Discussion
Morning all,
I've just bought myself this MR2 as my first "fast" car. Have only owned crap euro-boxes up until now so I'm really looking forward to this
It needs a couple of bits replacing on it (nearside front foglight for example) so I was wondering if anybody could recommend a decent place to get spares from? I have tried www.partsgateway.co.uk but they were unable to find anything for me.
The other thing I'm not sure about is that the car still has the original space saver tyre (complete with japanese writing on the sidewall.) Even though it doesn't appear to have ever been used, I don't think it would be wise to trust 16 year old rubber on the road - what do you think?
I've just bought myself this MR2 as my first "fast" car. Have only owned crap euro-boxes up until now so I'm really looking forward to this
It needs a couple of bits replacing on it (nearside front foglight for example) so I was wondering if anybody could recommend a decent place to get spares from? I have tried www.partsgateway.co.uk but they were unable to find anything for me.
The other thing I'm not sure about is that the car still has the original space saver tyre (complete with japanese writing on the sidewall.) Even though it doesn't appear to have ever been used, I don't think it would be wise to trust 16 year old rubber on the road - what do you think?
It's probably worth getting yourself along to an airfield track day.
www.toyotaownersclub.co.uk just had one at Bruntingthorpe, and has another planned, as i'm sure IMOC and MRDC probably do too...
It'll give you a chance to explore the limits of the handling safely with not a lot of things to collide with.
www.toyotaownersclub.co.uk just had one at Bruntingthorpe, and has another planned, as i'm sure IMOC and MRDC probably do too...
It'll give you a chance to explore the limits of the handling safely with not a lot of things to collide with.
) Sorry, just another quick question.
When changing into second gear (from 1st or 3rd) there is a crunching noise unless I wait for approx 5 seconds before engaging it. This seems to be worse when the engine is cold but it's never 100% smooth... Does it sound like something that could be adjusted out or would it be a fundamental gearbox issue?
Apart from that (and the usual 90's Jap car interior build quality
) the car is spot-on to drive.
When changing into second gear (from 1st or 3rd) there is a crunching noise unless I wait for approx 5 seconds before engaging it. This seems to be worse when the engine is cold but it's never 100% smooth... Does it sound like something that could be adjusted out or would it be a fundamental gearbox issue?
Apart from that (and the usual 90's Jap car interior build quality
) the car is spot-on to drive.
Two possible fixes, one adjust the clutch so it doesn't drag. Easy job, you just need an 11mm ring spanner and a 14mm C-spanner IIRC.
Second fix is a ball-bearing kit on the forward-backward shift cable. Not quite as easy but still well & truly DIY. I'll try and find the guides.
Right:
Ball Bearings
Clutch adjust link
These changes totally transformed my gearbox. I had accepted that cable shift boxes simply weren't as good as shaft-driven.
Wrong.
If you want to spend a lot of cash on this as well get some redline MT-90. Everyone on MR2OC swears by it. I just use the normal stuff at the mo.
>> Edited by _Al_ on Saturday 13th May 10:59
Second fix is a ball-bearing kit on the forward-backward shift cable. Not quite as easy but still well & truly DIY. I'll try and find the guides.
Right:
Ball Bearings
Clutch adjust link
These changes totally transformed my gearbox. I had accepted that cable shift boxes simply weren't as good as shaft-driven.
Wrong.
If you want to spend a lot of cash on this as well get some redline MT-90. Everyone on MR2OC swears by it. I just use the normal stuff at the mo.
>> Edited by _Al_ on Saturday 13th May 10:59
The MR2 is shite in the wet. I recently lost mine (P-reg T-Bar-168bhp) on a roundabout in the wet. No damage to the car and no one else involved. I was not tearing around, but just doing 40mph. Lost the back end and ended up on the grass in the middle of the roundabout, very bemused and embarrassed. Once the back end goes on the MR2, there is no recovery.
I think the MR2 MKII is a very nice car and is very reliable, but its performance is falling way behind many of the newer hot hatchbacks now. It is becoming very outdated by modern standards.
Maybe I'm getting used to my TVR Tamora to much :-)
I think the MR2 MKII is a very nice car and is very reliable, but its performance is falling way behind many of the newer hot hatchbacks now. It is becoming very outdated by modern standards.
Maybe I'm getting used to my TVR Tamora to much :-)
icraigmy said:
The MR2 is shite in the wet. I recently lost mine (P-reg T-Bar-168bhp) on a roundabout in the wet. No damage to the car and no one else involved. I was not tearing around, but just doing 40mph. Lost the back end and ended up on the grass in the middle of the roundabout, very bemused and embarrassed. Once the back end goes on the MR2, there is no recovery.
I think the MR2 MKII is a very nice car and is very reliable, but its performance is falling way behind many of the newer hot hatchbacks now. It is becoming very outdated by modern standards.
Maybe I'm getting used to my TVR Tamora to much :-)
Mk2 MR2s need staggered rims to avoid oversteer. Wider at the rear with at least 225 tyres on the back. I've got 8js with 245s on mine and haven't had any problems (yet!) in this wet weather we've been having recently.
Gazboy said:
The MR2 needs good tyres. Mine came with P6000's and I 'lost it' twice- once at damn near idle in a greasy carpark and then in a huge 4wd (which I did catch). I stuck some decent tyres on and it was impeccable afterwards. I caught every slide on the Bruntingthorpe return roads at Vmax (both wet and dry).
you lost it in a huge four-wheel-drive?
how did you get it in there in the first place? 
its certainly a lot more sudden and severe when the back end does go out, snap out oversteer is a coined term for it.
they're not too bad once you're used to it and know what to expect, to a novice they can be deadly though as they go from feeling very planted due to the engine and drivetrain layout at the back end, to snapping out and getting very twitch when they're pushed, especially in the wet.
nothing that a good driver and some decent tyres cant sort though
they're not too bad once you're used to it and know what to expect, to a novice they can be deadly though as they go from feeling very planted due to the engine and drivetrain layout at the back end, to snapping out and getting very twitch when they're pushed, especially in the wet.
nothing that a good driver and some decent tyres cant sort though
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