MR2 For a First Car

[Gairloch]

Karl = Yoda + Data from the Goonies (minus all accents and funky speech patterns.)

[Raoc435]

I'm a 18 (19 in june) Marine, I love my mr2 then agian I had a nissan altima
KA24DE, a 88rs cammaro with a 307 swaped forged goodies w/ a bottle, a honda civic daily beater that I dogged, and had/currently own a rx7, before I got my MR2 and I love it. With pistons/rods/bigger turby and much more this thing flys I nut my pants every time I hit 4k rpm havin her 100% petal to the metal, and I must say driving this machine takes alot of work and skill that I have been working on.

[turbomr21987]

i am 19 years old and currently own two mr2 that i worked my ass off for. i got my first one at when i was 17 just before i turned 18 and it was one of the biggest learning experience so far in my life. the mr2 was fery tricky to learn to drive and took alot of patience, but it was great in the end, i have learned so much about driving and controlling a car. the mr2 is like the greatest teacher in the world. now i dont drive stupid cause i have learned better, i drive more skilled, and have much more respect for the car and the preformance!!

[PeStVic]

i got mine last january when i was 18. now 19.

and it was fun learning with the car

i love the mr2

[nhepburn]

i guess it's about time for me to chime in around here.. i've been reading a lot for about a month now and am set on getting a MKII turbo.

i'm currently only turning 17 and already have a car ('89 honda prelude). while that car is a blast, i feel it is time for something new and am currently saving up to import a MKII turbo from japan (i live in canada).

what's the main reason? the affordable price and the looks and power of the deuce.

i know i have much to learn and when i get it i will take extreme caution.. i already have done my fair share of stupid stuff and do not want to **** up the mr2 because every single penny of it will be paid by me (did the same with the prelude).

hopefully come june/august i will have a deuce sitting in my driveway.

[mr2silvertop]

I am currently 20 years old I got my MR2 at 15 ('86 n/a) the car had over 300,000 miles on it. I have to say that there is no other car (that i've had the experience of driving) like it. when I was 17 the head gasket went on my MR2 and I took it to a mechanic to have it fixed to say the least apparently not everyone can work on an mr2. not to get off subject but I myself replaced the engine w/ 20v silvertop. I owned a 91 dodge daytona and a geo tracker in the time the car was down. The mr2 has always been a car I have been passionate about and add to someone else said the MR2 is a good car to learn on. I can say learning to drive the MR2 was an experience for both me and my father. The car has kept me safe for various reasons its nimble its got a good weight ratio if you have the right tires and have ever raced a go-kart the car is some what safe to manuever not to say when you get your learners to go drifting on a curvy road on a winter icy rain day but none the less I wrecked my Daytona going have the speed b/c it didnt have the nimbleness it was front wheel drive and the rear end has no weight to counter. Yes when I began to drive the Mr2 again it took some adjustment but I think if I had started driving a civic neon cavalier or some other fwd I would not be the driver I am now like any car the MR2 requires some common sense and some knowledge of the car's capabilities. some research and responsibility will assist a first timer learn your car before believing you are racer.At least for the first 6 months of owning the car act like your parent or someone you care deeply for is in the pass. seat dont drive like an idiot.

[kimpaul]

wow this thread is long, only read the first page.
this is my..... 4th car
20 right now as for age
first car S14
second car SC300 original manual tranny (this thing runs like crazy)
3rd car and the car i still own, VW GTI 1.8T, with alot of work and time put into
now a 93 N/A, gonna sell the GTI i just don't see myself driving in a car that's gonna go down in value, cause i had to work hard for my money, and every singe car i bought was with cash.
240sx, been there, awesome car, so don't want it
supra way to expencive so got sc300 and had it and sold it
vw GTI, still feels so awesome, hate to let it go, but have to
now this
bought my 93 NA for 1200 dollars. lol
with original 64,000 miles, but salvage due to the guy collecting insurance moeny, oh well i don't care, the car engine was perfect, no problems what so ever, just BODY BODY BODY work
i don't waste my money
needs alot of body work, which i will put in myself in time
needs major paint job, but if i take to a shop i will lose money.
so looked into doing the "50 dollar paint job"
sounds like there's alot of different tricks to driving a MR2
just drove in my friends 91 turbo one, i must say it feels awesome.
i'm still noob to a mr2 so alot of research for me to do.


i say if a person has the money to buy it themselves, go for it, for most people that do, at our age that's a hand full of cash being about 4k for a NA and more for a turbo. so people would put heart and soul into it. i know i did for the GTI, so same with this car. and i respect everything the older guys mentioned, because they are simply saying from experience, gotta give credit for that. and are trying to watch out for ppl

[kimpaul]

just read a little bit more on the thread.
why is everyone trying to say, or explain why it's right for them to drive it or not? i'm guessing everyone can make a choice for themselves, and i've done pretty retarted shi* too, it's all in the process of learning, i mean that's how you figured out the difficulties on the mr2 right? just felt that there's not point to this thread. no offence to anyone, for i'm sure everyone's just trying to watch out for others.

