Mk2 Mazda MX5 1.8 vs Mk3 Toyota MR2 Roadster?
Discussion
kambites said:
Craikeybaby said:
The storage bins behind the seats are full width.
Indeed. I'd have thought you'd get a 3-foot long gun in there? 
LukeDM said:
Not very helpful I know but would you be able to stretch your budget to an early Honda S2000?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/h...
Not at the moment no. A good one in a nice colour seems to be around £6000 and I'm not enough of a fan to really want one, it's bigger and heavier than I'm after.http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/h...
Captain Muppet said:
kambites said:
Craikeybaby said:
The storage bins behind the seats are full width.
Indeed. I'd have thought you'd get a 3-foot long gun in there? 
I went through this recently (and then bought a Clio Cup on a whim!) Personally, I just couldn't live with a mk3 MR2 as my only transport, due to the lack of luggage space. Granted the MX5 isn't a great deal better (FWIW I found the mk2 boot usefully bigger) but I found it just big enough to get by.
I haven't driven the MR2 enough to really comment, but one of the things I love about the MX5 is its hooligan potential. On a damp road you can entertain yourself at very low speeds with a big margin for error.
Those two things aside I have no doubt the MR2 is the better car.
I haven't driven the MR2 enough to really comment, but one of the things I love about the MX5 is its hooligan potential. On a damp road you can entertain yourself at very low speeds with a big margin for error.
Those two things aside I have no doubt the MR2 is the better car.
TurboHatchback said:
killingjoker said:
Mrs KJ and i tried an MR2 Roadster out whilst shopping for an SLK. By chance, a local garage had one along with a Mercedes so we took it out for a spin. We were both dissapointed with the experience of it (especially as we had travelled there getting straight out of a mk2 1.8 MX5, and had owned a G-Limited MR2 mk2 a few years back).
Having loved our G-Limited it gives me no pleasure to say that the MR2 MK3 ride was harsh (words like "pebble in a shoe box" spring to mind), and the gearbox was god awful. It was not nice and tight like the MX5 with a short an effortless throw. It felt as though it was connected by strings. I couldn't chuck it around like i do the MX5 as i was having to think about the gear changes. In the 5 i do it instinctively, and it's such a responsive and rewarding little car to drive.
Mrs KJ had toyed with the idea of buying an MR2 Roadster if a suitable SLK did not appear. Our test drive blew that notion away completely. Getting back into our MX5 really brought home just what a great little car the MX5 is. Also, i am 6ft 2" tall and cannot understand the lack of head room comments about the MX5. I regularly travel down to the East Anglian coast in my 5 and it will sit all day on the big roads at *** mph and i always feel i could go on another 100 miles when i reach my destination. I drive it at every opportunity. We got our 230 SLk as well and it's very nice. But i'd still rather take the MX5
I can only assume that you must have tried a bad one. On the MR2 I tried the gearbox was totally unremarkable and the ride was really rather good for such a focused car. Having loved our G-Limited it gives me no pleasure to say that the MR2 MK3 ride was harsh (words like "pebble in a shoe box" spring to mind), and the gearbox was god awful. It was not nice and tight like the MX5 with a short an effortless throw. It felt as though it was connected by strings. I couldn't chuck it around like i do the MX5 as i was having to think about the gear changes. In the 5 i do it instinctively, and it's such a responsive and rewarding little car to drive.
Mrs KJ had toyed with the idea of buying an MR2 Roadster if a suitable SLK did not appear. Our test drive blew that notion away completely. Getting back into our MX5 really brought home just what a great little car the MX5 is. Also, i am 6ft 2" tall and cannot understand the lack of head room comments about the MX5. I regularly travel down to the East Anglian coast in my 5 and it will sit all day on the big roads at *** mph and i always feel i could go on another 100 miles when i reach my destination. I drive it at every opportunity. We got our 230 SLk as well and it's very nice. But i'd still rather take the MX5
After some reading it seems the MX5 can also be had with a six speed box but only the sport model which also comes with excessively big wheels and no heated seats. Is there any real advantage to the six-speeder or is the five the one to go for?
I think they are both such personal cars you need to try them both and one will feel right for you. Both MX5 and MR2 fans are going to vouch for their respective choice.
