Which MR2 Should I Get?

[Blackrazor]

Hey all.

Well after much um-ing and ah-ing about which of the cars suggested i should go for, i've narrowed it down to two. I'd like your opinion on which one is the best value for the way i want to use it, which is as a quick, fun daily driver and audio demo car

Option 1 : Toyota MR2 1990 Turbo - $5600

The Good
• 115k kms
• Hardtop
• Brembo brake rotors and EBC brake pads (stopping fast = good)
• Cambelt done 5000kms ago
• Leather interior
• 16" mag wheels
• GFB boost controller @ 10psi
• Manual

The Bad
• Thermostat is dead, so the car takes longer to come up to operating temp. I will push to get fixed before the sale proceeds.
• Aftermarket blowoff valve, exhaust and air filter combine to make it a fairly loud car to drive... which most of you think is fine, but it IS going to be used as a sound car too, so its a drawback to me.

The Ugly
• Missing gearstick boot. No biggy.
• A few shallow dents in the roof.
• Missing ash tray. Again, no biggy.
• Small patch of flaked paint on the rear bumper.
• Red. Therefore, boring with a capital B.




Option 1 : Toyota MR2 1991 N/A - $4200

The Good
• 94k kms
• Hardtop
• Cambelt and water pump done @ 78k kms
• 17" mag wheels
• Manual

The Bad
• Driven by the guys wife, so theres bound to have been something mistreated

The Ugly
• Small paint chip (<5c piece size) on front bumper
• Plasticote peeling off the small metal mouldings at the top of the door
• Non-leather interior
• Its teal green. WTF sort of colour is teal green!?! It'd look like i was driving a wedge-shaped Snifter

This is the best picture i can find of a 'teal green MR2', does anyone else have any better ones?



Also, i'm wanting someone in the Christchurch area with some decent experience with MR2's to go check these out for me and let me know firsthand what condition they are in, because i wont be able to come down and check them out myself. I'm willing to pay you well to do this for me

Cheers for the input! BR

P.S : Depending on which car i get, the E-Audio amp will be going to either Al or VooDoo/4DRFT since they were the ones who hooked me up with them... but dont base your decision on that please

[Demon]

id have to go with the turb'd sw20

[vvega]

what do you want good advice or just advice



in all honesty
id take the turbo
knock him down on price to 5k and sort the thermostat yaself of pay to get it done

why
it will keep its value more
looks better..paint is expensive
i dont like 16's... tyres cost more :S
all in all its what owning a mr2/sportscar is all about
its red
its fast
its loud and smelly

n/a one are for people that ethier cant afford/insure a turbo
or people who are hairdressers and like the looks and didnt buy its for it's sports car quailtys



in referance to the airfilter and bov
when was the last time you did sound q on a moving vehical
besides there eazy to fix too

as for getting somone to look
thats asking for trouble
if your that concerened get a pre purchase check done at the AA

thats my 2 cents


besides who wants to own a mr2 that thought it could but couldn't
better to get the real thing

bit like 911 vr's 930
famous quote time
there can be only one

v

[Alex B]

personally i never like the sound of boost controler. Its allways too tempting to just up it one more PSI (thats the pervious owner im talking about)

[Malcolm]

i would definitely take the turbo. even if they were both N/A it would still be my pick. You could swap the exhaust and airfilter for factory items + cash with someone looking to upgrade if they're that much of a concern for you.
Plus I think cars without spoilers rule!

[Al]

This is teal green BR. My car

[Malcolm]

is that your girlfriend tied up and gagged in the driver's seat? You sure are kinky, Al

[Blackrazor]

Oh. Thats actually quite nice

Hmmm... general consensus is the turbo, and i'm quite keen on it, but i have a couple of issues from a pragmatic standpoint.

Firstly, the car will be used to get me to work and back, and travel to the odd soundoff. Thats it. I have no intention of phanging through some back mountain roads, i'm a coward when it comes to highspeed cornering anyway. 95% of the time, it will simply be used to drive me the 15 minutes round the seaport on flat roads, in traffic, and get back home again after work.

Secondly, Insurance. I havent looked into this, but i suspec the insurance costs will be high for the turbo. How much higher, i'll have to see.

