Topic: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat) (Read 158892 times)

Maxvla · « **Reply #770 on:** April 18, 2013, 10:22:03 AM »

Had forgotten about the MR-2 Spyder. 2005 models are around $10-12k... hmm. Perhaps a MR-2 and keep current or get a Cruze/Accord for when I need the space? Bleh. I'll never make up my mind.

Looks less girly in black:

Appears I would need to clean or replace headlights of any car of this age. My Pontiac is doing the same hazing, but I'm too cheap and don't like the car enough to do it. This particular one in the picture is within driving distance of me and has 96k miles with a sticker of $11.6k. What do you think I should be OK with for miles, Mike? It's a Toyota so I'm guessing you'll say it's fine even past 100k especially since I won't put many on it myself. Do I need a special mechanic for this car or will a Toyota dealer be able to service this still?

Carfax looks clean. Just regular maintenance at approximately correct intervals.

http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory/p/Report.cfx?make=TOYOTA&vin=79%7C50%7C-78%7C111%7C-59%7C-125%7C-11%7C-91%7C104%7C-44%7C-48%7C80%7C52%7C96%7C79%7C60%7C51%7C-26%7C31%7C-119%7C113%7C47%7C18%7C15%7C&dealer_id=64895289&car_id=342846664&partner=ATD_W

catscratch · « **Reply #771 on:** April 18, 2013, 07:01:55 PM »

Get the MR2. Get a 2ZZ engine. Swap. Be happy.

Just make sure to keep a set of winter tires around.

planx · « **Reply #772 on:** April 18, 2013, 08:35:32 PM »

People were saying why would you get the Fiesta ST when you can get the Focus ST for a few grand more. Just my take.

Mmmmm MR2... I remember driving my friend's '89 MR2 (before he totaled it) with the 20v 4A-GE Blacktop... Super quick, super direct, super dangerous. Quite the screamer as well

DaveBSC · « **Reply #773 on:** April 18, 2013, 08:59:07 PM »

Quote from: Maxvla on April 18, 2013, 07:56:24 AM

I think if I'm going to go bigger than a hatchback, it will be for the less sporty mid-size option. I'm not interested in a Civic Si (180" 3000lbs) or similar where the bigger car sacrifices quality and utility for performance because of what Mike described. You can't enjoy a car like those on streets like you can a MR-2 or GTI or Miata. If you can't enjoy a sporty car on the street and you have no intention of tracking it, it's useless, especially if there were sacrifices to quality or utility. I think I will have to narrow down both the small sporty and the mid-size less sporty to one car each and then have a showdown to see what is most important.

I need to go to a dealer to check out the Accord and also run through the mid-size class for alternatives other than Mazda. I've already narrowed the small sporty class down to 3, of which I've tested 2.

It's all a question of priorities. The MR2 is a toy, useless for carrying more than one person or any amount of stuff whatsoever. It has nowhere close to the amount of cargo space as say a Boxster. I just don't find them particularly compelling. There are no looks to speak of (which is at least some of the point of a 2-seat car) and you don't get the telepathic steering or precision of a Boxster. Though granted you also don't get an engine that will explode if you look at it the wrong way.

Obviously this guy at nearly 1,000lbs more won't be nearly as flickable, but it doesn't look like a bug-eye Sprite, and you get that sweet 255hp straight six which will sound a heck of a lot better than the 138hp four in the MR. You can also actually put stuff in the trunk. It's still plenty enjoyable as a street car as well, unlike say a Z4 M which WAS mostly useless when not on the track.

Maxvla · « **Reply #774 on:** April 18, 2013, 09:25:13 PM »

Yes, if I get a MR-2 it would be a second car and I would keep my current or trade it in for something on the cheap but with space/back seats/4 doors like a Cruze Eco.

I would likely end up dailying the MR-2 most of the time unless I knew I needed the space later in the day.

