MR2 MkIII Tuning Options?
Discussion
Quite a lot 
Head over to www.mr2roc.co.uk and read up on there. Turbo kits are becoming quite popular at the moment.
Mine is standard apart from the lowering springs, but some people have some interesting setups
Head over to www.mr2roc.co.uk and read up on there. Turbo kits are becoming quite popular at the moment.
Mine is standard apart from the lowering springs, but some people have some interesting setups
Well my previous car was a Scoob (uk turbo) and the MR2 is a lot more fun to drive. Different style as it's NA and not forced induction, but the handling and feel is superb.
I pondered an Elise and VX220, but settled on the '2 as it had more creature comforts and for my first RWD car, offers more safety features (for my budget anyway).
I've done long trips up to the lake district (from Nottingham) for a weeks walking in it. Wasn't at all tiring and provided you don't have hard cases, packing luggage isn't too much of a problem. You just have to make best use of all the smaller storage spaces
Whilst up in the lakes me and a mate (in a Smart Roadster) did a 5 hour, 130 mile blat round the lake district roads which was great fun
Servicing is relatively cheap, around 100 quid a year / 10,000 miles. If you want any more info, just ask, or have a read on the owners club forum. Plenty of info available there, but use the search facility or you'll get moaned at
I pondered an Elise and VX220, but settled on the '2 as it had more creature comforts and for my first RWD car, offers more safety features (for my budget anyway).
I've done long trips up to the lake district (from Nottingham) for a weeks walking in it. Wasn't at all tiring and provided you don't have hard cases, packing luggage isn't too much of a problem. You just have to make best use of all the smaller storage spaces
Whilst up in the lakes me and a mate (in a Smart Roadster) did a 5 hour, 130 mile blat round the lake district roads which was great fun
Servicing is relatively cheap, around 100 quid a year / 10,000 miles. If you want any more info, just ask, or have a read on the owners club forum. Plenty of info available there, but use the search facility or you'll get moaned at
Gazboy said:
Short of Turbo/super conversions, there is sweet FA you can do to this engine.
Well they've just complete a group buy on the unichip from the states which worked out relatively cheap (around 600 dollars) which allegedly gives around 15-20 bhp/lb ft. Usual other mods are exhaust (Hayward and Scott or TTE seem to be the main ones) and air filter / induction kit, usual NA breathing mods.
You can't get cheap performance, i.e. bleed valves and stuff as there are no turbos to tweak. There are people running around 160-180bhp (dunno torque figures, which is what really counts) on NA, and for a car that weighs in at around 975kg, is not too bad.
Quoted 0-60 (pub talk
) is around 7.9 secs, but one of the guys (Tem I think) got it down to around 6 secs on stock setup 
No reason to not believe him, but you make your own mind up 
>> Edited by Hanslow on Friday 28th January 12:32
Thanks for the detailed reply.
The Lupo's 1.6 is similar - cant be tuned! I will only be looking at mild options like exhaust and intake anyway, but might consider suspension if it benefits the car.
I have looked at loads of different options and I think my mind is made up. A MKIII MR2 it is.
Thanks for the links - couple of sites I didnt find with google and they are both great.
Cheers
The Lupo's 1.6 is similar - cant be tuned! I will only be looking at mild options like exhaust and intake anyway, but might consider suspension if it benefits the car.
I have looked at loads of different options and I think my mind is made up. A MKIII MR2 it is.
Thanks for the links - couple of sites I didnt find with google and they are both great.
Cheers
Just had a quick search for you, and you'd be looking at around 2-3k for a turbo kit fitted and set up. Not sure if that would include extra intercooling/chargecooling or not. People think it's safe to run a lowish 6.5psi with no extra cooling. Fast spool up, minimal lag but decent power. Puts torque and bhp both up to around the 180-190 mark. With the extra cooling people are running around 11-14psi and getting around 210-220 bhp and torque.
Most people don't change the brakes at all as the stock ones are more than adequate, even on a 200+ bhp car given the car's light weight.
Plenty of info for you to read up on anyway
Most people don't change the brakes at all as the stock ones are more than adequate, even on a 200+ bhp car given the car's light weight.
Plenty of info for you to read up on anyway
Yep did me too. But then I thought 'what the hell' and got one anyway. Only covered 10k in mine, but hasn't skipped a beat Reading around the engine failure a bit more, a lot of people think it's precat issues, but similar failures have been noted on other models with the same 1ZZ engine, and they didn't have precats in the manifold.
I'd say it's only much a worry as HGF on the Elise (which I'm considering as my next motor).
I sometimes wonder if it's down to airflow and the engine not being properly cooled, but at the moment, there is no definite answer. I do believe that the number of failures is actually low for the number of vehicles around, but believe me, I had exactly the same concerns before buying mine. In the end I put it down to being mechanical and tolerances of materials. It was a risk I was prepared to take and have so far not regretted it
If it is a real concern, don't get one as it'll always be in the back of your mind. I no longer worry about it, and won't until it happens to me (which hopefully it won't). You'll be able to find my posts on there voicing exactly the same concerns!
Reading around the engine failure a bit more, a lot of people think it's precat issues, but similar failures have been noted on other models with the same 1ZZ engine, and they didn't have precats in the manifold. I'd say it's only much a worry as HGF on the Elise (which I'm considering as my next motor).
I sometimes wonder if it's down to airflow and the engine not being properly cooled, but at the moment, there is no definite answer. I do believe that the number of failures is actually low for the number of vehicles around, but believe me, I had exactly the same concerns before buying mine. In the end I put it down to being mechanical and tolerances of materials. It was a risk I was prepared to take and have so far not regretted it
If it is a real concern, don't get one as it'll always be in the back of your mind. I no longer worry about it, and won't until it happens to me (which hopefully it won't). You'll be able to find my posts on there voicing exactly the same concerns!
tdwindustries said:
Thanks guys.
So do you like the car then? I have a Lupo GTI currently, and this would be first RWD car....
The wife has one and I wasn't convinced initially (I have a scooby and a Caterham) but after a trip up north and over the Snake Pass I'm a convert. It's genuinely brilliant to drive.
Incorrigible (I know you're new here but if you stick around you'll come across him) got one for his missus too, and has a similar view.
Some of the club's members who have had their engine let go out of warranty have still had some/all of the cost paid by Toyota as a goodwill gesture, so might not all be bad.
Saw you joined and posted on the club site. Within 2 or 3 posts you'll still probably get a notice to use the search button They are a nice bunch on there (not that they aren't on here ) so will all help out as best they can. If you want to look over one, or go out for a blast in one, I'm sure most would be more than willing to oblige.
Best of luck with finding and choosing the right car for yourself.
>> Edited by Hanslow on Friday 28th January 17:13
Saw you joined and posted on the club site. Within 2 or 3 posts you'll still probably get a notice to use the search button
They are a nice bunch on there (not that they aren't on here ) so will all help out as best they can. If you want to look over one, or go out for a blast in one, I'm sure most would be more than willing to oblige. Best of luck with finding and choosing the right car for yourself.
>> Edited by Hanslow on Friday 28th January 17:13
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