MR2 MK1 as a track car/2nd car
Discussion
Hi,
Thought I would pop over into the Jap forum for some advice!
I'm planning to buy a 2nd car, mainly for trackdays but possibly for occasional road use if the funds allow.
I was planning to pick up a 205gti but last year whilst on a trackday I was suprised how a stripped MR2 mk1 caught up, then passed me in the 205. It looked pretty standard apart from having no interior at all. Plus I've had a 205, they are great but I fancy something different / RWD.
It seems for 205 money I can pick up a 1990ish MR2 with around 100k on the clock.
How easy are they to work on? I am guessing the mid mounted engine could be a little tight to work on?
How long do they generally run for? Is 150k unresonable?
Parts, expensive? Easy or hard to get hold of?
Has anyone on here used a MK1 as a trackcar?
Any advice greatly appriciated, as always!
Thought I would pop over into the Jap forum for some advice!
I'm planning to buy a 2nd car, mainly for trackdays but possibly for occasional road use if the funds allow.
I was planning to pick up a 205gti but last year whilst on a trackday I was suprised how a stripped MR2 mk1 caught up, then passed me in the 205. It looked pretty standard apart from having no interior at all. Plus I've had a 205, they are great but I fancy something different / RWD.
It seems for 205 money I can pick up a 1990ish MR2 with around 100k on the clock.
How easy are they to work on? I am guessing the mid mounted engine could be a little tight to work on?
How long do they generally run for? Is 150k unresonable?
Parts, expensive? Easy or hard to get hold of?
Has anyone on here used a MK1 as a trackcar?
Any advice greatly appriciated, as always!
Ahhh...this sounds familier!
I just had a MR2 MK1 as a 2nd car/trackday car.
Basically they are a great little motor. (I'd buy another good one if i hadn't just lost all my cash on a bad one)
If it's been maintained properly you can expect 150,000+ out of the engine.
But yes it's a bit tricky to work on. Oil changes etc are easy, but anything more......
Look for head gasket problems (every one i saw had a headgasket problem that needed sorting!...), and service history showing the coolant changes. If the coolants not changed when it should be the block will have corroded (like mine!) and then it's new engine time (import engine £560 plus fitting)
Also look out for rust on the rear arches (get the boot open and pull up the carpet to look into the wings....if you can see tarmac...it's definately rusting
)
go here www.mr2mk1club.com/ and look at the maintanance pages etc.
Get one....but make it a good one!...a duffer will cost loads...I know! (If buying a duffer expect to pay over £3000 in repairs). But a good one will go on and on and on and on and on and on......
I just had a MR2 MK1 as a 2nd car/trackday car.
Basically they are a great little motor. (I'd buy another good one if i hadn't just lost all my cash on a bad one)
If it's been maintained properly you can expect 150,000+ out of the engine.
But yes it's a bit tricky to work on. Oil changes etc are easy, but anything more......
Look for head gasket problems (every one i saw had a headgasket problem that needed sorting!...), and service history showing the coolant changes. If the coolants not changed when it should be the block will have corroded (like mine!) and then it's new engine time (import engine £560 plus fitting)
Also look out for rust on the rear arches (get the boot open and pull up the carpet to look into the wings....if you can see tarmac...it's definately rusting
) go here www.mr2mk1club.com/ and look at the maintanance pages etc.
Get one....but make it a good one!...a duffer will cost loads...I know! (If buying a duffer expect to pay over £3000 in repairs). But a good one will go on and on and on and on and on and on......
Munter, it sounds like you had a similar experience to me with your MR2 that i had with my 205!
The appeal of the Pug is that it is easy to work on, but then again I fear they are definately more fragile than a Toyota.
How did yours perform on the track? is 125ish BHP enough for some RWD fun?
The appeal of the Pug is that it is easy to work on, but then again I fear they are definately more fragile than a Toyota.
How did yours perform on the track? is 125ish BHP enough for some RWD fun?
Well i had quite a bit of back out action.....all on track honest....
The cars a lot about balance and being smooth, you'll beat a lot of stuff through the corners, and when it does step out i didn't find it hard to catch at all. Understeer does not exist!
for techincal help www.imoc.co.uk is great. Loads of support. And check out what Paul Woods in durham can do with a MK1!
They are a lot of fun and will take thrashing (8000 rpm red line!) but it has to be maintained properly (not expensive), or your going to have problems.
The cars a lot about balance and being smooth, you'll beat a lot of stuff through the corners, and when it does step out i didn't find it hard to catch at all. Understeer does not exist!
for techincal help www.imoc.co.uk is great. Loads of support. And check out what Paul Woods in durham can do with a MK1!
They are a lot of fun and will take thrashing (8000 rpm red line!) but it has to be maintained properly (not expensive), or your going to have problems.
Rob P said:
Just found this
www.mr2dc.com/
Should keep me busy for a while...
best place to go is www.imoc.co.uk, or www.mr2oc.com
MR2DC is a bit like a ramblers association, with cars...
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