...and it's not a bad choice really. It could be white goods motoring after all
I had a MR2 Mk3 for a year or two, and it was the most fun car I've owned for thrashing around the Lake District where I lived. A Mk1 Golf GTi I had came closest, but was still nowhere near as good.
Handling is sharp but reasonably benign, and the engine is eager and revvy. Mine had TTE springs, which were 20mm lower and stiffer, and it was a little stiff over broken roads, but only as bad as a modern family hatch. Brakes and gearbox are good.
Luggage space is fine for almost all day-to-day use, and also for weekends away. It's just difficult to get to. I got about 34mpg driving it to the red line 50% of the time.
One thing - beware of worn pistons on all models, especially those before around 2002.
This forum is very useful: http://www.mr2roc.org/
Handling is sharp but reasonably benign, and the engine is eager and revvy. Mine had TTE springs, which were 20mm lower and stiffer, and it was a little stiff over broken roads, but only as bad as a modern family hatch. Brakes and gearbox are good.
Luggage space is fine for almost all day-to-day use, and also for weekends away. It's just difficult to get to. I got about 34mpg driving it to the red line 50% of the time.
One thing - beware of worn pistons on all models, especially those before around 2002.
This forum is very useful: http://www.mr2roc.org/
I love my mk3, pre facelift, due to - 5kg heavier (sad I know), really didn't like the front end, far to smiley, the gearbox is meant to be more enjoyable than the 6 speed too. I hadn't really heard much difference when buying mine and doing research, but Ive been reading more and more comments that the later model had some improvements, so will have to drive a later model to see for myself.
It really feels like a proper sports car, the front end is brilliantly pointy, understeer is very, very rare, normally due to wet conditions and/or being a fool, and I like to think I drive fairly quickly when having fun! Grip is really very high, when I bought mine the 'ditchfinders' on it were practically new, but as time, and many thousands of miles, went on them, the car will slide if you want it too, but that's in the wet and when it does let go its been very controllable. No spins yet, oh now Ive said it...
The steering feel is brilliant, really ace. Grip is very good, the mid engine layout has me won over, dynamically the mr2 is just perfect, its not too bitey when it lets go, but its super sharp sharp on turn in. I know EVO loved it put it at 43rd on their all time greatest drivers car list (!), pretty much all the mags did, owners really rate them, you'll find a lot of people whispering how they beat the mx5 (any gen) for thrills, and are actually fairly quick, Evo tested one at 7.2 to 60,which is right compared to the super conservative official stats of 7.9-8. Some owners say they have got it to 6.9, but I think that would be down to stickier tires!
Its fairly comfy. I like the seats, my family doesn't so youll have to see for yourself, it doesn't like bumps but its not a chore driving it on longer trips. I used it for uni trips, so 4 hours on the motorway round trip, no issues, sat at 65 = 45mpg. Yes the room is poor, but its a sports car that's why it weighs less than a stratos (cool fact...). I quite like the lack of practicality, makes it feel 'proper'.
On the mx5 issue,the Toyota dealer sold my car with a Toyota printed leaflet of the EVO group test of the mx5, mgf and mr2. The test was massive praise, it won hands down. I would like to drive a mk1 mx5 to compare, but I don't think the softer style of the car will suit me, despite the claims of awesomeness and sideways fun!
Try both, but I think unless you really need space, you'll go for the MR2. Happy hunting.
It really feels like a proper sports car, the front end is brilliantly pointy, understeer is very, very rare, normally due to wet conditions and/or being a fool, and I like to think I drive fairly quickly when having fun! Grip is really very high, when I bought mine the 'ditchfinders' on it were practically new, but as time, and many thousands of miles, went on them, the car will slide if you want it too, but that's in the wet and when it does let go its been very controllable. No spins yet, oh now Ive said it...
The steering feel is brilliant, really ace. Grip is very good, the mid engine layout has me won over, dynamically the mr2 is just perfect, its not too bitey when it lets go, but its super sharp sharp on turn in. I know EVO loved it put it at 43rd on their all time greatest drivers car list (!), pretty much all the mags did, owners really rate them, you'll find a lot of people whispering how they beat the mx5 (any gen) for thrills, and are actually fairly quick, Evo tested one at 7.2 to 60,which is right compared to the super conservative official stats of 7.9-8. Some owners say they have got it to 6.9, but I think that would be down to stickier tires!
