Alright Guys, In a HUGE Dilema MKII MR2-T vs. My S14a HELP!

[SR240SXT]

OK guys, I'm in a little situation here. Disclaimer: I DO realize how lucky I am to have this opportunity available to me, we also went through a lot of effort for it as well. Call me spoiled but (I'm really a college student with very little money), currently in our family there is a 93 White MR2 Turbo T-Top with 80K on it, stock. I currently own a 97 White S14a with 72K on it, as you can see in my profile and site(feel free to browse for pics/info). My brother was going to sell the White MR2 turbo, but now I've been pondering whether I should sell my car and keep that. Of course I love my 240 to death, but its slow. I ran a best of 16.1 at the track one time. MR2-T's run 14.8 stock, but if you up the boost with a boost controller for freakin 30 bucks, you can run 13s. 93 Turbos are super rare, like my 97 240. The specs for the MR2 are here:

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44500

I would sell my car and use the leftover money to make my MR2 look something like this:

http://www.eniety.com/pichost/pic/mr2_fs5.jpg

I know the opinions might be bias because of course this is a 240SX forum, but just thought I might ask anyway. The MR2-T's have the famous 3SGTE engine, and I know they're reliable because my brother drives his MR2-T harder than anything and it has 130K on it boosting at 16psi on the stock turbo. Also, I was planning to spend ANOTHER $3000 on a turbo setup for my car, it would run low 14s I'm guessing, but with this car I would not have to spend that amount, I would actually get money back from the sale to put into the car thats already fast. Any opinions would be appreciative. I think I could get $12-12,500 for my car as it is right now. I wouldn't be so quick to sell it for much lower because I know the rarity (sunroof/5spd/leather..etc) plus my mods add up to over $2000. Thanks all.

-Erin

[NZO]

Both are nice but it depends on what your driving style is and what you plan to use the car for.

[Bliss]

If its your bro's car, isn't he gonne be getting some of the money from the sale of your S14?? If he's that cool and not asking for any money, then definately get the MR2. Shit, even if he does want money, it wont be all the money (are u REALLY gonna be able to get 12K?), still get the MR2.

[Anubis]

I wanted an mr2. But i really needed somewhat of a backseat. Thats the only reason why i never got one.

[masta]

Hahaha great idea on the disclaimer. ;)

You said the MR2 had 80k and then 130k. I assume the engine has 80k and the chasis has 130k. Well is looks like all you care about at the moment is straight line speed, so the MR2 looks like your route. Maybe you two can find relatives to sell it too that way it is in the family and you can possibly get it back.

Darn that is a hard decision.

[SR240SXT]

Originally posted by masta
Hahaha great idea on the disclaimer. ;)

You said the MR2 had 80k and then 130k. I assume the engine has 80k and the chasis has 130k. Well is looks like all you care about at the moment is straight line speed, so the MR2 looks like your route. Maybe you two can find relatives to sell it too that way it is in the family and you can possibly get it back.

Darn that is a hard decision.

yes, there is a white 93 MR2 Turbo with 80K on it, and my brothers car is a Red 130K 91 MR2 Turbo, we have two. I do care mostly about straight line speed, but I'd put KYB AGXs on there with Eibach Sportlines, and it would handle great. He would get the money leftover from the "virtual" sale of the white MR2, but from selling the 240, there should still be a couple thousand left over for mods and such.

[sil40]

mr2's can pick up chicks....but where u gonna put them w/ no back seat if you catch my dorifto. jk....but both cars are really nice and either way you cant loose. if you like drag more, mr2's are cool. my friend has one and hes real happy with it. i really like s14's especially kouki ones...so i agree...it depends on wat you want to use the car for.

[SR240SXT]

Originally posted by Bliss
(are u REALLY gonna be able to get 12K?)

yeah, pretty sure I would considering my mods and rare options (leather/sunroof/5speed..etc.). As I said above, I wouldn't be so quick to sell it to the first person who gave me an offer.

[popey]

I don't think you can get 12-12.5k for your 240sx, thats a lot of money IMO.

Unless ofcourse all the other koukis are going for that much in your area...they go for a lot less over here in texas.

[SR240SXT]

well the way I figure it is that they start at $9,500-$11,000 around here for a well taken care of 5spd kouki with lowish miles. I have well over $4,000 put into it between the paint job and mods (none of them are BS mods, I'd like to think), so I think $12,500 or a little lower is good. Even if you were to get a nice 95-96 and do everything to make it look like my kouki, you'd still spend 12,000 or above for all the work, you just have more down time and usually more miles. Couldn't say what they go for around here, all the ones on autotrader are stock auto base models for the most part, nothing to really compare mine too specifically. I'd probably have better luck on Ebay since its nationwide.

[RanciD]

There's a lot to think about before you buy an MR-2. The MR-2 is more of a "true sports car" than a 240SX. Daily driving one is all about compromise. There's no back seats, pretty much no room for anything bigger than a brief case in the truck and it has a very harsh ride even stock (although the 93 does have softened suspension so it probably isn't as bad as mine). To put it simply, when you drive an MR-2 you know you're driving a sports car. It's definitly not a car made for the 9 to 5 commuter. Stock for stock it's faster and handles better than the 240SX, the question is is it worth the extra speed for everything you're losing? Only you can answer that. That said, I love my MR-2 to death, as well as 240SXs. Both are great cars for different reasons, and you'll probably be happy with either one (I know I would kill to be in that situation :D ). I say see if you can drive the MR-2 for a few days to get a feel for what it's like day to day driving one and if you don't mind giving up some seating and cargo space then go for it.

[AutoDestruct]

Easy. MR. TWO Why? No OBDII. Easy horespower. Like you said 3s-gte. Its a 93 not a 91. If you have already driven them some and you know it's your cup of tea go for it. Just realize it is a rear weight biased car and will snap oversteer if you get out of control under power. There is nothing up front to absorb any impact if you get a head on collision. The T-tops get a little funky on some of these cars(leaks,twisting) The tranny is the weakest link. Please don't smash it up and get yourself hurt or dead in the process. But yeah I'd say go for it. I think you can get past 300 hp on the stock turbine. :confused: I'd don't know. Good luck, and be SAFE.:D

[SR240SXT]

thanks for the comments and concerns, some really good points were added. The 93s are when they fixed the tranny problems I believe, so tranny isn't an issue. I guess I should, when I get back home after finals, drive it around for awhile and see where it takes me. As far as horsepower goes, you can get pretty close to the 300 mark I'm sure. The CT26 turbo is pretty decent for stock. I rode in my brother's 91 MR2 Turbo and he had it at 15psi + a 50 shot on there. I can't imagine a street car being much faster than that. He raced a 3rd gen rx7 moderately modified (260-280 rwhp) and destroyed it by like 6 car lengths...thats fast enough for me haha.

[Chernobyl]

Get the MR2. It already has a great engine (although a PITA to work on, I know from experience) and being the '93, even has a stock LSD. They already handle great, and can be made much much better (as good or better than any S14). MR2 is just as rare as an S14 kouki... this shouldn't even be a hard decision.

btw, try not to drift the MR into any buildings :D ;)

[thx247]

MR2 if you can afford the inconviences. Its been really helpfull for me to be able to take tools and tires and crap to the track in my 240. I think if I could tow a car, I would rather have the MR2. But with this current budget, can't happen.

[SR240SXT]

yeah I'm not a hardcore track person though, if I went it would be on the street tires and stuff because I would rather know what my car is capable as a street car than anything else. Actually my brother just informed me that it doesn't have LSD...:( , i will double check that for sure. Apparently its not such an issue in the MR2s, because theres a lot of weight already in the back, you can hit 2.0 60ft times easy. And you can for sure not worry about me trying to drift again, learned that lesson, whew.

[s13Steve]

Both are great cars. It really depends on what kinda person you are.

have both....lol



-1990 Nissan 240sx
-Nismo Body kit
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid91/p476e4cfafbdc80c6852ec4ff03c73537/fa6edcc6.jpg

[SimpleS14]

Get the MR-2 TURBO and sell the 240SX le. I just wonder if you will take good care of it and not go crazy when driving it. Since you claim your going to get money after selling it.....buy a LSD.

Your mods on the S14 don't mean a damn thing to someone who is buying your car. You will have better luck selling it on e-bay...remember to use words such as "JDM" , "RARE" , "SILVIA". Don't try to sell it on a forum...of course you already know that.



Most of us on this forum know that this car has been in an accident....

[SR240SXT]

yes I am aware, it was rebuilt better than it was before however, and the engine bay wasn't touched at all so no mechanical problems would ever occur due to that event.

[ridebmx]

id say go with the mr2, i had a mk1 n/a, and whoever was saying something about not being able to have sex in it, ur damn wrong, passenger side seat, ha, Unless you got a big gf, or you yourself are big, but yeah, you can make that work. I drove mine in the winters here also, i loved that car. The one you might be getting is a mk2 so i cant speak first hand about them, but i loved the mid engine on mine, well needless to say, good luck, and make the right decision. Hell why not just take out a loan and keep both, then you can have a daily driver and a more "fun" oriented car.

[SR240SXT]

Originally posted by ridebmx
and whoever was saying something about not being able to have sex in it, ur damn wrong.

LOL, thats the best. But yeah EVERYONE is telling me to go with the 2, I have the same post on NICO, check it out here --->

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44504&perpage=35&pagenumber=1

[SimpleS14]

GET THE MR-2!!!!!!!



If pratically everyone on a 240SX forum tells you to get another car that's not a 240SX....don't you think the choice is pretty obvious. :p

[adey]

If you're only interested in straight-line speed, which by all accounts you appear to be, you're driving the wrong car... and you'd be buying the wrong car if you bought your brother's!

If you have to forego one of these two cars, why not forego them both for a mustang or a camaro? It'll cost you less and you'll be significantly faster for significantly less money and work.

On the other hand, if ever you decide to get into some more real (road) race track driving or auto-xing, you'll likely be disappointed with the performance of any car you've set up to go fast in a straight line -- even more the camaro/mustang than the MR2/S14. At least with the MR2/S14, you can still undo the "mistakes" and turn them into beautifully driving (and looking - IMO the same can't be said about a mustang/camaro) cars. :)

Keep also in mind that between the SW20 and S14, with the MR2, you'll have to drop the engine any time you want to do anything except change your oil, whereas in the 240 you'll be able to 'most everything at home and with a jack, jackstands and an average set of metric tools.

[SR240SXT]

Originally posted by adey
why not forego them both for a mustang or a camaro?

HELLLL NO! I hate both those cars, yeah they're "decent" for drag but the MR2 in the 13s will be about to keep up with those things modded...god do I hate those cars. 13's/low 14's in the 1/4 will be surely fast enough for me for awhile. I will only work with the stock engine stuff for awhile. Keep in mind that if I wanted to get my S14 up to 220 rwhp it'll take about $3-3500 (of which I don't have). For that power in the MR2 its just minor mods. Much like people argue the SR debates on here, the MR2 internals are good for 500 hp, the stock injectors are 440 cc, you can get 300hp on the stock fuel system, the ct26 is decent size for stock, and everything is basically setup for upgrading really fast. The greddy td06 turbo kit for the MR2 is only $1,400 and you get 320~ rwhp @ 20psi. I would turbo the KA first of all, not the SR, to get 210-240 rwhp, but after that you dump thousands into MORE mods to get it past that. Turboing the KA is a dead end (before spending more thousands of $$ to install new internals, fuel, etc.), but it does turn out to be an incredible turbod motor, if you have the money ($6-7,000 lying around). As far as handling goes, the MR2 and my S14a are both superb handling cars. The MR2 is a bit more tricky but with suspension upgrades and the right driving it's hard to beat. The MR2 is like the fastest braking car made I think? The brakes on this 93 are HUGE, and it goes from 60-0 mph in 106 ft, whereas the S14s do it in 143 feet, IIRC. Feel free to correct me/debate on these topics, we all learn something that way. Thanks for the comments again, keep em coming!

[old_s13]

Slap in a turbo motor of choice in your S14 and you've got a good competition between the two vehicles, always has and always will be. The MR2 and 240SX are rivals.

The MR2 is MR, so if thats your thing go for it. Other than that, the S14 is not the most common and in my opinion, quite rare.. 97-98.. so its worth keeping.

Personally, I would stick with what you have.. but if you like Toyota and like the looks and design of the MR2, then go for it.

It really comes down to WHICH car is for you. For me, I think the added conveniences that the 240SX have are well worth it. I dont care about the technicalities that make the MR2 a better car because I would think my driving skills should be able to compensate for that since most people dont even know how to drive.

Just have fun and pick the car that suites you best dude.

[saga240]

wow a 93 white turbo.. id love to have that..

well some earlier 93's didnt come with LSD

300 on stock ct26? nope.. not without major tuning and other supporting mods.. but even then you wouldnt WANT to be running that much boost on it.. 300 at the crank.. but not at the wheel..

well the daily driving isnt TOO MUCH worse than it was with my S14.. i had agx/pro kits with the s14 and agx/sport lines with the mr2..

its bouncy.. but damn its fun to drive..

performance.. no contest.. although i do miss the torque sometimes..

speed value wise.. no contest for the mr2.. it already runs 14.5-14.8 depending on how high your particular two wants to boost.. (7-10)..

practicality.. well.. it sucks.. hah but i only have one roommate so i can drive sometimes and if theres other people going.. i dont have to drive! :p and i figure that neither an s14 or an sw20 would be a good car once i graduate and be working in the business field.. so i might as well live it up now!

at least theres enough room to put all my books in my car.. but dont ever expect to ever put 4 rims in your car.. hah i learned that the hard way

well heres my main reasons i bought an mr2 instead of another s14..

speed, good looks.., damn good resale value, a good community, rarity,

[SR240SXT]

I said the fuel system can support 300hp, didn't say anything about the turbo. The CT26 is good for like 250rwhp if you do other supporting mods. For 300+ hp a good upgrade would be that Greddy TD06 upgrade for $1,400 bucks. My brother runs his MR2 @ 15-16psi on the stock turbo, and he used to have a 50 shot on there. Crazy fast. With the handling - my AGXs are set on their max right now (4/8) so my ride is about as bad as it gets, I don't mind too much. Maybe I can convince my father to sell his camry and drive my car, cause I know he likes it. I would just have to find a used stock exhaust system cause I know he wouldn't like the N1 on there. Practicality isn't my main concern, people hate being squished in the back seats of the S14 anyway so. And I don't know what to do about this blue interior, people on the MR2 board mention that some have dyed it, which would be a possibility down the road. I'm sure I wouldn't notice it too much when I'm content that I have a turbo car. Driving the stock KA is getting annoying...as it gains power it feels like a turbo will kick in at any time, but it just doesn't happen:( .

[SimpleS14]

I dunno if you can get your dad to take your car and sell the Camry. The Camry ownz the S14 when it comes to passenger and cargo space. :p


Get the MR-2 as I said before....but it really comes down to what you feel is best for you.

[SR240SXT]

Ha, that might be true. He also dissapears with my car 4 hours at a time to run "errands". Hmmm, I think I'm on to something here..

[SimpleS14]

hey....if he does sell the Camry then your straight.

[adey]

Originally posted by SR240SXT
HELLLL NO! I hate both those cars, yeah they're "decent" for drag but the MR2 in the 13s will be about to keep up with those things modded...god do I hate those cars. Hahahhaa... sorry, didn't mean to offend you there! :) Ultimately, since this seems to be a choice between the 240 and MR2, I think... I would have to go with the '97/8 240. Sure, it'll cost a little more to get it where you want it to be in terms of times at the drag strip, but the added convenience and extra room in the back will make all the difference.
While i've always been a fan of the MR2 (esp. the SW20!), for whatever reasons now, it just doesn't have the appeal that it once did!