Which to choose?
Discussion
Having just left uni I'll soon be in the position to take out a nice fat loan and treat myself to something a little special..
I absolutely adore the Honda engine in my car, free revving, strong all through the range, nice noise, good MPG; but I really want at least some drive to the rear wheels, and there aren't many Hondas come with that.
I prefer a revvy engine, not too worried about torque, as long as it gives a good shove back in the seat..
My ideal next car would be a series 2 MR2, but I'm not sure how quick they are (or more importantly, how quick they feel). I'm looking around for one to test drive now.
If that isn't quick enough, I'd like to push the boat out and go for a Turbo car.
From reading on here there are only 3 that tempt me;
Imprezza, MR2 turbo and GT4 Turbo.
Evos are a bit thirsty and impractical, and for some reason I have an irrational hatred of Mazdas (sorry)...
So, after that long ramble, the questions are these..
Is a 2 litre twin-cam MR2 going to be fast enough to justify selling the current car (216 GTi 0-60 in 8 sec) and if not, what's the low-down on the Turbos?
As I'm 22 will I even be able to insure one? (I think I can forget the Scoob on those grounds alone)
Cheers...
I absolutely adore the Honda engine in my car, free revving, strong all through the range, nice noise, good MPG; but I really want at least some drive to the rear wheels, and there aren't many Hondas come with that.
I prefer a revvy engine, not too worried about torque, as long as it gives a good shove back in the seat..
My ideal next car would be a series 2 MR2, but I'm not sure how quick they are (or more importantly, how quick they feel). I'm looking around for one to test drive now.
If that isn't quick enough, I'd like to push the boat out and go for a Turbo car.
From reading on here there are only 3 that tempt me;
Imprezza, MR2 turbo and GT4 Turbo.
Evos are a bit thirsty and impractical, and for some reason I have an irrational hatred of Mazdas (sorry)...
So, after that long ramble, the questions are these..
Is a 2 litre twin-cam MR2 going to be fast enough to justify selling the current car (216 GTi 0-60 in 8 sec) and if not, what's the low-down on the Turbos?
As I'm 22 will I even be able to insure one? (I think I can forget the Scoob on those grounds alone)
Cheers...
MR2 Turbos, I have so much info on them but the resident expert is gazboy.
Insurance can be cheap too and 0-60 can be under 6 secs with the right model (rev 3 and up, post 94 cars?).
Dont have my folder to hand but try these sites.
www.mr2dc.com
www.imoc.co.uk
I got amazingly cheap quotes from Bell Direct for modified MR2 Turbos. Speak nicely to them and you'll get even bigger reductions
GT4 (Im assuming Celicas), speak to MrE.
Ive had a couple of Celicas (not GT4s) and they were brilliant cars. Went for ever and ever. Well, would have.
My fav jap car was my CRX VTEC (mrk2, hatchback) though. It was slighlty modified and still not as quick as the turbo cars mentioned but it was such good fun. Wish I still had it.
Insurance can be cheap too and 0-60 can be under 6 secs with the right model (rev 3 and up, post 94 cars?).
Dont have my folder to hand but try these sites.
www.mr2dc.com
www.imoc.co.uk
I got amazingly cheap quotes from Bell Direct for modified MR2 Turbos. Speak nicely to them and you'll get even bigger reductions
GT4 (Im assuming Celicas), speak to MrE.
Ive had a couple of Celicas (not GT4s) and they were brilliant cars. Went for ever and ever. Well, would have.
My fav jap car was my CRX VTEC (mrk2, hatchback) though. It was slighlty modified and still not as quick as the turbo cars mentioned but it was such good fun. Wish I still had it.
The MkII MR2 is a well balanced sports car. But it's crying out for more grunt.
The turbo gets it.....
The Two is faster on the track, and probably a more challanging drive. The Four is bigger, heavier and a fair bit more useful in the real world (my mate doesn't drive his two if it's wet).
Two is probably cheaper. And all Turbos are imports.
You'll have trouble insuring either the Four or the Mr2 at 22 though I'm afraid mate.... The GT4OC insurance scheme is over 25s only.
The turbo gets it.....
The Two is faster on the track, and probably a more challanging drive. The Four is bigger, heavier and a fair bit more useful in the real world (my mate doesn't drive his two if it's wet).
Two is probably cheaper. And all Turbos are imports.
You'll have trouble insuring either the Four or the Mr2 at 22 though I'm afraid mate.... The GT4OC insurance scheme is over 25s only.
Gazboy said:
If it was me, I'd get a uk MR2 GT t bar- rev 3 onwards. You *may* get a quote on a Turbo, but it will be loads esp at 22 (all turbo's get to 60 in under 6 btw). iirc a na T bar will hit 60 in 7.2 seconds, the acceleration above this though is where it will make your rover look silly, afterall it has a 2 litre engine with 178bhp (rev 3), they are still quick in anyones money. Run it for a year, and if you want more performance, get a Turbo.
This suggestion I like.
Will it really beat a 1600 DOHC honda engine that well? Remember, my car only weighs 1000kg; aren't MR2s 1600 ish?
DustyC said:
Dont have my folder to hand but try these sites.
www.mr2dc.com
www.imoc.co.uk
I used to spend a lot of time on them..
Have you ever seen the MR2 FAQ?
It's HUGE. I printed it all and virtually knew it by heart through my 2nd year at Uni..
dragstar said:
my neighbour has a gt4
i love the way it just digs in when you plant it
its awesome
"forgotten supercar" indeed
Hurrah. A convert. My 1996 import has *all* the toys, lots of power, goes like stink and I got change from 8 grand a year ago (not much change mind).
