Given A Choice Would You Have Na Or Turbo

[EarL]

So when it came to buying a Mk2, one of the things I considered was whether or not I wanted to be able to hammer my car occasionally, really putting it through it’s paces and having some fun in it, or if I wanted to always be holding some back, rarely really pushing the car, always careful with the accelerator, never really trying to get the absolute most out of her.

To me, that second option just seems a little depressing.

I think I'd rather have 50% in reserve and know that I'm not thrashing the life out of my engine all the time.

Just my two cents worth.

[projectprelude]

Lets face it the labour on my conversion cost less than i have heard some people pay for a tubby cambelt change

how much did you pay for labour then? cambelt changes arnt that expensive. It cost me harldey anymore to have my turbos cambelt done that it did my old prelude.

[Karma Supra]

It depends what you are after!!!

I boguht my Mr2 for commuting.. I sometimes have to do 1000+ miles a week, so I needed economy.. there were not that many small engined rwd cars out there for under £5k, that were modern enough and decent enough to use as a work car, turn up for meetings etc...... 320 miles to a tank is not bad!!! Its faster then the 2.5 ford probes it replaced, FAR more economical, looks good, doesn;t fall apart and is rwd...

sorted lol

[midmotorsteve]

Lets face it the labour on my conversion cost less than i have heard some people pay for a tubby cambelt change

how much did you pay for labour then? cambelt changes arnt that expensive. It cost me harldey anymore to have my turbos cambelt done that it did my old prelude.

£550 all in :)

[projectprelude]

who told you that a cambelt change is £550?

it cost me £140 to get mine done avrage quote i was getting was £160

is there anyone local to you who works on mr2 turbos de cats etc? i live in reading but as you know my girlfriend lives in burford.

[Jesus]

Given A Choice Would You Have Na Or Turbo?

You're just wanting to start an argument aren't you?!!!

Given A Choice Would You Have One Leg or Two? !!! :D

[here comes the abuse... can I reel them in! :P ]

In all honesty, they serve different purposes, for different people's requirements and circumstances... otherwise Toyota would have only built an NA, or only built a Turbo.

[GT4 BOOSTER]

£ 550 all in what for , please dont say a timing belt change.

i'd have a turbo'd car everytime ,like the ad says " why have cotton when you can have silk "

[screechmr2]

turbo all the way, so much more laid back and don't even need to change down gear to overtake people. can happily drive around off boost but as soon as the cars warm and the devil inside you makes an appearance the turbo is ready and waiting to wreak havoc and put a huge grin on your face, can even have lots of fun boosting by just keeping it at 3-4k rpm right in the power band

[Stu8]

only the turbo will do for me

not saying there is anything wrong with a N/A, infact on the track untill mine spools up, the n/a's are always close behind me. :)

my power band is at 4,930rpm - 6,000rpm.

3000rpm sounds a little to low for a turbo.

[midmotorsteve]

er read the thread £550 for engine conversion n/a to tubby

I have heard many people tell of MR T £400 + vat quotes for cambelt on tubbys, i paid £120 inc vat at a local garage for my n/a.

[jdbecks]

i have had a n/a for about a month now...and they are quick...but like ne car you get use to the power....if its budget get a N/A keep it for a year or two then sell it and get a turbo....plus it will help you to learn a rear wheel driven car :arrgg-matey:

[Fizz]

i wish i had owned a N/A MR2 before gettin the tubby... as i would love to have thrashed a MR2 N/A and got used to the car as i really dont feel i have been able to do that in the tubby...

I have to respect the car... otherwise it will catch me off gaurd.. but then i like to know that if i put my foot down round a corner... it will always be a challenge!...

[scottish_mr2]

i'll be doing an engine upgrade in the next couple of years... i have a revision 2 n/a at the moment with 70,000 miles on the clock.. as soon as it hits 100,000 i will be contacting rogue systems for a turbo transplant (rev3+).. although i had considered a beams vvti engine.. i think the turbo will more suit my needs... and before anyone says.. like midmotorsteve.. my car is in cracking condition and has good history.. so i wouldn't want to risk selling this car and buying a turbo... plus it's white!! lol! :D the best colour that mr2's come in... has anyone ever saw a gloss white mr2 crusing at night?... i'd think you'd agree it's quite simply stunning!

[EmR2T]

I think coming form a supercharged G60 corrado - the thing I like about the turbo is how the power is delivered.

It is very easy to drive the tubby wihtout using any boost and it is still nice and torquey drivig very smoothly. Then if you want to boost it comes on very smoothly and you when on the dual carriage from about 70+ it just flies off if you want ti too.

I think the turbo is pretty well matched to the engine size/spec and compliments it well without making it feel out of control or to much for the chassis. Having never driven a NA version I would imagine they would still be a nice drive, especially with 170bhp, but if you are used to more powerful cars then the tubby is obviously going to be appreciated.

I guess as the MR2 is a 2 seater tho, it is that much different to a normal hot hatch or coupe that it will be the closest thing to a ferrari much of us will be able to get atm and it is afterall a first and foremost designed sports car.

So..er...get a turbo and mod it to make it faster :)

(just j/k, all is good)

[CraigT]

At the end of the day it all boils down to how much of your income you want to put into your car.

Personally even in an N/A, if I drive around quickly the petrol decreases at a steady rate. But I use my car for motorway driving and by keeping it steady I get GREAT fuel economy AND turn loads of heads in the process!

Owning a turbo would be a nice novelty but to be honest I really dont want the extra expense of higher insurance and petrol because I tie my money up in so many other interests too.

Saying that, if your main hobby is your car then I can understand why someone would want to go for a turbo.

For me, I bought the MR2 for its stunning stock looks, t-bar roof, and the fact that nearly every person you pass checks it out but mainly as a second car which isnt a boring family car but is economical enough for driving to work etc.

[Tracie]

I owned a Rev 2 NA for 2 1/2 years. Sold it a few weeks ago and bought a Rev 4 GT Turbo.

As to which I prefer, is a difficult question to answer.

The NA was more refined - where as the Turbo is raw, a total beast. I wish we had sold the Yaris T-sport and kept both the 2s.

They might share the same body Shell, but they are completely different cars and they can't be easily compared.