MR2 buying guidance please

Friday 17th April 2015

Karl, can you ping me an email please?

I would ping you one but it doesn't appear to be working for me.

Jalo1548

Original Poster

33 posts

109 months

Friday 17th April 2015

Yes that is the car! I would have put cat C but I know as soon as I say that people will instantly be turned off from the car and advise me to leave it. I have seen the damage pictures, which really isn't that bad. The car was bought in 2012, and is a daily driver. He seems very confident the fix was simple, and he works part time at a garage so any fixes he can have done easily, which he has done. The 2295 he is asking is beyond stupid, and I will point out to him that other cars can be had for similar without a Cat. At the age and price range I cannot expect him to offer me the car for peanuts but I think, considering the car it should be worth £1800-2k? If he isn't willing to work with me then I will happily walk away as its only 50 miles away.

He claimed the parts that were damaged were the front bumper, bumper cradle, slam panel and radiator. The car was then wax sealed at the front end behind the bumper and the images show this to be accurate. He also claimed no steering or suspension damage and that the car started and drove. The car is self serviced every 4-5k miles with oil and filter change with Castrol Magnatec 10w40. Sounds decent enough to me, but like I said if it isn't what I want then I will happily walk away. There are plenty of other mr2's out there, I just thought the coilovers may make the car worth the money alone as it is something I would look into, and wish I had on my coupe.

Thanks for the offer to come see the car with me but I am going with my dad who knows his way round a motor, not MR2's in particular but I would feel pretty bad if I told him last minute I wan't to bring somebody who may or may not have more knowledge than he does.

Thanks guys.

Shaoxter

4,081 posts

125 months

Friday 17th April 2015

For the sake of a few hundred quid I would not touch a Cat C, regardless of how good the repair has been. Lots more fish in the sea.

TheJimi

25,001 posts

244 months

Friday 17th April 2015

Jalo1548 said:

Yes that is the car! I would have put cat C but I know as soon as I say that people will instantly be turned off from the car and advise me to leave it. I have seen the damage pictures, which really isn't that bad. The car was bought in 2012, and is a daily driver. He seems very confident the fix was simple, and he works part time at a garage so any fixes he can have done easily, which he has done. The 2295 he is asking is beyond stupid, and I will point out to him that other cars can be had for similar without a Cat. At the age and price range I cannot expect him to offer me the car for peanuts but I think, considering the car it should be worth £1800-2k? If he isn't willing to work with me then I will happily walk away as its only 50 miles away.

He claimed the parts that were damaged were the front bumper, bumper cradle, slam panel and radiator. The car was then wax sealed at the front end behind the bumper and the images show this to be accurate. He also claimed no steering or suspension damage and that the car started and drove. The car is self serviced every 4-5k miles with oil and filter change with Castrol Magnatec 10w40. Sounds decent enough to me, but like I said if it isn't what I want then I will happily walk away. There are plenty of other mr2's out there, I just thought the coilovers may make the car worth the money alone as it is something I would look into, and wish I had on my coupe.

Thanks for the offer to come see the car with me but I am going with my dad who knows his way round a motor, not MR2's in particular but I would feel pretty bad if I told him last minute I wan't to bring somebody who may or may not have more knowledge than he does.

Thanks guys.

If you like it, buy it, but bear in mind that you'd be (in my opinion) throwing away 2k, because it'll be worth buttons when you come to sell it on.

You'd be mental to buy a cat c car when you can buy an uncrashed car for the same money, and which won't put you in the bath come resale.

Jalo1548

Original Poster

33 posts

109 months

Friday 17th April 2015

TheJimi said:

If you like it, buy it, but bear in mind that you'd be (in my opinion) throwing away 2k, because it'll be worth buttons when you come to sell it on.

You'd be mental to buy a cat c car when you can buy an uncrashed car for the same money, and which won't put you in the bath come resale.

Hi,

Sorry to sound ungrateful (I promise you I am very grateful for all opinions and advice) but I would be VERY surprised if you could find me a car like this anywhere south of 4k. A UK spec Rev5, 83k miles, no rust and everything working as it should be (apparently) with a FSH and it does pretty much have to be black. Also take into consideration the £130 air filter, £700 coilovers and £200 worth of fresh tyres on the car I guess it might be worth a punt. However I may be terribly wrong and end up 2k out of pocket for being ignorant. It will not be a mistake made twice, but hopefully I am buying an unfortunately written off perfectly functioning MR2 rev 5 for rev 1/2 money with low mileage.

