Want to buy an MR2 MK3, but...

[Moominman2]

Hey guys,

Apologies if this isn’t in the right area...

I sold my BMW 330 vert 2 weeks ago, bought a Mercedes CLK 320 last weekend and I already miss having a convertible now that the sun is out. Not to mention seeing everyone in their MX5s, acting as though rust isn’t a thing!

Anyway...Having previously had a MK2 MR2, I’ve been regretting selling it ever since. I thought I’d try out a MK3 today despite not being overly won over by the looks, but from the reviews, the price looked great for the driving experience.

Well, the reviews didn’t lie...what a cracking car! Bags of fun! The one I tested was an 02 plate with 100k miles on it, hard top with a roof that looked in pretty good nick.

However, I noticed 2 main things...

1) There was a large rattle when accelerating hard and easing off.

2) There was an overpowering smell of oil. When looking at the engine, there did appear to be oil residue present.

So...I’m in a dilemma. I liked the guy who owned the small garage as he seemed genuine (I’m quite gullible), and I’m sure the rattling is likely to be the exhaust covering or something small.

But, I am no mechanic and I cannot decide whether it’s worth taking a punt on this for £1500 with that smell of oil.

I know there are various issues with this car and at this age, so I wanted opinions on this if possible- would you be put off? Would you buy it in the hope it’s not shot? I’m in two minds really...this is well in my price range, but I’m wondering whether to put more money into a better example? I’m looking to have this for the next year or so to commute on A roads, 40 miles a day.

What do you reckon?

Cheers in advance,
Luke

[Loyly]

The rattle is bad enough (could you not trace it there and then?) but the oil issue would put me right off. Aside from being woefully gutless, the engines in the MR2 Roadster was known for having issues with burning oil. There is an excellent thread on the MR2 just a few pages back on GG that is worth looking at.

I think they're a decent little car but they definitely don't have the feeling of attention to detail and build quality that the MK2 had.

[sjg]

Neither is normal and there’s plenty of others out there.

[PESKYWAABBIT]

Don't put your money on a car with issues straight out of the gates, there is bound to be more problems surely.

Wait for the right one with only superficial issues at least, or maybe even the perfect one. You'd surely rather spend money on fuel driving the thing than money on getting it repaired.

[RedAndy]

as above, wait for a goodun.

or buy a rotter and do the engine swap from the Celica 190 (or V6...?)

see woodsport

[Moominman2]

Thanks guys- Just the responses I was looking for.

My reason for buying one is due to fuel economy. I want a car which is a joy to drive but also doesn’t drink fuel. So this made a lot of sense...unless anyone can advise me otherwise?

Also, I might try dropping an engine from a celica in next year (currently saving for a mortgage, hence the desire for fuel economy).

Much appreciated everyone.

Luke

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Still the best handling car I’ve ever owned (take a look at my profile-it’s in esteemed company).

Buy a good one and find driving nirvana.

[Moominman2]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Still the best handling car I’ve ever owned (take a look at my profile-it’s in esteemed company).

Buy a good one and find driving nirvana.

That is impressive! I was so keen to move to a 350z afterwards, but I’ve heard it’s not as fun as the MR2 in comparison. Is that true?

I was contemplating either the 350z, E46 M3 or a boxter next year once I’ve pleased my other half with some savings

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Moominman2 said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Still the best handling car I’ve ever owned (take a look at my profile-it’s in esteemed company).

Buy a good one and find driving nirvana.

That is impressive! I was so keen to move to a 350z afterwards, but I’ve heard it’s not as fun as the MR2 in comparison. Is that true?

I was contemplating either the 350z, E46 M3 or a boxter next year once I’ve pleased my other half with some savings

To be honest, everything after the MR2 was chasing an automotive tail. I found lighter cars that were less practical, heavier cars that had more power and were faster and tracks cars that performed better on track but were less involving.

Nothing had the "poise" that the mister two had, without trying to sound too Troy Queef! It was in a sweet spot of power, grip, feel and ease of driving (not to mention being ridiculously cheap to run) that has never been matched. Don't get me wrong, I've loved most of my other cars but the 350Z was probably the wrong thing to buy straight after as it was so completely different-heavy, powerful and quite isolating in terms of feel.

