Has anyone driven both a Puma and a Mk3 MR2?
Discussion
TameRacingDriver said:
The arches are starting to bubble on the inner lip, the rust ain't far away I suspect. Not sure if there is anything I can do at this stage to reign it in.
If it's already bubbling, probably not (except replacing the wings). It's highly likely that the rust has worked through from the back and there is next to no metal left. Better the devil you know Paul, especially if you're still tackling your debts! I'd wager they'll both be as much fun as each other, if you're out on a B road blast (and I think we favour the same roads for that sort of thing!). Will the MR2 be significantly better than the Puma on a drive out? I doubt it, especially when you consider what you'll have to pay out to get an MR2 over the low value of the Puma.
It's easy to obsess over 'what car comes next', I've done it before with guitars and cars. But when you get out there and drive the bloody thing, you'll soon forget whatever it was you were lusting after beforehand!
It's easy to obsess over 'what car comes next', I've done it before with guitars and cars. But when you get out there and drive the bloody thing, you'll soon forget whatever it was you were lusting after beforehand!
kambites said:
If it's already bubbling, probably not (except replacing the wings). It's highly likely that the rust has worked through from the back and there is next to no metal left.
That's what I thought, shame really as I was going to get it rust proofed before the winter, but looks like there's no point now, may as well just let them go and then get them done properly in the next year or so. As far as I understand, the arch rust on the Puma is cosmetic anyway?Must admit though, mine is still one of the cleanest I've seen.
Baryonyx said:
Better the devil you know Paul, especially if you're still tackling your debts! I'd wager they'll both be as much fun as each other, if you're out on a B road blast (and I think we favour the same roads for that sort of thing!). Will the MR2 be significantly better than the Puma on a drive out? I doubt it, especially when you consider what you'll have to pay out to get an MR2 over the low value of the Puma.
It's easy to obsess over 'what car comes next', I've done it before with guitars and cars. But when you get out there and drive the bloody thing, you'll soon forget whatever it was you were lusting after beforehand!
Yeah that is so true. I drove back from Prudhoe yesterday and I had an absolute blast. To be honest, I'm struggling to imagine how the MR2 could be much more fun based on that drive last night!It's easy to obsess over 'what car comes next', I've done it before with guitars and cars. But when you get out there and drive the bloody thing, you'll soon forget whatever it was you were lusting after beforehand!
TameRacingDriver said:
kambites said:
If it's already bubbling, probably not (except replacing the wings). It's highly likely that the rust has worked through from the back and there is next to no metal left.
That's what I thought, shame really as I was going to get it rust proofed before the winter, but looks like there's no point now, may as well just let them go and then get them done properly in the next year or so. As far as I understand, the arch rust on the Puma is cosmetic anyway?TameRacingDriver said:
Yeah that is so true. I drove back from Prudhoe yesterday and I had an absolute blast. To be honest, I'm struggling to imagine how the MR2 could be much more fun based on that drive last night!
I'm sometimes across that side of the water so if I see a steel grey Puma I'll wave! I've been lusting over a TVR as a second car over the past few days. But I keep heading out into the wilds of Northumberland to enjoy the sunshine and I think "could I really have any more fun than this right now?". As I drove into Whalton the other day via the south round past the school, I had the sound of my exhaust popping back at me off the high stone walls. A grin inducing moment that made me say aloud "I love this f
king car". I'd no doubt have a riot in an S Series, but really enough of a riot to justify keeping one as a second car when my #1 is so much fun? I doubt it. Back to guitar catalogues I go...
TameRacingDriver said:
That's quite extreme. Get some ACF 50 sprayed up there. http://www.corrosionblock.co.uk/
That will slow it down, then if you like the car to keep it another year or two find a decent body shop, but a pair of 206 front wings and have them cut and welded into the space where the rotting Puma arches were.
This should give you a few years of slower rusting Puma.
chrisw666 said:
That's quite extreme.
Get some ACF 50 sprayed up there. http://www.corrosionblock.co.uk/
That will slow it down, then if you like the car to keep it another year or two find a decent body shop, but a pair of 206 front wings and have them cut and welded into the space where the rotting Puma arches were.
