My old Integra Type R and current MR2 NA
Discussion
This was my Integra Type R, I bought her in 2007 and had 3 1/2 years of fun with her. I attended many PH meets and Kent Runs and was pleasantly surprised at how she held up against some of the more exotic (and expensive) machinery. Apart from a gear box rebuild she proved to be very reliable and took cross continent hoons and track days in her stride.
Unfortunately, after many successful years working in the Public Transport industry I found myself facing redundancy in 2010. Entering a volatile job market meant I had to make some cut backs until I found another job. After giving up food and living in a cardboard box for a while I finally accepted that my pride and joy would have to be sold to free up some cash
I slapped up a very wordy advert on PH and a couple of weeks later she left with her new owner. My Mrs had this strange idea in her head that I could manage without a car for a while, 22 hours later I was in big trouble.
Like a junkie, I was sick with withdrawal. I needed a petrolhead fix but on a budget. Fortunately a fellow PH member had a very tidy 1993 Rev 2 MR2 NA tucked away amongst a growing collection of cars, and was persuaded (mostly by his Mrs being fed up with no room in the garage or driveway) to sell it to me for a very agreeable sum.
My new steed had lead a closeted life, only running up 67,000 miles in 17 years. She was cleaner than a Nuns chuff without a spot of rust, no dings, mint interior and a peach of a 2 litre NA engine. After some new shoes (4x Falken ZE912s) and a full service she was put to work on the back roads of Kent, Surrey and Essex where she performed faultlessly. The unpredictable rear end proved to be a myth (at least in my example) and was nice and controllable on the limit. This may have been helped by the factory fitted sport suspension that lowered and stiffened the car and a good geo set up.
For a NA she had plenty enough power (and a damn sight more torque than the Teg) and sounded suitably aggressive through the aftermarket exhaust and induction kit fitted by a previous owner. The only stumbling block was the piss poor headlights, with HIDs not being an option without replacing the whole head light unit I stumped for some Osram Nightbreakers which helped no end in dodging those early morning Badgers.
But, alas, all good things come to an end. Two seats have proved a bit too impractical for my only car and my Mrs keeps punching me every time we approach a round about or empty junction. I am now hunting for something with 4 doors and 5 seats. My budget is still very limited as finding work has been harder than I imagined, so I fear I may have to do without some rear wheel drive fun for a while and settle on a cheap front drive saloon along the lines of an MG ZT or the like.
Take a wander over to the classifieds ( http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2644146.htm ) if you are interested in a minty fresh MR2 with 70,000 miles on the clock and a need for a good hoon on a Sunday morning. And think of those less fortunate than yourself, those unlucky ones forced to drive boring barges as a result of the knackered economy, when thrashing your pride and joy along a nice twisty b road.
You can’t go wrong with either. DC2 feels a bit more special, with the best feedback from any FWD car I have driven, but can feel a bit more fragile compared to the MR2 which feels bombproof. MR2 is also more fun in the wet, thanks to a nicely controllable rear end.
MR2s are fantastic value though, a good one can be had for £1500. A good DC2 will set you back at least £4000.
MR2s are fantastic value though, a good one can be had for £1500. A good DC2 will set you back at least £4000.
Such a shame you had to part with your DC2 and your MR2 looks a like really nice one, why do want to get rid of it?
To the previous poster, the insurance is comparatively steep I'm afraid but you should find it to be reliable, needs frequent oil changes though. It's fairly economical if you stay out of VTEC but that's easier said than done, it's very addictive. The best thing is the awesome handling and it just feels special. I personally wouldn't want to use it as a daily, quite noisy, hard ride and very low geared so not good on the motorway but this is what makes it so good on the track, I'd definitely recommend one.
To the previous poster, the insurance is comparatively steep I'm afraid but you should find it to be reliable, needs frequent oil changes though. It's fairly economical if you stay out of VTEC but that's easier said than done, it's very addictive. The best thing is the awesome handling and it just feels special. I personally wouldn't want to use it as a daily, quite noisy, hard ride and very low geared so not good on the motorway but this is what makes it so good on the track, I'd definitely recommend one.
Edited by RS404 on Sunday 27th March 18:26
Looks very clean for a rev 2 
Shame about the Teg though.
I also believe its a myth about the unpredictable rear end, its just most people get in and drive it like a hot hatch which you can't do.
Also, you can fit HID's to the pop up headlights in about 20 mins you just have to bore out the rubber that sits around the casing
Shame about the Teg though.I also believe its a myth about the unpredictable rear end, its just most people get in and drive it like a hot hatch which you can't do.
Also, you can fit HID's to the pop up headlights in about 20 mins you just have to bore out the rubber that sits around the casing
Sorry for my tardy responses, I started a new job this week and it has been mental.
The interior in the MR2 is actually a lot darker, pictures were taken in bright sunshine.
Mastodon2 said:
Two awesomely cool cars, got any interior photos or either of them?
Not got any decent picks of the interiors I am afraid, these are a few snaps though.The interior in the MR2 is actually a lot darker, pictures were taken in bright sunshine.
Jw Vw said:
Both very nice motors, if you don't mind me asking what are the running costs, insurance petrol and parts, like on the Integra Type R? Fairly high i'm guessing?
The Teg did about 300 miles to a tank (back when petrol was about £1.20 a litre) which equates to an average of around 28 mpg. Keep it above 5500 rpm on a hoon for any length of time and this will drop to below 16-18mpg though. Insurance for a 30 year old with 3-4 yrs NCB living in London was around the £700 mark fully comp. Parts were a little pricier than your average ford mondeo, but not too extortionate. A new engine mount set me back about £30 and a new clutch was £170.RS404 said:
Such a shame you had to part with your DC2 and your MR2 looks a like really nice one, why do want to get rid of it?
I need something with 4 seats, but am starting to have second thoughts as I have been having a lot of fun in it recently.HughesR1 said:
Also, you can fit HID's to the pop up headlights in about 20 mins you just have to bore out the rubber that sits around the casing
Fitting the bulb and ballasts isn’t the problem, its the fact that the lights are not projectors so the light scatters without any sort of cut off, also the glass is rippled which makes it even worst. You can buy head lamps off ebay that sort this problem but they can only be brought from Japan and are quite pricey (especially when you factor in the cost of a HID kit as well).andye30m3 said:
Did you used to park the DC2 in Tunbridge wells a lot?
When I started looking for a DC2 there was one with a similar plate parked up the road from my office most days.
Not me, car lived in Essex before I owned it and then in Bromley (Kent) when I had it.When I started looking for a DC2 there was one with a similar plate parked up the road from my office most days.
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