Mine had TTE springs and exhaust, slightly larger (17" but wider) wheels and after a couple of months learning you could literally get that little car to dance when the mood took you. Slightly damp conditions allowed a beautiful four wheel drift just a flick of the steering away and the cars ability to telegraph what was happening meant you could judge how much you would drift depending on how much crown there was on the road.

About the closest I ever got was the original Boxster Spyder, same balance but massively higher speeds. Bigger car too which can't be ignored.

[Moominman2]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Moominman2 said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Still the best handling car I’ve ever owned (take a look at my profile-it’s in esteemed company).

Buy a good one and find driving nirvana.

That is impressive! I was so keen to move to a 350z afterwards, but I’ve heard it’s not as fun as the MR2 in comparison. Is that true?

I was contemplating either the 350z, E46 M3 or a boxter next year once I’ve pleased my other half with some savings

To be honest, everything after the MR2 was chasing an automotive tail. I found lighter cars that were less practical, heavier cars that had more power and were faster and tracks cars that performed better on track but were less involving.

Nothing had the "poise" that the mister two had, without trying to sound too Troy Queef! It was in a sweet spot of power, grip, feel and ease of driving (not to mention being ridiculously cheap to run) that has never been matched. Don't get me wrong, I've loved most of my other cars but the 350Z was probably the wrong thing to buy straight after as it was so completely different-heavy, powerful and quite isolating in terms of feel.

Mine had TTE springs and exhaust, slightly larger (17" but wider) wheels and after a couple of months learning you could literally get that little car to dance when the mood took you. Slightly damp conditions allowed a beautiful four wheel drift just a flick of the steering away and the cars ability to telegraph what was happening meant you could judge how much you would drift depending on how much crown there was on the road.

About the closest I ever got was the original Boxster Spyder, same balance but massively higher speeds. Bigger car too which can't be ignored.

Thanks for that, really interesting read.

A little update- I bought an 02 reg MR2 MK3 on 95k miles with hardtop and personalised numberplate for £1300 from a dealer. Not bad, eh!

I took it on the A and B roads today and, wow! What fun! Even my girlfriend likes it which is saying something, haha. She hated me coming home with the CLK last week, oops! She drives a Peugeot RCZ herself which isn’t a bad car either.

My friend used to own a Boxter S, so I might let him give it a spin and see what he thinks of it.

Paperwork showed that a couple of the ‘expected’ issues with this model have been sorted. So overall, I’m very happy! Not to mention how good it is on fuel..I realise how utterly rubbish my CLK 320 is now- Currently for sale on eBay...

But thanks for the advice everyone. I realised how terrible the other MR2 was that I tried out. That was almost a terrible purchase!

I’m heading to Wales from Kent tomorrow, but I’m not sure whether to take the MR2 or the RCZ. I’m a bit sketchy as to whether I trust the MR2 to do a long journey at the moment,as I only bought it yesterday so don’t really know it very well. But I also would prefer not to put the mileage up on my girlfriend’s car. What should I take? I do have breakdown cover to be fair...

Cheers,
Luke

[Moominman2]

For anyone who’s interested...

Took the MR2 in the end. Pretty crap on the motorway (as expected), but I drove up to Hereford from Swansea and the A and B roads were fantastic. Totally made up for the motorway driving.

Looks wise, my MK2 MR2 was better IMHO, but the MK3 handles much better from what I remember.

And it only took half a tank to get to Wales...haven’t experienced such efficiency for years!

Luke

Edited by Moominman2 on Wednesday 25th April 22:35

[Angpozzuto]

Good to see you're getting on well with your mk3. I've been playing with the idea of getting one of cheaper ones with oil burning issues and swap in the 2zz from the celica t sport

[SCEtoAUX]

Mine will be coming out of the garage this morning for a sunlit hoon to the golf club along this road:

https://goo.gl/maps/GUzW1Jt8V5m

There surely can be no car with a greater fun to cost ratio anywhere.

[RedAndy]

Moominman2 said:

I’m not sure whether to take the MR2 or the RCZ. I’m a bit sketchy as to whether I trust the MR2 to do a long journey at the moment,as I only bought it yesterday so don’t really know it very well.

You needn't worry about them. if they drive OK for the first hour then they'll drive ok for ever!

