MR2 Turbos?

Hunders

Hunders

Hunders

Soldato
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I know a few of you on here drive MR2 Turbos.

I was messing around getting quotes yesterday and to my surprise the quote I got for the MR2 was pretty good so Im considering getting one once I get rid of my Saxo VTR.

What are they like to drive? Whats the fuel consumption like? Whats the engine like? Whats the reliability like? Anything I should look out for when buying one?

Im guessing the reliability and the engine will be good with it being a Toyota.

Ta.
 
What are they like to drive? - Fast and scary if you're not careful. If you're a good driver you'll love it, if you're not you'll crash. End of.
Whats the fuel consumption like? - Pretty poor, I think I got around 18mpg although some people report almost 40mpg.
Whats the engine like? - Bulletproof, can make 270BHP with just breathing and boost mods in the earlier models and almost 300BHP in the later models. Above those levels you need to look at cooling as the standard intercooler is pretty bad.
Whats the reliability like? - Mine was ultra reliable, never skipped a beat in 4 years.
Anything I should look out for when buying one? - Have a look on IMOC and MR2OC as they have buyers guides (saves me typing)
 
Good stuff Eidolon, couldn't have put it better myself. The mr2 is certainly a car not to be messed with. You cannot chuck an mr2 turbo around like a fwd hot hatch or you'll die. I had to adjust my driving style totally when I got my mr2 turbo. But if you're a good driver you'll be rewarded greatly.

If you've got the money get a rev3 model, if not just make sure you pick a good rev1 or 2.
 
Cheers eidolon.

18 MPG you say... Thats pretty abysmal. I thought it would be around 25 at least :eek:

Looks like I might just go for a Rev 3 NA model instead because they have 175 bhp if Im not mistaken. It wont be such a massive step up from my Saxo unlike the turbo too.

Ta
 
Hunders said:
Looks like I might just go for a Rev 3 NA model instead because they have 175 bhp if Im not mistaken. It wont be such a massive step up from my Saxo unlike the turbo too.

Ta
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Don't dude. If you get an n/a mr2 all you'll be doing is dreaming of a turbo one :D
 
The problem with performance cars is that it *is* possible to get decent MPG but that requires restraint. When you've got a couple of hundred BHP under your right foot restraint isn't easy and hence you get poor economy.

If you're worried about economy then then you're better off getting a diesel or something as the petrol is just one small part of running a performance car. I was paying £130 per tyre and £50 for oil so the actual petrol was the least of my worries.
 
Hunders said:
Looks like I might just go for a Rev 3 NA model instead because they have 175 bhp if Im not mistaken. It wont be such a massive step up from my Saxo unlike the turbo too.

Ta
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it's not the power of the car that's the problem.
it's the delivery characteristics of that power coupled with the fact that most drivers have no experience at all of pushing a mid-engined car hard.

the factors that make an MR2 Turbo handle so well in the dry are exactly those same factors that make it so much of a handful in anything less than perfect road conditions.
 
gaz1234 said:
Too small and getting old,weekend car! Turbo is quick, they dont handle that well either.
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:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Can we get the big rollyeyes for this post please
 
Mine made 270bhp with just an induction kit, and downpipe, if you respect them you will be fine. Fuel can be bad if you boost a lot. I got 50miles from half a tank but on the other hand I got 39.9mpg out of it on a long motorway trip.

If you know what you are doing they handle like they are on rails and much better than some pansy in a slow BMW.
 
they rock when driven correctly, its when numpties get in them things go wrong.

you have to know what youre doing to make sure you keep on the road
 
Calling people who spin out MR2's numpties is a bit silly. Watch the dirft bible, you will see the drift king himself lose control of an MR2.
 
Clarkey said:
Calling people who spin out MR2's numpties is a bit silly. Watch the dirft bible, you will see the drift king himself lose control of an MR2.
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He didnt say that though. Trying to drift an MR2 is extremely difficult due to where the engine is located
 
not seen all the drift bible, it got boring. there are a lot easier things out there to drift than an MR2, i always had the thought in my head that if i got complacent or cocky with it it would all go wrong, hence liberties were never taken, hence i never stuffed it.


edit: yes, i did have it sideways, quite a fair bit, youd be insane tuning it to 290 odd and not muck about with it, but i never once got into the car thinking "let see how sideways i can have this car on this journey", i dont think its feasable to do so in one of those things on unpredictable public roads. im sure there are some flaws in the car, but it is highly capable, just dont do anything silly and youll absolutely LOVE it
 
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Clarkey said:
Calling people who spin out MR2's numpties is a bit silly. Watch the dirft bible, you will see the drift king himself lose control of an MR2.
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Even monkeys fall from trees.
 
gaz1234 said:
Turbo is quick, they dont handle that well either.
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i had a long reply to this but the short version is just as accurate,

ahem

wrong!
Clarkey said:
Calling people who spin out MR2's numpties is a bit silly. Watch the dirft bible, you will see the drift king himself lose control of an MR2.
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yes you can because he is intentionally trying to drift the car.
people who bend MR2's on the road do so because they have no experience of a mid engined car, they fail to understand what effects a twin entry turbo has on power delivery characteristics, they made a mistake in reading either the weather conditions of the camber/surface or they were just going plain and simple old fashioned too fast.
ie. numpties

the drift king you refer to is purposely trying to break the back end away, all other drivers are not and, to be honest, even if they were then unless they're on private land then they're numpties as well.
 
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