My MK1 MR2 :)

[Daaaveee]

Kit80 said:

Awww you two not helping me here!

Got quotes for new engine from 200-400 and also an offer from a friend who would fit it for free! Sadly I think he wont fit it without wanting at least a date from me in return, so I am in a moral quandry.

I would love to do the rebuild so much but everything practical wise is against me!

If it was me I'd be asking myself, if I bought a different car would I like more than the MR2, and if I did, would it be worth the price difference compared to just fixing it MR2?

Take your mate out for a beer to say thanks, and all is well?

[Kit80]

It is just the practicalness of it all, I need a car for work etc, this one has proven to be very unreliable and even with a new engine I know there are other things that will need to be fixed and I don't have an endless supply of money (or patience) to keep it working. I would happily have another MK1 again as I loved it but I could buy a complete new one for whats it going to cost to fix it and hope the new one is not as much of a lemon as this one has been.

I would hate to see it go to 'waste' though so will speak to the owners forums about someone having it to break or fix.

[monkeymax]

Hiya Kit! Just seen this (As I have two of these, I'm more of a poster on the MR2 Mk1 Club, and a lurker here, sadly).
My vote would definitely be to fix it. Standard 4AGE engines can be gotten pretty cheaply. If you can rebuild it before refitting it, you know it should be reliable!
To be honest, I'm surprised at the problems you've had; mine has been rock solid for the 4 years I've had it, and I know of two that have more than 200k on the clock on their original engines!

[Kateg28]

Hello Max

(I am assuming you are the Max I know!, recognise the user name!)

[pthelazyjourno]

Loved my MR2, was great fun to drive.

Massively unreliable though, I threw thousands of pounds at it in a year or so. Corroded electrics, engine problems, welding, painting etc etc.

A money pit. My Elise has been a hell of a lot more reliable.

Lotus more reliable than Toyota shocker (although granted the liz isn't 20odd years old..)

[Kateg28]

Oh dear that doesn't sound good.

I have had mine nearly 5 years and apart from regular thorough servicing and normal consumables (tyres etc), have had to buy an new alternator.

That is it. I also had one when it was only 18 months old and in the three years we had it, nothing at all went wrong.

I do really like Lotuses/Lotus's/Lotii (what is the plural?)

[pthelazyjourno]

Kateg28 said:

Oh dear that doesn't sound good.

I have had mine nearly 5 years and apart from regular thorough servicing and normal consumables (tyres etc), have had to buy an new alternator.

That is it. I also had one when it was only 18 months old and in the three years we had it, nothing at all went wrong.

I do really like Lotuses/Lotus's/Lotii (what is the plural?)

To be fair, I guess some of my MR2's woes were consumables - tyres etc. Lots of it was weather/corrosion related too, which I guess will get at any car. Pain in the neck when you're shelling out £xxx on new brake calipers though, or £xxx on electricians to try and hunt down electrical issues. Lots of other problems, like the fuel pump dying, or bits giving up the ghost.

Loved it to bits, but just didn't have much faith that it'd get me to my destination!!!



I'd go with Lotus' as the plural! Lots of people seem to like Loti though.

Unsurprisingly, they're not a million miles apart when it comes to driving them, although the MR2 reminds me more of a slow Exige than an Elise.

My Elise feels a lot more lively, which is fun/terrifying in equal measures




Seems like a natural progression from the MR2 to me!! Although it's obviously a lot more compromised.

Anyway, sorry for taking the thread off topic (although less so than all the 'gayness' that was going on earlier! Shame to see the OPs car suffering, hope you either get it sorted or find something else interesting soon!

Philip

[Kateg28]

I will stop taking this off topic in a minute.

The link between Lotuii (!) and MR2 was also apparent with my Dad. He used to own a 1974 JPS Europa which he loved and was quite sniffy of my desire to get another MR2 (after the orginal white one some years ago). However he drove it and realised that he could have as much fun driving in a Jap car as he could in his beloved Lotus and all it's foibles.

So he sold it. And bought an NSX.
Which I can drive anytime

[pthelazyjourno]

Kateg28 said:

I will stop taking this off topic in a minute.

