Question about MKII and Spyder

[TRDGT]

I'm currently looking into a project car and wanted to find out a little more about what I'm looking at. If you were going to build a project car for 1/4 mi, track, show and just all around fun would you get the MKII turbo or the MR2 Spyder and why? Originally I thought the MKII Turbo was a no brainer until I found out how much of a pig it was. I like the looks of the Turbo better but at almost 2900lbs dry weight it's alot heavier than I expected it to be. With the Spyder running 2100-2200 lbs it seems like it might be a better base. BUT I don't know all of the shortcomings with each car. I know the MKII had some recalls and issues. Notorious for blown head gaskets and what not. But I don't know anything about the Spyder motor and how stout it is. Is it worth adding a turbo to it and what not. The only Toyota motor I know of that's bulletproof is the 2JZGTE which I had the pleasure of owning and destroying. Well my tuner did actually.

So in short, for a long term project car would it be better to go with the lighter Spyder or beefier Turbo based on upgradeability and cost efficiency? We all know the Supra was mod heaven for very little cost but how is the MR2?

Sorry for such a long post I appreciate any and all info on the matter. The other car I was looking into was the 240sx or Silvia. Heavily thinking about making a drift car or just like I described above. Amazingly larger than the MKII Turbo yet only weighs about 50 lbs more. I still can't believe how heavy that little of a car is. Any weight reduction secrets in that car aside from removing the pop ups?

[NiX]

wow, what a question.
Havent heard much about the 3SGTE blowing headgaskets more then any other turbo'ed car.
The only 2 recalls on the car in 91 was the airbag/steering wheel and an AC vavle.
The Mr2 is heavy, but the weight is mostly re-inforcements. In accidents they hold up amazingly well for their size! i do wish they were lighter too though, alot of people replace seats, carbon fiber trunk, engine lid, hood, ttops, seats, gut the interior of sound deading, and such. The steeringwheel is heavy. There is a website that lists all the weights of individual parts. Even the factory muffler is much heavier then aftermarket.

Spyder has a few aftermarket kits for it, and it turbo'ed made huge impressions on me, I've seen and sat in 2 now. (the Yellow Roja spyder, and Keith's Apexi widebody spyder) both fantastic cars, with 300 or so hp pushing its light body. Spyders stock are pretty tame but upgraded they are pretty awesome I think.

[TRDGT]

thanks for the info. I actually just got an offer from a friend so now I have some serious thinking to do. Should I get an MR2 Turbo or should I get a 93 Supra that needs a motor? Both about the same price.