The reasons I fancy this car is because unlike my coupe, its a 40 miles drive (300 mile trip, with a trailer due to no MOT) so cheap to get the car if I do buy it, it's in the best colour except white and I have had a Cat D car before and I know how little it takes to deem a car, especially one of such small value, a cat C write off. Resale value means little to me, worst case scenario sell it for parts and maybe even break even after a year or two. I understand it might be a right bag of **** that has had a right bodge job to repair the car but it would be, to me, daft to state the repair was to a very high standard if it wasn't as it can easily be seen and walking away would have cost me nothing other than £15 in fuel and two hours of my day.

Again, not to sound ungrateful but I am yet to find an even slightly comparable car. People are also stating that rev 1/2 cars are just as prone to rust as a rev4/5 but surely 6 years less on the road and with our lovely gritty winter not hitting them for as much time either would make them a safer bet?

Thanks,

Jalo1548.

5,728 posts

143 months

Friday 17th April 2015

You certaily won't be out of pocket £2k, but you will almost definitely struggle to sell it to any clued up buyer, and you will probably lose money on it.

In contrast, there are plenty of MR2's out there that will never lose a penny come resale.

Just because it's a black Rev 5 does not mean it's worth whatever he's selling it for. Like any car, BUY ON CONDITION. There are dog Rev 5's and mint Rev 2's. If you must have the higher powered 3sge, the Rev 3 will be just as good a buy.

Also £2k is NOT rev 1/2 NA money. You can pick up decent Rev 2 NA's for a grand. £2k is high money for an NA.

ETA I don't see how it can have a FSH as you say, if you also said he self serviced it!?

Not saying don't buy it. It could be an excellent choice. Just be wary.

Edited by danjama on Friday 17th April 23:52

Jalo1548

Original Poster

33 posts

109 months

Friday 17th April 2015

I can only go off what the ad states, which is a FSH. On the phone he says he does all the work himself and changes the oil every 4-5k miles, so I guess he does that then the previous owners have had the car serviced by garages. He may have had it done once for the stamp I don't know, but all will be found out tomorrow haha. At 2k it is something I don't mind keeping for 2 years, selling on for 1.2k or whatever and having trouble free motoring for that time in a fairly nice car.

Yes I agree there are nice rev3's out there which would easily surpass this car in quality and history, but they will come with a premium to match. Any similarly priced would be of a lesser spec. The power doesn't bother me too much, 20bhp is neither here nor there considering both will be running significantly less BHP than my current car, which is running between 240-260. I just want the RWD experience really, and hopefully a cheap-ish run. I fancied a turbo but for fuel, insurance and other reasons I chose not to. Not saying it wont happen at all, I just can't justify one right now.

5,728 posts

143 months

Saturday 18th April 2015

5,728 posts

143 months

Saturday 18th April 2015

Jalo1548 said:

I can only go off what the ad states, which is a FSH. On the phone he says he does all the work himself and changes the oil every 4-5k miles, so I guess he does that then the previous owners have had the car serviced by garages. He may have had it done once for the stamp I don't know, but all will be found out tomorrow haha. At 2k it is something I don't mind keeping for 2 years, selling on for 1.2k or whatever and having trouble free motoring for that time in a fairly nice car.

Yes I agree there are nice rev3's out there which would easily surpass this car in quality and history, but they will come with a premium to match. Any similarly priced would be of a lesser spec. The power doesn't bother me too much, 20bhp is neither here nor there considering both will be running significantly less BHP than my current car, which is running between 240-260. I just want the RWD experience really, and hopefully a cheap-ish run. I fancied a turbo but for fuel, insurance and other reasons I chose not to. Not saying it wont happen at all, I just can't justify one right now.

Fair enough mate, whatever you decide to do, welcome to the fold and make sure to join mr2oc and imoc and the related facebook groups smile

And my NA MR2 never gave me any problems and was a joy to own and maintain. (apart from that damn alternator).

TBF, the one you're viewing looks clean in and out generally. I remember how excited I was to buy my first MR2. smile

I'm also pleasantly surprised by the sudden jump in values due to summer.

Edited by danjama on Saturday 18th April 00:19

TheJimi

25,001 posts

244 months

Saturday 18th April 2015

danjama said:

You certaily won't be out of pocket £2k, but you will almost definitely struggle to sell it to any clued up buyer, and you will probably lose money on it.

