[Mk2] [Turbo] Would you buy this...

[shabz]

I've seen an MR2 Rev3 Turbo that caught my eye...

Good bits :

- black
- 48,000 miles
- owner says it holds boost, no smoke, no white head gasket scum or anything like that
- claimed 300bhp...dunno how accurate that is, but he says its got a ceramic turbo
- LSD
- sounds like a genuine guy

Bad bits :

- only japanese history
- noise from rear brake at 10mph (says it could be just rust on discs, hopefully not a sticking caliper)
- only done 100 miles in 4 months (but been serviced)
- this is the bummer...recorded cat C...someone drove into the rear quarter but the repair job looks pretty good by the photos...whole rear end was reasprayed
- owner doesnt seem to know what the performance mods are
- lexus lights
- missing fog lights

but....its only £3350! (thats after some haggling)

would you buy it?? equivalent rev3s with similar mileage are around 4.5k

[ryan]

The Cat C stutus will really devalue the car, I think it a 'cost to repair uneconomical' category.
This will also be a major factor when you sell the car too; it puts people off.Also your insurance company may want to have the car inspected before they'll insure you...
I personally wouldn't bother

[Rev5GT]

IMO a bit much consideriong its cat C -

[2Crooky]

You can find a lot better than that for the money mate

[Martin F]

dont buy it...if you just hang on a week or two the right one will come along...cat c damage its just not worth it mate

[Leon.]

It would be worth it at the right price but yeh I think it should be even less than that.

[Draven]

I would say Cat C damage would be a no no... especially at that price..

[mattcambs]

I've seen an MR2 Rev3 Turbo that caught my eye...

Good bits :

- black
- 48,000 miles
- owner says it holds boost, no smoke, no white head gasket scum or anything like that
- claimed 300bhp...dunno how accurate that is, but he says its got a ceramic turbo
- LSD
- sounds like a genuine guy

Bad bits :

- only japanese history
- noise from rear brake at 10mph (says it could be just rust on discs, hopefully not a sticking caliper)
- only done 100 miles in 4 months (but been serviced)
- this is the bummer...recorded cat C...someone drove into the rear quarter but the repair job looks pretty good by the photos...whole rear end was reasprayed
- owner doesnt seem to know what the performance mods are
- lexus lights
- missing fog lights

but....its only £3350! (thats after some haggling)

would you buy it?? equivalent rev3s with similar mileage are around 4.5k

The standard turbo is ceramic on rev3s. 300bhp? I would only believe that if he had a dyno print out to prove it. To get to 300 requires several modifications that would include at least upgraded air intake, free-flowing exhaust (with decat ideally) and some form of boost upgrade (be it manual or electronically controlled). For reliable running at 300bhp an intercooler upgrade would be necessary really.

sounds like a genuine guy

Doesn't mean jack unfortunately, and it doesn't sound like he knows that much about the car.

Better to pay good money for a good car IMO. Why not wait until someone on here sells up. For example my mate (Whippett) has just bought Simmos modded rev2 for £3900 and, as a lot of people on here know, it's a great car.

[alexwainwright]

I wouldn't trust any power figures without dyno printouts and a list of decent mods. I'm also slightly sceptical of some dynos (especially after a dyno day with some friends recently, where my friend's alleged 275bhp Leon with numerous printouts from one company, only made 250bhp, whilst all standard cars got accurate readings, and mine was the same as it had been measured at previously)

And I certainly wouldn't want to be running 300bhp without an intercooler upgrade.
FWIW, my Rev3 makes 320bhp with decat, exhaust, ST205 chargecooler and Unichip, at 18psi. (Standard airbox too, don't believe the hype that an induction kit will increase horsepower, unless it's a very well designed cold air box type).

I'm also considering selling... but not for 3k unfortunately!!!