This should give you a few years of slower rusting Puma.
Will I just need to spray some of that stuff into the arches, underneath the carpet bits?Get some ACF 50 sprayed up there. http://www.corrosionblock.co.uk/
That will slow it down, then if you like the car to keep it another year or two find a decent body shop, but a pair of 206 front wings and have them cut and welded into the space where the rotting Puma arches were.
This should give you a few years of slower rusting Puma.
chrisw666 said:
Yup, try to get it under the lips and it should at least stop it getting any worse.
FWIW I wouldn't swap the Puma for an MR2 unless I had a larger car to use as well.
Cheers, I'll definitely try that. Its not bad at all at the moment, but when you feel around the lip you can feel the small bubbles starting. I would like to keep it good for a while longer.FWIW I wouldn't swap the Puma for an MR2 unless I had a larger car to use as well.
TameRacingDriver said:
Cheers, I'll definitely try that. Its not bad at all at the moment, but when you feel around the lip you can feel the small bubbles starting. I would like to keep it good for a while longer.
If you plan to keep it, do it properly, if you plan to sell it just leave it, a half arsed bodge will only put people off come resale time.You need to sort it out though dude, all of this chopping and changing is just throwing money down the pan hand over fist.
Buy car, find faults, get annoyed, fix faults, annoyed with car because of expense, sell car at a loss.
It's a slippery slope that a few people I know are on, just buy a dull derv daily and something fun for the weekends that you can tinker with!
Gotta comment here: owned all 3.
1.7 puma facelift
Mk3 but rev 1 UK MR2
Puma was a riot - like a little terrier - ALWAYS wanted you to kane it and rag it ALL THE TIME! reliability of a wet paper towel. Could barely get in it its so small. rear seats useless for actual people, boot tiny. Rusted like no tomorrow. Rubbish brakes. Loved every second of it.
MR2 was a riot too. Was genuinely fast IF you were able to ride the revs (keep low gears) cos it is torqueless. Grip ws amazing. Learned to slide/drift cos its so easy in it. Reliable as hell, cost nowt to run. More storage/boot space than you need (did weekends away camping no worries - just had to be creative with where you put it). was awesome. deffo get another.
Which is better: The puma is just rabid which scores it well for fun, but in ALL other respects it's outclassed by MR2. MR2 is still great fun though, so it's a convincing win for MR2. I'd have another puma though if offered one!
1.7 puma facelift
Mk3 but rev 1 UK MR2
Puma was a riot - like a little terrier - ALWAYS wanted you to kane it and rag it ALL THE TIME! reliability of a wet paper towel. Could barely get in it its so small. rear seats useless for actual people, boot tiny. Rusted like no tomorrow. Rubbish brakes. Loved every second of it.
MR2 was a riot too. Was genuinely fast IF you were able to ride the revs (keep low gears) cos it is torqueless. Grip ws amazing. Learned to slide/drift cos its so easy in it. Reliable as hell, cost nowt to run. More storage/boot space than you need (did weekends away camping no worries - just had to be creative with where you put it). was awesome. deffo get another.
Which is better: The puma is just rabid which scores it well for fun, but in ALL other respects it's outclassed by MR2. MR2 is still great fun though, so it's a convincing win for MR2. I'd have another puma though if offered one!
RedAndy said:
Gotta comment here: owned all 3.
1.7 puma facelift
Mk3 but rev 1 UK MR2
Puma was a riot - like a little terrier - ALWAYS wanted you to kane it and rag it ALL THE TIME! reliability of a wet paper towel. Could barely get in it its so small. rear seats useless for actual people, boot tiny. Rusted like no tomorrow. Rubbish brakes. Loved every second of it.
MR2 was a riot too. Was genuinely fast IF you were able to ride the revs (keep low gears) cos it is torqueless. Grip ws amazing. Learned to slide/drift cos its so easy in it. Reliable as hell, cost nowt to run. More storage/boot space than you need (did weekends away camping no worries - just had to be creative with where you put it). was awesome. deffo get another.
Which is better: The puma is just rabid which scores it well for fun, but in ALL other respects it's outclassed by MR2. MR2 is still great fun though, so it's a convincing win for MR2. I'd have another puma though if offered one!
