MK II MR2 - any good?
Discussion
ive driven one, and i think they are an absolute riot! (the Turbo at least)
i have no idea why someone would say it has poor handling - its not Elise light but it handles well, grips like crazy and has all the fight fizz-bang noises from the turbo engine mounted RIGHT BEHIND YOUR HEAD!
my next car....barring insurance having a wobbly.
i have no idea why someone would say it has poor handling - its not Elise light but it handles well, grips like crazy and has all the fight fizz-bang noises from the turbo engine mounted RIGHT BEHIND YOUR HEAD!
my next car....barring insurance having a wobbly.
A demonstration that journalists can't drive, they only said it was bad as a few of them smashed them up while testing them. I have had an n/a and a turbo, turbo handles better than the n/a one as its got a torsen LSD as standard. They go and grip really well, HANDLING isn't amazing but its ok. It'll certainly get round corners on a track faster than any hot hatch.
I've got a '92 MR2 (rev2) and I'm very happy with it, but you do have to how to drive or it could catch you out.
I'm happy driving quickly, I'm even happier driving with the car sidways on the lock-stops, but I've had a couple of moments in mine when I've just been pootling along and it's stepped out. When the grip goes, it goes at the back and you have to be ready.
With a bit of driver training and decent tyres you'll be fine, even in snow.
I've heard that later cars (rev3 on - round rear lights) are better but the only one I drove had a knackered steering rack, so I couldn't say.
Pre 92 cars (rev 1) had smaller brakes, 14" wheels, narrower tyres and no chin spoiler. Given how cheap later cars are I'd avoid the rev 1s.
I love my MR2 and I can't think of anything I'd replace it with, except maybe an FD RX7.
I'm happy driving quickly, I'm even happier driving with the car sidways on the lock-stops, but I've had a couple of moments in mine when I've just been pootling along and it's stepped out. When the grip goes, it goes at the back and you have to be ready.
With a bit of driver training and decent tyres you'll be fine, even in snow.
I've heard that later cars (rev3 on - round rear lights) are better but the only one I drove had a knackered steering rack, so I couldn't say.
Pre 92 cars (rev 1) had smaller brakes, 14" wheels, narrower tyres and no chin spoiler. Given how cheap later cars are I'd avoid the rev 1s.
I love my MR2 and I can't think of anything I'd replace it with, except maybe an FD RX7.
I test drove a 'J' reg turbo on sunday - was really nice - had an aftermarket airfilter - so the 'sucking' noise was quite intense when the turbo came in.
Definatley felt heavier than my MX5 - but it had about twice the power as well! In fact, I'm not sure I want that much power in my little mazda!
[By the way: £2,700 for a 'j' reg, with 95K on the clock, otherwise appeared very good condition - what do folks think - reasonable money?
]
-ace
Definatley felt heavier than my MX5 - but it had about twice the power as well! In fact, I'm not sure I want that much power in my little mazda!
[By the way: £2,700 for a 'j' reg, with 95K on the clock, otherwise appeared very good condition - what do folks think - reasonable money?
]
-ace
The n/a you can get the back out if your brutal in the dry, in the wet quite easily, its not as controllable as the turbos though as n/a's don't have LSD's.
£2700 for a good condition rev1 sounds about right, personally i'd save more and get a rev3, the rev1 has narrow rear track, small brakes, weaker gearbox. Rev2 they widened the rear track, gave it bigger brakes and strengthened the box (I had a rev2). Rev3 they gave it a better engine as well.
rev 1 & 2 are AFM controlled & have paper headgaskets, the rev3s are all MAP sensored, multilayer steel HG, better boost control, turbo that boosts to red line rediesigned inlet manifold, more wild cam shafts,.. just better all round.
£2700 for a good condition rev1 sounds about right, personally i'd save more and get a rev3, the rev1 has narrow rear track, small brakes, weaker gearbox. Rev2 they widened the rear track, gave it bigger brakes and strengthened the box (I had a rev2). Rev3 they gave it a better engine as well.
rev 1 & 2 are AFM controlled & have paper headgaskets, the rev3s are all MAP sensored, multilayer steel HG, better boost control, turbo that boosts to red line rediesigned inlet manifold, more wild cam shafts,.. just better all round.
phil_cardiff said:
I was on about the N/A really. I believe that autocar said the handling was fine so long as you remember what it is, a mid engined car. I'm guessing the N/A doesn't have an lsd? Can you still get the back out in the N/A or is it more grip than handling?
There was a guy in the 2004 OPT drift championship who used an NA MR2 rev1 with an open diff. Getting the back out is down to skill and practice, but it can be done very well.
If getting sideways is your thing go to www.driftworks.com and browse the forums - you can drift anything but there are lots of easier cars to use than an MR2. I drift an MX5, but my everyday car is the MR2.
I owned one (with some mods).