[mikeswickednick]

Originally Posted by kimpaul

just read a little bit more on the thread.
why is everyone trying to say, or explain why it's right for them to drive it or not? i'm guessing everyone can make a choice for themselves, and i've done pretty retarted shi* too, it's all in the process of learning, i mean that's how you figured out the difficulties on the mr2 right? just felt that there's not point to this thread. no offence to anyone, for i'm sure everyone's just trying to watch out for others.

if you do retarded **** in an mr2 on a public roadways your endangering the lives of everyone around you.

like lets say you crash and kill someone i love, then i kill you... see how that effects you...


think before speaking

[kimpaul]

wow, such hate in those words, seems and sounds like you've actually killed someone, don't want to get too close to you... all your negative thinking is like a sickness that spreads. great way to "scare" your new fellow, great way to build your reputation, great way to show people how you feel i guess, i think you should see a doctor. there is no need to create hate in a public online enviroment. if you have problems inside your head deal with it yourself. i lost alot of respect toward all Mr2 owners, seeing that he's been on the thread for 2 years is enough to make my judgment. this conversation is over.

[Mister2.2]

Then you go to jail and get pounded in the ass Mike. That is why we have a court system and don't do things like the 1800s anymore.

Anyhow, don't take it personally Kimpaul.

[mr2silvertop]

sounds like someone owned a honda

[mikeswickednick]

Originally Posted by Mister2.2

Then you go to jail and get pounded in the ass Mike. That is why we have a court system and don't do things like the 1800s anymore.

Anyhow, don't take it personally Kimpaul.

no, im tired of idiots thinking its okay to go out and try to take a turn on a busy street at 80mph, it is damn well better to be scared of the car, its a powerful machine and can end people.

and your court system can find a car as a deadly weapon, you dont see people saying ohh ill figure out how to use a gun in public. if i mess up ill learn right?


do the stupid **** off the roads at an autox or somthing

[DirtyMTmr2]

Originally Posted by mikeswickednick

no, im tired of idiots thinking its okay to go out and try to take a turn on a busy street at 80mph, it is damn well better to be scared of the car, its a powerful machine and can end people.

and your court system can find a car as a deadly weapon, you dont see people saying ohh ill figure out how to use a gun in public. if i mess up ill learn right?


do the stupid **** off the roads at an autox or somthing

Cant agree more^^. Im 20, and i have had my license since i the day i was 15, with my learners permit 6 months prior to that. I have now had a LOT of rides (FWD, RWD, AWD, 4WD). I have also had a buttload of close calls because i was gravitating towards cars outside of my abilities (u will see in the list) and it took getting almost killed/maimed in a few underpowered cars and late-nite parkinglot sessions and canyon 'rallies' till we got some SCCA auto-X up here and all that jazz finally stopped. I think the bottom line is, get what u can really drive, and if u cant drive it well then ease into it in a safe place. Safe as in far away from ppl/property/police/houses that could be damaged OR annoyed.

My Rigs- (chronologically ordered)
1977 F-150 custom- 428 cobra-jet, cammed, dual 4bbls, 6spd, LSD (sold, triple-plate clutch went, and 4MPG on pump gas)
1986 Firebird- stock V6 45K miles when purchased, not worth much attached to a telephone pole though.
1994 Chevrolet Z-71 1500- stock BB 454/TH400 (one of veeery few) street straight piped (sold cuz mom was broke)
1989 Chevrolet S-10- LSD, Brembo discs all around, pontiac goat rims, plow clutch
1989 Chevrolet Caprice Interceptor- Lightweight Special Chassis 389 FI/TH350 turbo and 2speed auto overdrive gear vendor (top speed...... were still tryin to find out.. 150?.. theoretically)
1989 Subaru GL- 1.8L FI boxer, 4X4 high/low 279K miles, friend rallied it off cliff
1984 Nissan P/U- it sucked
1989 Saab 900- 82K miles, NA, good rally car, heavy, but safe, Hit deer 24 hours before my full coverage kicked in
1984 Subaru GL- 1.8L Carbed, 169K starts when its -40, drives through snow till it comes over the hood, rallies too (like a 4X4 swiss army knife)
1989 Nissan Hardbody 4X4- Good truck, helluva mudder with 31 inch wompers on it (3rd place mudboggs in my class last year)
1985 Ford Bronco II- Fix Or Repair Daily, seriously, 3months, $5K
1982 Toyota Supra- FAST but dangerous!!
1985 Toyota MR2- Work in progress

[Choctaw]

I'm 63, and bought my 91 MR2T in June 1990, it was built in April 1990. I had owned several sports cars(see 1st post). I was always a GOOD driver, not a racing driver, but I could get my street cars into 3 digits on curvy and big sweeper roads safely. I went from an 88 Prelude Si(4ws) to the MR2T.