I've looked at the Z4 in the past. I'll give it another look when I get home tonight. BMW reliability is not so good, though perhaps a little better than Mini.

Honestly I don't like convertibles. I don't even like moonroof/sunroofs in cars. Only way to get this sort of flickable car, though, seems to be in roadster form, or compromise with a hatchback based on an economy car platform.

Mike, anything in particular I need to check that has been replaced on a near 100k MR2 Spyder? Do these have timing belts or other critical bits?

DaveBSC · « **Reply #775 on:** April 18, 2013, 10:29:00 PM »

Quote from: Maxvla on April 18, 2013, 09:25:13 PM

I've looked at the Z4 in the past. I'll give it another look when I get home tonight. BMW reliability is not so good, though perhaps a little better than Mini.

Honestly I don't like convertibles. I don't even like moonroof/sunroofs in cars. Only way to get this sort of flickable car, though, seems to be in roadster form, or compromise with a hatchback based on an economy car platform.

Actually, for whatever reason the Z4 seems to be an outlier - they are holding up extremely well. True Delta has data on the Z4 going back to the '03, and all of them are doing great, with the '07s beating a lot of 2012 cars in terms of repair trips. TD's '06 and '07 Z4s have an average of about 45,000 miles on them, so that does mean only about 7500 miles a year. Still, the data is the data - they are doing way better than 1s and even 3s from the same years.

The problem with making an extremely small, lightweight car with a hardtop is you get something like the Exige, and try getting in an out of one of those with any sort of dignity. Start increasing the space, and you necessarily have to add weight, and then power to counteract that, and you end up with the 370Z, Genesis Coupe and Mustang. Porsche figured out how to do it with the Cayman, but most other companies haven't really gotten it. The RX-8 almost did. With something like a 2.0L turbo four that car could've been brilliant, and with the MazdaSpeed3's engine it could've been a monster. Too bad.

Anaxilus. · « **Reply #776 on:** April 19, 2013, 03:29:28 AM »

Funny you bring that up, I have a black 05 MR-S w/ hardtop. Something like these two:

It's a normal Toyota, just typical dealer stuff, nothing exotic. '05 is beyond the precat failures on the 1ZZ-FE and the last model year w/ the most factory updates and TSBs resolved. Not sure those headlights are hazy or just wet from rain/dew. No idea about miles, mine has under 12K over 8 years.

If you don't see any '05 Corolla engines dying after 100-150K miles, the MR-S will be fine. Check for brake wear, feel and freeplay, same for the clutch if you go that route. Make sure the top is still sealing well. Unlike shitty BMWs and Miatas of the same period, the MR2 has a glass window rather than plastic. Check to see if it's on the same battery or has a new one. They tend to have significant parasitic draws when the factory security system is armed. If you don't drive it once a week, you'll likely kill the battery w/o a tender. If you leave the car out in the heat and it's over 100 degrees, the top of the dash could warp a little from the green house effect. Toyota cut weight everywhere in the car so the dash is thin. It's actually fine and always returns to normal once you start driving and turn on the AC.

I can't argue against having multiple purpose spec'd cars, that's what I do. I'm finally down to three as of last week but that might not last too long....

Maxvla · « **Reply #777 on:** April 19, 2013, 03:50:19 AM »

Those actually look really nice with black wheels. The Carfax for the one shown above said the battery has just been 'serviced' whatever that means.

On my way back from shipping out the Gungnir, I almost got the opportunity to replace my car tonight at someone else's expense when a big Ford truck signaled to change lanes with me directly next to them and instantly started moving over from inside to outside lane. I mashed the brakes and moved as close to the curb as I thought I could and I have no idea how we didn't trade paint. If I hadn't noticed him changing lanes I would likely have ended up face first into some road hugging trees at 50mph. Arkansas plate.. always bad drivers. Guess companies putting in those blind spot warning systems will help those people. I was clearly visible (my roof was above his window line) and was almost matched with his front axle so I had to clear the entire length of my car to avoid impact.

