Which is your favorite MR2 generation?

[revac]

MKII is the best, I love my early '91 2.2. Absolutely gorgeous, structure like a tank (avoid the T-top), 2.2L motor is the only MR2 with any low end power. Better brakes and more roomy than MKI. 33 mpg at 75mph.
I have also had 2 MKI's in the past, an '85 and an '89 SC.
In response to Silver S2000: I would advise any one AGAINST buying an 88-89 MR2 Supercharged. I had one and hated the way the supercharger switches on and off. It has the throttle response of an oil tanker! Everytime you get into the throttle, even after every shift, there is a second or two lag as the blower switches on, the bypass closes, and boost builds. When the blower is off, you have a motor with no compression trying to breathe through a dinky, no plenum intake. Off boost power sucks! As for mod-ability, they can be flogged (reasonably) to about 200hp, but fuel economy goes downhill real quick. I sold mine for $1700 more than I paid for it.
On the good side, the drivetrain is much beefier than the NA, but keep in mind every drivetrain and engine part is different than the NA. The brakes on the '89SC are an inch bigger, too (hint for MKI NA users, the front brakes from an SC bolt right on!)

[Jay!]

Welcome, guys! :flash:

Originally posted by Yellow MR2
the mkii is the best looking... but the mkiiis is the lightest and fastest.. and in ur poll it says mkii 91-97 they actually were made through 99

Thanks; I fixed it. I forgot to check when they stopped in Japan.

revac, thanks for the input! The market for the MKI S/C in California is still pretty inflated, so I was already thinking of just getting an N/A model. You're helping me justify that to myself.

It'll still be more fun to drive than what I've got now, and will be worth about the same. So, if I do it right, I could switch with no out-of-pocket costs. But, I've seen decent ones around for about $3K, so it might be wise to keep my other car too...just in case... hmmmm....

[revac]

S2000: Well, that's just my opinion on the MKI SC. I'm just a stickler for crisp throttle response and power delivery. The guy I sold mine to just loved it. He put a 10 psi pulley on it and did a bunch of juvenile add-ons, so it was in worse shape last time I saw it. I also had a wrecked 88 SC which has been fully parted out. That car was worth quite a bit when you sell it part by part!
Next year I will work on my '91. I'll make a set of headers for it and put some kind of aftermarket fuel injection controller on it, like an Accel DFI. I feel the stock computer is a bit slow to react off the bottom, probably due to emission control programming.
In the future, I hope to come up with a supercharger set up using an Eaton M62 from a late 80's T-bird SC (these can be picked up on ebay for around $300), and a stock MKII Turbo intercooler.
It's great to see a forum for MR2's on the net. The other two forums I use is the Corral.net for late mustangs (lots of traffic), and hybridz.org for alternate-powered Datsun Z's

[redvalkrie]

ITS all about THE second Generation MR2!

All I have to say is the designers most of been passing around the crack pipe on this one!

[rtryrktrx7]

I think I'd prefer the MKII(turbo only). My buddy had two 88SC, and they were a blast. Just like a go cart. I would rank them 2nd then the spider thing. I agree with the SC lag, but they were fun none the less. Especially fro their time. My buddy had his right at 200hp also. (his last one that is) He wrecked his first before he could do anything to it. He actually bought the 2nd one from a guy who raced professionally. It was Bad A$$. Suspension, Pullies, Intake, Exhaust, etc. It looked very clean though. Everytime we'd race and beat some one he'd roll his window down and point at the SCed logo. It was quite funny. Anyway, I'd pick one of those way before I'd throw my money away on a MR-spider thing.

[entiZ]

Originally posted by redvalkrie
ITS all about THE second Generation MR2!

All I have to say is the designers most of been passing around the crack pipe on this one!

I guess the guys a lotus hit the crack pipe quite often then. (:


Also, the spyder may not have the power plant of the turbo models but it still is the fastest out of all the N/A mr2s. I've seen a spyder LEAVE a MKII N/A like it was standing still. Their quite a few MKIIIs that are turbocharged now and Blitz even has their own Twin Turbo Spyder. And you also have to remember it's not all about power, take one of those cars on some twisties and you'll know what i mean. That thing STICKS to the ground. The suspension is great, the car is light, and it's a convertable. Granted it's not going to make the best drag car, but it's one HELLA fun car to drive around.

entiZ - defender of the 2!

[TwoSeatTerror]

MKII is definetly the best generation, not just because of looks, but also potential.
:frog:

[entiZ]

yes i agree mkii all the way..

:flamer: :smoker: :smoker2: :bandit: :smoka:

[dejoux]

Toss up between the Mark I and the Mark II. I hate the mark III because it doesnt have a clutch, with one it could have been a good car but without it I wouldnt even consider buying one.

I like the styling of the I and the II, I is more original but like moppie said dated. I like the weight of the I and im not really into turbos so the Mark II is a slow option. I actually considered buying a Mark II awhile ago.

Ill choose Mark II

[MR Yasir]

Originally posted by Yellow MR2
the mkii is the best looking... but the mkiiis is the lightest and fastest.. and in ur poll it says mkii 91-97 they actually were made through 99

sorry buddy, the mk3 is the lightest but the mk2 is the fastest. 99 MK2s were running 0-60 in about 5.2 and the 1/4 in mid 13's in stock form. The mk3 runs 0-60 in 7 some seconds and the 1/4 in 15 or 16 seconds.

I love the MK2 but the mk1 would be nice for autocross and for just throwing around. The body is really nice and it's very agile.

[Chris]

For me, its the Mk. I Why? Because I can afford it. And its lighter. I am looking for an 88-89 SC. I would really like to get a new pulley for the SC, as it would fix revac 's problem. Also, it means that the blower wasnt on, preserving the internals of the engine. And a little more boost, and new suspension (mags said it got crappy for the SC), exhaust, less weight, intake, chip, and bang! A 5 second car! Wheee!

[revac]

Chris, About your planned mods to your future MKI SC: Are you talking about the aftermarket blower crank pulley that is a little bigger in dia. than the stock? If so, all that does is up the boost a few psi. It's certainly a help, but does not cure the lag problem. The guy I sold my '89SC to did this and it have him a noticable boost in power, but his milage went to crap. Maybe he didn't do the reqired engine control mods correctly (it's something like rerouting a vacuum control line), I don't know.
What would be slick is to come up with a system like the '89 T-bird SC has. That blower (a 62cuin Eaton) runs all the time and the air is bypassed around the blower with a valve at low engine loads. I know a guy who has one (with around 200k mi, no less!) and the boost comes on nice and linear with no lag. Maybe you can leave the blower clutch on and have it switch off only at idle and when the cruise control is on (light load).

[Chris]

Or you could find the wire that sends the signal to the blower clutch to activate it, and cut it. Hook one end up to the power supply, and run it through a switch in the console. This would bypass the computers desire to keep it off, and I could put it on at will. That could work (and should be cheap/relatively simple)

What do you think?

[MR Yasir]

Originally posted by dejoux
...I hate the mark III because it doesnt have a clutch, with one it could have been a good car but without it I wouldnt even consider buying one....

The MK3 only comes with a 5 speed thereby making a clutch the only option.

[Moppie]

Originally posted by MR Yasir


The MK3 only comes with a 5 speed thereby making a clutch the only option.

By MK3 he Dejox means the new MRS/MR2 with the automatic clutch.

Down here what you call a MK3 is called a MK2 face lift, since underneath it's all the same car with only some minnor suspension changes, and a slight restyle.