I keep thinking I should buy something else, but this side of an Evo there really isn't much that covers all the bases in quite the same way.
And I like the rarity as well.
Get a Mkii MR2 and have an absolute hoot exploring your limits in relative safety - then, when age doesn't count against your insurance premium so much, go out and practive everything you learnt from the MR2 in a GT4 / Scooby etc...
MR2 is an excellent handling car enabling you to gradually build up to faster and faster cornering, putting you at less risk of writing it (and any hope of ever insuring a Scooby) off.
Just my two pence!
MR2 is an excellent handling car enabling you to gradually build up to faster and faster cornering, putting you at less risk of writing it (and any hope of ever insuring a Scooby) off.
Just my two pence!
, but I have a list of statistics on the MR2 and the Turbo, so if you want i could email you with some info. Gazboy said:
If it was me, I'd get a uk MR2 GT t bar- rev 3 onwards. You *may* get a quote on a Turbo, but it will be loads esp at 22 (all turbo's get to 60 in under 6 btw). iirc a na T bar will hit 60 in 7.2 seconds, the acceleration above this though is where it will make your rover look silly, afterall it has a 2 litre engine with 178bhp (rev 3), they are still quick in anyones money. Run it for a year, and if you want more performance, get a Turbo.
Agree.
My Rev3 n/a isn't all that fast to sixty but get it past 80 and it just keeps on pulling and pulling (or pushing, if you wanna be technically correct), seemingly forever.
Now I'm confused.
The other night I tried a 0-60 in my Rover. Now I know it's got a Honda engine, but 7.1 seconds to 60, on cold tyres, wasn't quite what I was expecting!
I'm in a bit of a dilema now. I like cars that look nice, but before I can justify lashing out the money on an MR2 I'll want to know for sure that it's a good deal faster than the Rover at 'real-world' speeds (i.e. less than 80).
May have to save up for a turbo.
What are these problems you've been having Gaz? I thought the reliability was legendary?
The other night I tried a 0-60 in my Rover. Now I know it's got a Honda engine, but 7.1 seconds to 60, on cold tyres, wasn't quite what I was expecting!
I'm in a bit of a dilema now. I like cars that look nice, but before I can justify lashing out the money on an MR2 I'll want to know for sure that it's a good deal faster than the Rover at 'real-world' speeds (i.e. less than 80).
May have to save up for a turbo.
What are these problems you've been having Gaz? I thought the reliability was legendary?
_Al_ said:
Now I'm confused.
The other night I tried a 0-60 in my Rover. Now I know it's got a Honda engine, but 7.1 seconds to 60, on cold tyres, wasn't quite what I was expecting!
If you're using the speedo in the car it's probably underreading.
And there's a *lot* more to a decent car than 0-60.
Right, now I'm scared. 
I bought a car off a cowboy once, took almost £2k to set it right, and that was doing everything I could myself.
Got f
d on that one, and the girl that bought it off me got a REALLY good buy, as virtually everything was new, but I'd run out of cash and couldn't afford to keep it!
REALLY don't want to go through that again.
I bought a car off a cowboy once, took almost £2k to set it right, and that was doing everything I could myself.
Got f
d on that one, and the girl that bought it off me got a REALLY good buy, as virtually everything was new, but I'd run out of cash and couldn't afford to keep it! REALLY don't want to go through that again.
:dribble:
I like supras, but not as much as MR2s. Anyway, the 2 is smaller; I prefer a light, chuckable car. The MR2 is also the best looking car this side of a 355)
Re; eariler 0-60 comments, I know it's not everything, but I love a sizeable amount of acceleration, and I've never had the good fortune to own a car with enough guts to deliver that above 60, so from my perspective it's important.
I'm also a fan of twisty B-Road blats, and 0-60 is the primary speed range I use. I'm not one to get excited about a 150mph cruise on an autobahn, that just feels like taking the train.
I like supras, but not as much as MR2s. Anyway, the 2 is smaller; I prefer a light, chuckable car. The MR2 is also the best looking car this side of a 355)
Re; eariler 0-60 comments, I know it's not everything, but I love a sizeable amount of acceleration, and I've never had the good fortune to own a car with enough guts to deliver that above 60, so from my perspective it's important.
I'm also a fan of twisty B-Road blats, and 0-60 is the primary speed range I use. I'm not one to get excited about a 150mph cruise on an autobahn, that just feels like taking the train.
gggggrrrr insurance quotes!!!!!!
i sold my corolla yesterday, a bit unexpected but got a good price, and everything has a price so its thrown me into the mr2 turbo hunt a little sooner than expected. 22 3 points sp30, 1 years no claims. = silly cash..i kinda expected it, but not quite as bad as it is. cis wouldnt even quote me, bell direct want £1550 a year fc, £1300 tpfp, and im with them at the mo, £350 to transfer the cars from the corolla to mr2 until july! ouch!
hhhhmmmmm ne suggestions, maybe oil the rusty chain on my mountain bike isnt a bad idea
i sold my corolla yesterday, a bit unexpected but got a good price, and everything has a price
so its thrown me into the mr2 turbo hunt a little sooner than expected. 22 3 points sp30, 1 years no claims. = silly cash..i kinda expected it, but not quite as bad as it is. cis wouldnt even quote me, bell direct want £1550 a year fc, £1300 tpfp, and im with them at the mo, £350 to transfer the cars from the corolla to mr2 until july! ouch! hhhhmmmmm ne suggestions, maybe oil the rusty chain on my mountain bike isnt a bad idea
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