welcome to IMOC.
The MR2 is a fairly unique car, its good looking and the turbo model offers stunning power per pound.I don't think anyone on here will disagree with that.
However, it would be a brave person who took one on as a first car.
There are 2 main reasons to consider: financial and driving characteristics.Financial
- most people have covered this, but the running costs on these (or most high performance cars) are high. A new rear tyre isn't £25 like on a Punto, but is £90 - and that's for a fairly cheap one. HT leads aren't £15 - they're £100. And so on. A lump sum will last for a bit, but what will you do when its gone? I take home a modest £2k a month, and I still have to budget carefully.Capabilities
- again, as people have pointed out, this is not an ideal first car. Studies like the one below have looked into how young drivers really "learn" to drive:http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/d ... 613879.pdf
with varying levels of sucess.
My first car was 34bhp, and I had quite a few close calls.
If I'd had one nearly 7 times as powerful, I would not be sitting here now.Please don't take this personally, I can recall older chaps all wagging their head saying how reckless those young drivers are
- and it annoyed the hell out of me, as I always thought I was "a good driver". But unfortunately any driving or road professionals such as the police will know of the huge casulties that arise when fast cars and young people get together. However, if drivers overcome the temptation to show off, but instead take real pride in their motor and their driving
(as I think you would) there's every chance your car will still be pristine in 5+ years.So, what to do?
An option already mooted is an n/a MR2
- say rev3 to get some of the upgrades the earlier cars didn't have. You'll have a lot of power, all of the looks, and less cost. The power delivery will be a bit more predictable than the turbo, and your by no means getting a 2nd rate version of the car.If you want something fast, fun and Japanese, how about the Corolla Gti, with the 4A-GE engine? Fwd cars tend to understear when pushed, which is easier to deal with than overstearing rwd cars as a general rule.
Unfortunately the UK insurance industry forces young drivers to either build up ncd on their parents policy, or by driving a banger
(often more unsafe than powerful cars I reckon).End of the day, aspirations like this are worth working for, and only you can make it happen.
Just enter into it with your eyes open. And don't get into large debt either.I wish I could have done the same at 17
- but you have got a lot of years left before you can no longer drive a 2 seater with pride (which is 39 by the way).Only joking there
- it's 49 really 
Ian
