RE: PH Blog: buyer's notes
Discussion
Scrof said:
And lose the power to coat you from head to toe in petrol fumes? I think not.
Is this reference to the smell of petrol in the cab of the Mr2. If it is this can be resolved by disconnecting the fuel vapour trap on the rear bulkhead and extending a piece of fuel pipe to the rear of the car. My boss has his old red one tucked in the corner of the depot at work, hasn't moved for at least four years, Has some rot in front of the rear arches and the paint is very tired, makes me sad everytime I see it.
He said the engine, gearbox was very strong when he last ran it, about 120k on each, needs a new exhust I believe, I guess a lot of the engine hoses and seals will be goosed and the calipers will need refurbing, but its quite tidy and been sat in the dry, has accumulated a lot of dust!
If anyone is interested they can pass me a mail on robert.iddon@gmail.com and i'll try and get in touch with him, might still be good as a parts car.
I'm a mk1 MX5 owner myself, I like these a lot but the age and the rust put me off em, then again MX5s arent tinworm free either.
He said the engine, gearbox was very strong when he last ran it, about 120k on each, needs a new exhust I believe, I guess a lot of the engine hoses and seals will be goosed and the calipers will need refurbing, but its quite tidy and been sat in the dry, has accumulated a lot of dust!
If anyone is interested they can pass me a mail on robert.iddon@gmail.com and i'll try and get in touch with him, might still be good as a parts car.
I'm a mk1 MX5 owner myself, I like these a lot but the age and the rust put me off em, then again MX5s arent tinworm free either.
v8manta said:
Fantastic car, I made exactly the same choice a few years back. I've still got it and still love it. It's had a few choice mods - plate diff, quickrack, stiffer rear ARB, and the usual suspension refresh. Still entertains every time I have an excuse to drive it.
Like yesterday at Cadwell Park. :-)
http://youtu.be/GP-V6B06jfI
Note the giggling.
Great vid, though I've never heard two grown men natter like that when racing... like a couple of old dears ;o)Like yesterday at Cadwell Park. :-)
http://youtu.be/GP-V6B06jfI
Note the giggling.
What a great article. Kinda summed up my whole life around buying cars, the reasons sensible and foolish, the mistakes and triumphs. In the whole it spoke to me as a person who loves cars, the nostalgia and emotions they can draw upon, and the excitement of the chase and purchase. Very rarely do my cars live up to the expectation of ownership, but when superseded, they bring the utmost enjoyment.
Unfortunately though as seemingly every article must attract, the level of criticism from people with a different opinion that can't wait to explain how only their's is the only one that matters, just sours the constructive chat that should follow such a personal article.
Just a note about the money you have spent on this MR2, it seems to me that between 1500 and 2000 is what you need to spend to get an interesting car in good enough condition to use and maintain its value with little expenditure. It is almost like the epoch of modern classic purchasing that each car valuation should be compared against. I woul say that 7 out of 10 of my last cars have been around this level.
Unfortunately though as seemingly every article must attract, the level of criticism from people with a different opinion that can't wait to explain how only their's is the only one that matters, just sours the constructive chat that should follow such a personal article.
Just a note about the money you have spent on this MR2, it seems to me that between 1500 and 2000 is what you need to spend to get an interesting car in good enough condition to use and maintain its value with little expenditure. It is almost like the epoch of modern classic purchasing that each car valuation should be compared against. I woul say that 7 out of 10 of my last cars have been around this level.
Lovely, lovely car and an excellent choice. Well done that man!
I've had three although I'm now on my fourth MX5 (I seem to alternate between the two, which means it'll be time for an MR2 again next). For me the Toyota handles much better, but that might be down to the way that it's so unruffled over the kind of pitted cart-tracks that pass for roads round here. The Toyota engine is also a lovely thing (whilst the Mazda's really isn't) and you're always aware that you're in something just a little bit different.
Of course the MX5 has that roof (which is either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your perspective) and the menachicals seem to last even longer that the MR2s in my experience. For me, rust has been about equal.
Overall, I'd say that the MR2 is the more purist, the truer petrol-head's choice (dons flameproof overalls), but they're both great. I guess it comes down to personal preferences and the roads you drive. And of the MR2s I had I preferred the two Mk1As that I had compared with the Mk1B - but that might just be because the latter was a pretty tired example. Hmmmm, maybe I need to try a really good one.... off the the classifieds I go.
I've had three although I'm now on my fourth MX5 (I seem to alternate between the two, which means it'll be time for an MR2 again next). For me the Toyota handles much better, but that might be down to the way that it's so unruffled over the kind of pitted cart-tracks that pass for roads round here. The Toyota engine is also a lovely thing (whilst the Mazda's really isn't) and you're always aware that you're in something just a little bit different.
