Old Turbo vs old N/A; what would you buy?

[Racer7]

Hola,

Given my recent unsucessful attempts at finding a nice and cheap (I know; they seldom go together) N/A, I've been thinking about getting something dirt cheap. Circa £800.

With that in mind would you get a Tubby or N/A?

Now I know I'm probably going to get cussed out for suggesting that but I doubt I'd put much into it other than time and try and use it as a 'real-life' learning for how to maintain, care and understand the mechanics of an MR2. Well thats my rationale.

I'll be spending my hard earned on a proper GT turbo when the right one comes along. In the mean time. I thought it could be an education.

Opinions?!

[Racer7]

Like this for example:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1383641.htm

I'm sure its an IMOCers car - so can't be too shabby???

[HighwayStar]

Not a bad idea but I can see no reason to get a tubby other than getting to know the mechanicals but an n/a will share pretty much all but the engine. Cheaper to buy, to insure and to run as well.

R.

[brgbrm]

It sounds a nice idea in theory, but at that price you could end up with a very painful education , it's very irritating (I am thinking of my campervan here, rather than the 2s) drip-feeding cash into 'cheap' vehicles that end up expensive.

Now I know I'm probably going to get cussed out for suggesting that but I doubt I'd put much into it other than time and try and use it as a 'real-life' learning for how to maintain, care and understand the mechanics of an MR2. Well thats my rationale.

I'll be spending my hard earned on a proper GT turbo when the right one comes along. In the mean time. I thought it could be an education.

Opinions?!

[Racer7]

It sounds a nice idea in theory, but at that price you could end up with a very painful education , it's very irritating (I am thinking of my campervan here, rather than the 2s) drip-feeding cash into 'cheap' vehicles that end up expensive.

Hi,

This is what my concern is. From what I understand turbos have a lot more that can and does go wrong - if this is not correct then someone please correct me.

I'd hate to be in that dripfeed situation where you then get in the damned if you do, damned if you don't situation of selling on to reduce the outlay.

I know there are dog MR2s on ebay etc especially at that price point but I'm equally thinking why spend £2k on a car that I'll sell in a year and probably only make half back.

Whilst there is no shortage of 2s for sale there definitely seems to be a shortage of 'nice' examples out there.

[ashley]

For what it's worth- for £800 I'd definately be looking at an NA. I reckon a tubby for that much is almost certainly going to require more cash to get it right...

Just my opinion though

[tranx]

I have just bought my first MR2 and it was a cheapy. At £650 for a 1993 N/A at 59K miles and FSH I got a bargain despite the rusty arch and keyed drivers door.

I have however had to get a new clutch fitted in the first month which it less of a bargain. However even with this I'm still well in credit vs buying a more expensive example.

Very happy with the car!

[Racer7]

I have just bought my first MR2 and it was a cheapy. At £650 for a 1993 N/A at 59K miles and FSH I got a bargain despite the rusty arch and keyed drivers door.

I have however had to get a new clutch fitted in the first month which it less of a bargain. However even with this I'm still well in credit vs buying a more expensive example.

Very happy with the car!

Wow! £650 and only 59k miles on the clock. Good going. Where'd you find that if you dont mind me asking. Also did you haggle down to get to that price?

I'm probably going to just stick with an N/A purely for costs and minimising the chance of something going wrong. As stated a tubby at £800 is probably got something wrong with it.

Though, never say never...

On a side note though - I knw 2s are good up to 150k miles or if really well maintained 200k miles!! But what is the general consesus? Look for 2 with under a 100 on the clock? 80k miles? or is 110k miles likely to be not that different?

[HighwayStar]

Wouldn't worry too much mate it's all to do with quality of maintenance. Mines coming up to 201,000 miles and drives and feels better than it ever has... but then that's with a lot of mods and updated parts The prob is for your money you'll probably end up with an old car with few parts refreshed or upgraded so anything might go.

[Si_Crewe]

For what it's worth- for £800 I'd definately be looking at an NA. I reckon a tubby for that much is almost certainly going to require more cash to get it right...

That'd be my advice too.

TBH, it's getting to the point where any n/a is only ever going to be worth a grand or so.

[Racer7]

Wouldn't worry too much mate it's all to do with quality of maintenance. Mines coming up to 201,000 miles and drives and feels better than it ever has... but then that's with a lot of mods and updated parts The prob is for your money you'll probably end up with an old car with few parts refreshed or upgraded so anything might go.

Hi,

Yours is the 2 i was referencing! I think your 2 is probs more a testament to an owner that takes a lot of care than just pure Toyota craftmanship.

I'd hazard a guess to say that half the cars probably arent as well maintained as how you maintain yours! And that is the bit that is a little bit worrying with 100k + milers.

The engine part of looking over a car is my main concern. THe other bits that are more visual I feel sort of okay with.

[Racer7]

For what it's worth- for £800 I'd definately be looking at an NA. I reckon a tubby for that much is almost certainly going to require more cash to get it right...

That'd be my advice too.

TBH, it's getting to the point where any n/a is only ever going to be worth a grand or so.

I did wonder about that. Theres a massive sliding scale for MR2s.

92s with 130k miles for £1300, 95s with 115k miles for £1500 and 97s with 80k miles for £1700! The later being the biggest slider going up to £5k!

With that much variation it's really hard to tell what the going rate is versus what someone trying flog a lemon or exploit a fan (us).

[Si_Crewe]

Depends how you look at it I guess?

I mean, the difference between a £500 car and a £1,000 car is gonna be pretty huge IMO.
A £500 MR2 is gonna be a shed whereas a £1,000 is probably going to be pretty decent.

Then look at the difference between a £1,500 car and a £2,000 car.
About the only difference will be a step-up in revision or maybe a UK car rather than an import.
None of which means anything for reliability. They'll both be pst the point where they start to need wheel bearings, bushes, clutches etc.
Either one is just as likely to let go IMO.

I reckon you can get all the n/a you'll ever need for between £800 and £1,500 these days.
Conversely, I'd probably expect to pay almost double that for a known-good tubby.

[tranx]

It was on autotrader the week before Christmas and as stated is a little cosmetically challenged! Payed full asking price of £650, couldn't bring myself to haggle that down any further. As I plan on doing the work myself I'll have a good condition low milage MR2 for around a grand.

As stated for £800 you could grab a decent N/A, any tubby in that price range will be a money pit.

In my case I have done the 60K mile service myself so I know the engine is now looked after and the car history and receipts show it had already had all 4 discs and pads replaced in the last year. The only thing left that could do with a replacement any time soon is the suspension but with the low milage thats not an issue yet.

In a higher milage model I'd be looking at:

Brakes
Suspension
Tyres
Cambelt service