MR2 running costs

[phatmanace]

folks,

I currently have an MX5 [turbod] - and am considering getting an MR2 turbo

I've read a lot of the threads about MR2's, especially a lot of the "MR2 vs MX5" ones. Lots of people mention the higher running costs of the Toyota, vs the mazda. I was curious as to how much higher they would be:

specifically:

- fuel: people seem to have mentioned that MR2's [mk II, rev 3 turbo's] like a drink, I'm wondering if it will be *that* much worse than my MX5, considering that the gearing on the '5' is so short, and it revs like a mad thing on the motorway

- Parts and servicing: understand that these will be more money as it's a bigger car and more difficult to work on due to position on the engine etc.

I'm just trying to gauge the degree to which things will be worse: please tell me that they wouldn't be as high as something like a TVR or an Evo/Skyline :-)

Cheers
-Ace

[jon-]

I've seen over 30mpg from my turbo, if you keep the boost levels stock and don't hoon it everywhere you should average mid 20s. Obviously if you drive them hard and wind up the boost you'll drop into mid teens.

As for parts, there's plenty of discount suppliers and parts from MRT aren't even that dear. I've had 2 MR2s now and as long as you don't buy a lemon it will go on forever with only minor servicing.

[MrFlibbles]

jon- said:

and as long as you don't buy a lemon it will go on forever with only minor servicing.

I used to get about 240 miles to a tank on my MRT.

[Blue Meanie]

MrFlibbles said:

jon- said:

and as long as you don't buy a lemon it will go on forever with only minor servicing.

I used to get about 240 miles to a tank on my MRT.

Same here... I'd have another in a heartbeat.

[Red Devil]

jon- said:

I've seen over 30mpg from my turbo, if you keep the boost levels stock and don't hoon it everywhere you should average mid 20s. Obviously if you drive them hard and wind up the boost you'll drop into mid teens.

As for parts, there's plenty of discount suppliers and parts from MRT aren't even that dear. I've had 2 MR2s now and as long as you don't buy a lemon it will go on forever with only minor servicing.

Agreed
Insurance will be Group 20!
Well worth checking out the MR2OC and/or IMOC forums - great sources of help and advice.
I took out membership soon after acquiring my turbo. The buying discounts alone saved me £££££!
Whereabouts in Kent are you?

Edited by Red Devil on Wednesday 31st October 02:30

[MrFlibbles]

Blue Meanie said:

MrFlibbles said:

jon- said:

and as long as you don't buy a lemon it will go on forever with only minor servicing.

I used to get about 240 miles to a tank on my MRT.

Same here... I'd have another in a heartbeat.

That said i worked out the economy of the S2000 when I was lapping the 'ring..... 6 mpg!

[jon-]

MrFlibbles said:

Blue Meanie said:

MrFlibbles said:

jon- said:

and as long as you don't buy a lemon it will go on forever with only minor servicing.

I used to get about 240 miles to a tank on my MRT.

Same here... I'd have another in a heartbeat.

That said i worked out the economy of the S2000 when I was lapping the 'ring..... 6 mpg!

I managed circa 4mpg at Rockingham

[phatmanace]

Red Devil said:

jon- said:

Whereabouts in Kent are you?

Edited by Red Devil on Wednesday 31st October 02:30

I'm in Sevenoaks.

think that I need to test drive some of them. what I'd really like is a 24 hr test drive, like they do with porsches - fat chance I guess :-)

[MrFlibbles]

jon- said:

MrFlibbles said:

Blue Meanie said:

MrFlibbles said:

jon- said:

and as long as you don't buy a lemon it will go on forever with only minor servicing.

I used to get about 240 miles to a tank on my MRT.

Same here... I'd have another in a heartbeat.

That said i worked out the economy of the S2000 when I was lapping the 'ring..... 6 mpg!

