My MR2 SP turbo thread! **Pics added **

[lemans]

This is what you can expect!

[Anonymous]

Hi,

nice review.

I'm quite interested in following this route at some stage as I feel the standard engine is underpowered compared to the chassis capabilities and looks/style of the car. (bugs me to have a car that looks faster than it is, feels chav like  s:oops: :oops: s:oops:  )

Trouble is I use my '2 as daily driver, business use, and do about 25k per year.

So I need total reliability, good fuel consumption, and not too much of a kicking from the insurance companies.

If you get the chance to do some brim to brim fuel consumption figures it would be a great help in working out if this is a possibility or not.

Any other feedback regarding reliability, insurance increases etc would also be most useful to me, and probably to others too.

many thanks

[Ilogik]

if you stay off boost its just a normal car so fuel is the same give or take a bit.

[philster_d]

yes was going to say the same, i had my c2 turbo kit as a daily driver. its extra when you need it.

Phil

[stargazer30]

Hi, my MPG didn't drop at all, not even a little, with the 200bhp kit and that's using 95ron fuel too!  I think this is because the turbo recycles some of the engine power from the exhaust pressure, and maybe also as the standard engine needs to be ragged to get it to go so that would drag the mpg down too.  The turbo'd version has a decent amount of torque so even light to medium throttle is enough to get you going at a decent pace.   Its early days but so far only one reliability issue with the car idling low, its not serious though, more annoying than a problem.

I'll post up the effect on the MPG (if any) once I get the 240 upgrade.

[stargazer30]

if you stay off boost its just a normal car so fuel is the same give or take a bit.

Nope it isn't, really.  The torque from the turbo is there from the off, even on light throttle.  It really doesn't drive at all like a standard 2.  It just feels like it has a larger engine.  Small turbo and clever mapping no doubt.

[philster_d]

yeah good point, turbo reuses some of the engines energy.

Also i stopped shifting down so much because you have the grunt to go when you want to.

Phil.

[lemans]

Just for the record my mpg has not changed at all going from n/a straight to 240 horses  s:bounce: :bounce: s:bounce:

[Anonymous]

hmmm, this all sounds very promising, cheers for feedback so far.

 I can relate to the higher torque=smoother drive=less consumption idea, old cars a 150tdi bora, roughly 230/240 lbs/ft, averaged 54mpg over 110k and would pull strongly from 40mph in 6th.

I'm kind of assuming the sp 200 would be most reliable option given lower output/less stress and based on old toyota approved kit which sp very familiar with?? Dont think I would need more go in this weight chassis, just want it to feel in balance.

So, any rough ideas re percentage increase in insurance costs?

Currently got business cover with swift for £420 but they will not insure any modded vehicle, Got a quote from AF for the standard car and they wanted £560 which I thought pants considering they specialise in this kind of stuff.

[russcannell]

Dont want to worry you but my insurance jumped from £370 to £710 when i went turbo. My old insurer Direct line wouldnt look at the turbo. So faced with a panic buy situation i had to accept a quote from Adrian Flux at short notice. BTW i am 53 with 3 points & 1 minor accident fault claim.

[stargazer30]

For insurance you'll be okay if you re-insure and cover the mods from the off.  £560 is a decent quote actually my yearly one would be more like £650.  The watchout is avoid adding more mods throughout the premium once you've signed up as many insurances (including mine) charge massive markups when you do.  I've paid about £300 more than I could have if I'd done it all in one go at renewal.

The other watch out is make sure you declare all the bits in the kit.  You can't just say turbo conversion @ 200bhp please (I made this mistake too!)  You need to tell them I'm adding;
custom manifold
induction kit
larger injectors
turbo
blow off valve
intercooler
unichip piggy back ECU
sports clutch *
sports cat back exhaust **

(add for 240bhp kit)
sports cat
boost controller

* the clutch is a tricky one you could get away with the standard clutch at 200bhp but not 240, too much torque.
** unless you have one already?

Personally for the money you pay for the conversion I'd fork out the extra and get the 240, much cheaper to do it in one go once you factor in the extra insurance travel, petrol, staying over etc..

David

[Captain Vimes]

Agree with the comments on mpg - mine has been good, getting 40mpg on a long run. Even when pushing it it's pretty decent as the car is so light.

On insurance I paid £500, fully comp with all mods declared and that was on an import too! I did have to haggle a bit though. It was with Sky insurance.

[stargazer30]

Exactly 2 weeks to go before I get upgraded to 240bhp   s:D s:D    s:D s:D    s:D s:D

[stargazer30]

Phew!

Well after a 2 day road trip, 650 miles worth of driving and even more money spent on the car, its now had the 240bhp package added (boost controller + sports cat + remapped)

The good news is when Richard (guy at redline tuning) re-mapped it he's managed to sort out my idle control stalling problem.  The bad news is it didn't get near 240bhp or 220ft/lbs torque.  I came away with a humble 227bhp and 205ft/lbs.  My fault for being thick and running out of fuel stuck in traffic on the M25, I headed for the nearest garage and put tescos no so finest 95ron in it   s:oops: :oops: s:oops:    

Still getting super unleaded up here is a pain in the butt anyway so maybe its a good thing, better to map it for regular than map it for super and have it knock if I can't get the stuff.  The other good thing is the unichip can hold several maps so later on I can map it for super and switch between the two maps depending on what fuel I put in.

I didn't get the chance to give it a good drive yet, has been raining since it got done.  So far not much difference in the higher gears, but 1st to 3rd you can feel the extra torque.  Still nice and smooth to drive which is great   s:D s:D


** Edit ** forgot to mention whilst on the way to SP to get the sports cat on I paid a visit to LSC interiors to sort out my seats.    I've had the eco sports seats done, nice blokes, and am really happy with the seats.  Will post up some pics in a separate thread once it stops raining!

[E]

Am I being thick here, why did you put Tesco 95 in there and not Tesco 99 super its probably the next best fuel to Shell V Power although BP may argue that point. Mind you I wouldnt have thought that the fuel  would make 13 BHP difference.

[stargazer30]

Am I being thick here, why did you put Tesco 95 in there and not Tesco 99 super its probably the next best fuel to Shell V Power although BP may argue that point. Mind you I wouldnt have thought that the fuel  would make 13 BHP difference.

It was a tesco express, they use esso fuel and don't have the super, or at least I didn't see any.  Also the idle prob I did have was much worse running super so didn't fancy it stalling at every set of lights.  As for the BHP difference, if you put super in a normal car or a car mapped on 95ron it wont make much difference, but if your mapping the car apparently the super allows for more ignition advance and a tad more boost. The down side is if its mapped for 99ron you cant run 95 or it'll detonate/knock.

[stargazer30]

Well its definately quicker than before   s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted:    A bit too quick actually, I was giving it a good blat today and heard a bang from the engine   s:scared: :scared: s:scared:  and then it stalled out and would not start up.  I managed to free wheel it off the carraigeway and onto a quiet road to check what happened.  Thankfully I'd just blown a boost pipe   s:roll: :roll: s:roll:  

After checking it the jubelle clip was not that tight so hopefully won't happen again.  My idles probs definately gone whoopie   s:D s:D