They can be tricky simply because, with all the weight behind you, sideways movements can be large and sudden. That said, you need to be driving like a wally. If you can afford it, get a post 94 turbo as there were a couple of revisions (metal head gasket which sometimes failed on early turbo cars, different turbo which pulled better throughout the rev rage, factory oil caatch can, revised suspension mount pointe etc etc) They also have noticeably better brakes post 1992.
Early turbo cars are still quick and reliable mind you, just less suited to heavy modification.
They are also quite practical, with the boot big enough for a large golf bag and luggage and more than enough space for a week away for 2 people. Targa roofs tend to leak a bit but that is ue to the rubber seals being old. Get some new rubbers and they are fine.
Everything else about this i spretty much bomb proof (or was on mine, and we drove the hind legs off the thing).
They can be tricky simply because, with all the weight behind you, sideways movements can be large and sudden. That said, you need to be driving like a wally. If you can afford it, get a post 94 turbo as there were a couple of revisions (metal head gasket which sometimes failed on early turbo cars, different turbo which pulled better throughout the rev rage, factory oil caatch can, revised suspension mount pointe etc etc) They also have noticeably better brakes post 1992.
Early turbo cars are still quick and reliable mind you, just less suited to heavy modification.
They are also quite practical, with the boot big enough for a large golf bag and luggage and more than enough space for a week away for 2 people. Targa roofs tend to leak a bit but that is ue to the rubber seals being old. Get some new rubbers and they are fine.
Everything else about this i spretty much bomb proof (or was on mine, and we drove the hind legs off the thing).
Rev 3 here. No probs catching sideways action in the wet. Even with negative camber. On budget tyres. 
When I first got it, I read so many stories of people being taken by surprise, so I drove it like a granny, slowly pushing it each time. Then I found that it wasn't as bad as people described. I think it's more to do with people coming from FWD GTIs etc (cos the MR2 turbo is cheap for the power) and thinking you can drive in exactly the same way. I come from years of RWD sports cars.
When I first got it, I read so many stories of people being taken by surprise, so I drove it like a granny, slowly pushing it each time. Then I found that it wasn't as bad as people described. I think it's more to do with people coming from FWD GTIs etc (cos the MR2 turbo is cheap for the power) and thinking you can drive in exactly the same way. I come from years of RWD sports cars.
Edited by shadowninja on Wednesday 21st February 18:36
Hi,
One of my housemates has just bought a (naturally aspirated) mk2 T-bar and I have to say it's a very pleasant surprise.....
Although not lightening quick it goes better than I expected. The outright grip is absolutely phenomenal, almost too much to have fun on the road. The handling also appeared completely benign. I didn't drive it, but we spent half an hour going sideways round the local roundabouts and the guy who owns isn't an expert by any means - it's his first RWD car let alone mid engined and he was having no trouble with it. It can't be that scary if someone who's sole previous experience is a Citroen ZX diesel can get in and hoon it round. You just have to remember not to lift off mid corner.
If you like the look of them, I can't really see any reason not to get one. They seem to be cheap, reliable and fun to drive. Personally I'm not a big fan of MR2's, but subjectively they seem like a good buy.
One of my housemates has just bought a (naturally aspirated) mk2 T-bar and I have to say it's a very pleasant surprise.....
Although not lightening quick it goes better than I expected. The outright grip is absolutely phenomenal, almost too much to have fun on the road. The handling also appeared completely benign. I didn't drive it, but we spent half an hour going sideways round the local roundabouts and the guy who owns isn't an expert by any means - it's his first RWD car let alone mid engined and he was having no trouble with it. It can't be that scary if someone who's sole previous experience is a Citroen ZX diesel can get in and hoon it round. You just have to remember not to lift off mid corner.
If you like the look of them, I can't really see any reason not to get one. They seem to be cheap, reliable and fun to drive. Personally I'm not a big fan of MR2's, but subjectively they seem like a good buy.
Mk2 N/A s are great, I had a Rev 1 N/A and a Rev2 Turbo in my time, The Turbo was good fun but IMO if driven properly the Rev1 was a better balanced car round corners if you got it right, The geometry was changed between the rev1 and rev2 cars to make the handling more 'predicable' apparently. I did notice a difference in how they handled. Don't come of the power mid corner and you wont go far wrong.
FWIW, I had a mk1 (aw11) as well and TBH it was better balanced than all of them.
Recently found myzelf hankering ofter another MR2, for the money i think they are the best bargin sports car you can buy. Can't be bothered with the extra hassle of owning a turbo (oil changes every 4k, an appitite for ignition components like dizzy caps) is too much of a PITA for a car ill use every day. Rev3 N/A is what i'm after.
FWIW, I had a mk1 (aw11) as well and TBH it was better balanced than all of them.
Recently found myzelf hankering ofter another MR2, for the money i think they are the best bargin sports car you can buy. Can't be bothered with the extra hassle of owning a turbo (oil changes every 4k, an appitite for ignition components like dizzy caps) is too much of a PITA for a car ill use every day. Rev3 N/A is what i'm after.
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