MR2 mk3 engine swap? or S2000?

[k-ink]

I used to own a 111R elise, which of course used a toyota 1.8. I had always assumed the MR2 came with exactly the same 190bhp engine. I only recently looked into them and discovered they are way down on power at roughly 130bhp. So...

1. Have people dropped the Lotus tweaked engine in the MR2?

2. Or is it easier to have the internals upgraded to give 190bhp? If so what is done?

3. Or is this a waste of time and better to buy an S2000 instead?


Thanks all

[stargazer30]

MR2 roadster has a 1ZZ 138bhp engine. The engine your talking about sounds like the 2ZZ, which is the same sort of engine but with lift. You can drop them into an MR2, best place for info is MR2ROC.org and search 2ZZ Swap.

Or another easier option is a bolt on turbo. My MR2 is 190bhp with the toyota TTE turbo, and it puts out way more torque than a 2ZZ.

[k-ink]

I want to return to NA next. I have a craving for zero lag, with smooth endless revs. I also want a simpler car with less gubbins to go wrong.

[johnyboy1976]

A few people have dropped the 2ZZGE ( 190bhp ) engine into the Mk3 MR2.
The oem engine is the 1ZZFE and is a engine designed for economy not performance.
Getting any extra bhp from it is going to be very expensive and produce minimal gains unless you go FI with either a S/C or a turbo.

Woodsports have performed a few engine swaps on the Mk3 and have done a 2GRFE conversion iirc too.
This is the engine that the Lotus Evora uses

[MagicShroom]

you answered your own question really , if you crave n/a power with endless revs then get yourself an S2000

[k-ink]

I have not driven either car so I guess I must get around to that soon. My girlfriend used to own a new MX5 mk2. I personally found that rather cramped, noisey and full of cheap interior plastics. Can you tell me if the MR2 is an improvement on this?

I used to find a mere 190bhp fine in my lotus. Of course that was lighter. Maybe just dropping a standard 111R engine in the MR2 will be fine. How much would the swap be, say £1000 of spannering? The engine is roughly £2000 give or take.

I also wonder if the smaller MR2 might be more fun than the larger S2000? I think having the engine over the driven wheels will help with traction in the rain / snow too (obviously with winter tyres). Not that you buy a car like this to worry about bad weather too much.

Part of me says just buy a mint S2000 and stop pissing about!

I appreciate the feedback guys

[Mastodon2]

k-ink said:

I want to return to NA next. I have a craving for zero lag, with smooth endless revs. I also want a simpler car with less gubbins to go wrong.

Why are you looking at the naff MR2 mk3 then? The Honda is the obvious choice.

[k-ink]

I am considering it because the engine in a 111R is pretty good fun. I am not interested in a standard MR2. Howver if the majority say the S2000 is far superior then I'll end the quest here

[Tib]

k-ink said:

...I also want a simpler car with less gubbins to go wrong.

I can't comment on the driving experience of either as I've not driven both. However, Honda have carried out rigorous tests on their product, it's passed all sorts of quality control and so on. If you're looking at heavily modifying a slower car then you're going to put a lot of stress on other areas. Even assuming that the engine can run 190bhp all day long, that's a 52bhp, or 27% more power. That means you're going to be putting 27% more load through the gearbox, brakes, suspension and every wearable item on the car.

What I'm getting at here is the MR-2 is a heck of a lot more likely to go wrong than the S2000, and that doesn't sound like what you want.

[james_gt3rs]

Buy another Elise?

[k-ink]

I don't want another Elise. It was fun for half an hour at a time as a second car. But they are far too noisey and uncomfortable as an only car. Aside from having fun now and again I also spend time on motorways. So some peace will retain my sanity!

[james_gt3rs]

How about a Mazda RX8? Although thinking about it the engine could hardly be called reliable...

[k-ink]

The engine also has dire MPG for the performance. Even though the car is as cheap as chip I'm not really fussed about them.

[nottyash]

Thereis no storage space in the MR2, only a couple of flaps behind the seats, standard they are slow. Lots of problems with O2 sensors, early cars can use oil, a few engine failures reported. Pre cat can break up.Loads of info on net. Facelift cars have some problems ironed out and are 6 speed.
Trump card is handling is very go kart like.
S2000 is a better all rounder, but they are pretty basic, no creature comforts, crap standard stereo/ speakers. Roofs have tendancy to split and wear on the clips causing wind noise. Easy fix with spacers though.Early cars have a plastic rear window. Post 2006 cars are £470 a year tax.
Whats the budget? Try a Boxster S 987 if budget stretches that far.

