Looking for toy roadster

[KR-S]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Is that MC8-R? If you read the specs only, MC8-R is "ultimate" MR2. V8 twin turbo, pushing near 600hp... but overall, haven't left any good record at all. It keep breaking and had to retire most of the races.

That's what I saw too. Shame.

[DAEMANO]

If not Miata, then MR-S all day.

If you want something newer but still also pretty cheap, quick, and fun get a used 2012 Fiat Abarth. Tons of aftermarket go-fast parts. Real easy to get above 200WHP/WTQ at 2200 lbs. and run reliably.

[fumanchu1]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Right~

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by fumanchu1

I've already answer to that MC8-R

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...1&postcount=28

[reni]

Originally Posted by fumanchu1

Damn, why couldn't they have made the MR-S look half this sexy?

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by reni

Damn, why couldn't they have made the MR-S look half this sexy?

Cuz if it did, it'll cost over NSX (back then) & it would be reliable. Few pushes on the road & engine will be toasted... Parked on side of the road.

If they kept it NA & sold it to compete against NSX, it would of been interesting

[reni]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Cuz if it did, it'll cost over NSX (back then) & it would be reliable. Few pushes on the road & engine will be toasted... Parked on side of the road.

If they kept it NA & sold it to compete against NSX, it would of been interesting

Yeah I didn't mean I expect them to make a car with the drivetrain and everything exactly the same as the racecar, just that a fixed headlight design didn't necessarily have to be fugly like the MR-S

[MuseChaser]

I'm going to go in a TOTALLY different direction in answering the OP's question. I bought the FR-S because it was the first car I've driven in a VERY long time that reminded me of the go-kart, light-bodied handling of the first car I owned that really excited me. That car was a Fiat Spider.

Yeah, they're finicky mechanically, and yes, they're old. VERY old now. HOWEVER, find one in good shape, and you're still well under your $7500 ceiling. Easy enough to work on if you like working on cars. If you don't, then stop reading now. They handle wonderfully, very much like the FR-S albeit with a bit more body lean but not much, and with a little less acceleration, but they have that low-to-the-ground solid feeling, and 100mph in them feels wonderful and very well controlled. The real wood dash and styling.. well, it's just a gorgeous little fun car. I'll eventually buy another one. Loved that car. Just didn't have the mechanical skills at the time to keep it running in tip-top condition.

I drove a few BMW Z3s. Meh. I liked the handling of my 325i better. The Z3 felt too heavy for a small roadster to me. I like Miatas, and would have bought one rather than the FR-S except I need to carry gear at times so the Miata was out. In hindsight, I'm GLAD I bought the FR-S, even from purely a driving standpoint.

If you have a chance, comb Craigslist and see if you can find a late 70s Fiat Spider to test drive. You may fall in love. Of course, it'll require a long-term commitment like any other kind of love.

Have fun..

Barry

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by reni

Yeah I didn't mean I expect them to make a car with the drivetrain and everything exactly the same as the racecar, just that a fixed headlight design didn't necessarily have to be fugly like the MR-S

If you lower it, in certain colors the look grows on you a bit, especially the earlier ones. The 03+ ones made the front bumper uglier.

The MR2 is a car that needs a lot of love (read: modification) to unlock its potential, but even stock it's just so much fun. My FR-S, Porsche Cayman, they just don't compare.

The issue is that all over the car there are these little things that you as an owner will itch to fix/upgrade, because they suck and there are generally relatively cheap fixes. Stock suspension rides so high it's a joke. The chassis groans from flex. The soft top sucks and should have been a hard top. The power steering should not be there. The frunk is horribly designed. The gearbox needs another gear. The exhaust system is horribly restrictive and heavy. The engine is wimpy.

The replacement parts are generally cheap, but putting them on is generally frustrating. For example, unless you have elf hands, you're going to have to take off the whole front bumper to get the headlamps off to change the bulbs. You get used to leaning over the car awkwardly to do anything in the engine bay, and coming up with creative ways to get to the stuff under the firewall. Yes, under. Thanks for making the car a ragtop Toyota.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

If you lower it, in certain colors the look grows on you a bit, especially the earlier ones. The 03+ ones made the front bumper uglier.

The MR2 is a car that needs a lot of love (read: modification) to unlock its potential, but even stock it's just so much fun. My FR-S, Porsche Cayman, they just don't compare.

