RWD fun shed? Mk2 MR2?
Discussion
1992 MAZDA MX-5 1.6i Convertible
Trade Seller: Specialist Cars
1992 (J reg)
2 Doors, Manual, Convertible, Petrol, 80,000 miles, Metallic Green with Tan Leather, MOT-01-2011. Eunos Import, Taxed end Nov. Wood Steering Wheel, Service History, Leather upholstery, Wood/wood effect trim, Radio/CD, ABS, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Electric windows, Front armrest. Insurance Group:12, £1,200 p/x to clear
Trade Seller: Specialist Cars
1992 (J reg)
2 Doors, Manual, Convertible, Petrol, 80,000 miles, Metallic Green with Tan Leather, MOT-01-2011. Eunos Import, Taxed end Nov. Wood Steering Wheel, Service History, Leather upholstery, Wood/wood effect trim, Radio/CD, ABS, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Electric windows, Front armrest. Insurance Group:12, £1,200 p/x to clear
edo said:
1992 MAZDA MX-5 1.6i Convertible
Trade Seller: Specialist Cars
1992 (J reg)
2 Doors, Manual, Convertible, Petrol, 80,000 miles, Metallic Green with Tan Leather, MOT-01-2011. Eunos Import, Taxed end Nov. Wood Steering Wheel, Service History, Leather upholstery, Wood/wood effect trim, Radio/CD, ABS, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Electric windows, Front armrest. Insurance Group:12, £1,200 p/x to clear
I'm assuming that you are recommending this over the MR2?Trade Seller: Specialist Cars
1992 (J reg)
2 Doors, Manual, Convertible, Petrol, 80,000 miles, Metallic Green with Tan Leather, MOT-01-2011. Eunos Import, Taxed end Nov. Wood Steering Wheel, Service History, Leather upholstery, Wood/wood effect trim, Radio/CD, ABS, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Electric windows, Front armrest. Insurance Group:12, £1,200 p/x to clear
If so could you explain why please? - This is a genuine question (not an argument starter) as I have considered both as a track car and any insight would be useful.
MX5 and MR2 are both good cars, but a different experience - MX5 is more playful, Mk2 MR2 a bit more sensible and GT-like but still fun. Drive both, see which suits you better.
Dynamics-wise it depends what sort of balance you prefer - the MX5 is very forgiving and will happily go sideways all day, while the MR2 will probably have more grip (assuming similar tyres etc) but be less forgiving on the limit. The Mk1 MX5 is a fair bit lighter than the Mk2 MR2 and is more often compared to the Mk1 MR2 for driving experience.
Dynamics-wise it depends what sort of balance you prefer - the MX5 is very forgiving and will happily go sideways all day, while the MR2 will probably have more grip (assuming similar tyres etc) but be less forgiving on the limit. The Mk1 MX5 is a fair bit lighter than the Mk2 MR2 and is more often compared to the Mk1 MR2 for driving experience.
Edited by GravelBen on Monday 29th November 11:13
edo said:
I've never owned the mr2, I prefer the look of the mx5, it has a decent boot and they are bomb proof. Nothing against the mr2, I'd just put my money into an mx5 over one.
MX5 decent boot? Not sure i agree with that, its very shallow. Good enbough for one person for a weekend, but not two. Still, great car nonetheless.MR2 has much much more storage space, but isn't as nimble (is more of a GT than a sportscar), but has more power. Some import n/a's come with LSD i believe.
Be easier to get a rust free mr2 than rust free mx5 for £1k.
stabbed rat said:
edo said:
1992 MAZDA MX-5 1.6i Convertible
Trade Seller: Specialist Cars
1992 (J reg)
2 Doors, Manual, Convertible, Petrol, 80,000 miles, Metallic Green with Tan Leather, MOT-01-2011. Eunos Import, Taxed end Nov. Wood Steering Wheel, Service History, Leather upholstery, Wood/wood effect trim, Radio/CD, ABS, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Electric windows, Front armrest. Insurance Group:12, £1,200 p/x to clear
I'm assuming that you are recommending this over the MR2?Trade Seller: Specialist Cars
1992 (J reg)
2 Doors, Manual, Convertible, Petrol, 80,000 miles, Metallic Green with Tan Leather, MOT-01-2011. Eunos Import, Taxed end Nov. Wood Steering Wheel, Service History, Leather upholstery, Wood/wood effect trim, Radio/CD, ABS, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Electric windows, Front armrest. Insurance Group:12, £1,200 p/x to clear
If so could you explain why please? - This is a genuine question (not an argument starter) as I have considered both as a track car and any insight would be useful.
In that case i'd still be stumped which to choose 
The Mk2 is definitely a GT car but it's still a lot of fun, the Mx5 is very useable and you get top off driving.
Personally i wouldn't go for a T-bar Mr2, would rather have a tin top to keep the weight down.
