Potential MR2 buyer: questions!

Re: Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (MR2QIK)

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:58:01 GMT

That was fast. Members ride thread.

Re: Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (alexv)

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 09:28:30 GMT

Yep, so I ended up buying a 91 turbo from a member here from SA " />
Already thinking of doing a few upgrades :)

Re: Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (MR2QIK)

Wed, 04 Dec 2013 19:47:06 GMT

Maintenance is consistent with its age. Get a turbo for sure if you can. A nice sorted example would prolly have the timing belt done already so I doubt that's going to be required.

Re: Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (dylmrt)

Wed, 04 Dec 2013 18:10:03 GMT

I have to say its different fun with an NA vs a Turbo.

The AW11 NA i can drive really hard and you get the enjoyment from really taking the car to its limits (thrashing it all the way to 3rd gear and its still under 80km/h lol)

The tubby is an entirely different feeling. On the street, you just can't use its full potential without falling a fair way foul of the law. On a track however, there's no comparison.

Re: Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (Carmikey)

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 08:52:56 GMT

alexv
Actually Dudeman, a question for you since you have driven both the turbo and non-turbo: do you feel the lack of turbo while driving the non-turbo MR2, or not really?
I have seen some sweet non-turbo MR2 around, but I feel like I may end up regretting not getting the turbo'd one.
But then again, I am currently driving a 96 Mustang Cobra and I can never really step on it as it gets up to the legal speed very quickly making me feel like I don't really need the extra power (but the exhaust sounds wonderful)...

^^Alexv, Hi I too have drive a few NA's & a lot like Dudeman, once you have been in a turbo mr2 it ant long before the need is there to purchase & own one. If you haven't yet picked it up - the turbo is also my preferred car all round.

Many people go down the path of thinking a NA will be suffice, but I would say at least 90% of them end up (may be years later) but never the less converting to a turbo engine or buying a genuine turbo mr2.
The good out of any of this - is you by the sounds of things will be in an Mr2 shortly & that's all that matters.

Good luck with your hopefully upcoming purchase & hope to see you in an mr2 in the near future.

Re: Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (Dudeman)

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 08:30:49 GMT

alexv
Actually Dudeman, a question for you since you have driven both the turbo and non-turbo: do you feel the lack of turbo while driving the non-turbo MR2, or not really?
I have seen some sweet non-turbo MR2 around, but I feel like I may end up regretting not getting the turbo'd one.
But then again, I am currently driving a 96 Mustang Cobra and I can never really step on it as it gets up to the legal speed very quickly making me feel like I don't really need the extra power (but the exhaust sounds wonderful)...

The n/a is a very nice car and is cool to drive, i've had a lot of enjoyment out of it, but the basic answer is that they are totally different cars power wise.
From a standing start the turbo is good thumping acceleration fun, tight bends on uphills you can give the n/a just about 100% (not through the corner...) and it gets up there - the turbo needs more care.

I used the n/a as a commuter for nearly eight years, the turbo is now the preferred car for fun.

Reddtarga
Timing belt replacement.
Dudeman, what exactly did you get for $400?

To do the job properly many people also recommend changing other stuff at the same time, including:
Quality HSN belt
New tensioner
New genuine Toyota full water pump
New belt rollers
Cam seals etc.
That's perhaps a total of $400+ for parts alone.

Toyota timing belt, major service, none of the other parts you mentioned.
Done at 100,000 and 200,000.
Touch wood - 275,000 k's no dramas.

That's for the n/a. Haven't had timing belt done on the turbo, but Camden Toyota were happy to service it as well.

Re: Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (Reddtarga)

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 17:38:09 GMT

Timing belt replacement.
Dudeman, what exactly did you get for $400?

To do the job properly many people also recommend changing other stuff at the same time, including:
Quality HSN belt
New tensioner
New genuine Toyota full water pump
New belt rollers
Cam seals etc.
That's perhaps a total of $400+ for parts alone.

Re: Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (alexv)

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 12:09:35 GMT

Actually Dudeman, a question for you since you have driven both the turbo and non-turbo: do you feel the lack of turbo while driving the non-turbo MR2, or not really?
I have seen some sweet non-turbo MR2 around, but I feel like I may end up regretting not getting the turbo'd one.
But then again, I am currently driving a 96 Mustang Cobra and I can never really step on it as it gets up to the legal speed very quickly making me feel like I don't really need the extra power (but the exhaust sounds wonderful)...

Re: Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (Dudeman)

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 12:01:05 GMT

dylmrt
$400 is a bargain Dudeman. I might have to take my car down your way the next time I need that done! I'd say you're more likely to find places want $1000 for the job than $400.

I was prepared to take that sort of sting there but it didn't happen.

Best to always call ahead with the job for an estimate though. It's a really good workshop, make sure you take it to the Camden workshop not the Narellen one. The latter insisted that my funked out rear bearing was 'only tyre noise'

Re: Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (dylmrt)

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 11:40:03 GMT

$400 is a bargain Dudeman. I might have to take my car down your way the next time I need that done! I'd say you're more likely to find places want $1000 for the job than $400.

Re: Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (alexv)

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 11:34:09 GMT

Cool, that seems a lot cheaper than expected, everyone seems to say that it's super complicated to fix/ replace so I was expecting at least $1000+ (parts + labor)

And yeah, I meant gen2 rev3+, my bad :)

Re: Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (Dudeman)

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 10:49:31 GMT

Not so many turbo SW rev3+ around ('Gen' refers to 'Gen1 AW', 'Gen2 SW', 'Gen3 ZZ' (Generation)) SW had rev1,2,3,4,5 (Revisions). Please correct if i'm wrong again...

I have a rev1 turbo import and a rev3 ADM non turbo. Insurance cost is the same for me (oldish fart) but some insurers refuse the import, I went with Shannons for it.

I get the timing belts done by Toyota at Camden NSW, can't remember the exact figure but it wasn't too bad, less than $400 with full service I think.

Potential MR2 buyer: questions! (alexv)

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 10:20:48 GMT

Hi, I am coming back to Australia (ACT) after living in the US for a bit and I am looking at buying a MR2 MKII turbo (most likely rev3+). From what I have seen so far, they are 'fairly' cheap to maintain except for the timing belt replacement which seems like a very complex task. I haven't been able to find any cost estimate on that one so far though? What kind of cost am I am looking at here?
Also is there any important difference between ADM and JDM import MR2 (eg: insurance being more expensive??)?

This looks like a very fun car to drive :)
Thanks!
-Alex