MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Common Room => Reader's Rides => Topic started by: Dreamcast on May 21, 2022, 21:55

Title: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Dreamcast on May 21, 2022, 21:55
It's taken me a while but I want to use the forum a bit more regularly, and I think having a progress journal of sorts will help that, and maybe encourage me to actually get around to doing the things I have planned...

This is my MR2, a 2004 Sable I bought at the end of 2019. It's covered ~46800 miles and I'm the third owner. It's my first fun car and my daily driver right now. Mostly stock and in overall pretty great shape.

(https://i.imgur.com/EF2PdUL.jpeg)

Good:
Bodywork is in great condition
Roof is in good condition
Radiator replaced last year and new belt and tensioner at the start of this year
Doesn't burn oil and handbrake OK ;D

Bad:
Clutch pedal is squeaky
Paint chips on the bonnet and a couple of marks in the paint
Headlights are slightly cloudy
Wheels have some corrosion, and paint is chipping off them as a result
Nappy partially held on with zip ties

So there really isn't much that needs fixing and I have had a pretty stress-free time so far, the MR2 does make a surprisingly good daily.

Here's what I've done so far:


And here are my current plans in no order:


I have ordered a Cusco Type OS strut brace on order that should hopefully arrive sometime at the start of June. Other than what's already here I don't plan to do anything else, as I said this car is my daily so I don't want to go overboard - hopefully those aren't famous last words :o 
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Chilli Girl on May 21, 2022, 22:10
Hi there, I recognise the pic taken at Simply Japanese at Beaulieu last year as we met one another. A very nice sable you have there and I see Sapphire is in the background ;)

Hope to see you this year.

Jane
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Ardent on May 21, 2022, 22:33
looking forward to the updates.
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Topdownman on May 22, 2022, 08:34
The squeaky clutch is probably coming from the pivot rather than the pedal, its fairly common.

Zip ties on the nappies is also common as the fittings corrode and its much easier to cut off a ziptie and replace when refitting than mess around with rusty bolts. Some dont like this but its nothing to worry about unless it upsets you.

Hopefully your headlights will polish up ok.

That is a nice short list though so thats good!

Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: puma2 on May 22, 2022, 08:36
 :) good to see it  :)
lets see how you get and enjoy the journey :)  :)
not so much the spend ;D  ;D
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Gaz mr-s on May 22, 2022, 09:27
Agree with Ardent re the clutch pivot squeak - very common. It's awkward, but take off the 'corrugated' rubber & spray some sticky grease in & get someone to press the clutch as you do. It usually works.

I have a rear strut brace spare if you want one, but they're not as effective as a front one. The type that is usually regarded as most effective is a mid underbrace.

Check the handbrake cable rubbers at the rear. The chances are they're perished.  MGF gear cable rubbers off ebay can be persuaded on.
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: 1979scotte on May 22, 2022, 09:51
Hello and welcome.
Just refurb your wheels.
It's expensive to find new ones as light in the right sizes and Toyota wheels are pretty bomb proff compared to modern audi or BMW. So said the guy that did mine.
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Dreamcast on May 22, 2022, 13:41
Thanks for the comments all, especially advice for the clutch, it has been a minor thing for some time.

Cleaned up the headlights today, the passenger side one was the worst. Here is a before and after:

(https://i.imgur.com/IQiIl5p.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VXt1tHl.jpg)

Not quite perfect, there are a few light scratches still on there, but still way better than they were before.
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Dreamcast on May 22, 2022, 13:43
Quote from: Chilli Girl on May 21, 2022, 22:10Hi there, I recognise the pic taken at Simply Japanese at Beaulieu last year as we met one another. A very nice sable you have there and I see Sapphire is in the background ;)

Hope to see you this year.

Jane

I will go again this year, hopefully the weather is better this time!
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Topdownman on May 22, 2022, 19:41
The headlight is a good result, sometimes they go on the inside too and you just cannot get them looking good.

There are a couple of events next weekend if you fancy a longer drive than Beaulieu!
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Dreamcast on May 22, 2022, 21:31
Already been signed up for Hatton for a while. I was busy last year so this will be my first time going!
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Dreamcast on May 30, 2022, 21:47
Nice to meet some of you yesterday!

