MR2, PRELUDE OR 300ZX?
Discussion
Its got to that time again...time for a new car.
Currently running a 231 Mazda RX8 which i do love, but the economy is slightly annoying me now (well thats my excuse to change anyway)
Really like the 90's style jap cars - my dad used to import them thats probably where the love came from!
Iv narrowed it down to three cars ( i think ) but im open to suggestions.
Budget 2500 MAX
Toyota MR2 - used to have one and really liked it , just the faded red paint annoyed me so would want a black one, could maybe stretch for a turbo, but iv heard the economy is probably the same as an RX8?
Nissan 300zx - something really different, sound great, not many about and they're pretty large so not sure how much fun they would be ?
Honda Prelude - Would have to be the montegi manual 2.2 - if i could find one! but again are they much fun to drive i have become quite used to rwd now?
any input or suggestions greatly appreciated !
Currently running a 231 Mazda RX8 which i do love, but the economy is slightly annoying me now (well thats my excuse to change anyway)
Really like the 90's style jap cars - my dad used to import them thats probably where the love came from!
Iv narrowed it down to three cars ( i think ) but im open to suggestions.
Budget 2500 MAX
Toyota MR2 - used to have one and really liked it , just the faded red paint annoyed me so would want a black one, could maybe stretch for a turbo, but iv heard the economy is probably the same as an RX8?
Nissan 300zx - something really different, sound great, not many about and they're pretty large so not sure how much fun they would be ?
Honda Prelude - Would have to be the montegi manual 2.2 - if i could find one! but again are they much fun to drive i have become quite used to rwd now?
any input or suggestions greatly appreciated !
I would be very wary of the 300 ZX at that age unless a lot of work has been done, am thinking the Twin Turbo as they are very complex, everything is packed in and difficult to get at, things get crumbly with age and the 300ZX has a lot under there and a lot of heat from the turbos, its a mass of engine, air con, intercoolers and pipework, nice car but would want one that had been really well looked after and you wont get that for two and a half grand.
MR2.
I assume you had a MKII MR2?
In terms of economy, I averaged 37MPG on a knackered 1990 N/A MK2 REV1 on a trip to Rome and back, i was very suprised at the economy. Being a Toyota of that age also, means that it should prove more reliable than the others you mentioned.
I dont see why your budget wouldn't be able to get you a turbo either, I can only imagine how quick that would feel!
I assume you had a MKII MR2?
In terms of economy, I averaged 37MPG on a knackered 1990 N/A MK2 REV1 on a trip to Rome and back, i was very suprised at the economy. Being a Toyota of that age also, means that it should prove more reliable than the others you mentioned.
I dont see why your budget wouldn't be able to get you a turbo either, I can only imagine how quick that would feel!
90s Japanese cars and no mention of the MX5? 
You'd get a very good MR2 MK2 N/A for £2500. I couldn't give mine away when I tried to sell it. Rev 3+ import has 180bhp so is reasonably quick, I found 2nd gear a little long to fully exploit though. The lack of a LSD annoyed me as well.
You might be able to get a Turbo at that price as well (haven't looked at prices of these in a while).
You'd get a very good MR2 MK2 N/A for £2500. I couldn't give mine away when I tried to sell it. Rev 3+ import has 180bhp so is reasonably quick, I found 2nd gear a little long to fully exploit though. The lack of a LSD annoyed me as well.
You might be able to get a Turbo at that price as well (haven't looked at prices of these in a while).
MR2 - not that quick due to weight, quite lively at the rear with poor tyres.
300ZX - tragically complicated, very heavy, cambelt requires removal of every part fitted for access.
prelude - fwd, heavy
None will be as much fun as the RX8, all a bit more touring really.
Personally none of them appeal to me
300ZX - tragically complicated, very heavy, cambelt requires removal of every part fitted for access.
prelude - fwd, heavy
None will be as much fun as the RX8, all a bit more touring really.
Personally none of them appeal to me
I've owned both an MR2 MK2 and a Prelude. Neither being the "hot" versions but still..
MR2 was the non-turbo UK 2.0l 16v. Was a really nice car to drive. Quickish and on the contrary to what everyone says, wasn't skitish and about to kill me on every corner taken with enthusiasm. I think the 4 matched good brand tyres helped in this department. I never felt out of control in it as a pedal heavy earlytwentysomething child. Was always surprisingly good on fuel with around 30-34mpg being sensible. Was faultlessly reliable mechanically in the time I owned it but the bodywork had seen better days with the rear arches and sills getting bubbly, theyre pretty bad for rust.
Prelude was the 5th Gen 2.0l 16v Sport. Again a really nice car. Very well build. Very nice interior. Not as quick as the MR2 (140hp iirc from the single cam 2.0l 16v) but a lovely cruiser and perfectly capable of silly speeds if you wanted. A reasonable steer but far from being a sports car. Front end heavy so was prone to a bit of oversteer if pushed hard. Very reliable car throughout the time I owned it with only needing consumables.