Amazing how often I seem to be involved with things that damage my car, or near wrecks, given how little I drive. I've had 4 people back into me in parking lots where I was either in a space or in the flow of traffic. I've backed into someone who parked right behind me in a no parking zone and have narrowly missed being hit over a dozen times. Tonight was the closest though. We must have been just a few inches apart when his bumper cleared my headlights.

Anaxilus. · « **Reply #778 on:** April 19, 2013, 04:05:41 AM »

Quote from: DaveBSC on April 18, 2013, 08:59:07 PM

It's all a question of priorities. The MR2 is a toy, useless for carrying more than one person or any amount of stuff whatsoever.

What's wrong w/ the passenger seat? The MR-S has more leg room and space than any Z3/Z4/Boxster/Miata/Lotus whatever roadster is out there.

I just don't find them particularly compelling.

I find all 2000lb cars more than compelling!

There are no looks to speak of (which is at least some of the point of a 2-seat car)

Pft, your opinion. If you think a ghey looking Z3/Z4 or Miata is better, more power to you. I do like the new retractable hardtop Miata designs but they are fat and heavy.

and you don't get the telepathic steering or precision of a Boxster.

Precision, not as much w/ Aluminum chassis braces (mine is fully Carbing'd out front, middle, rear), telepathic steering yes! I don't know where you get a portly Boxster being more responsive than a 2000lb MR2. You have to get a Lotus Elise to have more telepathic steering than a MR-S. Minis, Bimmers, Miatas, all pale by comparison. Maybe you are confusing steering feel from the electro-hydraulic PS.

Obviously this guy at nearly 1,000lbs more won't be nearly as flickable, but it doesn't look like a bug-eye Sprite, and you get that sweet 255hp straight six which will sound a heck of a lot better than the 138hp four in the MR. You can also actually put stuff in the trunk. It's still plenty enjoyable as a street car as well, unlike say a Z4 M which WAS mostly useless when not on the track.

Half a ton more weight, weeee! $10K more to buy? Awesome! Higher cost of maintenance and ownership? Woohoo!! Crappier mileage? (18/26 v. 26/33) YES!! Etc..

138hp w/ Janspeed exhaust: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyk3CTkKNgY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Ny-QDVS2s

2zz-ge w/ Lotus exhaust: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68q3fS6VnvE

V-6 MR-S: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALTdmf2yqqQ

DaveBSC · « **Reply #779 on:** April 19, 2013, 04:08:31 AM »

For whatever reason having more than one car has never appealed to me. l like a car that does everything as well as possible. Where my A6 comes up shortest is in handling. Despite the sport suspension there's a lot more roll than there really should be, and the engine is WAY ahead of the center line of the front wheels so it plows in that old school Audi way when pushed. Clarkson described it as "like having a dead horse nailed to the front grill" and that's pretty apt. The body control could probably be improved with larger sway bars and new dampers, but I don't feel like putting the money in it considering how old it's getting - obviously I'd never see that money again.

I think with something like a 2014 E63 I'd be happy as a pig in shit. Space check, power check, practicality check, handling check. It's also the best looking E class since the W124 - probably the most badass M-B short of an SSK. Coolness is off the charts.

Author Topic: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat) (Read 158892 times)

Maxvla

Re: Thinking about a new car, need some help.

catscratch

Re: Thinking about a new car, need some help.

planx

Re: Thinking about a new car, need some help.

DaveBSC

Re: Thinking about a new car, need some help.

Maxvla

Re: Thinking about a new car, need some help.

DaveBSC

Re: Thinking about a new car, need some help.

Anaxilus.

Re: Thinking about a new car, need some help.

Maxvla

Re: Thinking about a new car, need some help.

Anaxilus.

Re: Thinking about a new car, need some help.

DaveBSC

Re: Thinking about a new car, need some help.

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Author Topic: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat) (Read 158892 times)