Mk1/Mk2 MX5 vs Mk3 Mr2 , Tough choice

[ThatredGTI]

Hi All,

So finally after selling my Mk5 Golf GTI this past sunday. I have finally got the opportunity to go out and buy myself my first Jap car that I have always been dreaming of.

My choices consist of the 3 below:

Mazda MX5 MK1 Preferably 1.8S with LSD
Mazda MX5 MK2/2.5 Preferably 1.8S with LSD
Toyota MR2 MK3 (All UK models have an LSD as far as I know)

I love all 3 of these and would get them all if I could, However as I'm being sensible I can only get one.
Which one of the 3 would you recommend and why?
Have you owned any of the 3 and how do they compare?
And which specs have LSD other than 1.8S ?

Cheers All

[arginite]

Have a Toyota MR2 MK3 fun car to drive and I really love it. The down side is not practical at all as it's got very little storage.

[ThatredGTI]

[quote=arginite]Have a Toyota MR2 MK3 fun car to drive and I really love it. The down side is not practical at all as it's got very little storage.[/quote

I love all 3 so its a tough choice, However practicality isn't really an issue for me as its only going to be my weekend car as I cycle to work.

[WJNB]

The MX-5 Owners Club should be your first port of call. Thousands of owners everywhere, masses of knowledge & likely to be a thriving local branch near you even if you live in the Outer Hebrides.
I bought a new Mk1 in 1990, founded a local club branch so VERY briefly:

Mk 1's now have classic status. Non-rusty non-messed with examples almost impossible to find. 1.6 with slight tweaking the sweet spot.

Mk 2's & minor derivatives. No pretty pop-up headlights, less delicate looking & rust like hell.

Mk 3's Handle poorly unless you faff about changing shocks etc. Lots for sale. Bit more spacious & if you choose right & can be well equipped.

Most later model 1.8's have budget specs. i.e. lots of plastic blanks inside & out.
Plenty of modified versions about, few done well.
For some the Eunos is the Cheapos entry to MX-5 ownership but are well specified, a/c wooden steering wheels ( wow!) although ugly square number plates blight & cheapen the looks.
LSD may be worth seeking but it's an individuals choice depending on driving style.

[anonymous-user]

I can't really comment on the mx-5. I was started too look at turbo converted ones a while back but I've since sat in one or should I say on one and I didn't fit. The top of the windscreen was in my eye line and I think the seat was as far down as it would go. Be cramped with leg room too. Shame! I'm 6 foot 1.

My sister had a mk3 mr2 tho and I fit well in there and pretty low too. Hers was on low profile 17inch tyres, lowering springs and a noisy ass exhaust. My god did it drive well tho. So much fun, instantly felt right. A lot better than my z4 3.0si I had at the time

[designforlife]

I think I mentioned in one of your other threads, but I owned a 1.6 mk2.5 MX5.

Good points - Great seats, cheap fun, reasonably refined compared to the mk1. Handled well. cost buttons to maintain. good owner/club scene. Nice cosmetic upgrade from the slightly bland mk2.

Bad points - Dog slow in a straight line. Rust like crazy.

Edited by designforlife on Monday 10th February 17:10

[markyb_lcy]

MR2 mk3 storage space might be an issue if it’s your only car. Could you get a £500 shed special alongside it?

It’s an absolute hoot of a car, so much fun. Every corner it breezes through puts smiles on my face.

[threespires]

I prefer the 1.6 engine in the early cars. I feel that they have more 'zing'. The 1.8 has more torque and is a lazier drive. There's not much difference in acceleration. I have both. If you can find a Mk1 1.6 BBR, you'll not be disappointed.

[TurboHatchback]

I've driven a Mk2 MX5, I physically didn't fit into it so it was hard to tell if it was any good. I've considered looking at the Mk3 but it seems like finding a non-rusty one is like searching for unicorn tears.

I've owned an MR2 roadster and it was one of my top three favorite ever cars. A point to bear in mind, it's not true that all UK MR2s have the factory LSD. What you want is a facelift (2003 onwards) car which comes with a 6-speed box, LSD and updated engine which doesn't suffer from oval bores and catastrophic oil consumption. The facelift is visually identifiable by having front foglights and larger rear wheels than the fronts (different diameter as well as width).

Ironically I sold mine because I was advised it was reaching a terminal level of rustiness but that was probably due to it living a hundred yards from the sea for years, they certainly seem much less prone to rust than the MX5.

[RSTurboPaul]

WJNB said:

The MX-5 Owners Club should be your first port of call. Thousands of owners everywhere, masses of knowledge & likely to be a thriving local branch near you even if you live in the Outer Hebrides.
I bought a new Mk1 in 1990, founded a local club branch so VERY briefly:

Mk 1's now have classic status. Non-rusty non-messed with examples almost impossible to find. 1.6 with slight tweaking the sweet spot.

Mk 2's & minor derivatives. No pretty pop-up headlights, less delicate looking & rust like hell.

Mk 3's Handle poorly unless you faff about changing shocks etc. Lots for sale. Bit more spacious & if you choose right & can be well equipped.

Most later model 1.8's have budget specs. i.e. lots of plastic blanks inside & out.
Plenty of modified versions about, few done well.
For some the Eunos is the Cheapos entry to MX-5 ownership but are well specified, a/c wooden steering wheels ( wow!) although ugly square number plates blight & cheapen the looks.

You say you set up (and still run?) a local branch of the MX5OC?

Are your views on the Eunos typical of the MX5OC?

