new to the mr2s...

im planning on getting a new car and i was thinkin about gettin an mkII mr2 but around my house i can only get an n/a with lots of miles on it... i want a turbo car and i love the mr2 style... first i wanted to know how hard it is to work with an mr2... my main car knowledge surrounds hondas... also it seems like they are not very tuner friendly... how hard and how much money would i expect to put into an mrII to swap in a good engine (and is it hard to find a good engine thats a basic swap for an mr2) with a good turbo and make it run 11-12s 1/4miles... i know i would have a lot of research to do but im curious about these things to know if its worth learning about... thanks for any imput

jekyl, this one's for you


engine swaps aren't easy though

im planning on getting a new car and i was thinkin about gettin an mkII mr2 but around my house i can only get an n/a with lots of miles on it... i want a turbo car and i love the mr2 style... first i wanted to know how hard it is to work with an mr2... my main car knowledge surrounds hondas... also it seems like they are not very tuner friendly... how hard and how much money would i expect to put into an mrII to swap in a good engine (and is it hard to find a good engine thats a basic swap for an mr2) with a good turbo and make it run 11-12s 1/4miles... i know i would have a lot of research to do but im curious about these things to know if its worth learning about... thanks for any imput

Not tuner friendly? The turbo 2s (3sgte motor) are extremely tuner-friendly. You may get a sore back though, leaning over than rear engine compartment all the time :D

If you go the easy route and buy a turbo mr2, that's awesome. There are so many awesome ways to unlock it's huge hp potential... www.MR2OC.com

If you take the hard route... (buying an NA for cheap, and swapping) expect to pay 1500-2500 for a rear clip. Labor is a toss up. Expect a little over a 1000 from a shop. The jdm 3sgte is tough to use daily if your area has 91 octane premium... 93 though, and you're set.

But yes, Jekyl is the man to talk to if you want low quarter mile times.

As I have said on occassion onthe MR2 board:
Dating a brunette that dyes here hair is not the same thing as dating a blonde.
If you want a turbo MR2, buy a turbo MR2.

Many people have done the "swap", but the only reason I could see doing this is if you already own a NA MR2 and are abolsutley in love with it and can't part with it ... other wise, just buy the turbo MR2 to start with ;)

As for low ETs, there is a lot of potential in the MR2. The mid-engine RWD layout can be a monster of the line if the time is taken to truly learn how to launch it.

Hey Jeff, What If You Own A Turbo And Want A Bigger Turbo And Beams?

I'm not sure how that relates to the question?

If you want the Beams engine you have to do a swap regardless ... adding a turbo doesn't change that.

he lives in new zealand... did they sell the mr2 all the way up to 1999 there? if they did then he could get at 1998 or 1999 stock beams mr2... and then stick a turbo on... i havent really heard much about any turbo red tops though

I Wasn't In Nz Back Then. The New Car Scene Here Sucks, Mostly It's Jap Imports, So Jap Spec Everything. However, Yes I Could Get A Red Top Mr2, But As There Are Under 1000 Of Them It's A Lot Easier For Me To Get A Black Top Altezza Engine Cause They Are A Dime A Dozen, Thats What I Intend Doing Anyway, Altezza Engine And Gt30r Turbo... Trying To Work Out If An Apexi Power Fc Will Run It.

The Only Turbo Red Top I Klnow Of Was In The Wrc Corolla...