Mr2

[e10-sportif]

hi guys im wanting a MR2 but aint sure which will be ok for me im 18 with 1 year no claims and wanting something with abit of a kick but not too bad on insurance i want some money left to run it lol, let me hear what u think please.

[JappyBeast]

Get an n/a to start off with, bags of torque and power over 3k revs, the insurance will still be pretty steep tho!

How much do you want to pay on insurance?

Mk2 is the best shape :P

[Jimlad]

You will be lucky if any insurance company would touch you with a turbo.

[JappyBeast]

You will be lucky if any insurance company would touch you with a turbo.

It is possible but you have to pay a fair whack. My ex g/f was 19 with no no claims and paid £2000 a year on a 1993 T-Bar tubby.

[T600]

You really don't need a tubbie anyway. The N/A MR2 is more than quick enough to be an enjoyable drive on the road. It's reasonably light, quite powerful, has a good spread of torque, no turbo lag andhandles very nicely providing you respect its mid engined layout.

Yes, of course the turbo is quicker, and experienced drivers can no doubt get more out of it, especially on the track. However I doubt there are many situations where on the road where you can really use its extra power legally and safely, except for the fact that sometimes you can safely complete an overtaking manouver in the tubbie that would be out of the question in an N/A. For track days of course the turbo will kill the N/A every time.

I imagine though that even the N/A won't be that cheap for insurance; insurers don't really like inexperienced drivers in mid rear cars. The N/A will spin out almost as easily as the tubbie if you don't drive it properly. Get a UK car as some insurance companies will charge more for an imported car even if it's almost identical spec to the domestic one.

By the way, there is also a lower power version of the N/A with the 3S-FE engine. While they're no doubt still nice cars, personally I would avoid as I think you would very quickly find yourself wanting more power, and you'll probably have more difficulty selling on when it's time to change. I think quite a few companies charge the same premium for them anyway as their systems don't differentiate between them.

Good luck with your choice of car.

[samsite999]

with i was 19 i took on a 1991 3 Ltr NA supra. it cost me 1800 a year to insure, and it was group 16, i believe the mr2 is still group 16, well the N/A version is.

In short its going to cost you a lot of money to insure, let alown maintain and run. If your going to do it, steer clear of the turbo, most insurance company's wont touch you until ur 25

Sam

[JappyBeast]

I have spun mine a few times on round-a-bouts!

[Jimlad]

The n/a should be very controllable compared to the kick of the turbo version.

[Steve-O 2006]

When Im 21 with 1 years no claims (in 6 months) a MR2 Turbo will be around £1,000 - £1,200 to insure.. Most insurance companies wont insure you on a MR2 Turbo untill you are 21 and quite a few wont insure you on a NA untill your are 20 - 21 also..

[Jimlad]

You really don't need a tubbie anyway. The N/A MR2 is more than quick enough to be an enjoyable drive on the road. It's reasonably light, quite powerful, has a good spread of torque, no turbo lag andhandles very nicely providing you respect its mid engined layout.

Yes, of course the turbo is quicker, and experienced drivers can no doubt get more out of it, especially on the track. However I doubt there are many situations where on the road where you can really use its extra power legally and safely, except for the fact that sometimes you can safely complete an overtaking manouver in the tubbie that would be out of the question in an N/A. For track days of course the turbo will kill the N/A every time.

You really don't need a tubby?? If you can get one and get insured, then get one!! I've driven a n/a and had a turbo and the n/a is so gutless and boring compared to the turbo version.

[samsite999]

You really don't need a tubbie anyway. The N/A MR2 is more than quick enough to be an enjoyable drive on the road. It's reasonably light, quite powerful, has a good spread of torque, no turbo lag andhandles very nicely providing you respect its mid engined layout.

Yes, of course the turbo is quicker, and experienced drivers can no doubt get more out of it, especially on the track. However I doubt there are many situations where on the road where you can really use its extra power legally and safely, except for the fact that sometimes you can safely complete an overtaking manouver in the tubbie that would be out of the question in an N/A. For track days of course the turbo will kill the N/A every time.

You really don't need a tubby?? If you can get one and get insured, then get one!! I've driven a n/a and had a turbo and the n/a is so gutless and boring compared to the turbo version.

WOW, thats harsh to all us Mr2 N/A drivers out there!!! :o

[Jimlad]

Not harsh mate, it's true. Drive a turbo, then get right into a n/a and you'll be un-impressed.

[samsite999]

i suppose ur right, but do you still get 37mpg?!?! lol

Knowing how rapped the Mr2 Turbo is. and how twitchy they can be in the wet i honestly couldn't recommend them to a new driver

[JappyBeast]

Not harsh mate, it's true. Drive a turbo, then get right into a n/a and you'll be un-impressed.

Haha!

Your Turbo couldnt keep up with my 'gutless' n/a round Gala town center!!

[Jimlad]

I wasn't even trying to push the car numnuts! If I was you would have seen it twitching all over the place.

[JappyBeast]

I wasn't even trying to push the car numnuts! If I was you would have seen it twitching all over the place.

Twitching and not keeping up with me!

[Jimlad]

"ANDY! ANDY!!!..... wake up... you're dreaming again!"

[samsite999]

i take it you 2 know each other then!

[Jimlad]

Lol.. yeah we do.

[JappyBeast]

i take it you 2 know each other then!

Yeah, I often see him as a small dot in my rear view!

[T600]

I've driven a n/a and had a turbo and the n/a is so gutless and boring compared to the turbo version.

Not harsh mate, it's true. Drive a turbo, then get right into a n/a and you'll be un-impressed.

I've no doubt the straight line accelleration of the N/A is disappointing if you're used to the the turbo's power, but I wonder how often you can use the extra horses that a tubbie offers without racking up points very quickly. Maybe it's just that I'm an old git, but I tend to enjoy cars more for their handling ability rather than their power and in that respect the N/A is just as capabale, and is arguably slightly better. I know the shove in your back that you can get from a very powerful car is quite exciting for a while, but unless you can legally keep pressing the loud pedal it becomes a little frustrating that you can't enjoy it when you want to.

To write off the N/A as boring is to slate any car with a 0-60 time of more than 7 to 8 seconds. I'll bet that's just about every car on these forums apart from the MR2 tubbies, the GT4s and a few special cars such as Dawesy's Rolla. Do you really think every other car here is gutless and boring?

[Jimlad]

wtf?

[T600]

wtf?

Have I mis-quoted you or something?

[Sky Insurance]

I've read this post from start to finish but no where do I see a mention of a Mk1 Mr2. You guys talk about it as if there is only one variant of the MR2, the Mk2. Surely for anyone as young as the poster, the best bet is going to be a Mk1... cheap to buy, cheaper to insure, more fun ;) etc etc

Just my opinion, but buy a Mk1 B)

[samsite999]

if you can get your hands on a good Mk1 then yeh, but generally there the same price as a average condition Mk2, and the Mk2 has the advantage of age and performance.

Its personal prefrance i suppose.

T600 > that was one of the most refreshing posts i have read for some time, bang on the money