Thirdly, cost. I've got about $5800 to play with, tops (well, i have more, but i've got other things to spend the rest on)... now, both cars are really well priced, but the $1400 difference will buy me a LOT of quality audio gear, which realistically will get much more use and provide me with a lot more enjoyment than any extra speed...

Bearing those in mind, do you still think the turbo is the best option?

[DJ]

I like the N/A better to be honest.

Theres more than enough Power in a N/A
Insurance and running AND matiance will be cheaper
Greens a refreshing color also
De-winged MR2's look crap at the back imho.
Its got 20,000 less k's on the clock
And its $1,400 cheaper (could even use on engine mods)
And theres turbo lag, but hey, im getting one later so ill shut up

Wasnt one of the ones I found tho, bah

[vvega]

lol just because you have the turbo dont mean you have to go fanging bout the hills
its a status thing

most n/a drivers end up wanting a turbo
+ leather seats


besides before you make your choice make a lower offer ..say 5000-5200
you migfht find the guy takes it making the difference neglagable
hell when i sell stuff i ask deam money and drop to real money
v

[AJz]

if its the same green as Al's mr2 then id pick that one, you said yourself its only to get from A to B, work and back etc. With the turbo there, you will end up using it, and using more petrol, having not owned a soarer but im guessing one gass gussler would prob be enough, lol. The N/A sw20's arnt THAT slow and are enuff if you want the odd fang down the windy roads.

insurance shouldnt be too much, i doubt it would be close to the soarer but you should get a few quotes, go with the same insurance company and see if they can knock the price down cos of the 2 cars.

Plus the N/A sounds more like it wud have had less of a thrashing than the turbo one, remember no one sticks on an exhaust, blowoff valve etc and granny's it around at 45kmh at 1,500 rpm. Check the tires on both, especially the edges, you will have a fair idea on what they drive it like if you see the corners have worn quite a bit.

If it was my choice, i wouldnt buy either cos im not a fan of mr2's especially ones with no spoiler (no offense to anyone who has no spoiler)

[Adamal]

I think your needs more fit the N/A more than the Turbo.

The Turbo is more of a 'want' than a 'need'

[Erelyes]

Hah. Those 16" wheels on the Red MR2 are m-spec skyline wheels. If you look at the centercaps (in real life ) they say "We produced with spartan air".

Since you said you want a "quick fun" daily driver, I'd take the turbo. Whilst you may think the NA is "fast enough" there's nothing like a bit of boost to put a smile on your dial. The characteristics of a turbo it make it more fun imo (whack in the back) and they 'feel' faster even if they aren't in reality.

Sorry to the NA MR2 owners out there - just my opinion.

Plus, leather interior is spiffy.

I'd get it looked over properly though, get a check or something, with a boost controller and dodgy thermostat, probably been thrashed more than the green car.

If you're not so serious about the 'quick fun' factor, then go with the peppermint flavoured MR2

Finally, you have PM.

[Blackrazor]

Well, i went and got insurance quotes for the car

I absolutely LOVE being a goody-good driver Zero traffic infringments, zero criminal record, zero accidents that i was liable or causative for, and all our insurance for cars, house and contents is with the one company.

All that adds up to Full Insurance with Glass Cover Buyout w/- $250 excess, for only $312pa for the '91 MR2 n/a, and only $335pa for the '90 MR2 Turbo, and thats with agreed valuation of $5000 and $6500 respectively

[DJ]

And I pay 3 times that

[AJz]

8O And I pay 3 times that

yes but BR is a sensible driver, did you not read that part, lol

[Mr Revhead]

go turbo, ill hook you up with a 'stat, and even fit it for ya

BOV is easily rectified, as is filter etc
new gear boot is like $80

did your drive MR2SIK's sw20? thats whet ya appetite!

[Blackrazor]

did your drive MR2SIK's sw20? thats whet ya appetite!

Nah, only the AW11

And i'll probably get in touch with you whatever i get and see what you recommend doing, i'll pay you for your time

[Mr Revhead]

as long as the chick in ya avatar is involved..... im keen

[Voodoo]

sweet, my names being mentioned , anyway id better not comment on what id get, although in all honesty i dont know outta of the two which one a referrred, as i sent about 4 options

but good to see another potencial toyota in your family of cars