I also got a set of John Sleigh's Delrin door bushes while I was there (not sure if he is on the forum?)

Haven't had a chance to go on a proper drive with them on but everything felt a bit more rigid and much less rattly when going over bumps on my way back. My front strut brace is due to arrive next week so hopefully these two together will provide a nice difference.

(https://i.imgur.com/mfF5TNw.jpeg) (https://i.imgur.com/qo01asM.jpeg)
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Topdownman on May 30, 2022, 22:22
Good to see you too, hopefully we will see you at our National Meet in July!

(Glad to see the mods have started).
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: J88TEO on May 31, 2022, 08:33
Quote from: Dreamcast on May 30, 2022, 21:47I also got a set of John Sleigh's Delrin door bushes while I was there (not sure if he is on the forum?)
How much are these? Would like them on my 2.
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Joesson on May 31, 2022, 10:29
Quote from: Dreamcast on May 30, 2022, 21:47Nice to meet some of you yesterday!

I also got a set of John Sleigh's Delrin door bushes while I was there (not sure if he is on the forum?)

Haven't had a chance to go on a proper drive with them on but everything felt a bit more rigid and much less rattly when going over bumps on my way back. My front strut brace is due to arrive next week so hopefully these two together will provide a nice difference.

(https://i.imgur.com/mfF5TNw.jpeg) (https://i.imgur.com/qo01asM.jpeg)

Looks like a development of @Dev 's wedge type idea, good to see ingenuity is not dead, but John Sleigh needs to have a word with his marketing department, and/ or get on here!
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Dev on May 31, 2022, 13:37
Delrin good material. Looks like a good product.
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: 105e on May 31, 2022, 16:34
They do look like a good product...
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Jimbo on June 1, 2022, 06:41
Re DAB antenna, I used a splitter from eBay rather than a separate one, to my surprise it actually worked! A lot less faff.
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Mark A on June 1, 2022, 16:27
Also interested in the price of the door bushings
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Dreamcast on June 1, 2022, 19:45
There seems to be a decent amount of interest in the door bushes! If any of you are in the Facebook group he's on there already. Currently they are £110+5 postage. They're being made in batches so might be a different price in the future.

My experience of them so far has been pretty great, I'm yet to go on a good drive with them to see how they affect stiffness but they seem to have got rid of 99% of the rattling from the doors and dashboard which is promising.
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Dreamcast on June 5, 2022, 18:01
Had a chance to drive for a while now with the door bushes and the difference is quite noticeable, as I said before less ratting, but definitely less shaking through corners and over bumps as well.

My front strut brace arrived earlier than expected, so I'll fit it sometime this week.
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Dreamcast on June 12, 2022, 14:57
And fitted. Looks great but really need to have a clean out under here...

(https://i.ibb.co/k36XBC1/PXL-20220602-160131954.jpg)
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Dreamcast on July 24, 2022, 17:07
(https://i.imgur.com/ZeW5ibD.jpg)

Nice day out to Beaulieu today. I fitted some more Delrin bits yesterday, this time in the form of new bushes for the shifter cage. Not originally on my list but what a great difference for such a cheap mod! Got rid of a load of excess play in the shifter and feels much nicer now.
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Ardent on July 24, 2022, 20:16
Liking the pic.

I really do like that green.
Rare beast.
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Dreamcast on July 24, 2022, 20:51
Quote from: Ardent on July 24, 2022, 20:16Liking the pic.

I really do like that green.
Rare beast.

It was mint. Very nice cream and colour matched green leather interior too. It was at Beaulieu last year as well and had a matching hardtop on then... A unicorn for sure
Title: Re: Simple Sable Daily
Post by: Petrus on August 10, 2022, 14:47
Quote from: Joesson on May 31, 2022, 10:29but John Sleigh needs to have a word with his marketing department, and/ or get on here!


I agree.
Especially as the UK/NI Facebook is a closed shop.
I´d happily combine it with Dev´s spacers.
But then his product, his 3D printer, his show and chapeau to him.