MR2 / MX5 advice if you please..
Discussion
The gf is currently trying(!) to get rid of her clio, and was looking at getting a 3year old ish MR2. The obvious contender to this is the mx5. Most reviews seem to point towards the mx5, but shes unsure of the styling. She hasn't driven the mx5 yet (hopefully will do), but she liked the handling of the mr2. From what I've read the mr2 has better handling. The boot of the mr2 doesn't bother her either! She's obviously favouring the mr2, but I'd like a balanced opiniong please.
Anybody like to say which they think is better, and why? Any links appreciated.
Anybody like to say which they think is better, and why? Any links appreciated.
Currently owning a 2001 MR2 I love it, I wouldn't give a thank you for the MX5! But than that's personal preference at the end of the day.
I prefer the MR2 as you see a lot less of them, than you do of the MX5. One summer afternoon I passed 7 MX5's to my 1 MR2. I also think they have a lot more character. But the choice it would seem is down to your g/f happy motoring which ever she decides to go with.
I also haven't found the MR2 to be expensive to run, about £150 for a yearly service. Although the major service such as the 40,000 or 4 year equivalent was a bit harder on the pocket about £350. But I was told this was as it was a major service. I think the next one will be at 80,000. So a way off yet.
I prefer the MR2 as you see a lot less of them, than you do of the MX5. One summer afternoon I passed 7 MX5's to my 1 MR2. I also think they have a lot more character. But the choice it would seem is down to your g/f happy motoring which ever she decides to go with.
I also haven't found the MR2 to be expensive to run, about £150 for a yearly service. Although the major service such as the 40,000 or 4 year equivalent was a bit harder on the pocket about £350. But I was told this was as it was a major service. I think the next one will be at 80,000. So a way off yet.
I've got an '89 MX5, my Mum's had an '89 MR2 (Mk 2) and now has a year old MR2/MRS. They drive like very different cars. The MX5's give a real impression of speed at sensible real speeds, and can easily be driven in a 'tail happy' manner. Like the old Triumpg Spitfire, it's really quite easy to handle even if you do want to drift around corners/roundabouts etc. However, these cars do prefer B roads to motorway.
The old MR2 was definitely a licence loser, it just didn't put any barriers in the way of going quickly. The only thing was the Mk 2's were a bit of a handful near/over the limit, being a bit typically mid-engined (limits are higher, but you don't want to cross them like the MX5!). As for the Mk3 MR2, it's somewhere in the middle. Still faster than the MX5, and can be driven with some of the entertainement of oversteer available on the MX5, but not seemedly as fast as the Mk 2.
Practicality, the MX5 is better with the boot, and is easier to work on and get parts for, if self maintenance or tuning is something you want to do, however the '5 is still quite limited on space.
Can't comment on the new MX5, it's a little larger (notably in width) and has more toys, and packs more muscle too. Would guess that it's on a par with the Toyota for go.
Nice dilemma to have though!
The old MR2 was definitely a licence loser, it just didn't put any barriers in the way of going quickly. The only thing was the Mk 2's were a bit of a handful near/over the limit, being a bit typically mid-engined (limits are higher, but you don't want to cross them like the MX5!). As for the Mk3 MR2, it's somewhere in the middle. Still faster than the MX5, and can be driven with some of the entertainement of oversteer available on the MX5, but not seemedly as fast as the Mk 2.
Practicality, the MX5 is better with the boot, and is easier to work on and get parts for, if self maintenance or tuning is something you want to do, however the '5 is still quite limited on space.
Can't comment on the new MX5, it's a little larger (notably in width) and has more toys, and packs more muscle too. Would guess that it's on a par with the Toyota for go.
Nice dilemma to have though!
Havent try MR-S yet.
I had a mk2 MX-5 2 years back. Loved every minutes with it. Tail happy? Yes, but always in a very progressive and controllable manner. I always joked that it's a car you can drift with one hand while sipping coffee with the other.
The only down side of it was the stability on motorways. Hardtop does help quite a bit though have to say.
I had a mk2 MX-5 2 years back. Loved every minutes with it. Tail happy? Yes, but always in a very progressive and controllable manner. I always joked that it's a car you can drift with one hand while sipping coffee with the other.
The only down side of it was the stability on motorways. Hardtop does help quite a bit though have to say.
Ah good stuff people. Took an MR2 out today, didn't feel that quick but it seemed to pick up speed nicely. Handles well though, quite direct and solid. Trying to get an mx-5 as well, except the Mazda site refuses to tell me where the local dealer is 
People have mentioned the boot, doesn't bother us as we rarely go anywhere that requires huge storage space (I'm never going to ikea again! I hope).
So far we've either seen W/Y/51 plates, or 05/55 plate MR-2s. There doesn't seem to be much around inbetween. Is there a reason for this? Anybody know of any issues for the earlier mk3s ? And is it worth paying extra for a hardtop?
My gf will kill me for this, but how much am I looking at for SP to upgrade it to a reasonable horsepower?
People have mentioned the boot, doesn't bother us as we rarely go anywhere that requires huge storage space (I'm never going to ikea again! I hope). So far we've either seen W/Y/51 plates, or 05/55 plate MR-2s. There doesn't seem to be much around inbetween. Is there a reason for this? Anybody know of any issues for the earlier mk3s ? And is it worth paying extra for a hardtop?
My gf will kill me for this, but how much am I looking at for SP to upgrade it to a reasonable horsepower?
I'm still waiting for SP to come back to me with a firm price for fitting the TTE turbo kit on my MR-2.
Initial thoughts on the MR2 ROC seem to be around 3k fitted!
The speed of the 2 is a little deceptive, it doesn't "feel" fast, but you certainly pop into points territory when the revs climb about 3.5k
The post 03 cars are better too, the 6 speed box has a nice spread of ratios and the headlights are great.
Initial thoughts on the MR2 ROC seem to be around 3k fitted!
The speed of the 2 is a little deceptive, it doesn't "feel" fast, but you certainly pop into points territory when the revs climb about 3.5k
The post 03 cars are better too, the 6 speed box has a nice spread of ratios and the headlights are great.
S'me again 
Found a nice example of an MR2, low mileage and a reasonable price. However it's cloth, not leather. A previous example we saw looked like it had a leather cover over the seat, as oppossed to being trimmed in leather. Is this standard way of attaching leather to an MR2? And anybody know where and how much it would cost to get a standard cloth seat retrimmed in leather?
Found a nice example of an MR2, low mileage and a reasonable price. However it's cloth, not leather. A previous example we saw looked like it had a leather cover over the seat, as oppossed to being trimmed in leather. Is this standard way of attaching leather to an MR2? And anybody know where and how much it would cost to get a standard cloth seat retrimmed in leather?
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