MR2 buying guidance please

[Jalo1548]

Hello,

I started a thread about a week ago asking for advice on cars going from a fiat coupe 20vt to something else. After alot of thinking, the mr2 is my chosen car. I am going to look at a very nice 1998 example at the weekend with the full intention to buy if it is what it states in the add. So, basic breakdown:

UK spec rev 5 1998 mk2 MR2 N/A
Condition is considered "immaculate"
Running on fully-adjustable BC coilovers
BMC CDA induction kit (this to me looks crazy for how much they cost to buy)
New calipers, bushes and drop links all round
Running on toyo proxes TR1's all round, with two brand new tyres on the front
No signs of rust
T-bar seals have been silicone sealed to prevent leakages
Owner is a genuine enthusiast claimed to have owned two previously including another rev5 before this one

He has said he will let me drive the car with the right documentation and will take me out in it and open it up a little, is there anything I should be looking out for in particular? The clutch apparently has "life left in it" but that to me is very subjective and could be a good way to cover up something. Is there any way to check for things that may fail, or anything nasty to look out for. All I mainly hear is poor sills but he told me they constructed the rev5 differently so it didn't suffer as bad on the sills as the other cars, is this true?

Also I worry that leaving this car outside all year will eventually start to show up as the seals fail. All is well now when the sun is out and shining but I have no room in the garage to keep this car sheltered. Are they bad enough to consider a cover? Seems quite the task to take it on and off every morning at half 6.

Thanks,

Jalo1548.

[Jalo1548]

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.

[Jalo1548]

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.

[Jalo1548]

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.

[Jalo1548]

Good or bad news depending on how you see it haha. He was adamant it was well worth 2.2k with awful weathered front tyres, using clear silicone on the tbar seal (I don't even...) and no service history after his ownership. The car mechanically however was PERFECT. No rust at all, started from cold easily and from warm, held voltage right and the interior was spot on. Exterior felt a little sad for itself too. The BC coilivers also had camber adjustment and the ride was really nice. Gearbox was mint, clutch was good too no idea why he mentioned it.

I walked away after thinking I need to weight up my options, and I don't think the BC coilivers and induction kit etc swung it for me, always implies the wrong kind of driver for me. As close to original for me please. I'm not saying I didn't like the car, I just think uncategorised it was worth the asking price, but to the right buyer who wants the extras it is probably just the right car.

The search goes on! One I love the look of is unfortunately in NI, but it looks like it might not be worth the trip! All I know is after using that dinky gear knob, 4 inches off the floor and feeling the rear end kick out a little this car is for me!