What are your driving impressions of the mk2 MR2?
Discussion
Well just sold the Fto and I'm going to keep the Puma but I still want something to tincker with, which brings me too the MR2
now, since I have never driven MR car before, how do you rate them?
The reason I love the Puma is that its bloody fantastic to peddle down the road, will I find the MR2 'Fun'?
now, since I have never driven MR car before, how do you rate them?
The reason I love the Puma is that its bloody fantastic to peddle down the road, will I find the MR2 'Fun'?
Are you asking after the N/A or the turbo variety?
I owned an Rev 2 N/A for just over a year, though I have driven a turbo (if you want seriously quick on a budget, that's the one to go for!).
The mid engine layout provides excellent balance, it handles very well and yes, it is fun to drive. My main complaint was simply lack of power. The 2.0 engine provides reasonable grunt, but it does feel fairly heavy and lacking in mid range power.
I would say it is a good intro RWD car. Good tyres are a must, but they are not a 'widow maker' or any other such overblown nonsense you'll read. They are more snappy on the limit than other cars of a similar type, but they reward progressive smooth driving and I'm very glad mine was my first RWD.
I really liked the cabin and the seats are fantastic, the driving position is great. On long drives it got tiring as I found it pretty noisy, but nonetheless I covered 12,000 fun and trouble free miles in mine.
Reliable, pretty cheap to run, not masses of straight line power but satisfying to drive well. The later revisions (Rev 3 onwards) are really the ones to go for.
If you're after RWD with more power but don't want the potential expense of the MR2 turbo, my current steer is a Z3 2.8 (comes in 3.0L flavour as well) and I rate it pretty highly. Write up in the 'did you buy the right car' thread
I owned an Rev 2 N/A for just over a year, though I have driven a turbo (if you want seriously quick on a budget, that's the one to go for!).
The mid engine layout provides excellent balance, it handles very well and yes, it is fun to drive. My main complaint was simply lack of power. The 2.0 engine provides reasonable grunt, but it does feel fairly heavy and lacking in mid range power.
I would say it is a good intro RWD car. Good tyres are a must, but they are not a 'widow maker' or any other such overblown nonsense you'll read. They are more snappy on the limit than other cars of a similar type, but they reward progressive smooth driving and I'm very glad mine was my first RWD.
I really liked the cabin and the seats are fantastic, the driving position is great. On long drives it got tiring as I found it pretty noisy, but nonetheless I covered 12,000 fun and trouble free miles in mine.
Reliable, pretty cheap to run, not masses of straight line power but satisfying to drive well. The later revisions (Rev 3 onwards) are really the ones to go for.
If you're after RWD with more power but don't want the potential expense of the MR2 turbo, my current steer is a Z3 2.8 (comes in 3.0L flavour as well) and I rate it pretty highly. Write up in the 'did you buy the right car' thread
TheHeretic said:
I think they are fun. They are a 'precise' drive, but you get all hooligan if you need. I've owned an NA as well as a 300bhp Turbo version as well. I would go back to either of the road conditions over here were better.
Pretty decent car, and as above you can be a hooligan aslong as you can catch it when it does break free.My track car is an NA and is pretty good fun although not that quick it's great fun to rev the arse off and keep on the boil around a track. On the road it's pretty goof given it has no interior etc.
FLGirl said:
Are you asking after the N/A or the turbo variety?
I owned an Rev 2 N/A for just over a year, though I have driven a turbo (if you want seriously quick on a budget, that's the one to go for!).
The mid engine layout provides excellent balance, it handles very well and yes, it is fun to drive. My main complaint was simply lack of power. The 2.0 engine provides reasonable grunt, but it does feel fairly heavy and lacking in mid range power.
I would say it is a good intro RWD car. Good tyres are a must, but they are not a 'widow maker' or any other such overblown nonsense you'll read. They are more snappy on the limit than other cars of a similar type, but they reward progressive smooth driving and I'm very glad mine was my first RWD.
I really liked the cabin and the seats are fantastic, the driving position is great. On long drives it got tiring as I found it pretty noisy, but nonetheless I covered 12,000 fun and trouble free miles in mine.
Reliable, pretty cheap to run, not masses of straight line power but satisfying to drive well. The later revisions (Rev 3 onwards) are really the ones to go for.
If you're after RWD with more power but don't want the potential expense of the MR2 turbo, my current steer is a Z3 2.8 (comes in 3.0L flavour as well) and I rate it pretty highly. Write up in the 'did you buy the right car' thread
Pretty much this. I have a 300hp turbo and its plenty fast enough and feels special to drive. Especially echo the driving position and seats comments. Supremely comfortable even on long journeys and very well laid out. I owned an Rev 2 N/A for just over a year, though I have driven a turbo (if you want seriously quick on a budget, that's the one to go for!).
The mid engine layout provides excellent balance, it handles very well and yes, it is fun to drive. My main complaint was simply lack of power. The 2.0 engine provides reasonable grunt, but it does feel fairly heavy and lacking in mid range power.
I would say it is a good intro RWD car. Good tyres are a must, but they are not a 'widow maker' or any other such overblown nonsense you'll read. They are more snappy on the limit than other cars of a similar type, but they reward progressive smooth driving and I'm very glad mine was my first RWD.
I really liked the cabin and the seats are fantastic, the driving position is great. On long drives it got tiring as I found it pretty noisy, but nonetheless I covered 12,000 fun and trouble free miles in mine.
