive.
a 1MZ conversion is great - you can drive everywhere in 3rd it is so tractable, - makes it great on real roads when youre just driving about. It runs out of steam at 5 or 6k, but just change up and ride the torque. Kept an early impreza honest up to 70ish in a traffic light drag. Its a great conversion for effortless overtaking and generally going quickly enough, but it isnt a track/sports car. Go for a 2zz (and supercharger) for that kind of revving racy drive.
RedAndy said:
Ive said before about practicality- its not a transit van for storage, but its not a matchbox either. If you need more storage, take the interior plastics out and the behind-seat storage space doubles. Take the spare wheel well out and the frunk is actually very big, just watch for your stuff falling into the road or snagging on axles etc. pack carefully.
You've just proved my point, imo. The above are inelegant solutions to problems, they are not inherently practical. Even using the storage bins behind the seats is a right faff.
I know this, coz I have a Mk3 MR2 myself. I love it, but let's not kid ourselves - these are not practical cars. Even the smallest city car is more practical than these things
TameRacingDriver said:
QuantumTokoloshi said:
for £7K, plus another £3K for the MR2, gets you into Boxster S territory, which makes the decision marginal, £3K or 4K it makes sense to do, unless you are going for massive power 400BHP+ then the 7K + makes sense, but for ~200 BHP, it is marginal.
MR2 is way more fun than a Boxster. Even with the standard power. It also doesn't have a grenade for an engine.Also for anyone trying to argue BC Racing suspension is anything other than Taiwanese budget stuff, try riding in a rally car or watching videos of tarmac rally cars to get an idea of what 'good' suspension is. When you get to the point that you go airborne over a crest, and the car lands without bouncing or being deflected from its intended course, that's good suspension (intrax, exe-tc, nitron etc.). BC Racing has average quality damping in my experience of driving cars with these kits fitted, the sad thing is people believe the marketing b*llocks and buy what they are told. Hardly any people have even heard of Intrax or Exe-tc, how many professional race cars (drifting is not racing) do you see with BC Racing suspension fitted? Rather than give money for substandard kit, i'd get some Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs for the same price, on a road car at least.
TameRacingDriver said:
MR2 is way more fun than a Boxster. Even with the standard power. It also doesn't have a grenade for an engine.
I've gone from an MR2 to a Boxster and I disagree with this.I loved my MR2, but it was slow and not really 'special'. The Boxster is not a rocket ship but is significantly quicker, enough to make overtaking viable rather than living on a prayer, and it feels special every time I fire it up.
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