I like your cars, but have questions.

telephone · 09-23-2007, 02:41 PM

Nice site. I'm not a car freak like you guys, but the MR2 2nd Generation is appealing to me. I commute on a bike and I'm considering purchasing the car for the really cold days. I don't like any of the new cars out there now, and I don't need anything more than a little two seater. I have been searching for local MR2s for sale, but am unsure if the turbo or non-turbo would be good for me. I will not be modifying this car as I like it original. I've never driven one, I have $3,500 cash to put towards a purchase now. I'm 27 and haven't owed a car in a long time. Fill me in a bit with your experiences with the car, and if it makes a decent daily driver.

Sang · 09-23-2007, 02:46 PM

3500 will get you a nice NA, or a really crappy turbo.

Most put the 2 away in the winter times...so depending on what the "really cold" days are like in your area, you may want to find something else.

I drive my yearly...but I also live in FL so it never snows, barely even gets THAT cold during the "peak" winter days.

David48 · 09-23-2007, 03:02 PM

lucky for us it only gets down to 35 in the winter. Just look at the below link and seeing your price range and use, you should get an NA
http://www.mr2.com/forums/mk-2-cars/

*cough*, or a celica http://www.mr2.com/forums/non-mr2-re...to-celica.html *cough*

telephone · 09-23-2007, 03:16 PM

I'm in San Diego. So it only gets cold for me at night on my bike. have you driven both the Turbo and the NA motors?

AFBujinkan · 09-23-2007, 04:18 PM

I've driven both. For your situation, I'd say the NA would be perfect. The NAs still have plenty of power to be fun, minus maintenance headaches that come with the turbo.

butter nuts · 09-23-2007, 10:12 PM

Turbos are much faster, but do require alot more maintenance. For $3500 you'll only find one that needs alot of work.

For that price you could find a decent NA. Think of an NA mr2 as a backwards corolla; just as reliable and alot more fun.

Gairloch · 09-23-2007, 11:38 PM

Nicely put.

Luni · 09-24-2007, 02:27 PM

It would actually be more like a backwards celica.

TreyMR2 · 09-24-2007, 02:47 PM

How about we just think of it as a nice beginer car to get into MR2's? I would say the N/A too for what you want. Turbo's are a hell of a lot faster but like they're saying it needs a little more work to keep it runing right, thats if you can even find a turbo that runs right to begin with.

Luni · 09-24-2007, 03:25 PM

If you started out with a turbo and an na, both brand new, and properly maintained both of them, I dont think the turbo would be any less reliable than the NA, however people dont maintain them properly most of the time.

That said, I think you should go with an NA, given your budget and needs.

If you decide later on you want to be more of an enthusiast about it and get more speed, you can sell it and upgrade to a turbo, or you could just swap it.

butter nuts · 09-24-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luni

It would actually be more like a backwards celica.

Either way its alot more fun

telephone · 09-24-2007, 07:38 PM

At this point I just want to find a nice 2nd Gen MR2 that hasn't been molested and "modified". I want a completely stock well kept MR2. If it happens to have a turbo...great. Can you guys be a little more specific on the negitive issues I'd encounter with a turbo car. Is the NA car so underpowered that it becomes annoying. I'm not really interested in 1991-1993 Corolla power like someone said. As of now I have $3.5K and I'm still saving..not in a hurry. Is the turbo worth it? Does it make daily driving around town worth it? Please be specific. And thanks for the responses so far.

AFBujinkan · 09-24-2007, 07:43 PM

For your budget and needs, I'd definitely say go for the NA. It'll be in better condition for the price. They're certainly not underpowered, even the NA can be a little rocket.

Luni · 09-24-2007, 08:09 PM

Underpowered is relative.

I cant drive an NA MR2 without feeling its horribly slow, but i have a decently modified turbo car.

Negative issues youll encounter with turbo cars can range from worn out engines, to rotted cooling systems, air conditioning not working, interiors suffering from water damaged due to leaky t-tops, soft suspensions, broken sway bar link connections, bad brakes, bearings, etc.

On the turbos theres certain coolant hoses that die, the turbos go out and burn oil and smoke, people overboost them and cause ring/engine damage, people do stupid modifications to the engine and mess up stock systems, etc.

There just are quite a few factors to look for when buying an MR2 and deciding whether you want NA or turbo.