I disagree, I think he will be out of pocket by a significant amount.

Still, if resale isn't an issue, then if you're happy with the car, go for it smile

SonicShadow

2,452 posts

155 months

Saturday 18th April 2015

Jalo1548 said:

Hi,

Sorry to sound ungrateful (I promise you I am very grateful for all opinions and advice) but I would be VERY surprised if you could find me a car like this anywhere south of 4k. A UK spec Rev5, 83k miles, no rust and everything working as it should be (apparently) with a FSH and it does pretty much have to be black. Also take into consideration the £130 air filter, £700 coilovers and £200 worth of fresh tyres on the car I guess it might be worth a punt.

£4k! You can buy mine for £4k!

It sounds like you're pretty set on this one. Your money / choice at the end of the day. I know for my money I'd be looking elsewhere, £2.5k pretty mugh gets you the choice of the market for a Rev5 NA, which is why I wouldn't be spending that kind of money on a CatC.

5,728 posts

143 months

Saturday 18th April 2015

SonicShadow said:

£4k! You can buy mine for £4k!

It sounds like you're pretty set on this one. Your money / choice at the end of the day. I know for my money I'd be looking elsewhere, £2.5k pretty mugh gets you the choice of the market for a Rev5 NA, which is why I wouldn't be spending that kind of money on a CatC.

Spot on.

I don't know of any NA to sell for £4k.

Matt_N

8,903 posts

203 months

Saturday 18th April 2015

For £4k I'd be making my way to look at this Rev 3 Turbo, I like it:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=...

japaneseskoda

62 posts

174 months

Saturday 18th April 2015

Watch it for rust. The later cars are not as well made as the earlier ones bodywork wise. Yamaha were strugling with costs towards the end of production and began using cheaper bodywork as a result

J4CKO

41,610 posts

201 months

Saturday 18th April 2015

Matt_N said:

For £4k I'd be making my way to look at this Rev 3 Turbo, I like it:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=...

Thats nice, loving the Ferrari-esque wheels

japaneseskoda

62 posts

174 months

Saturday 18th April 2015

J4CKO said:

Thats nice, loving the Ferrari-esque wheels

Blimey that is nice. I certainly would go for that type of car. An Mr2 with repaired front end damage and a write off, no. The handling may well be compromised and as much as I love Mk2s that is surely not good as they need to be spot on, or its time for a drive backwards.

tomwoodis

570 posts

185 months

Saturday 18th April 2015

Hmm, tricky one this. It does look quite nice generally, the interior in particular looks nice but for me, as others have stated, it's overpriced for a category registered vehicle. That front end really doesn't look right with the Orange indicators either so you'd probably want to swap those for clear ones.

My main concern having previously owned a MK3 turbo with BC suspension, would be the suspension. Mine came with it on and I hated it as the ride was terrible. Far too hard with little damping. Having spent a couple of months kangarooing around I ended up replacing them for something else.

To be fair they probably sell multiple models and these ones may we'll be better but do ask yourself during the test drive whether you think it will drive you mad because if you have any inclination whist testing it that they might then they almost certainly will!

The only other thing I would say is for the money, your close to being able to afford a turbo. I know you said you'd ruled it out but they are serously worth considering. Mine was ludicrously quick so if that's your thing there are few things quicker for the money and they really are fantastic fun. I wouldn't even say they cost that much to run really. It's only when you boot it about the place that you get crap economy. Drive it without the turbo being on song and it's actually not much worse than an N/A one.

5,728 posts

143 months

Saturday 18th April 2015

Both of my turbos have been the same to insure as my NA, and more economical!!! I used to get about 25mpg from my NA, easily get 30mpg from both my turbos. More on a motorwar run obviously. Probably because you have to rev the NA to make good progress.

They cost very similar to run/maintain.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

256 months

Saturday 18th April 2015

danjama said:

Both of my turbos have been the same to insure as my NA, and more economical!!! I used to get about 25mpg from my NA, easily get 30mpg from both my turbos. More on a motorwar run obviously. Probably because you have to rev the NA to make good progress.

They cost very similar to run/maintain.

I never managed to get very close to 30mpg from my Rev2 Turbo. Even on long motorway trips the best I saw was about 27, and it used to return about 25-26mpg on my normal commute.

5,728 posts

143 months