The issue is that all over the car there are these little things that you as an owner will itch to fix/upgrade, because they suck and there are generally relatively cheap fixes. Stock suspension rides so high it's a joke. The chassis groans from flex. The soft top sucks and should have been a hard top. The power steering should not be there. The frunk is horribly designed. The gearbox needs another gear. The exhaust system is horribly restrictive and heavy. The engine is wimpy.

The replacement parts are generally cheap, but putting them on is generally frustrating. For example, unless you have elf hands, you're going to have to take off the whole front bumper to get the headlamps off to change the bulbs. You get used to leaning over the car awkwardly to do anything in the engine bay, and coming up with creative ways to get to the stuff under the firewall. Yes, under. Thanks for making the car a ragtop Toyota.

Yeah, the suspension is ridiculously high for a car that sits so low. Body roll is no freaking joke. Had the car for about a year myself and deciding on coilovers or just do a full Sportivo kit since the FRS already is a little too racecar so the comfort is nice. I personally like the soft top for the fact that it is manual.

Luckily I have elf hands though so while still a PITA I can leave the bumper on to swap the headlight bulbs lol.

With all that said I love the damn car and can't wait to put a little money into mods and see how it reacts. I highly recommend LSD as well. Driving a buddies compared to mine feels way more like the car is trying to kill me vs the controlled slides I get.

I am currently debating the 2zz/6spd vs turbo 1zz and am constantly going back and forth. Really want to drive a 2zz swap to see what its like. CARB is a big deal also since I am way to lazy to swap every 2 years

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Yeah, the suspension is ridiculously high for a car that sits so low. Body roll is no freaking joke. Had the car for about a year myself and deciding on coilovers or just do a full Sportivo kit since the FRS already is a little too racecar so the comfort is nice. I personally like the soft top for the fact that it is manual.

Luckily I have elf hands though so while still a PITA I can leave the bumper on to swap the headlight bulbs lol.

With all that said I love the damn car and can't wait to put a little money into mods and see how it reacts. I highly recommend LSD as well. Driving a buddies compared to mine feels way more like the car is trying to kill me vs the controlled slides I get.

I am currently debating the 2zz/6spd vs turbo 1zz and am constantly going back and forth. Really want to drive a 2zz swap to see what its like. CARB is a big deal also since I am way to lazy to swap every 2 years

For California I think doing a 7700 rpm 1ZZ build with an emanage ultimate is probably the way to go, since you can have stock looking everything. It's around the same price as a 2ZZ unfortunately.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G800A using Tapatalk

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by fumanchu1

And that's why no one likes you itchy taco. MRS = how to royally fuck up a niche/awesome car.


2nd model mr2 ftw I say. Although they are a bitch to work on.


But seriously a Miata would be the most sensible/logical choice if you ever come around to it.

I'm clearly a SW20 fan.. but if I wanted an MR2 that wasn't a project car..... MR-S.

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

I'm going to go in a TOTALLY different direction in answering the OP's question. I bought the FR-S because it was the first car I've driven in a VERY long time that reminded me of the go-kart, light-bodied handling of the first car I owned that really excited me. That car was a Fiat Spider.

Yeah, they're finicky mechanically, and yes, they're old. VERY old now. HOWEVER, find one in good shape, and you're still well under your $7500 ceiling. Easy enough to work on if you like working on cars. If you don't, then stop reading now. They handle wonderfully, very much like the FR-S albeit with a bit more body lean but not much, and with a little less acceleration, but they have that low-to-the-ground solid feeling, and 100mph in them feels wonderful and very well controlled. The real wood dash and styling.. well, it's just a gorgeous little fun car. I'll eventually buy another one. Loved that car. Just didn't have the mechanical skills at the time to keep it running in tip-top condition.

I drove a few BMW Z3s. Meh. I liked the handling of my 325i better. The Z3 felt too heavy for a small roadster to me. I like Miatas, and would have bought one rather than the FR-S except I need to carry gear at times so the Miata was out. In hindsight, I'm GLAD I bought the FR-S, even from purely a driving standpoint.

If you have a chance, comb Craigslist and see if you can find a late 70s Fiat Spider to test drive. You may fall in love. Of course, it'll require a long-term commitment like any other kind of love.

Have fun..

Barry

I will keep this in mind

[dem00n]

The Fiat Spiders and Alfa Romeo Spiders are the best toy roadsters in the world...