The link between Lotuii (!) and MR2 was also apparent with my Dad. He used to own a 1974 JPS Europa which he loved and was quite sniffy of my desire to get another MR2 (after the orginal white one some years ago). However he drove it and realised that he could have as much fun driving in a Jap car as he could in his beloved Lotus and all it's foibles.

So he sold it. And bought an NSX.
Which I can drive anytime

Lucky you!! Do you drive it much? Any pics?

What's it like to drive? I looked at them briefly but never got round to test driving any, I'd imagine it's a pain finding specialists, and wouldn't fancy taking one to a regular Honda garage.

Nice cars, they look bloody long though, wouldn't want to park one!!!

Edited by pthelazyjourno on Thursday 25th November 11:40

[Kateg28]

Lovely car. Bright red, targa top.

I have only driven it once (due to my house move taking up all my time and his holidays) but all the cars got out of the way. I will drive it again next Summer, hopefully a few times.

We are hoping to drive it over the Stelvio one day. He goes all the time but we would like to go on a road trip together. My life is so tough

[pthelazyjourno]

Kateg28 said:

Lovely car. Bright red, targa top.

I have only driven it once (due to my house move taking up all my time and his holidays) but all the cars got out of the way. I will drive it again next Summer, hopefully a few times.

We are hoping to drive it over the Stelvio one day. He goes all the time but we would like to go on a road trip together. My life is so tough

Haha. Nearest I've been to the Stelvio is the flippin Pennines/Dales etc. Good roads still but full of traffic/speed cameras/rain.

Would be fun though. My dad hates cars, refused to even try getting in my Elise, actually walked a couple of miles instead!!!

Although it is a tad cramped and he is somewhat fat. Ho hum.

Have never managed a decent road trip, my MR2 was always failing its MOT when Le Mans was on. And have always ended up going in boring rep mobiles whenever there's a few of us.

Hopefully next year.

[Kit80]

This thread will never stay on topic.

I do want a some Loti now though

[pthelazyjourno]

There's a topic?! What is it?!!

[OlberJ]

What have you done with it in the end Kit?

[Kit80]

Thanks to the snow and being the worlds most indecisive person, I have done nothing with it It is the battle of the heart of a petrolhead and the practical person in me.

[Diesel Meister]

Two words:

Vee Six.

/thread.

[Kit80]

Diesel Meister said:

Two words:

Vee Six.

/thread.

Yes but I am pondering a Hyundai Coupe with a V6 and that one probably doesn't leak and need hundred other bits doing

Edited by Kit80 on Saturday 11th December 19:30

[WeirdNeville]

Kit80 said:

Diesel Meister said:

Two words:

Vee Six.

/thread.

Yes but I am pondering a Hyundai Coupe with a V6 and that one probably doesn't leak and need hundred other bits doing

Edited by Kit80 on Saturday 11th December 19:30

No no no no no!
None of the joy of a Mk1.

How about you hunt down a good one? Mine ran for 2 years with no problems. Incredibly robust for a 22 year old. Solid it this Easter for £1,600. Still miss the thing!
If you want to race it, stick with another 1.6 4age to be eligable. Personally I think the V6 option is a tad pricey - you're looking at 2-3k really (unless you like lifting engines in and welding). It does turn them into beasts though!

Have some pictures for inspriation:

[grimfandango]

Kit80 said:

I have a new toy YAY. I never wrote about my Aygo on here as they are unappreciated and I do run an owners forum but finally I get to a have a readers car thread


And here she is..












She is in excellent condition inside and out bar a few minor cosmetics which I plan to work on. It has of course rained ever since I bought her so I do love the T-bar but not quite enjoyed it much yet. I need to stop making the lights pop up and down before I wear them out and well the sound it makes is immense. I love it.

I am seriously going to smack the next person who (non petrol head friends mostly) who can not understand why I went from a brand new car to an F reg Because its Retro cool!!

Is that Mablethorpe beach I spy in the background?!

as for your engine, why on earth would you not just put another one in? and if your not how much are you selling the car for

[y282]

always thought one of these would look good with boot spoiler deleted.