NAs get much better gas mileage than a turbo, and less variance for maintenance issues, and more forgiving of people forgetting their maintenance.

If all you want is a nice looking, good handling little car for commuting or whatever, get the NA, but if speed is any sort of a factor to you, dont settle for anything less than a good condition turbo, and save up 3500 more dollars. 7k can fetch you a NICE turbo.

telephone · 09-24-2007, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luni

Underpowered is relative.

I cant drive an NA MR2 without feeling its horribly slow, but i have a decently modified turbo car.

Negative issues youll encounter with turbo cars can range from worn out engines, to rotted cooling systems, air conditioning not working, interiors suffering from water damaged due to leaky t-tops, soft suspensions, broken sway bar link connections, bad brakes, bearings, etc.

On the turbos theres certain coolant hoses that die, the turbos go out and burn oil and smoke, people overboost them and cause ring/engine damage, people do stupid modifications to the engine and mess up stock systems, etc.

There just are quite a few factors to look for when buying an MR2 and deciding whether you want NA or turbo.

NAs get much better gas mileage than a turbo, and less variance for maintenance issues, and more forgiving of people forgetting their maintenance.

If all you want is a nice looking, good handling little car for commuting or whatever, get the NA, but if speed is any sort of a factor to you, dont settle for anything less than a good condition turbo, and save up 3500 more dollars. 7k can fetch you a NICE turbo.

That's what I needed to know. I'll keep my eye out for the NA version. Thanks again.

Luni · 09-25-2007, 01:43 AM

Good luck man.

They sale like mad. You shouldnt have any problems finding a nice condition NA.

JRS_MisterTwo · 09-25-2007, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luni

NAs get much better gas mileage than a turbo, and less variance for maintenance issues, and more forgiving of people forgetting their maintenance.

Actually, according to some of the threads I've read, you turbo mr2 owners have the same or better gas mileage than my NA ??? Everything on my car is stock.. so how beneficial would replacing the air filter with an aftermarket filter be?

David48 · 09-25-2007, 06:52 PM

And once you've decided, you can also look here

Toyota MR2 Classifieds!

09-23-2007, 02:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
telephone No Skills Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 48 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I like your cars, but have questions. Nice site. I'm not a car freak like you guys, but the MR2 2nd Generation is appealing to me. I commute on a bike and I'm considering purchasing the car for the really cold days. I don't like any of the new cars out there now, and I don't need anything more than a little two seater. I have been searching for local MR2s for sale, but am unsure if the turbo or non-turbo would be good for me. I will not be modifying this car as I like it original. I've never driven one, I have $3,500 cash to put towards a purchase now. I'm 27 and haven't owed a car in a long time. Fill me in a bit with your experiences with the car, and if it makes a decent daily driver.

09-23-2007, 11:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,464 Thanks: 115 Thanked 222 Times in 195 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	Nicely put. __________________ "Inside the car, the world beyond the driver's immediate horizon ceases to exist. Alone with the solitude of his desire, survival sense numbed by the speed, he's outrun the mediocrity of the outside world, slipped the shackles it tries to clamp on us all. He is running free, chased only by a fear of failure, for failure is to risk ejection into the real world." ~Mark Hughes

09-23-2007, 02:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sang MT Newbie Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Home: Tampa, FL School: Gainesville, FL Posts: 3,074 Thanks: 18 Thanked 198 Times in 178 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	3500 will get you a nice NA, or a really crappy turbo. Most put the 2 away in the winter times...so depending on what the "really cold" days are like in your area, you may want to find something else. I drive my yearly...but I also live in FL so it never snows, barely even gets THAT cold during the "peak" winter days.

09-23-2007, 03:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
David48 The anti-rice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 443 Thanks: 63 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	lucky for us it only gets down to 35 in the winter. Just look at the below link and seeing your price range and use, you should get an NA http://www.mr2.com/forums/mk-2-cars/ cough, or a celica http://www.mr2.com/forums/non-mr2-re...to-celica.html cough

09-23-2007, 03:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
telephone No Skills Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 48 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I'm in San Diego. So it only gets cold for me at night on my bike. have you driven both the Turbo and the NA motors?