If so, it would add weight to the comments I have heard elsewhere about the OC being full of an older generation of people who would rather drive to a garden centre or historic house and then spend all afternoon chatting about random irrelevant stuff while drinking tea and eating cake, rather than actually, you know, driving...


Personally speaking, I don't think I am alone in preferring a Eunos over a UK MX5, given the Eunos come with an LSD as standard and often more equipment generally. And a square plate 'blights and cheapens the looks'? That is one opinion...

[mrtwisty]

TurboHatchback said:

A point to bear in mind, it's not true that all UK MR2s have the factory LSD.

It is true. All ukdm mk3 MR2s were fitted with an lsd as standard.

He's not wrong that the facelift is the one to go for though. Less prone to engine issues although not immune. If at all possible when viewing one, take a borescope and 22mm lambda/o2 sensor socket and inspect the pre-cats (if they haven't already been removed).

Oh and op..... just buy an MR2. You've been posting these threads for a couple of months now and had a lot of advice. Just get it bought before the weather picks up and the prices go up!

Edited by mrtwisty on Monday 10th February 18:40

[watchnut]

I have a Mk3 MX5....2.0 with the lsd you want....it's not quick 0-60....but handles ok.... i take it on track days and get overtaken by everything when in a straight line, but even with stock brakes and springs it is fun when slowing and turning

cheap to insure and great with roof down

I don't see many MR2's around so maybe getting expensive?

MK1 and MK2 MX5's are starting to get expensive if you want a decent one.....

good luck....now might be a good time to buy before the weather improves

[designforlife]

Community wise stick with mx5nutz, the mx5 OC is a more than a bit pipe and slippers.

[markyb_lcy]

watchnut said:

I don't see many MR2's around so maybe getting expensive?

Not at all. You can pickup a project for about a grand and a well looked after one for £1.5-3k.

Low mileage ones go for a bit more but I’d prioritise well looked after over low mileage.

[kuro]

RSTurboPaul said:

WJNB said:

The MX-5 Owners Club should be your first port of call. Thousands of owners everywhere, masses of knowledge & likely to be a thriving local branch near you even if you live in the Outer Hebrides.
I bought a new Mk1 in 1990, founded a local club branch so VERY briefly:

Mk 1's now have classic status. Non-rusty non-messed with examples almost impossible to find. 1.6 with slight tweaking the sweet spot.

Mk 2's & minor derivatives. No pretty pop-up headlights, less delicate looking & rust like hell.

Mk 3's Handle poorly unless you faff about changing shocks etc. Lots for sale. Bit more spacious & if you choose right & can be well equipped.

Most later model 1.8's have budget specs. i.e. lots of plastic blanks inside & out.
Plenty of modified versions about, few done well.
For some the Eunos is the Cheapos entry to MX-5 ownership but are well specified, a/c wooden steering wheels ( wow!) although ugly square number plates blight & cheapen the looks.

You say you set up (and still run?) a local branch of the MX5OC?

Are your views on the Eunos typical of the MX5OC?

If so, it would add weight to the comments I have heard elsewhere about the OC being full of an older generation of people who would rather drive to a garden centre or historic house and then spend all afternoon chatting about random irrelevant stuff while drinking tea and eating cake, rather than actually, you know, driving...


Personally speaking, I don't think I am alone in preferring a Eunos over a UK MX5, given the Eunos come with an LSD as standard and often more equipment generally. And a square plate 'blights and cheapens the looks'? That is one opinion...

You're not alone, I'd take a eunos over a UK car every time. If anything the UK cars are cheap looking with the exception of the limited edition SE in British racing green. I've always said the owners club was biased towards the UK cars.

To answer the Ops original question, I had a Mk1 1.8 Vspec and a 1.6 S-limited side by side. I kept the 1.6 as the engine feels more lively and it's more fun to drive. There's really not a lot in it performance wise. I wouldn't look at a Mk2 as personally I just don't like them and the added problem of rusting chassis rails doesn't help.

Edited by kuro on Monday 10th February 19:56

[ThatredGTI]

Thanks for all the responses guys much appreciated, this weekend I an going to look at a 2005 silver mk3 mr2 and also a red 1995 1.8S eunos roadster both what I'm looking for and in close proximity and lovely condition, I will probably pick whichever one I prefer behind the steering wheel.

I appreciate all the help lads , PH'ers to the rescue haha

[RSTurboPaul]

designforlife said:

Community wise stick with mx5nutz, the mx5 OC is a more than a bit pipe and slippers.

Mighty5s is also a good option.

[designforlife]

ThatredGTI said:

Thanks for all the responses guys much appreciated, this weekend I an going to look at a 2005 silver mk3 mr2 and also a red 1995 1.8S eunos roadster both what I'm looking for and in close proximity and lovely condition, I will probably pick whichever one I prefer behind the steering wheel.

I appreciate all the help lads , PH'ers to the rescue haha

Just have a good poke around the sills and arches on both and have a good crawl underneath... buy on bodywork and mechanical condition, but mechanical issues are much easier to deal with than any rust you find.

[TameRacingDriver]

MR2 for me, just a more focused car, slightly quicker too, and mid engine balance is addictive. I liked my MX5s as well but the MR2 was for me more fun.

[ChrisH72]

I was looking for a MK1 mx5 but ended up buying an MR2 as I felt it was a safer option for someone who doesn't do their own maintenance. I joined the mx5 forum and a couple of local MK1 offered to take me for a drive in their cars which was great. But I already had a Celica so felt more comfortable getting the MR2. I enjoyed it for 18 months and wish I'd kept it but sadly with baby on the way it had to go. I have noticed the good ones fetch more money now than when I owned mine 5 years ago.