Edited by nottyash on Sunday 13th January 17:25

[k-ink]

nottyash said:

Thereis no storage space in the MR2, only a couple of flaps behind the seats, standard they are slow. Lots of problems with O2 sensors, early cars can use oil, a few engine failures reported. Pre cat can break up.Loads of info on net. Facelift cars have some problems ironed out and are 6 speed.
Trump card is handling is very go kart like.
S2000 is a better all rounder, but they are pretty basic, no creature comforts, crap standard stereo/ speakers. Roofs have tendancy to split and wear on the clips causing wind noise. Easy fix with spacers though.Early cars have a plastic rear window. Post 2006 cars are £470 a year tax.
Whats the budget? Try a Boxster S 987 if budget stretches that far.

Edited by nottyash on Sunday 13th January 17:25

Thanks for all the info!

I think it's fair to say a Honda will be far more reliable than any Porsche!

[nottyash]

k-ink said:

nottyash said:

Thereis no storage space in the MR2, only a couple of flaps behind the seats, standard they are slow. Lots of problems with O2 sensors, early cars can use oil, a few engine failures reported. Pre cat can break up.Loads of info on net. Facelift cars have some problems ironed out and are 6 speed.
Trump card is handling is very go kart like.
S2000 is a better all rounder, but they are pretty basic, no creature comforts, crap standard stereo/ speakers. Roofs have tendancy to split and wear on the clips causing wind noise. Easy fix with spacers though.Early cars have a plastic rear window. Post 2006 cars are £470 a year tax.
Whats the budget? Try a Boxster S 987 if budget stretches that far.

Edited by nottyash on Sunday 13th January 17:25

Thanks for all the info!

I think it's fair to say a Honda will be far more reliable than any Porsche!

I didnt have mine long enough to comment.
I have friends at a local Porsche place and am well aware they have their fair share of problems.
I loved my S2000, and quite liked the 986 Boxster S. I am trying out a Z4 3.0 now, its better made than the S2000, more economical too (as is a Boxster)Doesnt feel as fast, although the figures suggest it is.
That S2000 engine between 6000-9000 revs is absolutly fantastic. Think if I were to buy another S2000 I would go for a decent 05/55 plate car.

[RedAndy]

DO an engine swap but not for the 2ZZ - use a Camry V6 like mine :Devil

See Woodsport in Durhamshire - or click on to TwoBrutal club. A forum about modding MR2s.

An S2000 is a fine car, but isn't it much funnier when you tear off at the lights in your hairdressers car rather than in a sleek sportscar...?

[drgoatboy]

k-ink said:

I have not driven either car so I guess I must get around to that soon. My girlfriend used to own a new MX5 mk2. I personally found that rather cramped, noisey and full of cheap interior plastics. Can you tell me if the MR2 is an improvement on this?

If you think the MX5 is cramped you are going not be happy in a MR2, they are tiny inside. It makes the Elise feel cavernous. As someone else said there is absolutely zero luggage space of any description i.e. no boot at all.

[RedAndy]

drgoatboy said:

If you think the MX5 is cramped you are going not be happy in a MR2, they are tiny inside. It makes the Elise feel cavernous. As someone else said there is absolutely zero luggage space of any description i.e. no boot at all.

It's no Range ROver in there granted, but the MR2 Mk3 is actually pretty big! I'm 6ft and "solid build" and if the chair's right back I can't reach the pedals. There's tons of headspace... it's big enough. It's bigger than MX5 I think from memory (Mk1, and definitely bigger than a VX220 (which is an elise really).

The luggage problem isnt quite true - the spare wheel well is pretty big - especially if you remove the plaggy liner and the wheel! The space saver is no good anyway. You won't get suitcases and fridges in it of course, but a soft bag for 2 for a weekend away is no probs.

Best thing to do is try one and decide for yourself I guess.

[stargazer30]

RedAndy said:

drgoatboy said:

If you think the MX5 is cramped you are going not be happy in a MR2, they are tiny inside. It makes the Elise feel cavernous. As someone else said there is absolutely zero luggage space of any description i.e. no boot at all.

It's no Range ROver in there granted, but the MR2 Mk3 is actually pretty big! I'm 6ft and "solid build" and if the chair's right back I can't reach the pedals. There's tons of headspace... it's big enough. It's bigger than MX5 I think from memory (Mk1, and definitely bigger than a VX220 (which is an elise really).

The luggage problem isnt quite true - the spare wheel well is pretty big - especially if you remove the plaggy liner and the wheel! The space saver is no good anyway. You won't get suitcases and fridges in it of course, but a soft bag for 2 for a weekend away is no probs.

Best thing to do is try one and decide for yourself I guess.

Yes the mk3 MR2 has more space than the mk2 MX5. The main reason is no drive axel down the middle. I'm 6ft 2" and fit in the MR2 no probs, could not get in the MX5. Can get in a Mk3 MX5 though as the wheel tilts up.

Also the MR2 has more grip in snow/bad weather than the S2000 as it has weight over the driven wheels. Thats a bad thing too if you exceed that grip.