09-23-2007, 04:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
AFBujinkan I'm going in for guns! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USAF Academy, CO/Charleston, SC Posts: 182 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I've driven both. For your situation, I'd say the NA would be perfect. The NAs still have plenty of power to be fun, minus maintenance headaches that come with the turbo.

09-23-2007, 10:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
butter nuts The Dissident Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 460 Thanks: 10 Thanked 18 Times in 14 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Turbos are much faster, but do require alot more maintenance. For $3500 you'll only find one that needs alot of work. For that price you could find a decent NA. Think of an NA mr2 as a backwards corolla; just as reliable and alot more fun.

09-24-2007, 02:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
Luni ST185 Powered SW20 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Salt Lake City Utah Posts: 2,735 Thanks: 7 Thanked 95 Times in 81 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (8/100% )	It would actually be more like a backwards celica.

09-24-2007, 02:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
TreyMR2 Gen3 swap DONE!! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,880 Thanks: 22 Thanked 44 Times in 42 Posts iTrader Rating: (5/100% )	How about we just think of it as a nice beginer car to get into MR2's? I would say the N/A too for what you want. Turbo's are a hell of a lot faster but like they're saying it needs a little more work to keep it runing right, thats if you can even find a turbo that runs right to begin with.

09-24-2007, 03:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
Luni ST185 Powered SW20 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Salt Lake City Utah Posts: 2,735 Thanks: 7 Thanked 95 Times in 81 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (8/100% )	If you started out with a turbo and an na, both brand new, and properly maintained both of them, I dont think the turbo would be any less reliable than the NA, however people dont maintain them properly most of the time. That said, I think you should go with an NA, given your budget and needs. If you decide later on you want to be more of an enthusiast about it and get more speed, you can sell it and upgrade to a turbo, or you could just swap it.

09-24-2007, 07:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
telephone No Skills Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 48 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	At this point I just want to find a nice 2nd Gen MR2 that hasn't been molested and "modified". I want a completely stock well kept MR2. If it happens to have a turbo...great. Can you guys be a little more specific on the negitive issues I'd encounter with a turbo car. Is the NA car so underpowered that it becomes annoying. I'm not really interested in 1991-1993 Corolla power like someone said. As of now I have $3.5K and I'm still saving..not in a hurry. Is the turbo worth it? Does it make daily driving around town worth it? Please be specific. And thanks for the responses so far.

09-24-2007, 07:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
AFBujinkan I'm going in for guns! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USAF Academy, CO/Charleston, SC Posts: 182 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	For your budget and needs, I'd definitely say go for the NA. It'll be in better condition for the price. They're certainly not underpowered, even the NA can be a little rocket.

09-24-2007, 08:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
Luni ST185 Powered SW20 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Salt Lake City Utah Posts: 2,735 Thanks: 7 Thanked 95 Times in 81 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (8/100% )	Underpowered is relative. I cant drive an NA MR2 without feeling its horribly slow, but i have a decently modified turbo car. Negative issues youll encounter with turbo cars can range from worn out engines, to rotted cooling systems, air conditioning not working, interiors suffering from water damaged due to leaky t-tops, soft suspensions, broken sway bar link connections, bad brakes, bearings, etc. On the turbos theres certain coolant hoses that die, the turbos go out and burn oil and smoke, people overboost them and cause ring/engine damage, people do stupid modifications to the engine and mess up stock systems, etc. There just are quite a few factors to look for when buying an MR2 and deciding whether you want NA or turbo. NAs get much better gas mileage than a turbo, and less variance for maintenance issues, and more forgiving of people forgetting their maintenance. If all you want is a nice looking, good handling little car for commuting or whatever, get the NA, but if speed is any sort of a factor to you, dont settle for anything less than a good condition turbo, and save up 3500 more dollars. 7k can fetch you a NICE turbo.

09-25-2007, 01:43 AM	#16 (permalink)
Luni ST185 Powered SW20 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Salt Lake City Utah Posts: 2,735 Thanks: 7 Thanked 95 Times in 81 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (8/100% )	Good luck man. They sale like mad. You shouldnt have any problems finding a nice condition NA.

09-25-2007, 06:52 PM	#18 (permalink)
David48 The anti-rice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 443 Thanks: 63 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	And once you've decided, you can also look here Toyota MR2 Classifieds!

09-25-2007, 07:06 PM	#19 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,464 Thanks: 115 Thanked 222 Times in 195 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )