mr2 as first car

[asix]

Well im 23 and by the time i pass my test im going to be 24.. i was thinking of getting a mk1 mr2 as my first car. insurance about £1100 sterling and a fairly mint 1989 version about £1500 sterling... thaught on the mk 1 please.

[Moppie]

A non-Supercharged MK1 would be sweet.

Although in all honesty I would recomend a Corrola or a Civic (or similar) as a great first car.

Howver since your my age and only just gettting your licence I can imagine you want something a little more exciting.

A MK1 MR2 will be starting to have little things go wrong about now, so I would expect to pay maybe another 500 poounds a year on repairs. Doing things like Brakes, Timeing belt, water pump, shocks, suspension bushs etc.

As for driving they are totaly impracticle, and as a Two seater you will never have to worry about being the driver on a saterday night.
They are a good handleing car, and altough they are prone to swapping ends very quickly if driven to fast into a corner, the non-Supercharged cars don't really have enough HP to get you into trouble unless your doing something really really stupid.
The Brakes are amazing, and stopping distance is on par with a Porshe 911 from the early 80s.


Things to look for: RUST! check everywhere, one its in the car is dead.
Otherwise they suffer from Toyota reliablity, and the engine g/box is all pretty bulletproof. A well maintained one should literaly last for ever.
While one thats been mis treated will still go, but might run like a bit of a dog.

The only thing I dont recomend is getting one if you plan on doing a lot of mechanical work on it yourself. Having done a lot of work on one they are real bitch to fix. The engine bay is tiny, and most of the access is from underneath. Great if you have a hoist in your garage, but not fun when you have to lay under the car while its on axle stands.