Discussion
My mk3 mr2 spyder was quite simply the best car I ever owned & set the benchmark for all my other cars, check out my profile & you'll see I've had a few 
Mine had the tte exhaust, lowering springs & 17" wheels & it was perfect. It was the series one version without the TC though to be honest it didn't need it, you could drift it at around 20mph in the wet & taught me all I've ever needed to know about car control, weight transfer & performance driving. I simply wouldn't be the confident driver I can be in things like 911s, GTRs, ///M cars etc without this learning curve in 3 years mr2 driving.
Someone will come along & bemoan the lack of boot space but we went camping in mine for a few days, & that included taking the tent!
Mine had the tte exhaust, lowering springs & 17" wheels & it was perfect. It was the series one version without the TC though to be honest it didn't need it, you could drift it at around 20mph in the wet & taught me all I've ever needed to know about car control, weight transfer & performance driving. I simply wouldn't be the confident driver I can be in things like 911s, GTRs, ///M cars etc without this learning curve in 3 years mr2 driving.
Someone will come along & bemoan the lack of boot space but we went camping in mine for a few days, & that included taking the tent!
kambites said:
In my experience, the mk2 MR2 isn't even in the same league as the mk3 as a drivers' car.
The MR2 Turbo is. If I were buying again I'd choose the Mk3, but just because I've been there and done that with the Turbo already. It won out over the mk3 the last time. Not as sharp a handler but more than good enough to tackle any B road like there is no tomorrow. And the engine is a million times better too, the mk3 MR2 would have been an Elise-frightener if they put a decent engine in it instead of the little wheezer it has. Whereas the Turbo has a gem of an engine, even in standard tune it is blisteringly quick and effortlessly exciting. Combine that power with a fun, adjustable chassis and you can see why the MR2 Turbo is so sought after.kambites said:
In my experience, the mk2 MR2 isn't even in the same league as the mk3 as a drivers' car.
Totally agree. I've had all the mr2s with all the engines and all the mx5's with all the engines.Back to the question - it all comes down to practicality; if you don't need any mk3 mr2 kicks mx5 arse.
However in the real world people do want to put things in a boot and for the mr2 this can be a deal breaker.
The mk3 mr2 is less practical than an Elise/VX.
I'd go as far to say the mk3 mr2 handles even better than an Elise - limits are lower it won't corner as fast but on the limit when it's all sliding the mr2 is a joy where an Elise may bite, certainly for me when my VX started going sideways I felt I needed to be more on the ball than when my mk3 mr2 goes.
All those that bang on about mk2 mr2 turbos - well I basically think they know no better. Dual carriageway drag race hero, that's about it.
Turn up at Rogue Motorsport and it's all about the mk3 thesedays - want it faster put a supercharger v6 in or 2zzge.
Edited by Herman Toothrot on Sunday 15th April 20:22
Bear in mind this isn't about which one is the best drivers car, its about the best car from a reliabilty, cost of ownership, rust etc. My wife just wants a soft top sports car for the summer.
One thing that surprised me was that the first MX5 we went to see had the bottom part of the car painted with with a hamerite type finsh, like the car had been treated for bad rust.
One thing that surprised me was that the first MX5 we went to see had the bottom part of the car painted with with a hamerite type finsh, like the car had been treated for bad rust.
98elise said:
One thing that surprised me was that the first MX5 we went to see had the bottom part of the car painted with with a hamerite type finsh, like the car had been treated for bad rust.
They're all like that from the factory!It's a 'stonechip' paint, I assume applied as part of the rust protection.
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