Interesting, cheers, the comments about the Puma always being "up for it" definitely ring true, it doesn't seem to ever want to do slow - it can of course, but it somehow seems much happier being manhandled!1.7 puma facelift
Mk3 but rev 1 UK MR2
Puma was a riot - like a little terrier - ALWAYS wanted you to kane it and rag it ALL THE TIME! reliability of a wet paper towel. Could barely get in it its so small. rear seats useless for actual people, boot tiny. Rusted like no tomorrow. Rubbish brakes. Loved every second of it.
MR2 was a riot too. Was genuinely fast IF you were able to ride the revs (keep low gears) cos it is torqueless. Grip ws amazing. Learned to slide/drift cos its so easy in it. Reliable as hell, cost nowt to run. More storage/boot space than you need (did weekends away camping no worries - just had to be creative with where you put it). was awesome. deffo get another.
Which is better: The puma is just rabid which scores it well for fun, but in ALL other respects it's outclassed by MR2. MR2 is still great fun though, so it's a convincing win for MR2. I'd have another puma though if offered one!
Don't save up for a Mk3 Mr2.
Keep the Puma, make it really good so it'll last for a couple of years.
Save up for something better than the Mr2. It's not an aspirational car and with a standard engine they're shoite IMO.
If it were me i'd keep the Puma, make it handle and sound as good as it can and then spend a bit of money on driver training. Not having a pop at your driving here, purely that the rewards from training will give you so much more depth of enjoyment from any car, no matter how good you are at driving currently.
Keep the Puma, get to know it. Learn how to manhandle it and get the best from it. Live with it, adjust yourself around it. Once you're in tune with it, then you can make a proper decision on whether it's worth keeping or not.
You need to spend more time with a car to understand it or the perfect car for you might pass you by.
Keep the Puma, make it really good so it'll last for a couple of years.
Save up for something better than the Mr2. It's not an aspirational car and with a standard engine they're shoite IMO.
If it were me i'd keep the Puma, make it handle and sound as good as it can and then spend a bit of money on driver training. Not having a pop at your driving here, purely that the rewards from training will give you so much more depth of enjoyment from any car, no matter how good you are at driving currently.
Keep the Puma, get to know it. Learn how to manhandle it and get the best from it. Live with it, adjust yourself around it. Once you're in tune with it, then you can make a proper decision on whether it's worth keeping or not.
You need to spend more time with a car to understand it or the perfect car for you might pass you by.
stargazer30 said:
TameRacingDriver said:
What's that about then if it's not supposed to be a deliberately inflammatory post? I didn't ask you to come on here, and write this now have I?
What's the problem anyway if I change my cars often?
I don't deny my brain is a messed up place, it always has been, but is there any need for this?
Anyway, the reason for the thread is to decide whether to save my cash for the MR2, or make my existing ride as good as it can be, not because I'm "never happy".
Seems like 300bhp has a lob on for you, careful What's the problem anyway if I change my cars often?
I don't deny my brain is a messed up place, it always has been, but is there any need for this?
Anyway, the reason for the thread is to decide whether to save my cash for the MR2, or make my existing ride as good as it can be, not because I'm "never happy".
Anyway, I'm very similar to you in lots of ways - in the last four years I've gone 206GTi --> Fabia VRs --> MK1 MX5 (loved) --> WRX STi --> S2000 --> VX220 --> WRX Wagon (loved) --> Polo GTi --> TVR Chim & Ford Ka. Lost £I-don't-want-to-even-work-it-out changing, but like you, I get bored / despondant with problems / a thrill from buying another (not sure you get the last one, but I would guess so). Even with a perfect daily for my short country roads commute and a beast in the garage, I now want another Impreza!
Anyway, back to your OP - I say test drive and go for an MR2, if you don't need the practicality of the Puma. Both get great reviews, but a two seater sports car will always feel more special. Get a hard top for winter and jobs a good 'un. But maybe try and keep the next car for more than a year
doogz said:
Zad said:
stargazer30 said:
Here's a dyno from my old MR2 with the SP low boost kit on. This kit is based on the TTE but with a flatter torque curve using a Unichip and high flow cat back exhaust.
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