Mx5 is much easier to work on if you're doing your own maintenance but the Mr2 is very tuneable when you start swapping engines
Either will give you plenty smiles as long as you get a good one, Mx5's do seem to hold their value better.
The Mk2 is definitely a GT car but it's still a lot of fun, the Mx5 is very useable and you get top off driving.
Personally i wouldn't go for a T-bar Mr2, would rather have a tin top to keep the weight down.
Mx5 is much easier to work on if you're doing your own maintenance but the Mr2 is very tuneable when you start swapping engines
Either will give you plenty smiles as long as you get a good one, Mx5's do seem to hold their value better.
Both are great fun, but quite different cars. Might be worth putting a mk1 MR2 into the mix as well though.
For top-down short blasts, the MX-5 wins hands down. T-bars arent the same at all, every MR2 owner i know finds them a bit of a faff.
However, for the 100 mile trip i would eaaaaaaaasily choose the mk2 MR2 over the little Mazda. Its much more spacious and comfortable, yet still feels "special" like a proper sportscar.
If you are handy with a spanner i would consider being brave and going for an early Turbo (around £2k). More thrills but still good on a long journey. I say handy with a spanner because buying a bottom of the price bracket turbo (i.e. anything under £2400) may need the odd bit and piece doing, even if the important stuff like the turbo and internals are fine.
For top-down short blasts, the MX-5 wins hands down. T-bars arent the same at all, every MR2 owner i know finds them a bit of a faff.
However, for the 100 mile trip i would eaaaaaaaasily choose the mk2 MR2 over the little Mazda. Its much more spacious and comfortable, yet still feels "special" like a proper sportscar.
If you are handy with a spanner i would consider being brave and going for an early Turbo (around £2k). More thrills but still good on a long journey. I say handy with a spanner because buying a bottom of the price bracket turbo (i.e. anything under £2400) may need the odd bit and piece doing, even if the important stuff like the turbo and internals are fine.
Edited by Wadeski on Monday 29th November 14:36
Never had an MX5, but I've had a few MK1 and MK2 MR2s. I think they are great cars. Nice to drive, comfy, nippy enough, and just about enough boot space to put a week of food shopping in.
Oh, and I love the T-Bar, but then I think it's great driving on a crisp winter night and looking at the stars through the roof.......
Oh, and I love the T-Bar, but then I think it's great driving on a crisp winter night and looking at the stars through the roof.......
You're going to have a huge amount of fun for the money whether you chose the MX-5 of the MR2.
I considered both and chose the MX-5, however I simply got a good deal on it and may easily have ended up with an MR2.
The MX-5 worked out £200 less for me to insure than the MR2 (1.8 mk.1 MX5 vs. 2 litre NA MK.2 MR2).
Get the best example you can afford if you consider my opinion, they're both capable and good value cars.
I considered both and chose the MX-5, however I simply got a good deal on it and may easily have ended up with an MR2.
The MX-5 worked out £200 less for me to insure than the MR2 (1.8 mk.1 MX5 vs. 2 litre NA MK.2 MR2).
Get the best example you can afford if you consider my opinion, they're both capable and good value cars.
I love my MR2, but I think a T-Bar is better suited to the turbo cars, as you can increase the power fairly easily to counter the small increase in weight.
I'd take the 2 over an MX-5 any day though, and it has to be said that unless you have driven something absolutely amazing, then coming from most cars to an MR2 will leave you really enjoying the way it handles.
TRD anti roll bars, Eibach springs and Turbo spec black Bilsteins will create a very nice car to drive.
I'd take the 2 over an MX-5 any day though, and it has to be said that unless you have driven something absolutely amazing, then coming from most cars to an MR2 will leave you really enjoying the way it handles.
TRD anti roll bars, Eibach springs and Turbo spec black Bilsteins will create a very nice car to drive.
I have a 1998 MX5 and a 1997 MR2.
The MX5 is great fun, good to have a convertible, the way it steers is truly amazing, really good fun and pretty forgiving. Its small inside and not a huge amount of space, build quality inside is ok, but nothing special.
The MR2 is quick, feels a lot more solid, inside its feels more spacious and more modern even though it’s a year older. It has far more storage, the boot is bigger plus is has space behind the seats and also in the front.
It handles great and is quicker, feels pretty lively.
In an ideal world I would have the MR but with he steering from the MX5.
Ideally drive both and see which you prefer, personally I am selling the MX5 and keeping the MR2.
The MX5 is great fun, good to have a convertible, the way it steers is truly amazing, really good fun and pretty forgiving. Its small inside and not a huge amount of space, build quality inside is ok, but nothing special.
The MR2 is quick, feels a lot more solid, inside its feels more spacious and more modern even though it’s a year older. It has far more storage, the boot is bigger plus is has space behind the seats and also in the front.
It handles great and is quicker, feels pretty lively.
In an ideal world I would have the MR but with he steering from the MX5.
Ideally drive both and see which you prefer, personally I am selling the MX5 and keeping the MR2.
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