High mileage Mk2 MR2s
Discussion
My brother's thinking of getting one of these but his budget is quite low ~£2500 and most that fall into this catagory are fairly high mileage (over 100k).
Is this a problem for these cars? as he's found what looks to be a very good J reg one, UK spec (158bhp engine), good service history and owned by current owner for 5 years, but it's done 130k miles.
Any advice welcome
Is this a problem for these cars? as he's found what looks to be a very good J reg one, UK spec (158bhp engine), good service history and owned by current owner for 5 years, but it's done 130k miles.
Any advice welcome
He's looking for a standard as possible and has to be a T-bar with the higher spec engine.
How reliable are these things? He's currently driving around in my old Almera which is possibly THE most reliable car money can buy. One of my mates has a mk-1 which hasn't let him down yet but another had a Turbo which was forever breaking down and actually needed a new engine a month after he brought it. Luckily for him it was under warranty! Are non-turbo mk-2s better for that?
How reliable are these things? He's currently driving around in my old Almera which is possibly THE most reliable car money can buy. One of my mates has a mk-1 which hasn't let him down yet but another had a Turbo which was forever breaking down and actually needed a new engine a month after he brought it. Luckily for him it was under warranty! Are non-turbo mk-2s better for that?
I have mentioned before that I used to own a Rev 3 MR2T, within a month the turbo went, then the clutch, colland pipe leak, loads of trouble, but your looking at non-turbo's so a safer choice.
There are a lot around, so really go look at a few and get a good idea of what they are like. Assuming they have been looked after a car with 130k is fine, as has already been suggested you may have to look at worn suspension, but that would be the same with any high mileage car.
For your money you will be looking at Rev 1 cars and they are considered to have more twitchy handling than the later revisions which have longer rear trailing arms.
But on the whole a nice capable car. Should anything go wrong, costs will be higher as its mid engined and harder to work on.
HTH
There are a lot around, so really go look at a few and get a good idea of what they are like. Assuming they have been looked after a car with 130k is fine, as has already been suggested you may have to look at worn suspension, but that would be the same with any high mileage car.
For your money you will be looking at Rev 1 cars and they are considered to have more twitchy handling than the later revisions which have longer rear trailing arms.
But on the whole a nice capable car. Should anything go wrong, costs will be higher as its mid engined and harder to work on.
HTH
Gazboy said:
Not going to happen for the money he's spending.
Really? He seems to have found a few so far but all high mileage.
Gazboy said:
If your mates GT Turbo blew up after a month on these shores, sounds like it was mapped for japanese fuel, which is a much higher octane rating than ours.
Full story is he was being a prime pillock and was dounutting in a carpark
and it went pop. I wasn't supprised when he told me. Still the garage he got it from replaced it FOC but it did have quite a few faults like the dash lights coming on randomly. Cheers for all the tips guys I'll wait and see what my bro comes up with. He basically want's me to come along a view any cars with him
Gazboy and Dakkon probably know all the change over dates between revisions. Or try asking about on www.IMOC.co.uk I think the highest power non turbo (and if it's a UK car it's non turbo), is 170.
>> Edited by Munter on Wednesday 21st July 15:29
>> Edited by Munter on Wednesday 21st July 15:29
My MK2 MR2 (UK rev2) has been great, mileage is a tad over 100k and apart from the lack of handbrake (either the cables or the calipers, I'll find out on Monday) I've had no problems at all (excluding a knackered ARB link - but that was after a drifting day so I think it counts as abuse ).
IMOC is useful but unfortunately the quality of the advice is hugely variable. Most of the horror stories I've heard have been the turbo version, which is either because they are fragile, or because they get very badly modified.
Neither of my MK1 MR2s did anything wrong other than rust :roll:
). IMOC is useful but unfortunately the quality of the advice is hugely variable. Most of the horror stories I've heard have been the turbo version, which is either because they are fragile, or because they get very badly modified.
Neither of my MK1 MR2s did anything wrong other than rust :roll:
Cheers for all the advice guys He's looking at Rev 1&2 ones as they seem to be plentiful (well, that's everywhere except the SW it seems!) and within budget but doesn't want a crappy 115bhp engined one. I have warned him about the handling especially as it will be his first RWD car, although he has had a couple of drives of my Tiger 
He's looking at Rev 1&2 ones as they seem to be plentiful (well, that's everywhere except the SW it seems!) and within budget but doesn't want a crappy 115bhp engined one. I have warned him about the handling especially as it will be his first RWD car, although he has had a couple of drives of my Tiger Well we've had a look at the few this weekend and none stood out particularly as the one to buy. However, my brother had a look at an imported g-limited on Sunday (I couldn't go with him) and he recons it's the one. He's pretty much made his mind up and is going to buy it but want's me to give it a once over. However there are a couple of things that concern me about it:
1) The owner has had new big ends fitted as they were knocking. Is this a normal thing to go wrong?!?!
2) The steering wheel is quite worn, but the rest of interior is imaculate which ties in with the 100,000km odo reading.
3) The car's not been used for a couple of months and has been resting in the owner's garage so the air-con needs re-gassing. Is this expensive?
cheers
1) The owner has had new big ends fitted as they were knocking. Is this a normal thing to go wrong?!?!
2) The steering wheel is quite worn, but the rest of interior is imaculate which ties in with the 100,000km odo reading.
3) The car's not been used for a couple of months and has been resting in the owner's garage so the air-con needs re-gassing. Is this expensive?
cheers
I havn't seen this car yet, but he's told me the steering wheel is warn in the common places (i.e. where you'd hold it).
The owner's also replaced the wheel bearings. I'll reserve judgement till I've seen it (bro says the bodywork's perfect and the general condition is of a well looked after car) but have the feeling my bro's going to buy it any way.....
The owner's also replaced the wheel bearings. I'll reserve judgement till I've seen it (bro says the bodywork's perfect and the general condition is of a well looked after car) but have the feeling my bro's going to buy it any way.....
Gazboy said:
What sort of exhaust, single pipe or twins?
One bloody big one, fast-n-furious style
He seems to like it, but it's not my cup of tea. It is the twin-cam engine so not the underpowered Camry one. Good luck to him I say! I really hope it doesn't break as he sold his perfectly reliable Almera for it, although it can't be as bad as the Fiat Chinqichento he used to have!
I have 2x5" pipes on mine.
It's a great laugh... Looks pathetic but I don't really care because it's so great for scaring the bejeezus out of people.
I'm pissed off with the lack of torque now though. The turbo, in my opinion, is what the normally aspirated MR2 always wanted to be. Even with my 15 or so extra BHP, it feels fackin' slow.
Felt quick at first, but a few months on... Oh dear.
>> Edited by DanBoy on Wednesday 28th July 23:06
It's a great laugh... Looks pathetic but I don't really care because it's so great for scaring the bejeezus out of people.
I'm pissed off with the lack of torque now though. The turbo, in my opinion, is what the normally aspirated MR2 always wanted to be. Even with my 15 or so extra BHP, it feels fackin' slow.
Felt quick at first, but a few months on... Oh dear.
>> Edited by DanBoy on Wednesday 28th July 23:06
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