Reliable, pretty cheap to run, not masses of straight line power but satisfying to drive well. The later revisions (Rev 3 onwards) are really the ones to go for.
If you're after RWD with more power but don't want the potential expense of the MR2 turbo, my current steer is a Z3 2.8 (comes in 3.0L flavour as well) and I rate it pretty highly. Write up in the 'did you buy the right car' thread
It's reliable, with only wear and tear items having been replaced in my 4 years of ownership taking it from 54k to now 91k. Never cost me more than £150 to go through an MOT either.
Get a good one, treat it well and it will not let you down. And yes, do not skimp on tyres.
Thanks for the feedback guys.
I have just been speaking to a guy I know and he has agreed to sell his Rev 3 to me for €800 its a 93 n/a with 180bhp. Its red (not my first choice) and a T-Bar, it has updated brakes, suspention, szigen exhaust and some black and red 16" alloys with decent tyres.
He needs it for the next week and then I can have it!
Even has a sticker on the boot "sorry if I can't hear you over my awesomeness"..... I might remove that.
I have just been speaking to a guy I know and he has agreed to sell his Rev 3 to me for €800 its a 93 n/a with 180bhp. Its red (not my first choice) and a T-Bar, it has updated brakes, suspention, szigen exhaust and some black and red 16" alloys with decent tyres.
He needs it for the next week and then I can have it!
Even has a sticker on the boot "sorry if I can't hear you over my awesomeness"..... I might remove that.
Edited by wolfy1988 on Saturday 2nd June 17:10
Only ever had a ride in an import turbo, very quick car. Nice to look at, nice to sit in. Used a lot of fuel despite it's low kerb weight, but I suppose it depends how you drive it. The engine sounds a bit coarse towards the top end, but I suppose a decent induction setup and a sports exhaust would cover that up a bit.
Marf said:
Get a good one, treat it well and it will not let you down. And yes, do not skimp on tyres.
Gaz. said:
Tyres & geo will make or break these cars.
+1Coming up to 6 years of turbo ownership - current one is 300+ bhp. Unless you're addicted to boost, fuel consumption need be no worse than an n/a. 36.5mpg on a trip to North Linconshire and back on one tank.
Had 2 MK2's, one NA (UK 1994 rev3 car) and a import Turbo (1992). Great to drive and one of the best parts about the car is the community behind it. (IMOC,MR2OC, and american sites). They have dropped in prices immensely and parts are easily obtainable both from breakers and from several good online retailers (camskill, TCBparts).
Must agree that the N/A lacks power, but can get you in illegal speeds quite easily. That's why I went for the turbo which for me was on the other side of the scale. In terms of skill required MK2 is not the easiest car to drive - it is mid engined, granted, but it has a tendency to go from grip to oversteer rapidly and without warning, especially in damper, colder weather. If you're going to be looking at them, make sure it either has stock wheels, or correctly staggered aftermarket wheels - it is crucial for the cars' balance. Crap alloys with staggered tyres only - no no no.
They have some issues - crap brakes (sticky calipers / sliders), poor mileage (if you care), cracking ignition coils, in NA the bad engine lid design lets lots of water on the alternator, rusting exhausts, leaking t-tops seals, not the easiest engine to work on; but first of all - rust. Look carefully for bubbling around the sills and around the windscreen. Front wings are easily replaceable but any rust on the rear quarter is bad news.
Overall great 2nd car, I would not buy a MK2 anymore if I cannot have a cheapo diesel to run around.
Must agree that the N/A lacks power, but can get you in illegal speeds quite easily. That's why I went for the turbo which for me was on the other side of the scale. In terms of skill required MK2 is not the easiest car to drive - it is mid engined, granted, but it has a tendency to go from grip to oversteer rapidly and without warning, especially in damper, colder weather. If you're going to be looking at them, make sure it either has stock wheels, or correctly staggered aftermarket wheels - it is crucial for the cars' balance. Crap alloys with staggered tyres only - no no no.
They have some issues - crap brakes (sticky calipers / sliders), poor mileage (if you care), cracking ignition coils, in NA the bad engine lid design lets lots of water on the alternator, rusting exhausts, leaking t-tops seals, not the easiest engine to work on; but first of all - rust. Look carefully for bubbling around the sills and around the windscreen. Front wings are easily replaceable but any rust on the rear quarter is bad news.
Overall great 2nd car, I would not buy a MK2 anymore if I cannot have a cheapo diesel to run around.
Good cars and very reliable generally... Expensive to modify compared to Fast fords of the same era. Quick enough with basic mods and seats are very comfy. Feel special to drive even though they arent an expensive car.(low seating position helps)
Id advise to buy a ready modified one if thats what you intend to do as I spent 6k on mine and sold it for exactly the same as a standard one...(which was peanuts)
Id advise to buy a ready modified one if thats what you intend to do as I spent 6k on mine and sold it for exactly the same as a standard one...(which was peanuts)
Love mine.
Had a disagreement with some nature that left it battle scarred - combination of rain, adverse camber and a little too much enthusiasm exiting a roundabout. No fault of the car though. All repaired and nice again now though.
I can't think of anything that really bugs me about the car tbh. Just watch out for rust. And sticky calipers!
Had a disagreement with some nature that left it battle scarred - combination of rain, adverse camber and a little too much enthusiasm exiting a roundabout. No fault of the car though. All repaired and nice again now though.
I can't think of anything that really bugs me about the car tbh. Just watch out for rust. And sticky calipers!
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