I looked at and drove an 85 mr2 today with five speed. It was cheap enough and felt good mechanically. It seems to need some front end work, shocks and tires plus ac work.

I was considering it as an autocross alternative to the mighty benz. I was also speculating it might get pretty good fuel economy too.

What say our toyota experts?

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Get a Fiero

Sixto
87 300D

Are you serious? I thought those were about the worst cars ever made.

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

I drove a MK1 MR2 in 1990. Super fun car. Kind of like a motorcycle with four wheels. Wish Mercedes made a manual transmission that sweet. I think, but don't know for sure, that Lotus sold the design to Toyota.

From the Internet:

Mk 1 Mk 1 Mk 1 SC Mk 2 Mk 2 Mk 2 Turbo
country FI (UK) US all US FI (UK) all
engine 4A-GE 4A-GELC 4A-GZE 5S-FE 3S-GE 3S-GTE
hp 122-125 112 145 130/135 156/175 200
model # AW11
model years 85-89 85-89 88-89 91-95 91-95 91-95

performance [124hp] [156hp]
test weight 1224kg
0-30 mph 2.5-2.7
0-50 km/h ~2.4 2.8
0-80 km/h ~5.6 5.8
0-50 mph 5.6-5.7
0-60 mph 7.5-7.7 (7.2)
0-100 km/h (8.1) 8.2
0-70 mph 10.3-10.8
0-120 km/h ~11.6 11.9
0-80 mph 13.4-13.8
0-140 km/h ~16.4 16.1
0-90 mph 18.0-18.5
0-160 km/h ~23.9 22.4
0-100 mph 24.0-24.5 (20.8)
0-110mph 34.8

400m (15.5) 16.1
@140
1/4 mile 15.8-16 15.1
@139-140
1000m 30.5 29.5
@169 @176

top speed km/h 200 ~193 218-220

braking
30-0 mph 33-37ft=.91-.81g
60-0 mph 138-152=.87-.79g
70-0 mph 187=.88g
80-0 mph 241=.89g

fuel consumption [l/100km]
city 8.1-8.3 (9.9)
90km/h 6.0-6.2 (5.9)
100km/h
120km/h 7.7 (7.5)
average 8.0

noise [dB] [112hp]
idle 51
50km/h
80km/h
100km/h
70 mph 78
120km/h
WOT 86

steering
type all rack & pinion
turning circle 10.4
turns lock2lock 3.2 3.7

dimensions [mm]
lenght 3925 4180
width 1665 1700
height 1250 1240
wheelbase 2320 2400
tracks front 1440 1470
tracks rear 1440 1450
weight [kg] 1030 1180
front weight % 45 42

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Michael

1988 300 SL (5 Speed)
1994 E320 Wagon
1997 C230

What about a Porsche 914? Man, if I had some play money I'd get one! I've been looking at CL to see what good deals are out there just to tease myself. There are some really good ones that were projects, some completed and some in progress (I prefer a completed one). Here's one taht has tickled my fancy: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/car/730533234.html

I know next to nothing about the 914, so jumping into one will be a risk. But I know if I really wanted one, not just for fun but mainly for practical reasons I'd do some research, but it seems now I have SL dreams

Does an MR2 put you in a class with drivers much better than you?

A friend of mine used to campaign a WRX and did well. He moved on to a 3-series and promptly got handed his @$$ by a much better class of drivers. It could throw a wrench in your success if you're competitive.

Sixto
87 300D

Tom

I bought a spankin' new MR2 in 85 when they first came out (cost me $12,700 yikes- my second-to-last new car). It was a great car- I had it for 12 years. It was fun to drive - like it was on rails.

I only got rid of it because I didn't want to deal with the upcoming maintenance issues like the one you are considering (and it died on me- simple relay problem I think).

Anyway- be advised that it has 4 struts to replace (can be pricey) and something like 20 coolant hoses (that I replaced ONCE only). And lots of vacuum hoses crammed into that coffin-like engine compartment. I always got around 30mpg ( maybe a shade more if I babied it) or so but I think it wanted premium, IIRC. Wild interiors huh?

I say go for it.


Rick

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

That is a possibility that I must consider.

I am competitive in my old mercedes against modified Mustangs and Camaros but the mr2 will put me in with the miatas and there are a lot of them.

I might find I'm not a very good driver.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I don't know how much $ you have, but this is ALOT of car for the money.
I've driven 911's before and they're fast and they can really maneuver!

I'm saving for a used 911 turbo right now!

Check this for you > 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera $16,950.00

http://www.automotive.com/1986/65/porsche/911/carrera/california/santa-cruz/219781907/113/index.html?filter=RadiusSearchDistanceFromPostalCode|93915|RadiusSearchPostalCode|93915|RadiusSearch Radius|200|VehicleMake|Porsche|VehicleModel|911|VehicleUsedIncludeCarsDotCom|1|VehicleUsedPrice.max| 21988|VehicleUsedPrice.min|11988|&sortby=HasVehicleUsedPrice+DESC|VehicleUsedPrice|&index=0&pagenum=-1&numListings=5&nopaging=true

I had one owner low miles dealer maintained '78 911 given to me by my Uncle and spent $5K on it the first year I had it.....(to be fair, $1K of that was to fix slight body damage my 14 year old niece inflicted on it driving a stick for the first time taking me on a beer run)

Howie if you are reading this, you and I met in person the day after that incident, if you recal

I drove an MR2 a friend of mine bought on a lark a couple of years ago for $1500 on ebay. I agree on the gear box. They are fun and I compare it strongly to the experience of driving a miata, but this one seemed a little squishier and I am pretty sure they are fwd. I didn't much like the back glass being that close to the back of my head though (like the slks)

I like MR2s. The engines in almost in the middle, and its got rear wheel drive.


pretty good for a grand.


But Tom W... Your trademark autocrosser is the ol' benz.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

MR2's of that vintage are great auto-X cars but then again so is the Miata. They're a dime a dozen, equally reliable and easier to work on. Been considering one for some time as an auto-X car. Once I get my SCCA license squared away I just might.

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Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
-
Do I miss being a service advisor ???

I have kindof decided to spend the money on the mighty benz. It is totally familiar to this old dog and I enjoy the giant killing aspect of beating thundering mustangs and camaros.

I think I will continue to hone it to a keen edge and perhaps even fix up the body and paint it with an American racing blue racing stripe!

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Drop a Small Block Chevy into it and leave the TD emblem on the trunk..

__________________
Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
-
Do I miss being a service advisor ???