Its fairly comfy. I like the seats, my family doesn't so youll have to see for yourself, it doesn't like bumps but its not a chore driving it on longer trips. I used it for uni trips, so 4 hours on the motorway round trip, no issues, sat at 65 = 45mpg. Yes the room is poor, but its a sports car that's why it weighs less than a stratos (cool fact...). I quite like the lack of practicality, makes it feel 'proper'.
On the mx5 issue,the Toyota dealer sold my car with a Toyota printed leaflet of the EVO group test of the mx5, mgf and mr2. The test was massive praise, it won hands down. I would like to drive a mk1 mx5 to compare, but I don't think the softer style of the car will suit me, despite the claims of awesomeness and sideways fun!
Try both, but I think unless you really need space, you'll go for the MR2. Happy hunting.
I've run both. My thoughts are thus:
Dynamically, in the dry, the MR2 is the better car. It's just so well sorted. However it can be a bit dull when you're not spanking it. The MX5 has the old sports car thing going on in spades. You don't have to thrapp it to enjoy it, but if you do, it's so well balanced that it's great.
I ran both as my main road cars and the practicality side of the MR2 is what really stuffs it. Two people in there on any sort of trip and you'll run out of space REALLY fast. Whereas you can get a surprising amount of stuff in a MX5. It shouldn't matter, but the MR2 is so poor in this regard, it does.
It's a tough call, but if I was to have another (I've had two MX5s and one MR2), I'd probably have another MX5.
Height is going to be an issue for you though. You might need to get yourself a set of Elise seats and drop them in there.
Dynamically, in the dry, the MR2 is the better car. It's just so well sorted. However it can be a bit dull when you're not spanking it. The MX5 has the old sports car thing going on in spades. You don't have to thrapp it to enjoy it, but if you do, it's so well balanced that it's great.
I ran both as my main road cars and the practicality side of the MR2 is what really stuffs it. Two people in there on any sort of trip and you'll run out of space REALLY fast. Whereas you can get a surprising amount of stuff in a MX5. It shouldn't matter, but the MR2 is so poor in this regard, it does.
It's a tough call, but if I was to have another (I've had two MX5s and one MR2), I'd probably have another MX5.
Height is going to be an issue for you though. You might need to get yourself a set of Elise seats and drop them in there.
I can't comment on the MX5 but I have owned an MR2 roadster for ten years – a 2003 facelift model.
A few observations. I’m 6’1” and fit in it okay. The gearchange is not the best but it shouldn’t spoil your fun. I would say the ride is quite good for the type of car it is. The heater is excellent – top down driving in winter is no hardship. As for luggage space I use cabin bags (the type you can take as hand luggage on most flights – I think they are about 44 litres) the storage locker will take two of these and, as others have mentioned, you still have the spare wheel well which I would guess is around 50 litres. I'm sure I've read on MR2ROC that owners have managed to fit a set (or maybe a half set) of golf clubs in the rear locker.
Reliability is what you would expect from a Toyota and running costs are low. 40mpg is easily achievable on a run. An intermediate service is about £130 and a full service around £230 at a Toyota dealership. I wouldn’t get too hung up on tyre costs/choice. It’s a lowish powered, light car so tyres last well. I kept to Bridgestone RE040’s, the rears last about 25k and fronts 30k.
For the money there is very little to match it for fun, reliability and low running costs. I sold mine over the Easter weekend and to be honest I’m already starting to regret it - and reading this thread hasn’t helped at all. I’m half hoping the buyer changes his mind and pulls out of the deal...
A few observations. I’m 6’1” and fit in it okay. The gearchange is not the best but it shouldn’t spoil your fun. I would say the ride is quite good for the type of car it is. The heater is excellent – top down driving in winter is no hardship. As for luggage space I use cabin bags (the type you can take as hand luggage on most flights – I think they are about 44 litres) the storage locker will take two of these and, as others have mentioned, you still have the spare wheel well which I would guess is around 50 litres. I'm sure I've read on MR2ROC that owners have managed to fit a set (or maybe a half set) of golf clubs in the rear locker.
