MGF...vs...MX5....vs MR2....cheap thrills?
Discussion
I thought I'd start this topic as with the new ( evil ) car tax bands coming in, petrol prices hitting the roof and a recession starting to bite...people may need to look at a cheaper/older/fuel efficient car for weekend fun....these 3 seemed to fit the bill....oh and sub £3k too.
All 3 are RWD 2-seaters. All offer NA spec engines giving decent fuel economy, reliability....and cheapish insurance. At the same time as delivering 1-60 of circa 7.0s, 8.5s, and 8.0s approx. All offer roof down ( or t-bar ) fun for sub £3k....
They all sold well, but which of these little creatures is in the opinion of PH the best? Please don't EVERYONE say MX-5!
All 3 are RWD 2-seaters. All offer NA spec engines giving decent fuel economy, reliability....and cheapish insurance. At the same time as delivering 1-60 of circa 7.0s, 8.5s, and 8.0s approx. All offer roof down ( or t-bar ) fun for sub £3k....
They all sold well, but which of these little creatures is in the opinion of PH the best? Please don't EVERYONE say MX-5!
JohnnyPanic said:
MK2 MR2 ... hence my owning one
I used to have one of these, loved it, fun on an icy road though 
( 1991 pre suspension mods version ). The turbo ones are awesome. But we're after cheap running costs!
Mx-5 v nice too.
MGF? Only ever sat in one, not a good drive? VVC spec looks quite pokey?
I've driven all of them and owned a Mk1 MX5 (well, Eunos) and Mk2 MR2.
The MGF was a reasonable all-rounder, better I thought, than its reputation.
The Mk1 MR2 was great; very pointy and adjustable, with a manic 16v engine that loves to rev. It is plain 'fun', and begs to be driven everywhere flat-out. Try finding one that isn't rusting on wheel arches, and at the base of 'a' & 'b' pillars though...
My Mk2 MR2 was an import GT Turbo. Out of all these cars it had the most grip, far and away the best brakes, it was ballistically fast in-gear despite mine 'only' dynoing at 230 bhp and 220 lbft, full Gran Turismo noises from intake and exhaust, was very well screwed together and received the most (positive) attention from the public. It wasn't as adjustable as the Mk1 MR or the MX5, a little bit fast GT rather than sports car, and the throttle-response is pretty blunt, although it isn't a laggy turbo. Oh, and 20mpg or less when you are out for a blast.
The MX5 is my favourite driver's car out of this lot. IMO the sharpest steering and most adjustable chassis. Not quick, but reasonable progress can be made if you screw it to 7000 rpm in every gear.
Out of that lot, IMO if you want pure handling fun, Mk1 MR2 or MX5. If you want the best all rounder get a Mk2 MR2. If you want to blitz most cars on a dry road, get a well-kept Mk2 MR2 Turbo.
(Sorry, just read the 'cheap running costs' part. Don't get an MR2T!!!)
The MGF was a reasonable all-rounder, better I thought, than its reputation.
The Mk1 MR2 was great; very pointy and adjustable, with a manic 16v engine that loves to rev. It is plain 'fun', and begs to be driven everywhere flat-out. Try finding one that isn't rusting on wheel arches, and at the base of 'a' & 'b' pillars though...
My Mk2 MR2 was an import GT Turbo. Out of all these cars it had the most grip, far and away the best brakes, it was ballistically fast in-gear despite mine 'only' dynoing at 230 bhp and 220 lbft, full Gran Turismo noises from intake and exhaust, was very well screwed together and received the most (positive) attention from the public. It wasn't as adjustable as the Mk1 MR or the MX5, a little bit fast GT rather than sports car, and the throttle-response is pretty blunt, although it isn't a laggy turbo. Oh, and 20mpg or less when you are out for a blast.
The MX5 is my favourite driver's car out of this lot. IMO the sharpest steering and most adjustable chassis. Not quick, but reasonable progress can be made if you screw it to 7000 rpm in every gear.
Out of that lot, IMO if you want pure handling fun, Mk1 MR2 or MX5. If you want the best all rounder get a Mk2 MR2. If you want to blitz most cars on a dry road, get a well-kept Mk2 MR2 Turbo.
(Sorry, just read the 'cheap running costs' part. Don't get an MR2T!!!)
Edited by speedtwelve on Tuesday 27th May 18:32
I've had a couple of Mk1 and a few Mk2 MR2s. Fun, cute, great cars.
The MGF I went to view looked cheap and nasty in terms of material build etc.
Never even considered an MX5 so can't say.
I'd get a MR2 though if I were you. A Mk1 can be 1k or so, incredibly good fun for very little cash, and grippy as hell. Mk2s are a little slower IIRC, a softer drive, not as much of a drivers car as the Mk1 IMHO.
The MGF I went to view looked cheap and nasty in terms of material build etc.
Never even considered an MX5 so can't say.
