Newb here! Hi, I need your knowledge..

[Dark_Blitz]

Hey guys, I'm pretty new here and in the Toyota world. I'm thinking about purchasing an MR2 as my very first project (mid-engine/RWD are the main reasons). Now this will be the very first time I actually work on a car. i.e. I intend to rebuild the engine and learn as much as I can, etc.. I wanted to know, how hard is it to work on an MR2 considering it's mid-engined? In other words, can any newb with lots of time and reasearch pull it off?
Then, I'd like to know which gen is better than the other. I think the MK1 are lighter by 100-200 kgs than MK2, no? Also if either one has a better transmission, engine, potential, etc.. than the other.

Thanks guys!
If all goes well, I'll prolly be posting a lot more here.

[Piddy]

What are you planning on doing with the car??? The MKI and MKIII have great handling capabilities and are lightweight. The MKII handles great too.... but it's a bit heavier. The trade off is that you have a lot more power potential with the 3SGTE.

They aren't that hard to work on. Popping off the engine lid and side panels makes life a bit easier. Some of the big things are bit easier to do if you drop the engine. If you take care of everything when you do your rebuild.... you shouldn't have to worry about it for a long time though .

Good luck with your search for an MR2.

[Dark_Blitz]

I was planning on using it for summer.. and try tracking it later on. Roughly 8 months of DD a year because of winter here. I'm looking for a car that really handles well but at the same time has good power. Considering it's a 4 cyl. I don't expect so much highway power, even though I'd like some. Is looking into the 200-250 hp range too much? Lets say I'm budget limited.
I've got a few questions too about how high the engine revs at street and highway speeds. 60mph is equal to 3K rpm in 5th gear I assume?
I've heard of the 3SGTE swap into the MK1 but that might be a bit expensive. Aside from the turbo models and V6 swaps, what are the other possibilites of having it around the hps/tq I want?

[MR2Jedi]

The 2nd gen turbo's are 200hp/200ft.lb.tq stock.... getting into the 250hp range is quite easy. and inexpensive.

[Dark_Blitz]

Yeah but I was thinking more 250hp in the NA section. I know to yield bigger power turbo is the way to go but it's costier in maintenance and not quite as reliable. Beside, spool time might get to me after a while.. I prefer SC over turbo. Although I'm not ruling out the turbo, I'd rather get more possibilities in the NA or SC dept.

MR2BAD: From what I've read, you can easily get extra power by moving the boost from 12 psi(stock) to somewhere around 15, right? I'd like to check what I've heard. What's the reliabilty when running that kind of boost?

[MR2Jedi]

You can up the boost to 15-16 psi with a boost controller while leaving the engine virtually stock very dependably. Lots of guys are running 300+ hp reliably.
There's not alot of aftermarket performance support for the N/A, making modifiying that engine (5sfe)costly.So if you're on a tight budget, that would not be the best way to go.

[Piddy]

Modding a 5SFE is not worth it. It just isn't a good platform. There are a lot of turbo options available these days with minimal lag. You be hitting power before any modern day valve timing system would.... I'll tell ya that much. Everyone is so quick to jump on turbos being laggy.... while not realizing that most new 4cyl's aren't making their primary power potential until well over 5,000rpms. If you have a problem with turbo lag... you've done something horribly wrong to your car. Any correctly modded car (proper size turbo, appropriate VE mods, appropriate supporting mods) will not have "turbo lag".

[Dark_Blitz]

Thanks guys. I guess I'll have to consider the turbo option a lot more. Reliability and maintenance is more of an issue to me than spool time to say the truth. Just turbo going at it when you're in a curve.. well, you know. What about reliability? I've never owned a Toyota nor anyone in my family so I have no idea whatsoever.. Also turbo is usually less reliable than NA or SC...

Anyway, keeping all that in mind, I've been looking at the MR2 prices. What should I expect to pay for one with a good body? In Canada or most northern amercain states as prices here can be quite high..

[ModifierMR]

MK1.5 = the ultamite

[Piddy]

Originally Posted by Dark_Blitz

Thanks guys. I guess I'll have to consider the turbo option a lot more. Reliability and maintenance is more of an issue to me than spool time to say the truth. Just turbo going at it when you're in a curve.. well, you know. What about reliability? I've never owned a Toyota nor anyone in my family so I have no idea whatsoever.. Also turbo is usually less reliable than NA or SC...

Anyway, keeping all that in mind, I've been looking at the MR2 prices. What should I expect to pay for one with a good body? In Canada or most northern amercain states as prices here can be quite high..

Toyota is known for it's reliability.... the 3SGTE is no different. Turbocharged engines are just as reliable as any other engine. I don't even own a car that isn't turbocharged.

Originally Posted by ModifierMR

MK1.5 = the ultamite

Naaaa.... you MKI guys will never be able to touch our superior styling and wide selection of awesome wheels. You're welcome for the engine by the way.... haha.

Light? Yea. Nimble? Sure. Able to squeeze an 18x11 with 265's in the back of your stock bodied car.... I don't think so....

[Dark_Blitz]

All right, I'll keep up with the rest of my research on my end.

Can someone just tell me how much I should expect to pay for a body? (both gen) Either in Canada or the northern states close to Quebec/Ontario?
Or decent prices for a full car? N/A MK1 no more than 2K? Just for general heads up.

Thanks to all!

[Piddy]

Originally Posted by Dark_Blitz

All right, I'll keep up with the rest of my research on my end.

Can someone just tell me how much I should expect to pay for a body? (both gen) Either in Canada or the northern states close to Quebec/Ontario?
Or decent prices for a full car? N/A MK1 no more than 2K? Just for general heads up.

Thanks to all!

You should be able to pickup an MKI for less than $1k. My last MKI I paid $300 for. It was in great condition with 70k original miles on it.... just needed a fuel pump.... but that's California for ya.

[Dark_Blitz]

Originally Posted by ishcoleobo

You should be able to pickup an MKI for less than $1k. My last MKI I paid $300 for. It was in great condition with 70k original miles on it.... just needed a fuel pump.... but that's California for ya.

Woah! That's it? seen one here in decent shape and it sold for 5K.. wth?
Cali's a bit of a stretch though. Wouldn't feel comfortable doing a 3K mile ride back to Canada with a car I know nothing about.

Thanks man, I'll start looking in the states then.. Hopefully they have a good deal like that in Burlington or Plattsburg. I wish.

[Piddy]

Originally Posted by Dark_Blitz

Woah! That's it? seen one here in decent shape and it sold for 5K.. wth?
Cali's a bit of a stretch though. Wouldn't feel comfortable doing a 3K mile ride back to Canada with a car I know nothing about.

Thanks man, I'll start looking in the states then.. Hopefully they have a good deal like that in Burlington or Plattsburg. I wish.

Yea.... we get all the good deals down here. Prices on MR2's in Canada are quite high. My friend picked up a '89 SC with 90k miles on it for $800.... flipped it for ~$5k. You can come by decent MKI's for under $500 all day long out here.

[Dark_Blitz]

Originally Posted by ishcoleobo

Yea.... we get all the good deals down here. Prices on MR2's in Canada are quite high. My friend picked up a '89 SC with 90k miles on it for $800.... flipped it for ~$5k. You can come by decent MKI's for under $500 all day long out here.

That's plain crazy.. I guess you or your friend wouldn't happen to know a good shipping company from Cali to Quebec, right?