NA MR2 or MX5 for a track toy?

[Dave_SZ-R]

Hi all,

 

Some of you will probably be aware that Im on the hunt for a couple of cars at the mo. Currently torn between an NA MR2 (Rev 3 with the decent brakes) or an MX5 (1.8 most likely).

Wondering which one of these two cars other discerning Supra drivers would go for (try not to be blinded by the MR2s Toyota badge)?

Just to throw something else in the mix, also been looking at Prelude 2.2 Vtis- although fairly powerful, nowhere near as pure as the MR2 or MX5.

Thoughts?

[SteveR]

I bought a 160bhp NA MR2 to race, and so far am pleased with it on track. I deliberately followed an MX5 and would say the MX5 handled slightly better but was slower overall as it had less power.

[Thorin]

MX-5 and slap a turbo on it

[shima60]

MX-5 and slap a turbo on it

 

thats a plan,

 

i had a prelude 2.2 import that was the tits but takes a bit of work to get them round corners properly

[marc_p]

I've just bought an MX-5 for a bit of summer fun, although it is slow, you really don't care due to the fun factor

[Chris Wilson]

MX-5 is easy to work on, lots of tried and tested track bits, lighter and you can get 300 BHP with cams, pistons, rods, turbo and ecu if you want to frighten yourself. The MR2 suspension is a bit crude, plus they are heftier than they might look. They are also a bit of a bear to work on.

[j_jza80]

MX5 Turbo

 

Quite regularly see them at Elvington, they go like the clappers!

[dr_jekyll]

a friend of mine has just put an sr20-det in an mx-5 and it is mental.

[pistonbroke]

Rev 3 mr2 turbo. Even in stock form it'll walk all over most things on the track.

[Ian C]

MX-5 is easy to work on, lots of tried and tested track bits, lighter and you can get 300 BHP with cams, pistons, rods, turbo and ecu if you want to frighten yourself.

 

Oh dear I just happen to have an MX5 sat in my front garden awaiting conversion to a track car

[jackso11]

I had a 1.8 MX-5, great little car. Would love to have it back as a track car.

Also drove a family owned NA Mr-2, nice car but would prefer the mx-5 on the track anyday, handling was a lot better.

[Thorin]

Oh dear I just happen to have an MX5 sat in my front garden awaiting conversion to a track car

 

oooh ooh, can we have a project thread please? That's what I keep threatening to do too

[Ian C]

oooh ooh, can we have a project thread please? That's what I keep threatening to do too

 

Hum that never ocurred to me, good idea. I'm only doing a sensible start though - lighten it, sort out the brakes, fit a seat and wheel that means I physically fit in it, and then tighten the nut behind the wheel

[shima60]

funny i want to do the same thing i say do it hehe. although i already have a 1984 civic with a b16 on itbs really should stop buying cars....

[Wez]

An MX5 would be my choice out of the two mentioned, money permitting I would look at Caterhams and Westfields too

[Thorin]

Hum that never ocurred to me, good idea. I'm only doing a sensible start though - lighten it, sort out the brakes, fit a seat and wheel that means I physically fit in it, and then tighten the nut behind the wheel

 

I don't think there's all that much to remove in them to lighten it is there? Is it a mk1? powersteering? I know a lot of people seem to prefer them without.

[Project Blitz]

mx5 i say, the weight distribution isnt very good on the mr2 if your hammering it around corners, and once it goes you'll be spinning!

 

have you considered a bmw 325 around 190bhp

there is one on DW that i am sooooo tempted by! forf around £1500 its alot of car!

has bucket seat, coilovers and looks good too as its got the m3 styling.

just a thought

[SteveR]

One thing I like about the MR2 is the number of race series it can enter, should you wish to go that far.

 

The MR2 championship looks pretty cool too:

uoqmdX71BrA

[Thorin]

One thing I like about the MR2 is the number of race series it can enter, should you wish to go that far.

 

I think the same can be said for the MX-5 to be fair.

[SteveR]

I think the same can be said for the MX-5 to be fair.

Is there a MX5 race series?

On track, I found the MR2 to be faster, so I wouldn't buy one now and then expect to be able to compete against MR2s.

[Thorin]

Is there a MX5 race series?

 

Several I believe

 

http://www.max5racing.com/

http://www.ma5daracing.com/

[Chris Wilson]

I have just built a nice MX-5 turbo engine for a customer, should make plenty of power!

[dr_jekyll]

the mr2 is too much of a PITA to do basic jobs on

[Scott]

MR2 for me, mostly because I can't fit into an MX-5 lol.

 

MR2 tubby - 3k for a reasonable one. Almost 300hp for very little money (BPU, De-Cat & Boost controller)

 

How much is an MX-5 + Tubby conversion? Are they that cheap?

 

Everyone knows how well the MX-5's handle but I think if you put 300 ponies into one its handling would suffer dramatically surely? A set of springs in the MR2 (as long as the dampers are good) makes the thing handle like its on rails.

 

I didn't find working on the MR2 THAT difficult as far as handling and minor tuning mods went. Granted changing the alternator is an absolute bitch of a job but that is either your luck, or your scrutiny when picking one up.

 

MR2 for me, you just won't get anywhere near that fast for the same money in an MX-5.

[Chris Wilson]

No turbo conversion on an N/A engine, done properly is cheap. The one I have just done will probably stand the owner around 8K or so I guess. He supplied 90% of the bits so hard to be accurate.