MR2 died, replacement?

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Rampage

Oh, I know it can be done but I have read many horror stories of guys trying to get them by the inspectors in CA. Some have even given up and sold them. The major drawback is that it adds expense to the swap. Things like exhaust manifolds have be fabricated because swap headers are not allowed (unless you can hide them under a heatshield to get by visual). You have to run the factory catalytic converter which kills performance (I know you can switch it out after each inspection). Etc. etc.

It is just a lot easier and cheaper in every other state.

If I lived in CA, I would drive a FR-S instead. Less hassle with somewhat comparable performance and great handling.

lol that would be incredibly expensive for consumers and manufacturers if the only catalytic converter allowed was the one provided by OEM. The aftermarket provides at least one alternative for every vehicle that could need it, and after all, those 2ZZ's didn't put out terrible numbers with the performance killing factory cats.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...ktcatdbase.htm

It can be done, failing smog seems to happen when you fuck around, tampering with the emissions stuff, engines that were never sold here, OBD1 in an OBD2, aftermarket ecu's that are easily changed before you even leave the shop, buying a setup without having all the pieces necessary etc. After all there's a handful of V6 SW20's running around out here...
http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/90-...6-content.html
http://www.mr2.com/forums/entries/24...-Project?bt=58
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/20...-question.html


It's also a lot cheaper to just buy the car with the performance you desire off the showroom floor.

The FRS is an easier option no matter where you live, unless you can't swing the ~$20k like the OP.

[WesleyG]

Do the 2zz swap, it transforms the car.......worth every cent

[hmong337]

Originally Posted by Rampage

You have to grow up a little to where you stop calling cars girly or gey before you are allowed to experience the joys of a MR-S.

Ugly is still ugly (sorry OP). It doesn't matter what it does, I'm still very much on the side of styling vs all out performance when it comes to a street car. The mrspyder needs that gt300 widebody kit to look like a stunner. The frs looks incredible right out of the factory! I could've easily gone out and gotten myself an Evo 9 or an STI. But they're ugly as hell to me. Nissan GTR is a tech marvel, but g'damn they're chunky and fat. I'll take a 2004 NSX long before a GTR. The mrspyder was quite a shocking let down in styling when they released it. I just couldn't believe they went from sexy Ferrari styling to what looks to be a mid-engine Toyota Echo with no roof.

As a track slut where all out performance wins, the mr-s is fitting and is worth considering since there is tremendous performance per dollar going with that chassis. But I'll never own one for a street car though. I turned to the sw20 for that. The mrspyder is pretty close to the severity of ugliness as the Pontiac Aztek IMO. And it's sad I would choose the NB miata as a street car over the mrspyder simply because of how horrid the mrspyder looks.

If I wasn't constrained by space, there's no doubt the OP would've gotten PM's from me wanting to buy his shell as a track only car. The sw20 is a poor man's 348 as the mr-s is a poor man's lotus Elise. The mrsypder and elise are the performers. It's too bad the mrspyder isn't even close to good looking like the Elise whereas at least the sw20 looks just as cool as the 348. Thereby default, the mrspyder would be a track duty only car for me because on track, styling does not matter. Numbers do and the mrspyder does that very well with very little money invested (comparatively).

[Rampage]

No doubt the MR-S is not a looker. The SW20 is prettier. I owned a 93 for over a year. Loved the torquey motor but it was a bit heavy and ran out of steam above that torque curve. The 2ZZ MR-S is the opposite. It has no torque but screams up high and is light and much more nimble that the SW20. I had a Integra GSR and loved that high RPM scream so the SW20 and the 350Z I had next were not what I was looking for. The Spyder fit the bill.

Unlike you, I feel that the widebody kit makes the MR-S look even chunkier as does the TRD add ons. With lowering the looks have grown on me and the superb handling and scream of the 2ZZ trumps all other reservations I ever had about it.

The FR-S is a far better looking sports car. The Miata and the s2000 are better looking too but simply too small for my 6'2"210LB frame. The MR-S is a perfect fit and without the soft top there is adequate storage space for trips if you use soft luggage.

I did not mean to offend with the "grow up" comment thus the . It amuses me when people say one car or another is girly. On Spyderchat they have a standing joke that the MR-S is a hairdressers car. Sometimes, I think they perpetuate the image to keep the ownership a little more exclusive.

[Dave-ROR]

The biggest problem with the MR-S is that it was a let down for fans of the previous generations. You can make the MR-S an awesome car it just wasn't sold that way here


I'll keep my old SW20 forevah

[serialk11r]

The SW20 definitely looks better but if the 1ZZ is a turd, then the 5S is a puddle of diarrhea. The 3S engines are acceptable power wise but are still overweight 3 generation old engines. I haven't been inside an SW20 but the interior might be a little too retro for me as well. Plus, ~25 year old electronics could be a problem.

A fun project would be a K20 swapped SW20 but that money is probably better spent elsewhere.

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

The SW20 definitely looks better but if the 1ZZ is a turd, then the 5S is a puddle of diarrhea. The 3S engines are acceptable power wise but are still overweight 3 generation old engines. I haven't been inside an SW20 but the interior might be a little too retro for me as well. Plus, ~25 year old electronics could be a problem.

A fun project would be a K20 swapped SW20 but that money is probably better spent elsewhere.

25 year old electronics are a godsend for modding.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Dimman

25 year old electronics are a godsend for modding.

Oh I know that means you don't have to deal with CANBUS and whatever, but having hundreds of 25 year old switches and relays in a car...perhaps I'm just upset that my Toyota blew so I don't trust another Toyota car to not have problems anymore.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Oh I know that means you don't have to deal with CANBUS and whatever, but having hundreds of 25 year old switches and relays in a car...perhaps I'm just upset that my Toyota blew so I don't trust another Toyota car to not have problems anymore.

If owning this car and spending too much time on forums over the past few years has taught me anything it's that every car has problems.

Some are just better at getting the expensive bits right like all the spinning explosion gizmos that lay power down (Honda vs. Subaru).

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

If owning this car and spending too much time on forums over the past few years has taught me anything it's that every car has problems.

Some are just better at getting the expensive bits right like all the spinning explosion gizmos that lay power down (Honda vs. Subaru).

LOL. Honda has been pretty good to my family, we've had Hondas since 1998 and never a hiccup despite my parents completely neglecting maintenance. I would love to have a Honda powered car someday.

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Oh I know that means you don't have to deal with CANBUS and whatever, but having hundreds of 25 year old switches and relays in a car...perhaps I'm just upset that my Toyota blew so I don't trust another Toyota car to not have problems anymore.

Have you actually confirmed what happened to the motor yet?

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

LOL. Honda has been pretty good to my family, we've had Hondas since 1998 and never a hiccup despite my parents completely neglecting maintenance. I would love to have a Honda powered car someday.

Funny thing, I've seen plenty of hiccups with the Acura my mother bought, batteries, alternators, brakes (they pulse, Honda won't fix), but I'm positive that engine will be spinning at 300k miles, tranny might need something along the way there though...

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Dimman

Have you actually confirmed what happened to the motor yet?

I'm not gonna open it, it kind of starts up and sputters like crazy while shaking like a mofo and making loud knocking and grinding noises. It's dead for sure, and honestly it's a 1ZZ, it belongs in the junkyard dead or alive :P

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

I'm not gonna open it, it kind of starts up and sputters like crazy while shaking like a mofo and making loud knocking and grinding noises. It's dead for sure, and honestly it's a 1ZZ, it belongs in the junkyard dead or alive :P

Cause of death would still be interesting to know.

Was it you or someone else that said something about 1ZZs eating bits of catalytic guts? I have some vague memory about that, but I'm not even sure it was about 1ZZ or even Toyota motors...