MR2 was the non-turbo UK 2.0l 16v. Was a really nice car to drive. Quickish and on the contrary to what everyone says, wasn't skitish and about to kill me on every corner taken with enthusiasm. I think the 4 matched good brand tyres helped in this department. I never felt out of control in it as a pedal heavy earlytwentysomething child. Was always surprisingly good on fuel with around 30-34mpg being sensible. Was faultlessly reliable mechanically in the time I owned it but the bodywork had seen better days with the rear arches and sills getting bubbly, theyre pretty bad for rust.
Prelude was the 5th Gen 2.0l 16v Sport. Again a really nice car. Very well build. Very nice interior. Not as quick as the MR2 (140hp iirc from the single cam 2.0l 16v) but a lovely cruiser and perfectly capable of silly speeds if you wanted. A reasonable steer but far from being a sports car. Front end heavy so was prone to a bit of oversteer if pushed hard. Very reliable car throughout the time I owned it with only needing consumables.
Edited by MysteryLemon on Monday 5th January 13:17
The 300ZX is amazing looking and I would get one out that list, however for your budget I can't see you getting a good one unfortunately. You'd need to double it to hit the prices I found when I was looking. I went for something else in the end.
Would you like a CTR or ITR? They are plentiful around your budget surely
Good luck with whatever you choose
Would you like a CTR or ITR? They are plentiful around your budget surely
Good luck with whatever you choose
Last year I went and seen 5 MR2's before buying the one I have now. This is my 5th MR2 and it's an N/A (I've had turbo's in the past but prefer the N/A power delivery).
It was the best I could find and has now just done 60,000 miles and has FSH. It only cost me £2,600 which I consider a bargain considering the 'amount' of car I got for the money! I would say though that there are not many left like mine, most have done some serious mileage (which is a testament to the car) or have been poorly modified.
Since buying the car I've spent some money on it (refurbed all brakes, all suspension and fitted matching toyo proxes) and the car is pretty much perfect for me. I'm averaging 32mpg which doesn't sound great but my drive to work is relatively short... on a run I'm easily getting 40mpg
It was the best I could find and has now just done 60,000 miles and has FSH. It only cost me £2,600 which I consider a bargain considering the 'amount' of car I got for the money! I would say though that there are not many left like mine, most have done some serious mileage (which is a testament to the car) or have been poorly modified.
Since buying the car I've spent some money on it (refurbed all brakes, all suspension and fitted matching toyo proxes) and the car is pretty much perfect for me. I'm averaging 32mpg which doesn't sound great but my drive to work is relatively short... on a run I'm easily getting 40mpg
Liquid Tuna said:
Get the 300 ZX! They look awesome! Never mind all that could go wrong, I'm sure it'll be fine 
It ain't necessarily so..... Mine is a late JDM non turbo which hasn't got most of the troublesome gear fitted. The old girl has never left me stranded in 6 years and 17K miles. I've had a couple of glitches ~ one AFM,a lambda sensor and a seized caliper but as it lives outside, gets an oil change once a year and not much else I consider that pretty good.
The trick is, of course, even more so than usual, to get a good one to start with. Not easy, it took me ages and that was 6 years ago.
That budget used to buy some pretty tasty Jap metal but times have changed and there isn't much to choose from if you want tidy, turbocharged and manual.
If you'll consider a auto Toyota soarers are about the best you can do for this budget IMO. Hugely fast, tunable, decent handling (same chassis as the supra), etc and wear miles/age well.
Failing that, there's plenty of mk1 imprezas available for that money.
If you'll consider a auto Toyota soarers are about the best you can do for this budget IMO. Hugely fast, tunable, decent handling (same chassis as the supra), etc and wear miles/age well.
Failing that, there's plenty of mk1 imprezas available for that money.
Problem is the value on the good cars from this era are going up as drifting became popular and the good ones are now few and far between. The not so good ones are probably best avoided.
a good late manual FTO could be an alternate for the lude, its a small V6 sounds great but again not that quick and a transverse V6 is a pig to work on.
bit more fun, might be able to pickup a very good mx5 1.8 or a project car with a turbo / supercharger
a good late manual FTO could be an alternate for the lude, its a small V6 sounds great but again not that quick and a transverse V6 is a pig to work on.
bit more fun, might be able to pickup a very good mx5 1.8 or a project car with a turbo / supercharger
MR2 Turbo.
I've had 3 and would have another in a heartbeat. Rev 3 onwards only though. They'll leave the other 2 (and your RX8) for dead in a straight line, and round the twisties if you're competent (in the dry - the wet terrified me so never even tried to drive quickly!)
30+ mpg on a motorway run is achievable. And if you get a good one then they're very reliable.
I've had 3 and would have another in a heartbeat. Rev 3 onwards only though. They'll leave the other 2 (and your RX8) for dead in a straight line, and round the twisties if you're competent (in the dry - the wet terrified me so never even tried to drive quickly!)
30+ mpg on a motorway run is achievable. And if you get a good one then they're very reliable.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff