Need you honest opinion

[KiDyNomiTe]

I was looking around the web and saw some VERY NICE pics of MR2s and I was wondering what would be the better choice an S13 or an MR2. I have been told that a local chop shop is currently rebuilding an MR2 MK2, so the price should be lowered. It will be a little more than an S13, but i can cope with the price diff. I can't make up my mind though over what I should get, I need opinions and facts (please tell me which are facts and which are opinions).

Here is a link to the pics that made me fall in love (56kers be ware very big)http://www.racingstrong.com/se2001/large_folder/pages/P3310020.htm
http://www.racingstrong.com/se2001/large_folder/pages/P3310019.htm

[MrMigs]

Well, you can look at it two ways... Basically the prices are the same.

IF you get the MR2... it's already been upgraded, and it comes with the turbo, so no doubt it's faster. Both cars handle well, but I'll guess that the MR2 has its suspension already upgraded.

However, it's pretty much been customized by someone else. If you feel fine with driving someone else's project, that's cool. I mean, he'll probably see you driving by and tell his buddies that he built that car <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

Or you could get an S13.... likely to be slower being that it will probably be stock, but it'll be YOUR car... you can turn it into whatever you want, and it'll be whatever you make it. &nbsp;

So that's basically how I THINK you should look at the situation. Both are really great cars, but the main question comes down to either buying a fast car that someone else made or buying a slower car that you can turn into your own project.

[MrMigs]

Oh yea, I forgot to add... that if it was my choice, I would choose the stock s13 because I like customizing things for myself... thats just the kind of guy i am &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

Sure I could have bought an upgraded car and still customized it a little bit, but it still just wouldn't feel right.

[KiDyNomiTe]

Hmm i see your point, but here is the thing if i get an S13 i probably won't do anything to it for a while. If i get teh MR2 it will probably stay stock (minus a few minor mods) and then when I am in or out of college i will finally pursue my S13 SR dream and have both cars. So I guess reliabilty of the MR2 should play a role in this question. Would it last say 4 years (for an already used mr2)

[240meowth]

ahh, u've tought us well, mrmigs... &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

well, there IS something very special about the MR2
mid engine (no hp lost through the driveshaft)
runs faster than a 240 stock to stock
t top, ahh t top how can we forget that, well it's an option
it is a well designed car over all.

enough w/ the pros, here r the cons

2 seater... (not like the 240 is any better, but still)
mid engine (usually harder to work on)

ok, i've been typing this post for like 15 minute now, i can't think of anything else.

[240sxtreme]

here's how I would look at the 2 cars, in a unbiased way.
1-MR2
&nbsp; will be faster, looks are even (I think), higher insurance, less room in both cabin and trunkspace.

2-s13
&nbsp; will be slower(with a KA), looks are even(I think), lower insurance, more room in both cabin and trunkspace.

personally, if you can get a turbo mr2 for just a little bit more then a s13, and you don't care about insurance or leg room, I say go for the mr2.

if you want my biased opinion, pick up a s13, either turbo the KA or swap a SR. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

[KiDyNomiTe]

imma small guy so leg room isnt a problem and i am not running a taxi service so 2 seater is fine. only thing is insurance but i am lucky and my parents will be paying for it. I still will buy an S13 soon, but i am seeing too many of them around my area right now and i have only seen liek 1 mr2 so it will be unique, plus i can show off to the people at my school.

[KiDyNomiTe]

does anyone have times for thee turbo mk2 (1/4mile, 0-60)

[MrMigs]

Well, in that case Kid, seeing as how you'll eventually purchase both cars, you have to ask yourself: What will I be ABLE to buy in the future?

I'm pretty sure S13's will still be around, but from what I've seen, MR2s are pretty scarce. People (at least where I'm from) aren't really interested in selling their MR2s, so you might want to buy it while you still can.

And yes, I'm pretty sure that a used MR2 should last another 4 years as long as it's maintained... same thing goes for pretty much any car.

[KiDyNomiTe]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (MrMigs @ Mar. 31 2002,01:22)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Well, in that case Kid, seeing as how you'll eventually purchase both cars, you have to ask yourself: What will I be ABLE to buy in the future?

I'm pretty sure S13's will still be around, but from what I've seen, MR2s are pretty scarce. People (at least where I'm from) aren't really interested in selling their MR2s, so you might want to buy it while you still can.

And yes, I'm pretty sure that a used MR2 should last another 4 years as long as it's maintained... same thing goes for pretty much any car.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
thanks for all the help i really appreciate it, now just to find out more about the mr2, any good forums like this &nbsp;one about mr2s. I tried mr2forums.com and its kinda crappy not that many people are there.

[MrMigs]

Sorry, cant help you there &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/satisfied.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':satisfied:'>

[wherezmytofu]

mid and rear engines have always have cooling problems.... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hmmm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hmmm:'>

[XxDriverxX]

Sup bro..

Well here is the bottom line. &nbsp;I'd say DEFFINETLY Mr2, those cars are VERY powerfull, let alone beautifull!

Is that the actual car that you were getting? &nbsp;Thing is, I have an s13, my bro has a 1986 MR2 (MK1), Non-turbo, but MAN is it fast. &nbsp;I've never seen control on such a car. &nbsp;I'm thinking MkII Mr2s are even better, and faster.

The board he used to go to is at: http://board.mr2pages.com/ &nbsp;It's down no for some reaason, but if it does go up, you'll see a post where I asked them Mr2 vs. 240sx, which one to buy that is. &nbsp;I stuck with the 240sx cause I couldn't afford the MR2. &nbsp;But now that I have my 240sx, I wouldnt replace it with an MR2 (well, maybe I would if it was an Mk2 <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> )

Just keep in mind, those cars are rare and so are it's parts. &nbsp;Therefore, its very expensive!

Good luck both ways, I doubt you'll go wrong if u choose either.

Peace!

[Danio]

Would it be possible for you to buy the MR2, then resell it and make a decent profit? If so, that might be a good idea.

[DuffMan]

Good luck finding a turbo one in decent condition for under $8000.

[camppain]

pahh mr2 hands down

i loved those cars before nissans sad to say thats the only non nissan car id get next to a miata.

but i beleive ur in chicago and ive looked for mr2's the best price i got for a na was 4500 looking at a turbo puah!

try 11k and up unless theres something the owners not telling you

second even mid engine cars have driveline loss its minimal but its there i dont know the precent its close to fwd cars

and yes mr2s are very rare and yes even toyota techs dont like working on em one guy i know tells me just to do a tune up u need to droip the engine. he refuses work on a mr2 for that

but i would say best bet is read up on em at the mr2 forums. ive been and am on the one mentioned above. do some research first and find out what you';ll end up owning if you buy it and the problems it may have.

[BryanH]

Hey guys, MR2 owner here. &nbsp;Thought I'd share my experiences with MR2s. &nbsp;I'm considering a 240sx in my distant future, possibly as a built drift/track car, which is why I'm here of course. &nbsp;

First off, I want to clear up a couple misconceptions about the MR2. &nbsp;Cooling problems are definitely not an issue with MR2s. &nbsp;As long as the system is in working order, the car will NOT overheat. &nbsp;Obviously if your water pump is bad, or the radiator is clogged, you'll have problems, but this is true with any car. &nbsp;The MR2 has a front mounted radiator just like front-engined cars, so it gets plenty of cooling power. &nbsp;I've flogged mine at Buttonwillow Raceway for 30+ minute sessions all day and the temp needle never budged above halfway.

Legroom - there's plenty of that too. &nbsp;I'm 5'11" and have the seat of my '87 MKI set well forward of the rear firewall. &nbsp;I can fit both T-tops behind my seat. &nbsp;MKIIs have even more legroom. &nbsp;You can scoot the seat back so far that I can't even reach the pedals.

The MR2 forums have been at http://board.mr2faq.com for a while now. &nbsp;Come join us. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> &nbsp;There are tons of people there.

As for availability, maybe I haven't been looking in the right places for 240s, but it seems MR2s are no harder to find. &nbsp;They're rare enough that you don't see one every day, but common enough that there is a decent aftermarket for the car and finding a good deal on one isn't terribly hard.

The MKII Turbo's 3SGTE engine is very well respected. &nbsp;Much like the SR20DET, except ours are smog legal. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> &nbsp;2 liters, 200hp, 200ft-lbs stock. &nbsp;Very reliable design with lots of power potential. &nbsp;You can also stuff a 3SGTE in a MK1 MR2... which, at ~2400lbs, would really scoot. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

The MR2s do handle very well, but they can be tricky due to their weight balance. &nbsp;91-92 models are especially notorious for snap oversteer. &nbsp;The MR2 mantra is "Don't lift!" &nbsp;Meaning that if you're cornering at the limit, don't you dare lift off the throttle or touch the brakes, or round and round you go. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> &nbsp;93-95 models have revised rear suspension (plus LSD and larger wheels) and are generally regarded as the better-handling MKII. &nbsp;But if you plan suspension mods, the more common 91-92 will do just as well. &nbsp;MR2 handling at the limit is a unique thing. &nbsp;Driven properly, they FLY through the turns. &nbsp;Pretty much nothing short of a supercar can touch them. &nbsp;But some people just can't seem to grasp how to handle the MR2. &nbsp;With this car, a lot of it really depends on the driver. &nbsp;

One big reason so many people love their MR2s is that they're quite simply a joy to drive. &nbsp;The way the car just makes you want to take the T-tops out and go for a drive in the mountains for the fun of it is what keeps us coming back. &nbsp;They're also very reasonably priced for the performance you get. &nbsp;

Personally I'd buy an MR2 over an S13, but I've not yet had the pleasure of driving an S13 so I'm quite obviously biased. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

I don't particularly care for that yeller one though. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> &nbsp;Too 'out there', and the front bumper has poor fit. &nbsp;I like the stock 93+ look with clear corners. &nbsp;That's it. &nbsp;Really is a beauty that way. &nbsp;Lemme see if I can find a pic...

