MR2 Info Required

Serj

Serj

Serj

Soldato
Joined
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Location
Bournemouth
I'm currently looking at N/A MR2 GT T Bars and i have a few questions about them.

Am i right in thinking that 1994 is the year when the suspension was revised which reduced snap oversteer? (Rev 3 i believe). Does this mean that ALL UK 1994 models had the revised suspension set up?

Is Air Conditioning rare on UK cars?

Do the T Bars leak? Is this something i should test with a bottle of water before buying?

What about rust? I know the MK1 have a reputation for rusting, are the MK2 UK cars the same?

Anything else that is specific to MR2s i should check?

Thanks in advance. :)
 
Rev3 is from 11/1993 so any 1994 models will be rev 3

Not sure with the mk2's but the t-bars in the mk1 do leak, and they are also a fairly expensive item for the mk1, bottle of water might be worthwhile :p

Don't think the mk2's are as bad for rust, the main problem with the mk1's (other than purely the age) is the fact that in the rear arches they made it so there is two plates of metal with foam in between them, the foam soaks up the water and the metal rusts...

If you go to www.mr2oc.co.uk and look around there should be a buying checklist type thing specific to the mk2's somewhere :)
 
The t-bars can be sorted fairly easily with a temporary fix of lubing up the rubber or more permanently by replacing the rod guides.

Rust is quite rare on mk2 mr2s. Aircon is also quite rare on uk cars. but yeah, check the buyers guide in the "know your 2" section on the link above.
 
When i was buying insurance seemed neglegable between the different models, so i ended up going for a pretty much top spec turbo. The economy difference is very little too, the turbo's will return 35mpg on a run.

I dont honestly see the value in going for an NA model.
 
Jez said:
When i was buying insurance seemed neglegable between the different models, so i ended up going for a pretty much top spec turbo.

I dont honestly see the value in going for an NA model.
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Yeah the insurance is pretty much the same. I just don't think i have the necessary experience for a turbo. Fuel costs would be higher i imagine too.

Yours was a pre-1994 wasn't it Jez? I know the post-1994 suspension makes a bit of a difference but i personally still wouldn't think this would be safe in the hands of a 19 year old. I'd welcome any comments from the MR2 Turbo people that think otherwise though.
 
The T-Bars wont nescessarily leak just with a bottle of water. Mine requires a full-on thunder storm before it pees all over my shoulder. There is another fix for them as well as replacing the seals, and that is to change the Lid pin-guides so they are slightly off center, making a better seal.

Rust shouldn't be a problem as long as the car has been looked after. Aircon on UK models is as rare as rocking horse poo! I'd be very impressed if you can find a UK spec with aircon unless it was retro-fitted.

Be sure you get a T-Bar with leather.. Such a lovely feeling! And I can get at least 41mpg to the N/A and if you're doing a lot of miles, thats quite a big difference over 35mpg. Let alone the additional running costs of a turbo including servicing (the age of the car means that *generally* the turbos are starting to wear out) as the average mileage would be at least 100k for a rev3, higher for a rev2.
 
The suspension was changed from rev2 onwards (91>). If you can afford it go for a rev3 turbo (better turbo, no air flow meter and better fuel consumption). I was 21 when I got my mr2 turbo. Not had any accidents with it yet (touch wood) but it does get scary when you do lose it. But tbh, if you do lose it the added benefit of more power from the turbo can help you out a great deal.
As for t-bars mine has never leaked once and the wind deflectors are awesome with hardly any buffeting.
On a good motorway journey off boost I can average about 35mpg too. Parts aren't greatly expensive and anything that has gone wrong I've been able to do myself. The engines aren't as big a pain to work on as many people claim. Only big jobs like clutch require the engine out.
 
eidolon said:
I hate you lot.

In 4 years of ownership I only once managed 35mpg, the rest of the time was <20mpg
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Depends where and how you drive it, on long trips mine always returned 35mpg or therabouts. Locally where it saw a harder life it obviously was down to much less than that :p

Serj - yes mine was a 1992, and it didnt last very long, so i suppose you are probably right. I was 18/19 like yourself.
 
Jez said:
Depends where and how you drive it, on long trips mine always returned 35mpg or therabouts. Locally where it saw a harder life it obviously was down to much less than that :p

Serj - yes mine was a 1992, and it didnt last very long, so i suppose you are probably right. I was 18/19 like yourself.
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This man is a prime example why inexperienced drivers shouldn't drive an MR2 Tubby :p Go for the N/A- far less to worry about in safety, relability AND running costs.

They aren't exactly slow either!
 
Well there's only 2 things that stand in my way now. My mum seems to think that if i get an older car with higher mileage then it's immediately going to be unreliable and cost me loads to keep on the road.

She thinks because she used to have a dealership with my dad in the 80s that she knows everything about cars :rolleyes: I think when she sees the car she'll be ok with it.

The second thing is that i have literally just bought new alloys and tyres for my current car, they only have 800 miles on them. Eagle F1s cost £360 but they're 16". The standard MR2 alloys are 15" and the width and profile of my F1s wouldn't be any good for an RWD car anyway.

