Talk me out of this...
Discussion
...before I sell up and possibly do something I regret. I've had my Eunos for nearly two years now, which is by far the longest I have ever owned a car, and it has been absolutely brilliant fun. Its faultlessly reiable, brilliant fun, reasonably practical, and hasn't really put a foot wrong. Cars always seem to suffer at my hands, all this has needed in the duration is two bulbs, a battery and a clutch slave cylinder. However. It is cosmetically appalling, and has a few little niggles creeping in the picture, and its not fast enough. I quite like these for the very same reasons I like the Mazda's, but I have a feeling the ownership of one wouldn't be such plain sailing. Talk me out of it please....
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1115689.htm
Ignore the clutch replacement etc, this car is just an example, didn't know they were that cheap!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1115689.htm
Ignore the clutch replacement etc, this car is just an example, didn't know they were that cheap!
I've never driven one; my only comment would be that working on a mid-mounted engine is a pain access-wise.
Take a test-drive or two and compare the handling. I had a <ahem> MGF for a while and didn't like the weight distribution, having the mill in the middle of the car = transition to oversteer was way to snappy. MR2 maybe different of course.
Looks nice in black I must say
Take a test-drive or two and compare the handling. I had a <ahem> MGF for a while and didn't like the weight distribution, having the mill in the middle of the car = transition to oversteer was way to snappy. MR2 maybe different of course.
Looks nice in black I must say
First off, why is the MR2 up for sale?.........seems like a few niggles are creeping in with this car too & you could well be jumping out of the frying pan.
Secondly & I may be way off here, but to me you appear to be coming across as someone who's looking for a reason to get rid as opposed to someone that want's keep - hence the self confessed rapid turn around of vehicles in the past.
Third - The MR2 has it's roof firmly glued on.
Finally - The MR2 has it's roof firmly glued on
As an alterative, why not look around for a better example of your existing ride? - maybe add FI at a later stage or pick one up that already comes with FI?
Secondly & I may be way off here, but to me you appear to be coming across as someone who's looking for a reason to get rid as opposed to someone that want's keep - hence the self confessed rapid turn around of vehicles in the past.
Third - The MR2 has it's roof firmly glued on.
Finally - The MR2 has it's roof firmly glued on
As an alterative, why not look around for a better example of your existing ride? - maybe add FI at a later stage or pick one up that already comes with FI?
Go for it would be my advice. That car is running 1.2 bar ~ 17psi, is mid engined and they're meant to be bullet proof like the 5. Yours will cost much £££ to improve the body and make it go faster, so common sense would dictate getting rid now (summer) and buying whatever you like. Levae it any longer and your 5 will be worth much less.
You decide.
You decide.
I used to have an NA MR2, so as an educated comparison:
Pro -
The MR2 will be much faster, much more comfortable, has a much bigger (and sensibly-shaped) boot, and the T-bar panels are easy to take in and out. Mine didn't leak; some of them do. To drive, the MR2 turns in better due to the mid-engined layout, and assuming it has good tyres fitted, the steering is fantastic. I also really love the shape of the Mk2 MR2; I merely really like the MX5 shape.
Con -
The MR2 mid-engine makes it a b
h to work on. Cambelt, clutch, assorted other things are very expensive because of this. They can rust (occasionally - just a case of checking that the one you buy isn't). Parts in general are much more expensive. The 'family' feeling isn't the same as it is with the MX-5 and I would suggest that the image that other road users have of you is not so positive (if you care).
As I said on another thread: I LOVE my MX-5. But in a few years, I'll find myself a Caribbean Blue Rev 3 T-Bar Turbo as a weekend toy; they're really very good indeed. But an entirely different type of car, only brought together by the fact they're both RWD and cheap.
Pro -
The MR2 will be much faster, much more comfortable, has a much bigger (and sensibly-shaped) boot, and the T-bar panels are easy to take in and out. Mine didn't leak; some of them do. To drive, the MR2 turns in better due to the mid-engined layout, and assuming it has good tyres fitted, the steering is fantastic. I also really love the shape of the Mk2 MR2; I merely really like the MX5 shape.
Con -
The MR2 mid-engine makes it a b
h to work on. Cambelt, clutch, assorted other things are very expensive because of this. They can rust (occasionally - just a case of checking that the one you buy isn't). Parts in general are much more expensive. The 'family' feeling isn't the same as it is with the MX-5 and I would suggest that the image that other road users have of you is not so positive (if you care).As I said on another thread: I LOVE my MX-5. But in a few years, I'll find myself a Caribbean Blue Rev 3 T-Bar Turbo as a weekend toy; they're really very good indeed. But an entirely different type of car, only brought together by the fact they're both RWD and cheap.
I had a NA mk2 MR2 many years ago. Eventually I sold it because at 80k miles, the running costs were getting crazy. To put it in perspective, I actually saved money in running costs by buying a TVR Griffith, including the fuel consumption!
As posted on here, the mid engine layout really pushes up prices for many jobs. I needed to fit a new alternator, requiring the exhaust to be removed and the rear axle and suspension subframe to be dropped - there was no other route to get the damned thing out of the engine bay! That turned an 80 quid reconditioned alternator into a £400 job. Now if you're doing the work yourself, it's not money, but everything is time consuming.
Other pricey things were replacement and repaired radiators (stones puncture them on a regular basis), clutch (hard to get to), both rear wheel bearings and hubs replaced at 80k (lots of load on the rear axle), and spotlights (stones again). The only thing I remember being easier than expected was a complete engine swap; we did a friend's car twice in two weekends when the first replacement engine turned out to be in a worse state than the once we'd just taken out...
I know an MX5 isn't the most exciting car on earth, but it is beautifully easy to work on, the roof comes off, parts are cheap and plentiful, and you could supercharge it if you get the inclination. The MR2 handling isn't as bad as the motoring press made out, at least from '92 onwards, but it's not a patch on the MX5, which just makes me grin like an idiot every time I go around a roundabout. On the plus side, the MR2 was a much quieter and comfier place to spend long journeys, and the mid engined driving position felt great; very low and cab-forward, much more exotic feeling than the Escort I'd just sold
Pete
As posted on here, the mid engine layout really pushes up prices for many jobs. I needed to fit a new alternator, requiring the exhaust to be removed and the rear axle and suspension subframe to be dropped - there was no other route to get the damned thing out of the engine bay! That turned an 80 quid reconditioned alternator into a £400 job. Now if you're doing the work yourself, it's not money, but everything is time consuming.
Other pricey things were replacement and repaired radiators (stones puncture them on a regular basis), clutch (hard to get to), both rear wheel bearings and hubs replaced at 80k (lots of load on the rear axle), and spotlights (stones again). The only thing I remember being easier than expected was a complete engine swap; we did a friend's car twice in two weekends when the first replacement engine turned out to be in a worse state than the once we'd just taken out...
I know an MX5 isn't the most exciting car on earth, but it is beautifully easy to work on, the roof comes off, parts are cheap and plentiful, and you could supercharge it if you get the inclination. The MR2 handling isn't as bad as the motoring press made out, at least from '92 onwards, but it's not a patch on the MX5, which just makes me grin like an idiot every time I go around a roundabout. On the plus side, the MR2 was a much quieter and comfier place to spend long journeys, and the mid engined driving position felt great; very low and cab-forward, much more exotic feeling than the Escort I'd just sold
Pete
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