Ah, here, have a gander at this guy's Two... lovely! http://images.cynikal.net/mr2/latest/
He owns the servers that run the MR2 Forums actually. &nbsp;

You might find this interesting too... http://www.mr2beast.com/

Oh, there's also a huge resource of info at www.mr2.com , although some of the links are outdated.

Happy motoring!

[adey]

woah!! Beautiful post, Bryan! &nbsp;

Basically what I was going to say's all been said. Let me just voice my opinion as a 'vote' for the MR2 turbo.

SW20 (chassis code?) w/ 3S-GTE (engine code?) .... I love this car, and if I could afford it, would have chosen it over the 240... not that I don't like the 240, I love it, I would have a hard time justifying the 240 though because of all the trouble I'll need to go through regarding the inevitable SR20DET swap whereas the MR2 comes "properly" equipped. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> &nbsp;

I agree the yellow car you showed (at the top) is a little much for my taste, but still, it's a Mr.2 and not overly ugly.

If you find a good deal (i.e. under 8k) for a clean '91 turbo, go for it. If you're considering the 240sx FOR the engine swap, save yourself the trouble and go for the 3S-GTE MR2.

JMHO

[gsrcamel]

MR2

[tnord]

2 of my good friends own modified mkII turbo's..........wow.........those things fly. one guy dyno'd at 275whp, the thing is almost scary fast. the other one had a nice suspension set up with some A520's and it was the best handling car i'd ever driven (outside of race cars). i was looking at them, but couldn't find one in decent shape or else i'd own one. find one that mechanically checks out, but looks like crap. you can get those the cheapest, they are the ones i always buy, then spend a week cleaning it up and you get a great deal.

[KiDyNomiTe]

To an earlier post: the yellow one is not the one I am getting, my brother saw one at a chop shop it was red with t-tops.

damn thanks for the info bryan. I see what you mean about the yellow mr2 I like stock loks of most cars too. The only thing now is just to wait for that mr2 to be fixed up. The thing about the chop shop is that they have to pass a couple of inspections before they sell it. My brothers friend bought an MX-6 there for $4K, correct me if I am wrong but MX-6s cost around $6K-$9K so the MR2 should be cheaper than normal. Plus my brothers friends car doesn't seem to have any problems it seem fine to me.

Thanks for all the help from you guys, my decision as of now is pretty much the MR2, but if I can't find a clean one then I will go for the S13. Either way I will still be on this board and still be buying an S13 and swapping an SR into it in the next few years.

[toddnappi]

<!--QuoteBegin--KiDyNomiTe+Mar. 31 2002,11<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KiDyNomiTe @ Mar. 31 2002,11<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>9)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Here is a link to the pics that made me fall in love (56kers be ware very big)http://www.racingstrong.com/se2001/large_folder/pages/P3310020.htm
http://www.racingstrong.com/se2001/large_folder/pages/P3310019.htm</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
You gotta understand that MR2 is fully worked on the exterior. If you wanted yours to look like that, it would be at least $1500 in body parts and $1500 in paint. Add that on top of any performance mods you wanna do, and you begin to see how it stacks up. There's a definate price difference between the two cars.

Also, I will guarantee a stock 240 is going to be much more reliable than a turbo MR2. There is rarely such a thing as a reliable turbo car, and if you're going through college and $$ isn't always handy, the 240 would be a better choice.

[KiDyNomiTe]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (toddnappi @ Mar. 31 2002,9:06)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KiDyNomiTe @ Mar. 31 2002,11<!--emo&<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Here is a link to the pics that made me fall in love (56kers be ware very big)http://www.racingstrong.com/se2001/large_folder/pages/P3310020.htm
http://www.racingstrong.com/se2001/large_folder/pages/P3310019.htm</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
You gotta understand that MR2 is fully worked on the exterior. If you wanted yours to look like that, it would be at least $1500 in body parts and $1500 in paint. Add that on top of any performance mods you wanna do, and you begin to see how it stacks up. There's a definate price difference between the two cars.

Also, I will guarantee a stock 240 is going to be much more reliable than a turbo MR2. There is rarely such a thing as a reliable turbo car, and if you're going through college and $$ isn't always handy, the 240 would be a better choice.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I like the stock look of mr2s. That is not like the first mr2 that I ever saw, I new of thier existance but just didn't know much about them.