Any Exp w 95-99 DSM or MR2...not the gay new ones

[nitro325is]

Well someone went and bought that M3 I was working on getting.They paid cash while I was trying to finance with 3000 dn.Oh well.They do however have a really nice 95 Turbo MR2.It runs nice and tight.Feels weird since its mid engine.
Any good site to find tuning info?Ive heard they get kind of hard to handle when they get over 300hp ....you lose the ability to steer because much weight shift is in the back.I decided I want a nonBMW project car to be turbo in stock form.So Im looking at that and 95+ DSM's all wheel drive.
Im not interested in Supras/3000gt/300z. thanks to FF they are way overpriced.

[Rob]

the MR2s can get great power and handle well, but a lot of people cant handle the mid-engine handling. The DSMs you mention have motor problems, while the earlier models dont.

Thats all I know really quickly, both of them have a HUGE aftermarket and internet following, dwarfing the e30/BMW community

[ColdAccord]

I wouldn't get an mr2. the previous comments about handling being a bit more difficult are true, and I guess the trannies cop out. a friend of mine just left his mr2 sitting in his garage and bought an evo cause he didn't want to deal with fixing the mr2 anymore. 2g dsm's get crankwalk, but the 1g's don't. however, they all have a crapload of problems.

if I were you, and this is the market you're persuing, I would get either a 240sx and do an sr20det, sr20ve, rb20, rb25det, or rb26dett

or if you'd like something more pimp than a 240sx, get a 300zx. The non-turbo's can be found for like 2 grand. Then just buy a JDM vg30dett swap for $2000, and you're good. you can even pay a shop a grand (thats an expensive labor rate) and you'd still only be at 5k grand total for a 300zx without HICAS (a lot of people don't like the all wheel steering, and disable it) and with very low miles (jdm motor)

this is what I would do if I didn't have my 240z

[Widebody325]

I used to own a 93 Mr2 Turbo before I got into e30s. I liked the car alot looks wise, the interior was beautiful and felt like you were in a fighter jet, but it was a bitch to control if it got sideways, very unpredictable cars. And it liked to burn a little oil, but thats cause the seals in the turbo were going. I wound up selling it for about 8 grand. Heres a side shot of it in case anyone cares. And yes, they have an enormous following, you can get any part under the sun, and most are relatively cheap.

[Rosica]

Re: Any Exp w 95-99 DSM or MR2...not the gay new ones

So Im looking at that and 95+ DSM's all wheel drive.

95+ GS-X's can be fast for cheap, but lots of stuff breaks, and the dont handle for shit.

[Rob]

crank walk sucks

[Charlie]

I like the various MR2 cars, all three generations of them. I probably wouldn't turn down a nice shape MkI car if I were to find it.

That being said, if you're looking for a MKII, I wouldn't rule out the NA models. They're gonna be cheaper, and it's less likely you'll find one that been run ragged. They definetly have twitchy handling (which I love), but that can be dialed out with a proper shock & swaybar setup.

I dunno why everyone rags on the MKIII MR-spyders, yea, they're only 140 hp, but they're >2100 pounds, and raw as hell. I was playing around with a 2003 model, and loved it. I want to try out a 2004, with the limited slip.

DSM's are cheap to mod, but a mid 12's DSM is about as reliable as a high 8 second mustang.

-Charlie

[PatNy]

kinda hard decision....if it were me i would find a 1g talon tsi or eclipse gsx.....ultimate sleepers and there engines dont suck like the other generations.....the mr2 is a great car but i would shit my pants diping on the parkway or LIE knowing that there isnt an engine to protect me if i hit anything....if i were u i would look into some rx-7's theres a first generation over by my house its sick rthe car has idiculous power....also an 240sx would be sick to id keep it down to these three:

1g talon or eclipse tsi/ gsx
rx7- cant find a 3rd generation for cheap tho
240sx with a sr20det or a skyline engine which could be purchased pretty cheap

[Avus_325is]

My buddy bought a 93 MR2 for $200 with a cracked block. Put about 3grand into it including JDM turbo motor, stand alone, exhaust, and other little tid bits. That car is without a doubt one of the best bang for the buck cars i've ever driven.

I want to auto X it once, cuz I met a guy in the DC area that tracks and auto X's his and he said he doesn't ever want another car.

The snap oversteer problem is something to worry about though. Check out this video.

http://www.llamaparty.com/stuff/mr2crash.mpg

[MattE30]

The link doesn't work, but I've seen that video before. It's on racingflix.com if anyone is interested. This tool launches his MR2, hits peak hp, the back end starts to whip out, but being an idiot, he slams the brakes, flies over a hill and rear ends a parked jetta. The dude in the jetta freaks out, fuck you, fucking idiot, etc... Good stuff.