Northy
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| posted on 24/2/05 at 08:28 PM |
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Mk1 MR2
What do people think about the Mk1 MR2? I've been offered one cheap and am quite tempted.. 
Graham
Website under construction. Help greatfully received as I don't really know what I'm doing! 
"If a man says something in the woods and there are no women there, is he still wrong?"
Built 2L 8 Valve Vx Powered Avon
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 24/2/05 at 09:24 PM |
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I have restored a few of these at work. Watch out for the rear arches and the VERY expensive bodywork parts
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 24/2/05 at 10:19 PM |
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A future classic if not already? but check carefully!
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Northy
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| posted on 24/2/05 at 10:36 PM |
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What should I check guys?
He's doing the rear arches before he sells it.
What sort of price would you expect an F plate to go for?
Cheers
Graham
Website under construction. Help greatfully received as I don't really know what I'm doing!
"If a man says something in the woods and there are no women there, is he still wrong?"
Built 2L 8 Valve Vx Powered Avon
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 24/2/05 at 11:36 PM |
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Also check for rot where the roof meets the windscreen. It can get so bad that it cracks the windscreen itself.
Practical Classic had a project MR2 a while back, had a whole series on restoring it.
You might want to ask a few questions in
http://www.mr2mk1club.com/ and http://www.imoc.co.uk
Price tends to go more on condition than age, anything from a few hundred notes for a wreck to maybe 3k or more for a decent supercharged Mk1.
[Edited on 24/2/05 by MikeRJ]
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bigandy
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 12:09 AM |
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I ripped an engine and gearbox out of a Mk1 mr2 for my Sylva Mojo. I drove the car around for a few weeks before hand, and they are absolutley
fantastic to drive. Not stupidly quick, but quick enough to have a lot of fun in. The driving position is cracking, and really comfy, yet good!
On mine the rear arches were a bit rusty though, okay a lot rusty. A mate of mine said they are not cheap to replace.
In general they are good cars, but you need to do your homeowrk before buying, unless it is an absolute bargain. Mine was an F reg too, and I paid
£280 for it. It's worth checking out the owners clubs websites though!
Cheers
Andy
Dammit! Too many decisions....
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Kelvin
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 09:35 AM |
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Marvellous little things. Have one in the garage at the moment.
The rear wings are expensive to replace if you use Toyota parts. However, there are alternatives. The owners clubs to replacement panels at a good
price and you can also use a datsun/nissan cherry rear wheel arch with a small amount of jigging.
Front wings are a bind, but they're not normally as bad as rear arches.
The other places to look are the bottoms of the A and B pillars.
other than that, go for it!
Kelvin
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Spyderman
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 06:49 PM |
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Ditto all the above!
Also make sure that the Alternator is working correctly as these can be expensive and very fiddly to replace.
Hand brake is also worth checking. Make sure it is working on both rear wheels..
Terry
Spyderman
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Simon
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 09:16 PM |
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In August 1987 (between jobs) I went and did a bit of car testing and drove
5GT Turbo
323 4x4 Turbo
205 Gti 1.9
205 Gti 1.6
Uno Turbo
Escort RS Turbo
MR2
And that would be the order that I rate them. Most disppointed with last two. Escort had p*** poor gearchange and MR2 just so slow.
ATB
Simon
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 25/2/05 at 11:59 PM |
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The MR2 must have been poorly as it should be noticeably quicker than both the Uno Turbo and the 1.6GTi, and a close match for the Escort.
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sgraber
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 03:41 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Northy
What do people think about the Mk1 MR2? I've been offered one cheap and am quite tempted..
fantastic car. The early models are said to be unforgiving at high speed turns. They will let loose with little warning. The mid-engine layout makes
for a very entertaining car to drive. With 105 HP they are not barnstormers, but with a few modifications you can upgrade them to around 130Hp
normally aspirated. The ones to get are the 88-89 Supercharged cars, they are much peppier!
For all you ever wanted to know about the MR2 check out http://www.mr2oc.com a thiving (mainly usa based) MR2
community.
Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/
"Quickness through lightness"
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Kelvin
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 09:19 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Spyderman
Also make sure that the Alternator is working correctly as these can be expensive and very fiddly to replace.
Terry
Honda engined Rover 216 alternator fits, you just have to change the brush pack over. Nice and cheep!
quote:
Originally posted by Simon
MR2 just so slow
Agreed, but I wouldn't say they are 'so' slow. Nowadays you don't buy one for it's speed. They handle like a dream,
and personally I gain as much enjoyment from driving the MR2 round corners and twisty stuff at at better average speed than some of todays FWD so
called sports cars that get scared in the wiggly bits, but are fast elsewhere. The MR2 (MK1, not MK2) is just so responsive to inputs and gives such
good driver feedback.
Kelvin
[Edited on 26/2/05 by Kelvin]
[Edited on 26/2/05 by Kelvin]
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Simon
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| posted on 26/2/05 at 09:17 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
The MR2 must have been poorly as it should be noticeably quicker than both the Uno Turbo and the 1.6GTi, and a close match for the Escort.
Nothing wrong with it's health - it was, like the others, a dealer demo, so it was almost (within a couple of months) new!
ATB
Simon
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