Of course the MX5 has that roof (which is either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your perspective) and the menachicals seem to last even longer that the MR2s in my experience. For me, rust has been about equal.
Overall, I'd say that the MR2 is the more purist, the truer petrol-head's choice (dons flameproof overalls), but they're both great. I guess it comes down to personal preferences and the roads you drive. And of the MR2s I had I preferred the two Mk1As that I had compared with the Mk1B - but that might just be because the latter was a pretty tired example. Hmmmm, maybe I need to try a really good one.... off the the classifieds I go.
glendon said:
v8manta said:
Fantastic car, I made exactly the same choice a few years back. I've still got it and still love it. It's had a few choice mods - plate diff, quickrack, stiffer rear ARB, and the usual suspension refresh. Still entertains every time I have an excuse to drive it.
Like yesterday at Cadwell Park. :-)
http://youtu.be/GP-V6B06jfI
Note the giggling.
Great vid, though I've never heard two grown men natter like that when racing... like a couple of old dears ;o)Like yesterday at Cadwell Park. :-)
http://youtu.be/GP-V6B06jfI
Note the giggling.
Previous post asked about rust. Everywhere, just clean it up asap and treat it as best you can. Look at as a gentle weight loss which enhances the vehicle dynamics.
Oh, and top tip for you. If your brakes are crap, replace the handbrake cables.
Scrof said:
Great to see these pics of other 2s coming out of the woodwork, by the way! :-) and thanks also to all who've contributed ownership advice, it's all being studiously noted down!
Did someone says pictures?
Although this is a Supercharger and imported as they were never officially sold in the UK. Takes the bhp up to around 147 but is heavier. Drives very differently to the N/A and they are both excellent fun, just in different ways.
Garlick said:
Sell it. Get an MX-5 
I am also a Garlick (no relation) and I disagree. Keep the MR2.Epic choice had 3 would love a supercharged jdm. It will leak, you will love it, it won't break and you'll need this:
http://www.mr2mk1club.com/search.php?s=b7d153f0203...
http://www.mr2mk1club.com/search.php?s=b7d153f0203...
Baryonyx said:
I have always liked the look of these, though that one in green looks a bit pap. Fiesta running gear, which means a turbo charged CVH engine wouldn't be out of the question!
Zetec better choice - block based on CVH so easy swap ?MR2 nice choice but agree with Garlick on the potentially even more girly than an MX5. Think this only applies to them with no rust for some reason - rust seams to add man points for putting up with it.
I loved my old MR2. It had great steering and handling and a fantastic hard revving, bullet proof engine. Most people are familiar with the MR2's talents as a sports car but it's less well known how comfortable and capable the car is on the motorway and in traffic. The cabin is spacious, visibilty is good, the seats are brilliant and the controls are great once you fathom them out.
I have driven all it's main competitors; MX5s, Barchettas, Z3s, MGFs, later MR2s etc. and it I felt it was significantly better than all of them, faster than most once the second fuel butterfly was open and a far, far more incisive and accurate car on the limit. If Toyota remade this car now I would buy one. The only car I have consistantly enjoyed more on the road is a Caterham, and you can only use that for about 10% of the year...the MR2 is great all year.
I have driven all it's main competitors; MX5s, Barchettas, Z3s, MGFs, later MR2s etc. and it I felt it was significantly better than all of them, faster than most once the second fuel butterfly was open and a far, far more incisive and accurate car on the limit. If Toyota remade this car now I would buy one. The only car I have consistantly enjoyed more on the road is a Caterham, and you can only use that for about 10% of the year...the MR2 is great all year.
only1ian said:
Epic choice had 3 would love a supercharged jdm. It will leak, you will love it, it won't break and you'll need this:
http://www.mr2mk1club.com/search.php?s=b7d153f0203...
Also, www.imoc.uk (THE best UK MR2 community) and www.twobrutal.com (engine swapped Mr2s)http://www.mr2mk1club.com/search.php?s=b7d153f0203...
I bought a Mk1 MR2 to keep the miles off my Supra which I'd been using every day back in 2004 (link here: http://www.turbobungle.com/bungle27s_old_motors.ht... ).
I thought it was great apart from two things:
1/ The steering wheel and gear knob stained my hands as soon as it was either hot or cold and
2/ The roof section internal covers were missing and when driving to work in the winter, the icicles that formed on the inside of the roof glass would melt as the heater got going and I'd get freezing cold water dripping down the back of my neck!
The handling was great though!
I thought it was great apart from two things:
1/ The steering wheel and gear knob stained my hands as soon as it was either hot or cold and
2/ The roof section internal covers were missing and when driving to work in the winter, the icicles that formed on the inside of the roof glass would melt as the heater got going and I'd get freezing cold water dripping down the back of my neck!
The handling was great though!
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