Do some maintenance: remove the pre-cats (join the forums for details), get tracking checked on a laser set up thingy (they are very fussy in that regard and need doing properly - not just by the eye of your local kwick fitter) and get some proper tyres int he correct size. They like that too. I had some 17s all same size all round and it ruined it. Looked ace, but ruined the delicacy. Warned.

[RedAndy]

Is an 02 plate the facelift (6speed box) or older one (5-speed box)?

[Moominman2]

Cheers guys.

Looks like I have some old paperwork that shows it had pre car work done and has recently had a wheel alignment.

Tyres are budgets and you can tell. Almost lost the rear when coming round a corner in the wet at normal speed, so I’ll put some better rubber on soon.

Mine is the pre-facelift with a 5 speed box. Didn’t want to spend much, so I settled and I’m very happy with it.

Facelift is 03 I think.

Thanks!

[TiminYorkshire]

I'm vaguely thinking of one of these as a daily (17 miles each way to work and back on A/B roads, one route is across the Yorkshire Moors), we've a weekend Discovery 2 for dog duties/surf days etc, so I'm not too concerned about the space/lack of it.

However what are these like in wintry conditions (ice/frost, light dustings of snow)? I've the Disco for proper snow dump days, but how "twitchy" are these when it gets slippy? I had an XJR that always felt like it was trying to swap ends at any hint of frost, although I accept that's no real comparison to one of these!

[MrBen1]

Used to have one of these, and I thought it was brilliant.

Moominman2 said:

Tyres are budgets and you can tell. Almost lost the rear when coming round a corner in the wet at normal speed, so I’ll put some better rubber on soon.

When I needed tyres on my pre-facelift, and as my alloys were getting pretty corroded, I bought a set of used facelift wheels (with the 16" rears) with decent tyres on. I thought it felt a bit tighter with the bigger rears, and preferred the look.

TiminYorkshire said:

However what are these like in wintry conditions (ice/frost, light dustings of snow)? I've the Disco for proper snow dump days, but how "twitchy" are these when it gets slippy? I had an XJR that always felt like it was trying to swap ends at any hint of frost, although I accept that's no real comparison to one of these!

I used to use it as my snow car - when my BMW wouldn't get up my drive, the MR2 would still work! Engine over the wheels meant no issue getting going, and it would slide around rather nicely. Obviously if you pushed too far, the weight of the engine would spin it, but I never lost it without trying to!

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Good to see a successful conclusion to the question OP!

Mine was a Y reg one, so an early model with the 5 speed but more importantly no stability control. I can remember when I was looking at selling it being aghast at how much the nanny controls had come on and thinking it would be a pain having to switch it off with every journey! The beautiful way it drifted meant that you could be driving a normal commute and suddenly the perfect radius corner would appear with no oncoming traffic, a quick check in your mirrors to make sure no old bill were following and with a scandi-flick you could be sideways in an instant.

Pure hooliganism but so much fun!

The previous (first) owner of mine had really went to town on the spec, so it had TTE lowering springs, TTE exhaust, phase 2 side air intakes (they did look nicer) and 17” wheels that looked a bit like the Ferrari 430 ones-twin 5 spokes.

I ran with Falken tyres and I thought they were the perfect blend of good grip and wet weather performance but a steady and simple break of traction so you could drift so easily.

I remember talking to the apprentice about drifting (the fast & the furious was probably at the cinema at the time) and him not believing I could do it so after work we took it out, one of those frosty winter evenings.

We spent about half an hour just flinging it around with it doing it’s thing, gently sliding at probably not much more than 30mph, it absolutely handled beautifully. There was much laughter!

Simpler times

I also remember doing the launch event for the Boxster Spyder and going into the polished concrete ice simulator. After a few drifts the instructor commented “oh you’ve done this before!” and I told him about the MR2, he mentioned he thought it the best handling mid engined car too (an ex BTCC driver if I remember correctly).

I bought mine after reading an article in Evo where they pitted some second hand cars against some new ones and it scoring very highly.

I’d buy that car back again if I ever could.

[SCEtoAUX]

RedAndy said:

Is an 02 plate the facelift (6speed box) or older one (5-speed box)?

Pre-facelift. It's 52 where you can have either (though almost all of those will be pre-facelift in my experience)