hi im new here and new to mr2's

[jaypropah]

hi i just got my account and i had some questions if you guys could help me out..
my car.. 91 eclipse gsx broke down on me so ive been looking into toyota mr2's..
cuz i really like the way mr2's look. and basically what i wanna do with the mr2's is make it look clean and nice, have it really reliable becuz i really really drive a lot, and just have enough power to beat ur average stock cars out there... like i aint trying to compete with the really hardcore people that spend a lot of time on their cars... just like ya know faster than average kind of thing so my questions are

What model of MR2 should i get ? the 2.2L ? or the Turbo?

Whats the best swap for reliabitilty/power ?

thanks for any help you guys can provide

-Jay

[91ghosttuner]

Welcome to the forum! MR2's are absolutely wonderful cars. If you get one you will love it to death I am sure! If you are trying to keep the car reliable but give it a good bit of power, (you said something about an engine swap) the 3S-GTE engine from Japan is an awesome way to go. It gives you over 200 horse power (turbo, not NA) not to mention the engine is considered to be extremely reliable. Another thing to get a little more power, you can always get a new exhaust, nothing crazy, but just free up the exhaust a little bit. New pulleys, and such always are a good way to go. Simple things that aren't screwing with the engine a whole lot, but practical things that you can see help the engine, rather than push it. But I would definately recommend the 2.0 liter turbo if you aren't doing an engine swap. Or find one that already has the 3S-GTE

[jaypropah]

thanks for the info ghosthunter!

do u happen to know places where I can get the swaps done? cuz I dont know that great deal about cars... I would want to learn how to swap... but most of my friends are into Civics/Integs... so i dont know if they would be able to help me. also i have plenty of time, i dont plan on doing anything big with my car till nxt year february/march/april... im still getting my funds together.

-Jay

[Zz_005_zZ]

All of the mr2's are reliable cars... the turbo being the best bang for the buck. Depending on your money situation, the turbo's will run u anywhere between 6-10,000.00
and the non-turbo 2.2 liters are just as or more reliable than the turbo model, and run anywhere around the 4- 6,000.00 mark. The turbo's came with 200 hp at the flywheel, as to where the non- turbo came with much less. I ran my N/A mr2 when I had it, and ran a 16.1 in the ¼ mile. So not too bad, but not all that fast. However I must stress that conversations about the car will end abruptly when asked if it is the turbo model or not. Doesn't matter what you do to it. It is really crappy.... but thats how people are. It's like having a ferrari thats automatic... just doesn't make sence to some people.But welcome aboard, and good luck on the hunt. PS.. The 80's mr2 comes supercharged in 88' so I would say to look there if u want that model. Feels like a rocketship inside with all controls at your beckon only a finger flip away. Good luck M8: Brian

[jaypropah]

oic.. so basically ur saying if i mod the 2.2L which is the 5sfe engine... it wouldnt respond very well..i think i read that on a diff forum.... hmm how much would a 3sge or 3sgte swap would cost ? with labor... if im unable to find a turbo model of the mr2... and how difficult or these swaps ? my budget is prolly around $10,000.. but im tryna spend as least as possible at one time... im basically evening out my money where i do one thing, then save up again, then do another... cuz i have school to pay for.... this is what i was planning

1)get the car
2)restore it, fixing dents, upholstery, sound system, etc.
3)swap the engine 3sge or 3sgte... ive always had a turbo car but i wanna have a NA
4)work on exterior (body kit, rimz, etc)

btw im just aiming for just enuf power, lookz, and reliablitly(#1 concern)

imma make this my project car

sorry if im asking questions that have been asked before or dumb questions.. i feel like a real newb.. but thanks for any information u can provide.

[Zz_005_zZ]

That is what the forum is for after all... for questions and answers.... No questions are dumb questions, nobody knows the answers until they find them out for themselves.
It would cost you quite a bit of money to do the swap... not so much for the engine tranny and harness, but the labor would be very intensive... You might look at around the 8-10,000.00 mark if u aren't doing it yourself.... I would say to just purchase the turbo model, and do the regular maintainance that should have been done by the previous owner.... put slight and small but effective mods into it, then worry about the body... I have heard of people spending alot of mula on their N/A cars, and unless they are 2.2 liter aftermarket turbo upgrades... it is kinda senceless..However u did say that u wanted a N/A car, and if thats what u want, there is nothing wrong with them... they are great cars... just hard to keep up with the turbo model.