Okay now I realize that when all is said and done, it's my decision if I wanna go with this car or not and I know a lot of people tend to give that advice so I'm clearing up right now that I do know that (not that it's not good advice).
Here are the conditions I'm working with....
I am 17, soon to be 18. The 91-95 mr2's are without a doubt in my mind, my favorite cars ever manufactured. When I was younger I was absolutely obsessing over them and planned to get one as my first car but that didn't work out at all because I realized they were a little more expensive than I thought and insurance was a bit pricey as well. I also realize that these cars drive nothing like the FF cars im used to driving.
This is my final year of high school and I decided I want to get an mr2 to work on while I'm in college. This would mean I would be working on it (on and off) for 6 years. My plan was to buy a cheap somehow damaged mr2 during the summer of 2008. I will have arrangements made on where I'll keep it depending on which college i choose to go to. I was thinking if I could get an mr2 with a blown engine for around 1500-2000, I would be in good shape. I have plans on eventually upgrading/restoring just about everything anyways.
My question is, is this really something I should do? Is it okay for someone in my situation to carry on such a long project? Will it just end up being unneccesarily expensive? I want to keep my TOTAL budget around $15,000 and at that price I basically hope to have a mint mr2 that will last me a LONG time. This will probably be the one and only car I ever really pour any money into and if I do it with just one car in my lifetime before becoming a mature adult (if that every happens), I want it to be the mr2.
edit: my alternative choice is an all-trac toyota celica but....not if an mr2 is still a valid option
Okay now I realize that when all is said and done, it's my decision if I wanna go with this car or not and I know a lot of people tend to give that advice so I'm clearing up right now that I do know that (not that it's not good advice).
Here are the conditions I'm working with....
I am 17, soon to be 18. The 91-95 mr2's are without a doubt in my mind, my favorite cars ever manufactured. When I was younger I was absolutely obsessing over them and planned to get one as my first car but that didn't work out at all because I realized they were a little more expensive than I thought and insurance was a bit pricey as well. I also realize that these cars drive nothing like the FF cars im used to driving.
This is my final year of high school and I decided I want to get an mr2 to work on while I'm in college. This would mean I would be working on it (on and off) for 6 years. My plan was to buy a cheap somehow damaged mr2 during the summer of 2008. I will have arrangements made on where I'll keep it depending on which college i choose to go to. I was thinking if I could get an mr2 with a blown engine for around 1500-2000, I would be in good shape. I have plans on eventually upgrading/restoring just about everything anyways.
My question is, is this really something I should do? Is it okay for someone in my situation to carry on such a long project? Will it just end up being unneccesarily expensive? I want to keep my TOTAL budget around $15,000 and at that price I basically hope to have a mint mr2 that will last me a LONG time. This will probably be the one and only car I ever really pour any money into and if I do it with just one car in my lifetime before becoming a mature adult (if that every happens), I want it to be the mr2.
edit: my alternative choice is an all-trac toyota celica but....not if an mr2 is still a valid option
I think that storage space for the car will be your most difficult hurdle. I did somthing like that durring my college years, but used my daily driver. I bought a used Japanese engine and built it, then did a swap. It was a pretty simple process but not without glitches. I also completed all the mechanical work in one summer after my freshman year, body work the following summer. Keep in mind, that there are many other things that can easily get in the way. A GF would be the biggest. It sounds like you have a pretty good start on your plan. I say go for it.
I agree with Rapid Roy, if you dont mind doing the labor and have the knowhow, it would be decently cheap to do. Mind storage, budget, gf's, party's, availability of parts, weather, access to the right tools/equipment, etc.
so far on my swap (from N/A to turbo) i have spent just under 3k for (engine, ecu, harness, rear axle and joints, intercooler, MAF) if there was no labor, 3k+cost of car = cheap mr2 with only 40k miles on it but im spending another 1200 in labor and there is still a long road to go down yet. 1200 would have bought me a lot more parts so if you goal is 15k with no labor costs you would have one AMAZING 2.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quandry
...Turbo's have vaccum too, it's just not the fun part of the gauge
You can build a pretty insane MR2 for $15k if you plan everything out right.... I'd recommend starting small and building it up. It's always nice to learn the car when it is NA too. Girlfriends are overrated.... if they complain about you and your hobbies.... kick them to the curb.
save about 5k for your insurance......lol...since you're only 18...what about a winter beater...i'm pretty sure it snows in philly....
Yeah I don't think I was clear about that. I pretty much don't plan on driving it at all for awhile. Like until it's fully finished with any engine/chassis work. Even then I wouldn't be driving it too much right then. As for a daily driver, my top college choices are in the city and I won't even really need a car to get around. I realize that sounds stupid and most of you are thinkin "if you don't need a car...why are you getting one?". I am an mr2 enthusiast my friend. I'm way too impatient to get out of school and get one then.
edit: I didn't even fully answer your question mrqturbo. I won't be getting insurance until i start driving it which will be a few years as I said.
You don't have to explain your obsession to anyone on this board. We've all been there. If you find one for 1 or 2 thousand and put the other 13k into it, that would be one badass car.
You sound like you've got your head on straight and you have the patience to do it, so go for it. Good luck, you will definately feel like the work was worth it when you're done.
Rapidboy-Yeah I could see the storage being a problem. If I go to school in philly I might be able to keep it at my cousins house who goes to school there as well. If I go to boston, I'll be able to keep the car at my friends house that lives about 40 minutes away by train. Of course either of these options could easily fall through and I'd have that hurdle to get over again.
The interior is usually one of the later things to do. You should probably get the chassis/body cleaned up first. How and where you get the interior parts to complete your car depends on how you are goint to finish it. If you are going to go with a custom/show interior, then get pieces off ebay and from local salvage yards or people parting out. It you are going to try and keep the interior stock, you should seriously consided buying a donor car with a complete interior. Much cheaper that way.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
ToyotaNation.com is an independent Toyota/Lexus enthusiast website. ToyotaNation.com is not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. The Toyota, Lexus and Scion names and logos are trademarks owned by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
Forum for every generation Toyota MR2. Including the AW11 and SW20.
and there is still a long road to go down yet. 1200 would have bought me a lot more parts 
My dream of owning an mr2 is coming true. I'm not ever selling this car.
Linear Mode
