MK1 MX5 or MR2 Roadster?

[danuneek]

I can't make my mind up. I'm after a new car and its come down to either an MK1 MX5 R Limited or an MR2 Roadster. Both around the £3000 mark.

Which do you reckon?

[RobCrezz]

mr2 roadster. better handling, better engine but no luggage space.

[tomwoodis]

Which model Mr2 Are you referring to? If it's the MK2 (which would make sense given the relative age of the mx5) then get that. Great car, doesn't handle quite so well as the MX5 from what I hear but you get much more bang for your buck and will be easier to live with given the extra boot space.

I had one, the turbo, one of the best cars I've owned, still miss it now.

[GravelBen]

Drive both, see which you prefer. Both are great cars but have a different feel as you'd expect with the different engine location - MX5 more driftable and forgiving (also very easy to work on and modify), MR2 slightly more precise and delicately balanced.

[hornetrider]

R-Ltd... excellent choice sir.

[danuneek]

tomwoodis said:

Which model Mr2 Are you referring to? If it's the MK2 (which would make sense given the relative age of the mx5) then get that. Great car, doesn't handle quite so well as the MX5 from what I hear but you get much more bang for your buck and will be easier to live with given the extra boot space.

I had one, the turbo, one of the best cars I've owned, still miss it now.

I'm refering to the MR2 Roadster, the MK3 MR2 model. Not the one your talking about, I wouldn't get insured on that.

I have driven the MX5 but not the MR2. I'm going to as soon as. But as you can see from the pics above thats the best MX5 model. My general thinking behind the MR2 is that its more of a modern car and will have less issues. But then again the I can tinker with the MX5, but not so much the MR2.

[firman]

hornetrider said:

R-Ltd... excellent choice sir.

This!

[Babu 01]

danuneek said:

My general thinking behind the MR2 is that its more of a modern car and will have less issues.

Possibly but there is something you should be aware of:

http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=11&am...

Had to get rid of the wife's earlier this year as it was using a litre of oil every few hundred miles and was feeling pretty ropey. Toyota refused to help stating that the car was too old for a goodwill gesture, a bit tight considering it had less than 40k on the clock.

Throughout our time with it it seemed to have an appetite for O2 sensors which is a common problem. It developed all manner of unholy buzzes and rattles from the exhaust heat shield which is also common and at the end of it's days was throwing up CEL telling us about a MAF fault. Again a common occurrence.

Oh, and don't forget to check that the area behind your head isn't full of water as the drainage holes from the cabin are a bh to get at, as are the sidelight bulbs on pre 03 cars.

[Gizmo!]

Yes. Either. Or perhaps something else.

[300bhp/ton]

danuneek said:

I can't make my mind up. I'm after a new car and its come down to either an MK1 MX5 R Limited or an MR2 Roadster. Both around the £3000 mark.

Which do you reckon?

Gen 1 RX-7 with a few mods

[GravelBen]

300bhp/ton said:

Gen 1 RX-7 with a few mods

Maybe if you want a completely different flavour of car which is several orders of magnitude more trouble to own/fix/feed etc. Cool cars but not exactly renowned for smooth hassle-free reliability.

[ARH]

I have owned both an MX5 mk1 and an MR2 roadster. The MX5 was more fun. not as fast as the MR2 but easier to drive quickly. I would buy an MX5.

[Evil.soup]

danuneek said:

I can't make my mind up. I'm after a new car and its come down to either an MK1 MX5 R Limited or an MR2 Roadster. Both around the £3000 mark.

Which do you reckon?

I was in the same boat quite a few years ago now and having driven both i chose the MR2 Roadster. Its a far more involving drive and certainly quicker. The car can be twitchy but is very controlable and great fun to drive hard. The engine is both economical and responsive but as someone uo the page has said, the early cars have had issues. The main problem was with the precats disintigrating and causing internal damage to the cylinders which in turn leads to the use of oil. My MR2 was a 99 model and suffered with this problem.

The problem was fixed on the later models though and it is likely that most of the early models that were affected have now either died or been repaired. Its worth asking about if you do look at any.

A 3k MR2 Roadster is at the bottom of the scale so it may not be the best purchase but as cars go it is far better than the MX-5, IMHO. I would have one again tomorrow if i had the spare cash and space for a weekend ragtop!