I'll have to see what i can do with them, they might add some value to my car as they are OEM and VERY rare. But selling cars is difficult at the best of times =/
 
ci_newman said:
This man is a prime example why inexperienced drivers shouldn't drive an MR2 Tubby :p Go for the N/A- far less to worry about in safety, relability AND running costs.

They aren't exactly slow either!
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I wouldnt say its so much inexperience (between me and friends we have had virtually every affordable fast car going, and ive driven them all pretty extensively), more that you cannot take the **** with an MR2 turbo when the conditions are not perfect. Sadly i couldnt hold back.

Don't swear! FF.
 
Jez said:
I wouldnt say its so much inexperience (between me and friends we have had virtually every affordable fast car going, and ive driven them all pretty extensively), more that you cannot take the **** with an MR2 turbo when the conditions are not perfect. Sadly i couldnt hold back.
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Tbh I knew I'd be the same hence buying an N/A! I AM inexperienced compared to many (only 3 years now..) and could've gotten myself in trouble at times already and I've only had the car 3 weeks :D

There's aren't many 19/20 year olds that dont get cocky once in a while, but it only has to take one slip to ruin it all (especially if you've just spent £3k on a car).

To the OP, what's your price range anyway? Depending on funds, it might be a more sensible idea to go for a slightly lower mileage one and sacrifice the T-Bar
 
Probably £3k to £3.5k.

Btw what sort of trouble have you got yourself into? The handling characteristics do worry me, i just don't think there are many options when considering a 2 seater car other than the MR2 or an MX5.
 
I own a 1999 Nissan 200sx s14a (2.0 Turbo RWD), previously had a 1998 Rev5 Mk2 MR2 T-Bar.

The 200sx was an impulse buy, had to own a turbo and all that.

I have to say I miss the MR2 . :( The driving experience was far better.

Anyway, things to look out for:

T-Bar seals, can be leaky. Mine only leaked on the passenger side after heavy rainfall. (bottle of water trick won't help).

Colour is important if you wan't to sell it on. Avoid white, yellow and red. If after a later Revision go for the rare metallic Blue/Purple, added mega value to my car when selling on.

If going for leather, beware seats can get very tatty looking. Mainly due to the fact that its impossible to get in and out without rubbing the seats.

Avoid modified MR2s, usully means poor treatment. When things start to go wrong it can be very costly!!!

Oh and buy UK!

Oh and of course do the usual engine, brake and steering tests.

Good Luck.
 
Serj said:
Probably £3k to £3.5k.

Btw what sort of trouble have you got yourself into? The handling characteristics do worry me, i just don't think there are many options when considering a 2 seater car other than the MR2 or an MX5.
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I havent gotten into any *actual* trouble, but theres been a couple of incidents where the car hasnt acted the same as any of my previous FWD cars, but this was largely due to being RWD more than the MR2 specific. Things like wet round abouts or turning in too hard and booting on muddy country lanes :o

You wont have any issues with handling on an N/A, i assure you! Just behave sensibly as you would a FWD car and you'll be fine. If you're worried, when you've got the car go and find an empty flat of land and hoon about a bit.

For £3.5k you're looking at a uk spec, gti-16 t-bar (same as gt, just uk model) with leather (no aircon) with about 70/80k miles on the clock.
Its a buyers market at the moment, so there will be loads to choose from, just dont be hurried into buying the first you see as there will be plenty more out there!
 
Serj said:
The handling characteristics do worry me, i just don't think there are many options when considering a 2 seater car other than the MR2 or an MX5.
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I've driven both quite a bit and the MR2 is much easier to wrap around a lamp post. The MX5 gives you loads of warning that it's gonna slide but the MR2 is a bit snappier. If you don't drive like an idiot you'll be fine, the problem is that with this type of car it's hard not to drive like an idiot. :D
 
eidolon said:
I've driven both quite a bit and the MR2 is much easier to wrap around a lamp post. The MX5 gives you loads of warning that it's gonna slide but the MR2 is a bit snappier. If you don't drive like an idiot you'll be fine, the problem is that with this type of car it's hard not to drive like an idiot. :D
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V.True

I think I have the added benefit of having an mx5 and an mr2 for running about in. Whenever I'm in the mx5 I feel I have to drive it hard and fast but in the mr2 I can tootle about behind traffic no problem without getting annoyed and anxious. The mr2 is very comfy to drive, especially the GT model with half leather seats etc. But if there is a nice big open road in front of me theres nothing I like more than boosting it like crazy :) However, thats when you use serious amounts of fuel. I went through £40 worth of fuel at a 2 hour tracknight and only got 70 miles! :eek: :D
 
Serj said:
Probably £3k to £3.5k.

Btw what sort of trouble have you got yourself into? The handling characteristics do worry me,
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No need to worry, in the dry they only bite if you are driving really stupidly, with decent tyres the grip is phenomenal. In the wet they can be a bit wayward but you simply need to adjust your driving to suit the car.

In 4 years of driving a turbo I've had one slightly worrying moment and that was pulling out of a junction in the wet and putting the power down a bit too quickly. Was recoverable after a few fishtales, but once bitten you know for next time...
 
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