Toyota MR2

[Daniel]

Exactly, i was so surprised when i picked it up just how much of a weight difference there is! mine are like Burrell traction engine wheels.

But again it'll be a while yet before i buy a set and do the necessaries to them before they go on, but it's defiantely a green light

[Daniel]

Okay so an update on what direction i want to go with this and what the plans are

I've decided on keeping the car after having an insurance deal which was an offer i couldnt refuse, I plan for 2011 to get into doing more of the autotest/sprint stuff as the car would be better suited to it. So after my impending holiday it'll be time to save up as i'll be investing in the following;

Clutch slave cylinder
R32 GTR forged wheels
BC 30 way adjustable coilovers with adjustable top mounts
Custom made uprated droplinks all round using spherical rod ends and made longer
Ultra Racing 4 point front lower bar
Ultra Racing inner wing braces
Ultra Racing or TRD front and rear multipoint strut braces
Poly bush engine and suspension components
Grooved and dimpled front disks
Grooved rear disks
Carbotech XP8 front pads

[Stuart]

Some great parts there Dan.......one big shopping list=one big bill

I look forward to seeing this all come together (or you change your mind again )

[Daniel]

lmao i know Stu, changed my mind so many times but i really want to get into a form of competition sport. So hopefully now that the debts are clear and i've got a bit more cash in my back pocket the dream can become a reality as you say, onwards and upwards. Should have a lovely handling car

As for the bill, we're looking at around

[Rob_B]

im gonna get this bit in first - this is only my opinion so dont take offence

im hoping the insurance quote wasnt the only reason to keep the car?

i dont think the car will be a great choice for competitions either - you are having enough reliablity issues having it as a road car let alone a sprints and autotests etc?? can you see it holding together well? especially considering the age

also this shape mr2 have not got rave reviews for handling - in fact i have read many a motoring article to state quite the opposite, that the handling is pretty aweful at the limits!

my final thought are in regards how much of a bitch these engines are to work on, if you start doing competitions and have trouble with the engine, these problems will be amplified due to the fact that engine work/labour will cost so much more due to position of the engine

like i said this is just my opinion so tell me to jog on if you like, im not doing it to offend merely playing devils advocate

[Daniel]

You are totally welcome to have your opinon Rob

To answer your question of if the insurance quote was the reason to keep the car then no despite all the back and forth moods ive had with this car, i do really love it to bits. It was my intention from a month or so after buying the car that i wanted to get into a form of light competition. Having the car changing moods was really down to the money side of it after being shafted at work over my wage and having debt meant that i couldn't get things changed fast enough when they went wrong - hence my anger towards the car.

As for the competition side of things, you'll be surprised at just how many people in the UK, US and Japan use mk2 MR2's for sprinting and autotesting. And they are actualy contrary to belief, a very good car to use with the right mods plus i've become so used to throwing an MR about it makes things more fun.

Quite rightly though as you've pointed out is it's age, and i do agree that it is at the end of the day a 17 year old car and i've paid out to have lots of major parts replaced to keep it on the road - But, the good thing is that i've already had lots of new parts fitted so half the job is already done and apart from the drivers door, there is zero rust and rot. If i bought another car to do autotesting in, to me would be false economy as the chances of buying a sound car for the money i'd make on the MR really are 50/50 since i might make myself worse off. So already having the car at the stage it's at would be silly to give it up now.

But like i say, totally welcome to your opinions and i have taken them onboard

edit: also i'll only realistically be doing half a dozen sprints and the same with autotests per year to see how we go

[Stuart]

Oooh
A bit of debate. Love it.

Sw20's can handle really well with the right mods and they will only come alive with the right driving techniques and something that I haven't mastered. Admittedly they have been bastards to work on with my very limited attempts, but how else do you get a reliable two litre mid-engine rear wheel drive coupe for not a lot of money?

Rob
Google some of the MR2 race series races and look at the links. They have the potential to be great cars and I would be happy to have one on the drive with the right bits on it.

There are a few of us that continually change our minds on cars and modifications, I know that I am guilty of just that. If I had Dan's decisions to face I think I would bide my time and get the car finished to the sort of spec that he is looking for.

Nothing is guaranteed but the age would not put me off one little bit. I know one thing. If I had his 17 year old engine and chassis to muck around with or mine, I'd be going down the route of the MR2 every time.

Dearer to run but so much more potential in my opinion.

[Daniel]

Update, yesterday surprise surprise the suspension snapped again so i'll repair that saturday prior to the BP run. But now with my new payrise due to kick in in 2 weeks time, i can start looking more seriously at my shopping list. So BC coilovers are finally in sight

Also this morning Matt contacted me and i've secured the forged GTR wheels so i shall be collecting them 10am next saturday at Eddys and i'm 100% sure that the clutch problems i've been having are slave cylinder related (lots of nasty actuation squeaking)

that is all so far

[Tk]

Congrats on the payrise and getting back on that slippery slope

[Mr Fletcher]

well done Dan