Considering... an MR2

[eddyramrod]

I'm watching a couple of early 90s MR2s on ebay at the moment.  Is there anything special I should be looking out for?  Do they have any major weaknesses?

[hairnet]

rust chavs traffic light gp wannbees

 

beats fro the missus

[explosive-cabbage]

PM KruJoe.

Fun, but Turbos are Ditchfinders apparently.

[brickwall]

Aye, like MX5s you have to check for rust where it may not be obvious - check subframe. Watchout for iffy imports.

 

That's the sum total of my MR2 knowledge.

[Jim Bell]

Japanish cars dont rust.

 

Fact.

 

So check for rust.

[KruJoe]

I'm here!

Eddy has my email if he needs it. I think he even had a sit in my MR2 at "Eddy's Lakeland Meet".

 

 

I'm no expert in particular but...

Look for:

Rot spots - back of the sills, door bottoms

Failing air con, heater fan

T-bars raining in

Fading paint

Worn-out interiors, esp bolsters

Cable gear-change should be slick through all gears

My shockers were shot when I got it, dunno how common that is. Avoid anything lowered; slamming is quite unnecessary, they're plenty low enough for us old* boys on our kinds of roads

Same goes for big rims. Mine came with standard staggered 14" alloys. Those, or maybe the later flat-faced standard 15" wheels would be the ones to go for.

I'd guess any Mk2 would have enough poke too, the first UK ones had about 120 bhp, mine's an imported early G-limited T-Bar with 150 or so. A turbo would be just mental on these roads, but a proper track-day weapon.

 

Don't pay too much, but don't buy a dog. They can be had cheap, mine was £450 with six months T&T, some scruffy paint but a straight and solid body, and intact seats, in need of a little tinkering only.

 

 

Try one, the mid-engined handling experience is something everyone should experience.

Highly recommended.

 

[eddyramrod]

Thanks Joe!  I knew I could rely on you.  Agreed about the handling, if it lives up to my X1/9 it'll be a right laugh going to work.

[Negative Creep]

Very comfy inside and have a surprising amount of room and storage space. Decent performance although MPG is a bit crap around town. Mine needed welding on the sills, although that was in part due to a previous bodge job, but other than at proved very reliable

[overrun]

Get a tin top. Don't buy an N/A.

 

Rev 3 onwards 4TW.

[KruJoe]

In that case, I R DOIN IT RONG.

Eddy too, if he's after the one I think he is! But it looks a good one to me.

[overrun]

In that case, I R DOIN IT RONG.

Eddy too, if he's after the one I think he is! But it looks a good one to me.

 

I only say that, as the Turbo's can be made stupidly quick, with the addtion of an MBC.

Some of the nasp cars will be a laugh, imo, especially the 174(?) BHP ones, but given how cheap some Turbo's are, or even V6 conversions, that is where my money would go.

 

If you are talking £4/500 though, I can see the appeal.

[eddyramrod]

Tintop vs T-top?  Fair play, but I understand the risks.  You do have to be on-guard for leaks on any T-top, so as long as I'm watching, I don't think it's that big a problem.  I like a bit of power, but Turbo?  Strikes me as redundant except for trackday use, which it wouldn't be getting with an old fatty like me.  I should think 2.0 n/a would be perfectly acceptable.  I mean, the whole car is only as big as my shoes, and weighs about the same.  Anyway I haven't bid on anything (yet), so let's see...

[Ghosty]

IIRC all factory turbos are imports, UK ones only came as normally aspirated.

[KruJoe]

Correct.

 

A lot of normally aspirated ones here are imports too (eg mine). Grey importing was properly ON in the 1990's.

[eddyramrod]

Well I bid on one, and was outbid.  It would have cost me more than I was prepared to spend to beat him, so I let it go.  Lo and behold, I've had a Second Chance Offer.  I'm going to take it.  Epic Collection Thread looming.

[warren t claim]

A Fiero should be the default shifters choice of mid engined two seater from that era.

[saucedoctor]

If you get a Mister Two, don't let any blonde women from Galway drive it. They'll crash it. Twice.

[hairnet]

galweh biys are biy

 

hes booked in for shampoo set and perm on monday

[eddyramrod]

I've had an X1/9, I can do hairdresser...    or at least I could if I had any hair left!

[londonm]

Go for the model before that, it turns heads. Not necessarily for the right reasons.

[Asimo]

Or go for the model after that. (Cos I've got one I am bored with)

[eddyramrod]

Go for the one before, go for the one after... too late!  I'm going for this one.  Deal done, collection arranged for Sunday, with the invaluable assistance of Monsieur le Hairnet of this parish.  There will, of course, be a petrol station photo.

[Bucketeer]

I thought you were looking for something two-pedalled from the land of cheese steaks and big buckled belts for some summer showagerising.

I feel like I've woken up in an alternate universe.

Hopefully, to balance everything out and restore world order, there is a young lad from japtinlovers.com pottering about somewhere in a Buick Invicta listening to an 8-track of Charlie Feathers.

[hairnet]

well it happened

 

ive got home in time to find no top gear on

 

ahh well great escape then

 

eddy did good massive thanks to him and mrs boss ramrod for the funny tea (not pg was it )

 

and krooj of this parish for the tay and mrs krooj for the massively excellent carrot cake <3 ขอขอบคุณคุณ khob khun )

 

i can haz potatoes bacon and cabbage now

[eddyramrod]

While we're thanking each other, special mention must go to Hairnet, who volunteered to come all the way to Barrow, pick me up, take me to Huddersfield, and accompany me to Joe's place although it was considerably out of his way.  Above and beyond the call of duty young sir, above and beyond.  I'm not on the desktop computer so I won't be uploading photos tonight.  Collection thread tomorrow night then.

Further thanks to KruJoe for his excellent advice and encouragement, and the offer of tea and cakes.  Home-made carrot cake, mmmmmmmm!  Also, a most interesting tour of the facilities up there!

 

Bucketeer, yes you're right, that's what I would have chosen ideally,   Sadly I don't live in an ideal world, I live in a little terraced street with no off-street parking at all.  I consider myself lucky to have found something - anything! - with the correct pedal count.  It's something that will give me pleasure, that I can take to shows, and yet can leave outside and use for my little commute.  Good enough. 

[Shep Shepherd]

A friend of mine bought a 1990 MR2 G-Limited (JDM-spec) in 2004. An engine rebuild and some welding to the backs of the sills later, he still has it

[eddyramrod]

Apart from being a 1992 car, that's what I've bought, Shep.  More details tomorrow.

[hairnet]

and scarily its had two mature owners

 

the previous gadgee (he was mad ) and eddy

 

we rocked up expecting a yoof

[HillmanImp]

I know this is too late but I just bought one of these on Forza 4 and was severely dissapointed with the handling. If only i had played earlier I could have warned you. If you are ever racing round Hockenheim watch yourself on the corner before you drive into ausgand quersepange, it kept going into a tank slapper there.

 

Other than that i look forward to seeing it.

[KruJoe]

Great to see Eddy and a surprise Mark this afternoon, thanks both for calling in and showing off the new toy. Looks a good un, and Eddy's a happy chappy. Hope you enjoyed the drive home!

Pics tomorrow.

Mark, are those language skills for real? ไม่เป็นไร à¸â€Ã Â¸ÂµÃ Â¹Æ’จที่คุณมีความสุขà¸Âับเค้ภ555++ๆๆ à¸Âรุณามาอีà¸Âครั้ง