24 replies to this topic

[RichH]

Hi, Whilst I'm still scrimping and saving for the much lusted after VX, my wife has the opportunity to have a MR2 Roadster as a company car. Obviously I'll be nicking it now and then, so I'd appreciate you thoughts on this car. Does anyone out there own one as well as a VX? Has anyone "progressed" from the MR2 to the VX? I realise that a comparison between the two isn't really that fair so I'm after thoughts on the MR2 as a car in its own right. Cheers, RichH

[WoodenDummy]

I did. I still love them, the pre '03 model needs a front strut brace but that's about all.

Try http://www.mr2roc.org/ tell them WoodenDummy sent you.

There are some super fast modded ones out there, turbos and 2ZZ engine implants. Anything you need to know just ask.

This is my old one -

[AndyB]

That yellow one looks quite smart! I blew one away last week. He came flying right up behind me, so I made him dissapear in my rear view mirror until her was a mere dot. No match for the mighty VXT

[WoodenDummy]

They also for anyone who wants to know brake like God's own car. In fact on paper it's faster from 80 and 60 to 0 than a McF1. I'd KILL for my STOCK MR2 stoppers on the VX.

[AndyB]

They also for anyone who wants to know brake like God's own car. In fact on paper it's faster from 80 and 60 to 0 than a McF1.

I'd KILL for my STOCK MR2 stoppers on the VX.

I never knew that. Interesting.

[Ryder]

I had one 3 cars ago. W reg in silve. It is still my wifes favourite car and even I prefered it to our boxster S. It has that same light chuckable feeling that the Elise/VX has. A bit slow in standard form but still great fun.

[Tintin]

Not wanting to be a kill joy but I have experienced an MR2 with the push button gear change on the steering wheel wasn't very impressed and had nothing compared to the VX was crap to drive hard and just bloody annoying to drive in traffic (would have been better being a straight automatic). As far as being a pratical car the storage space in the car is about the same at the VX but in everyday usage not very useful. Plus it looks like an even more girly boxster!! But thats just my opinion

[RichH]

We looked at the semi-auto option (SMT) in the brochure but it's actually significantly slower (on paper anyway) than the manual, besides which we both prefer the experience of driving a manual car so it was never really in the running. Practicality isn't really an issue since we've also got an Astra Estate that we can use for load lugging. I've got to say WD that your yellow one looks pretty awsome!! That photo actualy makes it look quite a lot like a boxster!! How did you find the hard top by the way? Is is simpler than the VX's? It's an expensive option so I'd appreciate you experiences with it. Also you mentioned modifications. Without having to do serious amounts of work on the car (e.g. a new engine), are there relatively straight forward ways of getting more power out of them? RichH

[WoodenDummy]

Well engine wise they are in quite high tune. The 1ZZ is not the best engine in the world but does it's job. The best things you can do are exhaust and exhaust manifold. Handling is SPOT on, but you can get the TTE lowing springs and then a front strut brace which will get you back into VX territory. There is an expensive TRD Sportivo suspension set up (very much like the Nitrons). You don't need to touch the stoppers, just maybe up the pads if you want to track it. It IS a spot on car and despite the hairdressers image I love it, stick with the manual and get a short shift kit (it's fine as is, but the TRD shift feels great). The hard top was great, and helped stiffen up the chassis a little. That car above also had a small body kit. You'll find the internet owners very loyal and setting great times on track. I can also give you the address of someone in Malta with a SUPER fast MR2 with a 2ZZ that would give Thorny's VX a good run on track.

[Norbury]

My girlfriend has just bought the new LE Red model. Its a really practical way to own a soft top. I watch in envy as she puts the lid down and drives off, whilst I'm still getting the soft top bag out the boot! Handling is tidy and performance isn't bad either. I personally don't like the dash layout or the car with the top up. However top down it looks great and hers is dark metallic grey with red leather and really does look like a Boxster! (not that thats a good thing). The wheels look a bit puny and single exhaust is not to my liking. Storage is sadly lacking and makes the VX look like a removal van! Brakes are useful and they don't try and trick you if you hit a bump when braking! However to quantify it, when the suns out and the North Wales countryside beckons we only reach for the keys to one car... Mike

[benw]

I had one for a year before the VX. Loved every minute. Did two track days (Brands and Goodwood) and was holding my own with the MGF and MX5 owners. Didn't have the SMT when I bought mine but I'm told the upchanges on it weren't all that. Downchanges on the other hand were much nicer as the computer would blip the throttle for you. Slightly more luggage space than the VX but very difficult to access as most of it is behind the seats. Soft top very easy to use (Same as Mk2 MX5 actually) you can lower and raise it whilst in the drivers seat is you have half reasonable reach. Really enjoyed the steering - very quick and precise although powered so not 'alive' like the vx The vx is very definately a step up from the 2 in just about every aspect however. And I love the torquey Vauxhall unit compared to the 8000rpm VVTi. As mentioned before though the brakes in the 2 are much better and you'll appreciate the relative ease of access in a small supermarket car park and the aircon on a hot afternoon stuck in motorway traffic. Depends on your priorities I suppose. If the MR2 falls within your current budget and the vx doesn't I'd give it a serious thought.

[meldert]

Slightly more luggage space than the VX

Ehhh... are you shure about this??? Well, you would know...

Reason I want to know is that I'm trying to convince a friend of mine to choose one over a mx-5. I mean atleast the mr2 has the engine in the right place. She thinks my speedster is a bit to extreme...

Anyway all of my friends (except the ones who owns sportscars themselves) are always bugging me about the luggage space in the Speedster.

Well when I looked at the mr2 the luggage space seemed wery small just two small boots behind the seats and you could perhaps put a small bag on top of the spare wheel... Am I missing something here?? The space in my Speedster seems alot bigger actually...

When we are at the subject, does anyone know how the luggage space in the mx-5 compares to the VX/speedster? Probably more accessible but not more space???

[benw]

I don't remember the exact capacities but I do remember reading in amazement that purely on cubic inch capacity the MR2 has slightly more space. Not sure if that includes the spare wheel or not (You can squeeze a surprising amount of stuff in to that front compartment when it's not there!) but certainly it would 'Appear' to have less because it's so inaccesable.

[Ryder]

We wnt away for 2 weeks with ours to Italy. Mind you we did smell a bit at the end of the trip You can get lots of soft squishable luggage in the front, especially if you replace the spare wheel with a can of foam, like the VX has. MX5 however has more than both the VX or the MR2

[JimH]

MX5 however has more than both the VX or the MR2

I'm not sure about that. The MX-5's boot is pretty shallow and not much bigger that the VX. I find that you can cram a lot of soft squashy stuff above the wheelarches on the VX. Also the VX has the space behind the seats which takes loads of stuff.

Anyway, if you want a two seater with loads of luggage space you want an MGF. Or a Transit.

[jules_s]

dont start me about MG F's

[JimH]

If you start being rude about MGFs you will be a benny tied to a tree.

[jules_s]

im not tied to anything today

[Foxy_Jr]

I need a hair cut!! - Can anyone help??

[JimH]

[fingers in ears] La la la la la la la la la la la la [/fingers in ears]