[Herman Toothrot]

Do you want a boot or not?

There is little to choose between the two, if I didn't need the boot I'd get the mk3 MR2, if I did then I'd get the MX5.

Ignore the mk2 MR2 suggestions its a barge of a GT car in comparison to the MX5 or mk3 Roadster.

[Evil.soup]

Herman Toothrot said:

Do you want a boot or not?

There is little to choose between the two, if I didn't need the boot I'd get the mk3 MR2, if I did then I'd get the MX5.

Ignore the mk2 MR2 suggestions its a barge of a GT car in comparison to the MX5 or mk3 Roadster.

Yes, forgot to mention that, the MR2 Roadster isnt too bad but if you are going anywhere you need to pack carefully and in a number of small bags rather than one big one.

Also as said, the mk2 is a different car all together and a bit dated in my eyes also.

[Chris_w666]

I like the MR2 roadster but if you need to move any stuff and a passenger you'll be stuffed. Though saying that it is enough for a weekend away if you packed lightly. MX5 would be good and with a £3k budget you would be spoiled for choice of 1.6 and 1.8 MK1s with a few MK2s being in budget as well.

If you can see past the risk of HGF, slightly shaky interior build and the metro suspension the MGF (or maybe TF) isn't a bad option either and is a little comfier and more useable day to day than the other 2.

[danuneek]

GravelBen said:

300bhp/ton said:

Gen 1 RX-7 with a few mods

Maybe if you want a completely different flavour of car which is several orders of magnitude more trouble to own/fix/feed etc. Cool cars but not exactly renowned for smooth hassle-free reliability.

I would love an RX7, but can't afford the insurance. I can just afford the insurance on a Eunos or MR2.

Edited by danuneek on Wednesday 24th November 12:37

[danuneek]

Chris_w666 said:

I like the MR2 roadster but if you need to move any stuff and a passenger you'll be stuffed. Though saying that it is enough for a weekend away if you packed lightly. MX5 would be good and with a £3k budget you would be spoiled for choice of 1.6 and 1.8 MK1s with a few MK2s being in budget as well.

If you can see past the risk of HGF, slightly shaky interior build and the metro suspension the MGF (or maybe TF) isn't a bad option either and is a little comfier and more useable day to day than the other 2.

I'm not sure about MGF or TF's, are they not renowned for head gasket failure?

[D1bram]

I have a MK3 roadster, an early one, and it is a fantastic and fun car to drive, not particularly 'fast' but lively with a nice little pickup at 4k rpm.

Beware though they do like oil, and not simply because of the precat issue.

Mine is precat free, but still goes through around 1litre of oil every 600miles. Toyota state this as being normal in the manual! This seems to be fairly common. My car runs 100% perfect though, it's only vice being a weekly oil top up.

Lack of luggage space hasn't been an option, but I do also have an estate car to call on. We have used the MR2 for a weekly shop for 2 though.

I am about to change to a MK3 MX5, mainly because I want a newer car and that tiny bit more practicality - having given up my company car in lieu of a car allowance.

Also must say on the negative side I find it ever so slightly uncomfortable; I either have my legs right, but a stretch for my arms, or my arms right and my legs slightly cramped. Wife finds it spot on meanwhile.

[300bhp/ton]

danuneek said:

GravelBen said:

300bhp/ton said:

Gen 1 RX-7 with a few mods

Maybe if you want a completely different flavour of car which is several orders of magnitude more trouble to own/fix/feed etc. Cool cars but not exactly renowned for smooth hassle-free reliability.

I would love an RX7, but can't afford the insurance. I can just afford the insurance on a Eunos or MR2.

Edited by danuneek on Wednesday 24th November 12:37

Would have thought a Gen 1 would be fairly cheap as they came out in 1979. I admit it might like a bit more TLC than an MX-5 but I think it'd be worth it IMO.

I would highly recommend phoning around for quotes on specialist cars though, these price compairson websites are unlikely to produce the best results IMO.

EDIT: Joining an owners club is sometimes worth while too as it'll give you a discount on some insurances. Also try and put someone else on your insurance, that someone needs to female and over 50 ideally. Just add them as a named driver so long as they have a car already and a clean license, it should drop your quote down a bit.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Wednesday 24th November 12:56