Reliability is what you would expect from a Toyota and running costs are low. 40mpg is easily achievable on a run. An intermediate service is about £130 and a full service around £230 at a Toyota dealership. I wouldn’t get too hung up on tyre costs/choice. It’s a lowish powered, light car so tyres last well. I kept to Bridgestone RE040’s, the rears last about 25k and fronts 30k.
For the money there is very little to match it for fun, reliability and low running costs. I sold mine over the Easter weekend and to be honest I’m already starting to regret it - and reading this thread hasn’t helped at all. I’m half hoping the buyer changes his mind and pulls out of the deal...
I've been doing some more reading and it seems that MX5s have some fairly horrific rust issues. Have any PHers had such problems or are they mostly internet myth? I am particularly interested in this as a friend is also in the market for an MX5 in particular and it would be a real problem to to buy a car then end up with a £2000 bill to replace the front chassis legs and the sills.
This is a shame as it seems all mechanical parts are cheap and widely available and it looks like a really nice car to work on but rust is the one thing I can't fix
.
This is a shame as it seems all mechanical parts are cheap and widely available and it looks like a really nice car to work on but rust is the one thing I can't fix
.The Mk2.5 is the MX5 under consideration and the internet seems to suggest this is the worst of all of them for rust . It sounds like getting the undertray off and getting a good look and poke at everything would be an absolute must but this could really restrict the choice of cars as I doubt many sellers would be happy with this.
. It sounds like getting the undertray off and getting a good look and poke at everything would be an absolute must but this could really restrict the choice of cars as I doubt many sellers would be happy with this.Rust can be an issue with the MX5. It's quite a well covered topic and there's lots of specialists out there who can help tackle the problem. Notably the sills are prone to rust on these and having looked this up, I think it's crica £300 to get this sorted.
Just go in with your eyes open, there's plenty of examples out there so you can be picky. I was very lucky in that I bought the 2nd MX5 I saw. The first had rusty sills which weren't the issue.
My car is 99% rust free. Having spoken to a specialist he commented that it was one of the cleanest MK2.5's he'd seen and that sorting this issue out isn't too costly
Just go in with your eyes open, there's plenty of examples out there so you can be picky. I was very lucky in that I bought the 2nd MX5 I saw. The first had rusty sills which weren't the issue.
My car is 99% rust free. Having spoken to a specialist he commented that it was one of the cleanest MK2.5's he'd seen and that sorting this issue out isn't too costly
Dalto123 said:
Rust can be an issue with the MX5. It's quite a well covered topic and there's lots of specialists out there who can help tackle the problem. Notably the sills are prone to rust on these and having looked this up, I think it's crica £300 to get this sorted.
Need to check front chasis rails on a mk2/mk2.5s: https://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/yaf_postst46836_MK2-...MR2 if you can live with the luggage space. My mate has one and made his Gf sit holding the tent, with bags galore all the way from Surrey to Cornwall last summer..he was not popular for a day and as I recall it took a particularly expensive purchase in St Ives to sort things out!..to be honest there is no excuse for the way the MR2 is packaged, the Boxster shows how practical a mid-engined roadster can be with 2 capacious boots and good cabin storage. Having said that my mate is around 6'2 and he has never complained about internal space. If its not raining have the roof down anyway..
MX5 if you intend to tour or carry lots of kit daily
MX5 if you intend to tour or carry lots of kit daily
Edited by billzeebub on Wednesday 23 April 14:55
A nice Boxster S 3.2 would be splendid but they are on a whole different level of running costs, double the initial purchase price and apparently have engines prone to spontaneously imploding so I'm afraid they're out for now.
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bicycleshorts said:
Need to check front chasis rails on a mk2/mk2.5s: https://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/yaf_postst46836_MK2-...
Yes, I had come across this on my travels across the interweb. Concerning stuff .TurboHatchback said:
Yes, I had come across this on my travels across the interweb. Concerning stuff .
Something to do with the "double skin" used on the legs. Just try to find one that has either been sorted or set aside a bit of money to fix it. Will be a pain in the ass taking a trolley jack to every viewing though!.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff