Need advice on whether to buy turbo or NA

[timbo59]

Hi there,
I'm new to the forum, so please bear with me if I'm repeating old stuff - I did look around and couldn't quite find the answers I needed.

I'm coming at the MR2 in a roundabout way. I've owned an old Fiat X 1/9 for some years which I initially wanted to replace, but it's getting harder and harder to find them these days in decent enough shape - they might not have all the bells and whistles of later cars, but they were, and still are, very agile and lightweight little beasts that can really scoot along with a few mods to the engine - and they were an extremely influential design, as evidenced by the first MR2. That's what actually led me to look at the MR2 as an alternative, though my inclination is to the Mark II version - gotta love those lines!

What little I've managed to learn so far from reading posts on this forum is that the 93 version and on is a bit more preferable to the earlier versions of the mark II, which is all well and good and something I've taken on board.

My main concern though is whether to go with an NA version or try for a turbo, and the fact I’m trying to stick within a budget of $6,000 has a big part to play in that decision. For that kind of outlay I think I could pick up a decent NA with change over to do a few mods to the engine for a bit of performance boost. On the other hand I think I’d be stretching it to find an early 90’s turbo version in good enough condition for $6,000, one that wouldn’t immediately start eating up money in repairs. I’ve noted in a number of posts here that a lot of turbo owners state that the cars eat up a fair bit of money in maintenance, whereas the NA’s just keep on keeping on with little trouble at all.

I’m not a performance hound, looking to burn off all and sundry, I’d just like to have a decent model of the car with enough tweaks to make it a satisfying drive on the highway or on a nice twisting mountain road. Not a car to set 0 – 100 records in, but one with enough of a snarl to make a difference when I want or need it. I figure a modified NA should be sufficient, though I’m more than happy to hear what others on this forum have to say about the matter – that’s why I’m asking!

I’d also be interested to know what kind of basic mods people make to NA engines without going too overboard? Standard stuff on the X 1/9 is to mill the head slightly to increase compression, adding a mildly hotter cam, advancing the timing, changing the stock Bosch FI for a megasquirt system, headers, and so on – a lot of the standard stuff that gets done to a lot of NA engines around the place. So within a $1,000 - $2,000, what do you guys do to NA engines on a MR2?

As for buying one, any standard problems to look for – rust, transmission, etc?

With all this said and done I should point out that I am running slightly contrary to all of the above in that I’m currently looking long distance at a 91 turbo version that may have possibilities simply because it may represent an opportunity within my budget restraints to buy a turbo in excellent shape mechanically . Asking price is $6,000 negotiable, on a car that’s had over 10K spent on it in the last couple of years to not only replace the engine and turbo but have it converted to manual transmission – receipts have been provided for all the work. Only problem is that the car isn’t currently running because it needs a new electrical harness, and I’m a bit leery of shelling out a pile of money on the say so of someone who states they’ve been assured by a mechanic that the harness is all the car needs to run smoothly again! What are people’s experience with the MR2 and problems related to this harness?

Sorry to introduce myself with such a long-winded piece, but I really need all the advice I can get at the moment.

Looking forward to the replies, and thanks in advance.

[moogleX]

im not the person to talk to about that specific 2 your looking at, but in my opinion, just look for a used turbo thats still stock. stock that are amazing and when you want more, its easy to get more from them with little money at first. you should be able to pick up a running mr2 for 5-6k and then just do some maint. keep in mind the car IS 17 years old or so, so there are a lot of things that will be to be done including a lot of small bs things. but you will not be disopointed. NA wont be much cheaper, and you cant draw as much from the car without spending a decent amount of money in mods. not to mention very limited supoort of aftermarket parts.

as far as the pre or post 93 problem, it depends on your driving skill, and how you drive. lil' vid shows exacty whats in question, how it happens, and what to do if it does.
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/6...13001d1912.htm
it used to be on youtube, took me forever to find it ><

[moogleX]

double post :p

[MR2Jedi]

1st of all, Welcome to TN
As with all used cars-especially one thats gonna be 12 to 16 years old- you're more than likely gonna have to make some repairs down the line.
The turbo models are a kick to drive. The US models come 200hp/200lbs TQ with 160/rwhp.
The US N/A are 140hp. They have more of an economy engine which are very durable and dependable with good gas mileage. But don't have much aftermarket high performance support. As where the turbo models have tons of performance parts and support out there.
I get the feeling from your post that maybe the N/A is for you. The price would be right and would still be fun for you to drive . Not to mention it's killer looks. I thought the X19 were cool cars. especially for that time.

[timbo59]

Thanks for the replies so far.

A bit dissapointing to read that there's little support for modding the NA engines, though I can perhaps understand it when one considers what's available in the turbo model. Still, are you saying that there's NOTHING on the aftermarket shelf that you can toss onto or into the NA engine, or any basic mods that could add another 20 - 30 HP to the car? Does the turbo version simply put people off even trying to hot up the NA motor?

I guess I'm also a bit nervous of the turbo as I have no experience whatsoever with them in the workshop, and I really want a car that I can work on and maintain myself if I can.

Thanks again for the posts.

[MRtuned]

a turbo car is generally fairly easy to extract more power out of. basic bolt-ons on a gen 2 turbo mr2 can get you 230-250 hp pretty easily, which is one reason it is popular. It sounds like that turbo mr2 you're looking at was originally an N/A model, since you said it was converted to a manual. I don't believe the turbo model was ever offered with an automatic transmissioni. Maybe look into the turbo model a little bit and see if thats more of what you are looking for, or if you don't want that the N/A is a decent choice. Here's a good resource:


http://www.mrcontrols.com/primers/power.htm

[timbo59]

Hi again,
Yes, I've actually seen that piece when I was doing some research prior to my first post. Some of the material can certainly be applied to an NA engine, but if seems more specific to a turno-driven version.

The car I told you about definately is a conversion job, and is a either a very good deal (judging from the receipts I was sent) or a potential trap - if so much money has been spent, why not just spend the extra to buy the new harness and prove that the car is fully functional? I just figure you'd get the best amount of money that way, rather than have a pile of potential buyers either shying away or low-balling because of the uncertainty.

Don't get me wrong, a turbo would be nice, but I just figure for $6,000 max I may be buying into one with problems or one that needs work. I've seen a few in the 5K - 6K range that might present possibilities along those lines. But for 4K I could probably pick up a decent NA and spend the other 2K fixing it up a bit, you know?

[MRtuned]

true. I just have a strong view against buying modified vehicles. they have always been beaten on. I am planning on making an exception for an mr2 though. I want to get an N/A and strip it down and make it a turbo clone. That way I will learn a lot about the car while I'm doing it and I'll know every piece that has been put into that car. I am only doing this because I have what I believe to be sufficient experience and a good shop at my disposal.

[timbo59]

Well, you're a lucky man if you have that kind of access to a good shop - hard to come by these days.

Best of luck with the conversion job. I hope it all goes well for you. Wish I could be there to watch and learn - but unfortunately I live at the opposite end of the country!

[MRtuned]

Yea, thanks man. I'm really lucky, my dad just bought a lift and I have a cherry picker so I have all I need. I'll post a thread when I do it this summer.

[MR2Jedi]

Originally Posted by blackdelsol

I don't believe the turbo model was ever offered with a manual.

? Actually, I think it's the other way around. The turbo model was never offered with an auto trans. Or maybe you just type-'oed.

[MR2Jedi]

As far as making more power with the N/A, there are a few things you can do that are on the inexpensive side. Intake, header, free-er flowing muffler, lightened flywheel, performance clutch, lightened crank and alt. pulley's , port and polish head, and get the cams ground. I believe there is a company that makes a suprcharger for them too.

[MRtuned]

oh whoops, yea. I definitely meant never offered with an auto. thanks.

[MR2Jedi]

No prob.. I figured thats what you meant...

[timbo59]

Hi again,
Yeah, it had me confused for a second, but then I just figured it was a simple error - I'm looking at so many on Ebay/Autotrader/Craigslist, and only a handul of turbo's have been listed as automatics. Like this one (not that I'm considering it) -

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...1&cardist=7771

As for those suggestions on modding the NA, thanks MR2BAD. Not being familiar with the engine, or a real techie, I wasn't too sure what kind of basics could be applied to the NA engine, though I figured stuff like shaving the flywheel of some weight, porting/polishing, hand-balancing, etc would have to be of some benifit. Is the engine amenable to having the compression raised by head-milling?

I don't suppose you happen to know anyone on the forum who may have done some work on an Mark II NA engine? Though it was a different motor, I figured people had to have worked the Mark I's engine a bit more, right, because I believe the supercharged option didn't become available till late in that versions life?

I'm curious about the supercharger option you mentioned, though one would think that it would have to be a fairly cost-effective add-on in order to seem viable against the turbo option which is so readily available to begin with.

Thanks again