I'd get a MR2 though if I were you. A Mk1 can be 1k or so, incredibly good fun for very little cash, and grippy as hell. Mk2s are a little slower IIRC, a softer drive, not as much of a drivers car as the Mk1 IMHO.
My (Very) sub £1k Eunos is the most fun car I have ever had. Could obviously do with more go, but I just love everything about it. It is really, really comfortable on long journeys (I'm 6ft), it is cheap to maintain (Set of front discs from MX5parts = circa £28), reasonably economical returning approx mid to late 20's, seemingly very well screwed together, both aesthetically and aurally pleasing (Sort of got the rat-look thing going on, and the Jackson racing intake sounds wicked at nearly 7k!), and as practical as you could reasonably expect from a two seater convertible. The handling is epic, even with tired shocks/springs/tyres/bushes etc and like a previous poster said, if you really ring its neck type-r style then you can make quite reasonable progress in a straight line. Sorry for the essay, I could go on and on, I've never had a car I feel quite so attatched to. Having said all that mine is strictly a toy and weekend plaything, so I can't really comment on what it must be like to have one as a daily driver or anything.....
Gotta be the MR2.... and buy the turbo.
If you buy a Rev3 turbo, once you drive one, you will not even look at the others. Once you modify the suspension a little, the whole car is transofrmed. Its amazing really it is!
60 in 5.2 and will do over 150.
As standard they handle really well, but once you put a decent set of tyres and modify the suspension it is VERY hard to shake the back end loose.
If you drive normally you will see about 110 miles from around 20 quick of V power, or Super unleaded, which is not too bad. Thats a mixture of driving. Insurance is pretty cheap on these as i know! parts are cheap too, its just the same as the UK car except the engine.
All i can say about the others is that they are slow, and driving the 2 has kind of ruined everything else as i like the power.
Nick
If you buy a Rev3 turbo, once you drive one, you will not even look at the others. Once you modify the suspension a little, the whole car is transofrmed. Its amazing really it is!
60 in 5.2 and will do over 150.
As standard they handle really well, but once you put a decent set of tyres and modify the suspension it is VERY hard to shake the back end loose.
If you drive normally you will see about 110 miles from around 20 quick of V power, or Super unleaded, which is not too bad. Thats a mixture of driving. Insurance is pretty cheap on these as i know! parts are cheap too, its just the same as the UK car except the engine.
All i can say about the others is that they are slow, and driving the 2 has kind of ruined everything else as i like the power.
Nick
I've owned 1988 mk1 MR2, 1992 mk2 MR2 Turbo, 1992 mk2 MR2 n/a currently have a 1995 mk2 MR2 n/a.
I also have a 1997 mk1 S-Spec Eunos, which now has a big turbo, I ran it for a year n/a before going turbo.
Mk1 MR2 & Eunos are very comparible, so, so similar, the mr2 as standard has the edge, sharper, faster (feeling), great car. The mx5 / Eunos comes back with its simplicity, reliability and durability (the mk1 mr2's rust) and there is a huge performance modding scene with the mx5/ Eunos, plety of 200bhp + cars about.
Mk2 MR2 is a bigger heavier GT of a car, thats how I can justify having one as well as the Eunos. In turbo form very fast, however I actually prefer the n/a car, hence I've gone back to one. Still great fun and they are "special" to own than the MX5 & mk1 MR2, they make you feel like your driving a mini Ferrari even if they are not that accomplished.
MGF = No comment
I also have a 1997 mk1 S-Spec Eunos, which now has a big turbo, I ran it for a year n/a before going turbo.
Mk1 MR2 & Eunos are very comparible, so, so similar, the mr2 as standard has the edge, sharper, faster (feeling), great car. The mx5 / Eunos comes back with its simplicity, reliability and durability (the mk1 mr2's rust) and there is a huge performance modding scene with the mx5/ Eunos, plety of 200bhp + cars about.
Mk2 MR2 is a bigger heavier GT of a car, thats how I can justify having one as well as the Eunos. In turbo form very fast, however I actually prefer the n/a car, hence I've gone back to one. Still great fun and they are "special" to own than the MX5 & mk1 MR2, they make you feel like your driving a mini Ferrari even if they are not that accomplished.
MGF = No comment
If you want something for scratching around B roads get the MX5. The MR2 Turbo is a great car (I loved mine to bits) but it's heavy (too heavy really) and really doesn't have the sharp and responsive chassis of the MX5 (or the MK1 MR2 come to that). The Rev1 and Rev2's felt a little flat due to the turbo running out of puff much past 5500, though they were still quick cars. The Rev1 was especially quick to go into hedges backwards 
I've had 4 mx5s. Mk1s and Mk2s. The Mk2s both died because of front chassis rot. Far to expensive to repair. On my 3rd Mgf. The hgf is now not a problem. The new gaskets and fitting is not expensive. You can upgrade the f making just as reliable as a Mx5. I think the f is more fun, more balanced and just as reliable. The mx is a good car, the f is better. MR2....on my list!
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