I managed circa 4mpg at Rockingham

Did i say 6? I meant, er, 3

[Blue Meanie]

MrFlibbles said:

jon- said:

MrFlibbles said:

Blue Meanie said:

MrFlibbles said:

jon- said:

and as long as you don't buy a lemon it will go on forever with only minor servicing.

I used to get about 240 miles to a tank on my MRT.

Same here... I'd have another in a heartbeat.

That said i worked out the economy of the S2000 when I was lapping the 'ring..... 6 mpg!

I managed circa 4mpg at Rockingham

Did i say 6? I meant, er, 3

Luxury! I used to....

[Bibbs]

I used to average 20mpg in the MR2 ..

I used to spend about £250 a month on bits though. Either tyres, pads or eletronic controllers or chunks of CF or new gearboxes and driveshafts.

[Fidgits]

Bibbs said:

I used to average 20mpg in the MR2 ..

I used to spend about £250 a month on bits though. Either tyres, pads or eletronic controllers or chunks of CF or new gearboxes and driveshafts.

but you do have OMD... (obsessive modification disorder)

[chris7676]

20mpg is quite bad, my Rev1 Turbo was doing around 29, mind you it was not that quick and standard (now I would look at a Rev3 one). Other than that costs not much higher than any other 4 cylinder performance car unless you are unlucky and it is more likely due to the high performance turbo engine. I would try to avoid heavily modified ones as a general rule (stupidly sounding BOVs, aftermarket filters, etc) - I also noticed that usually those ones have the fuel consumption strangely high.

[Bibbs]

chris7676 said:

I also noticed that usually those ones have the fuel consumption strangely high.

Usually because their foot is flat on the floor.

I used to rag mine hard. It would be on the limiter in 5th at least once a week. This was also the reason I broke 3 clutches in 5 years, a gearbox, both driveshafts, heater matrix, radiator etc etc.

But it was SO worth it.

And yeah, I have an unhealthy modding streak.

I recon the MR2 cost me over 20k in 5 years in mods. I sold it for 4k in the end. Which covered the cost of a supercharger for it's replacement. Why can't I collect stamps, or something cheaper.

[jon-]

Bibbs said:

It would be on the limiter in 5th at least once a week.

That's about 160mph iirc...

[chris7676]

160mph - hope you dont do it on a public road.

[MikeyMike]

They're quite expensive to run, depends greatly on the kind of mileage you do. I'll get 250 miles to my 45 litre tank and thats motorway driving. Parts can be relatively pricey, a set of leads for a turbo will set you back about £75 as opposed to £30-40 that you'd pay for Ford or Vauxhall items.
You really have to be prepared to shop around in order to get good prices.
Most MR2 Turbo owners tend to spend alot on tuning, thats where things do start to get expensive.

[Bibbs]

Parts are easy to obtain though.

Fensport and Camskill are good for stock bits, and RogueMotorsport did a good lineup in 2nd hand parts, but I don't think they are in that sector anymore.

[Herman Toothrot]

Expect ownership to take your money away far, far faster than a turbo mx5, insurance is about double for a start as are regular parts like dizzy caps that need frequent replacing and rear tyres. Stock they over fuel like mad, only get a rev3 (1994 on) one as they are better in every way, MAP based oppose flappy paddle AFM etc etc.

Good cars but be aware totally different to an MX5.

Bonus is they are dirt cheap as the chavs have ruined the market.

[jon-]

Herman Toothrot said:

Expect ownership to take your money away far, far faster than a turbo mx5, insurance is about double for a start as are regular parts like dizzy caps that need frequent replacing and rear tyres. Stock they over fuel like mad, only get a rev3 (1994 on) one as they are better in every way, MAP based oppose flappy paddle AFM etc etc.

Good cars but be aware totally different to an MX5.

Bonus is they are dirt cheap as the chavs have ruined the market.

Actually imports ruined the market.

Are MX5s really that cheap? A dizzy on an mr2 will last 5 years / 60k and costs all of £60... http://www.flashmetal.com/distributor-55-c.asp

Rear tyres will wear quicker because of the weight balance, but slower on the front.