A classic?

[renrut]

I don't post often on Pistonheads (I'm a lurker by nature) but my weekend toy has got me thinking.

I have a weekend toy. It was cheap. It has 2 seats. It's very rusty. It's got 160K miles on it. It drinks coolant. It's threadbare in places. Its wasnt very powerful even when new and these days will be outpaced by any decent modern hot hatch. It's 21 years old in 2 weeks. But with a clear B-road and the sun shining, it is an absolute joy to drive. It's now got too rusty to get an MOT so I'm pondering what to do with it.

The list above sounds like the recipe for a classic British sports car a la MG, Triumph, etc. But it's not. It's an MR2 mk1. So is it a classic? By classic I don't mean can I get classic car insurance for it, my mums old maestro would qualify for that. I mean one that people want to own knowing full well they could get a lot of newer, more reliable, faster car for their money but instead want something with 'character'?

[patmahe]

I think because the Mk1 spawned a series of sucessors which are still around today and is still quite well regarded amongst those in the know, coupled with the fact that they are now quite old and rare, I believe they are destined for the useable classic category.

[renrut]

I had a feeling it's hit the tipping point that some cars become a classic and others become obscure which is why I asked the question. At the moment a good one is rare and expensive but the rest are all dirt cheap and knackered and will probably be scrapped.

[silent k]

I think they are getting there, in another couple of years they will be as most will have rusted away! People seem to notice them as well, I've never, ever had random people speak to me about a car I've owned before, but I seem to get loads of people asking about mine. Plus, weirdly they all seem to think it's mega expensive, when in fact it cost me 500 quid!

[Wadeski]

it will be a classic.

funnily enough i think my generation MR2 probably wont.

now be a clever chap and make it a mk1.5 or mk1.6 and have a real weekend blaster to scare the TVR boys

Edited by Wadeski on Thursday 24th July 18:47

[renrut]

I think the 1.5s are probably the quicker of those - not many cars can get close to the performance potential of them certainly for the cost. Makes you wonder why Toyota only gave the mk3 the low power 1.8 when the celica got the 180bhp one.

[Riknos]

I definitely think its a classic.

I would be very shocked if anyone in Jap Chat picked the bottom choice in the poll

[renrut]

I had to put something like that in just to cover all the options. But you'd have to be more xenophobic than Kilroy to choose that one

[chris7676]

Definitely a modern classic to me. Shame yours is in a state though.

[renrut]

It is indeed a bit poorly so here is a scary photo of the rust situation -

With body kit on, the advert could say 'slight bubbling of rear arches':


With body kit removed:


Oh and the other side is the same.

[OlberJ]

Don't knock the mk1.6, especially when u can supercharge it too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfOnhBI_WIQ&fea...


The 1.5 can be an easy tunable beast to say 350 but it's mostly on/off. Get a mk1.6 and it's all torque.

Yes, a mint, standard example of a Mk1 (wheels an exception), especially the Mk1a's is a classic.
If you spend the money on a middle of the road one and update it without changing the exterior then it's still a classic.

[renrut]

Not really knocking them as I'm sure they are devilishly fast, just think a 3L V6 with or without a blower isn't really in the spirit of the lightweight agility thing which is what the car shines at. Money situation relaxed I think the 2ZZ from the new celica would probably be the better option, it is the one Lotus chose to replace the K series in the Elise.

However I could simply be talking rubbish as I've never driven a mk1.5 or mk1.6 and the 4AGE isnt exactly the last word in lightweight, a lot of small modern diesels are lighter.

I think the other reason it'll be a long time before the Mk2 is ever considered a classic is that it has a very modern appearence and was produced until relatively recently (2001?).

[OlberJ]

Mk1.5 weighs more than a Mk1.6 btw.

A Mk1.6 is about 40kgs heavier than a standard car but has about twice the power and twice the torque.

You really need to drive one. Yes it's not the tipy toe, dancing of the standard car (and i mean standard as in suspension, brakes etc) it's got more central weight, feels more planted and still handles so well. Most Mk1.6's have wider wheels too so more mechasnical grip, which the standard car certainly doesn't have, and probably why it's so fun to chuck about.

3 litres pushing you along the road though, simply an outstanding buzz.

Mk2 will never be a classic, when it has the Mk1 as a big brother, It's like Mk2 escorts, just wrong.

[WeirdNeville]

I was thinking this same thing last weekend, when we went to a country fair that had a classic car show. I thought "My car wouldn't look out of place there..."

I'm still not sure about them being a true classic though. Perhaps in 10 years when they really are a rare sight and all the less well preserved ones have given up the game. You still see a few about and they were sold in large numbers originally.

Above it all though they're still a great little car with everyday useability and practicality (honest!). I love mine. Total motoring bargain IMO.

Any opporchancity to Pic-we!

[GravelBen]

OlberJ said:

Mk2 will never be a classic, when it has the Mk1 as a big brother, It's like Mk2 escorts, just wrong.

I'd have to disagree with you on both counts there - the Mk2 Escort is just as much a classic as the Mk1 (perhaps even more so due to its greater rallying success), and the Mk2 MR2 may well become a classic in time as well. But it will have to wait a while due to being made more recently, a more modern design, more common etc.

[renrut]

OlberJ said:

Mk1.5 weighs more than a Mk1.6 btw.

A Mk1.6 is about 40kgs heavier than a standard car but has about twice the power and twice the torque.

You really need to drive one. Yes it's not the tipy toe, dancing of the standard car (and i mean standard as in suspension, brakes etc) it's got more central weight, feels more planted and still handles so well. Most Mk1.6's have wider wheels too so more mechasnical grip, which the standard car certainly doesn't have, and probably why it's so fun to chuck about.

I didnt realise the V6 was that light, is it all alloy? I'd love to have a go in one in that case, to compare it to the 4AGE, although I could understand anyone who has one being a bit cautious about letting others drive them.

[chris7676]

I thought this was about an MK1 being a classic, not the ultimate engine transplant guide? In any case a healthy MK1 has enough power to be quite rapid and fun in my opinion.

[renrut]

Well yes that was the original intention, just been sidetracked by the lure of more power

[OlberJ]

No but that's the point, only a mint Mk1, kept totally standard will be a classic.

A Mk1 that you can modify to outperform modern cars means it will live on. Makes good use of the non-minters and keeps the brand alive.

So yes, i reckon it's a classic and by doing what we do we'll keep it in the public's eye, and admire and lust after a minter at the same time.

[OlberJ]

Oh and the 1MZ V6 is all alloy, on the 3VZ it's just the heads.

The 1MZ is obscenely light, we picked up one between 2 of us with a gearbox attached!