I couldn't get used to the boost on the test drive, it kept disapearing on me and I was screwing up my shifts. I wanted the car though because of the incredible handling, not just the power. My 72 240Z had close to the same power, but the mr2 was eons ahead in handling w/o any mods at all. It took me about a week to get used to the boost and then I really started breaking it in, running a little higher revs progressively and never stopped varying my speed. As soon as it hit the breakin mileage, I went to redline immediately in the 1st 3 gears, and was still doing it the day I traded it.

I never had any trouble with wet or dry conditions, but it was dicey on the ice. Yes, I drove it on ice a few times w/o mishap, but I tip toed around like my Grandmother. I never spun it; I could always "feel" its limits somehow and never experienced the snap oversteer others had. I had only one incident that got me out of shape. It had rained, and then mostly dried up, but there were patches of clear ice I didn't see one day and I hit one accelerating. The back wheels skated completely sideways and I thought I was about to hit the overpass's concrete supports dead ahead. I didn't lift, nor did I move the steering wheel at all, I just held on for dear life. As soon as the ice was past, the back tires bit and it straightened out at once. The only damage was a belt was on the left rear tire. It was really lumpy riding and had to be replaced.

The car is incredibly safe as long as you know its limits, and yours. Keep the factory setting on rear toe 2 degrees, if memory serves, and it will track like a bullet. The rear tires will be worn out on the rear inside in less than 20K, unless you dismount them and swap from side to side. I found out the hard way having a tire go down on a toll road at 75 mph 50 miles from my house w/the donut spare.

I guess what I am saying is, treat the car right, find yours and its limits, and you'll be fine. I've been reading a lot of things on the site and I have about decided to buy an N/A instead of a turbo because its the handling I loved most, not the power. I like to shift at 4000rpm and a turbo would be at illegal speed in town, so N/A might be more fun. I already have a car thats faster than a stock Turbo, so opting for handling, not power, is a no-brainer. Also, I'm not as good a driver as I was 10 years ago, entropy does happen to us all. Know the story behind the rear suspension change in the 93s? I have some data on that if interested.

[TreyMR2]

I bought mine as a 1991 N/A about a month before I turned 15. It was $250 and it didn't run. I spent about $400 in parts to get it going doing all the labor myself. It ran for about a year then it threw a rod. I was saving up for a gen3 turbo swap anyways so I just ripped that 5SFE out. Over the course of about 5-6 months I have got everything either here or ordered and on its way. I have the motor in right now. It doesn't run cause as you can see its missing queit a bit. I have everything ordered so probley withen the next 2 weeks it should be done. I just turned 17 on July 7th and I have never wrecked my mr2. I think it has a lot to do with mechanical knowledge and responsablity when driving. Mainly just not overestamating your driving skill or acting stupid. Heres a few pics of mine.





Just before I put the new motor in.

[Tinton]

Wow is the MR2 really that bad in the rain? I'm 21 now, been driving Fieros since I was 17 so I've gotten used to the cars and the MR layout. Hell I've been driving a '86 Fiero SE V6 4-speed as a daily driver for 2 years now, rain or shine, and its never given me problems in the rain. I don't do any stupid **** in the rain like trying to drift or anything like that. I've also only "spun" 1 once, and that was on the first mountain run I made. I went into a corner too fast and even though I knew better, I took my foot off the gas to try and slow down. Of course, that made it oversteer bad and the car spun 90* and came to a stop. I was so lucky then that there wasn't oncoming traffic, because I went out into the other lane.

I knew what I was getting into before I got my first MR car (Fiero) though, I knew how to drive the car before I got into it. I had a friend who didn't know much about driving, he would basically just floor it at random times and stuff, would brake in turns, and he ended up flipping his car off a mountain. I think he learned his lesson though?

[TreyMR2]

I never spun out either but I'm what you call a very cautious driver. I think way before I do anything above the speed limit, or what you would call reckless. Like flying around corners, I go into them slow enough that I can go at least 10-20 more mph without losing it.

[Tommy1223]

i've spun out in the rain on a on ramp going as fast as a granny in front of me. That was before my track days and luckly i didnt hurt anything or anyone. After my track day, i was a much better driver and felt more connected to the car as how it handles.

TRACK DAYS ARE A MUST IF YOU OWN A MR2. it'll teach you more than how to go fast.

[schmiddr2]

This and other reasons are why this car is harder to drive than other cars. The replay show the guy braking right when he starts to turn causing the back end to be light and loose traction. Good example I think.

YouTube - MR2 Nurburgring Crash 2001