Buying a 'garage queen' + engine worries..

[s12vea]

Haha, thanks for the recommendations guys!   s:) s:)  

I had a look through your previous MR2s Steve, this one had me drooling, my favourite of the bunch..
I love the colour!   s8) s8)  

It was a lovely car, only recently sold.

[lamcote]

That does look good, what is the detail over the side indicator repeater light?

Cheers

[Jrichards20]

Looks like "A bling pin" i think stu is working on designing one. Check out some recent posts. Im going to try and find a link for you.

EDIT:  l viewtopic.php?f=36&t=53099 l  there we go.

Personally, buying from a dealer, unless something horrific goes wrong like the engine goes caput, most dealers aren't actually that useful, and they don't know much about the cars. The first MR2 i bought, the exhaust pipe snapped in half, and the dealer wouldn't do anything about it, was much less hassle for me to sort the issue out myself. And you will probably be saving a good £1,000 from not going to a dealer that you can put away in the case of the worst. Especially if the car has been documented on here, you know the issues that it has had, and all most all of them, no matter how well looked after have had something I'm sure.

[1979scotte]

I agree with Josh

[MisterK]

I think that what you're looking for is my car, or one like it!

Owned from new - bought from Hamer Toyota Burton upon Trent in June 2004.
Full Toyota Service History apart from last 2 years when service done & stamped by Matt Performance. (better than Toyota!)
62,000 miles & garaged since new.
Subtly modded - see below, which includes full leather & alcantara seat retrim by LSC, Hard top etc.  
Car can easily be put back to standard if I wanted to (I've still got the original exhaust, springs etc).

Unfortunately, my car isn't for sale as I intend to keep it well on into my dotage & I can't see that I will ever sell it.  My view is that a good, well maintained Roadster will, at some time in the future, start to appreciate, though that could be a way off.

There have been some good examples go up for sale on the Forum over the last couple of years - Roger's and FGRob's being the two that come to mind.  These are now owned by Forum members as far as I know.

So, I think that your best bet is to try and find one that has been well loved and maintained with as few owners as possible.  Whether you buy this privately or from a dealer shouldn't really matter, because I would hope that a low milage, fully serviced example will continue to give years of trouble free motoring.  The problem will be finding that car!  I think that mine is probably unique now, as I'm not aware of another one on the forum that has been owned since new, though there are probably one or two out there in the wider world, owned by sad gits like me, who intend keeping their car for ever!

Good luck in your search and post up what you eventually end up buying.

[salvatore10]

I think that what you're looking for is my car, or one like it!

Owned from new - bought from Hamer Toyota Burton upon Trent in June 2004.
Full Toyota Service History apart from last 2 years when service done & stamped by Matt Performance. (better than Toyota!)
62,000 miles & garaged since new.
Subtly modded - see below, which includes full leather & alcantara seat retrim by LSC, Hard top etc.  
Car can easily be put back to standard if I wanted to (I've still got the original exhaust, springs etc).

Unfortunately, my car isn't for sale as I intend to keep it well on into my dotage & I can't see that I will ever sell it.  My view is that a good, well maintained Roadster will, at some time in the future, start to appreciate, though that could be a way off.

There have been some good examples go up for sale on the Forum over the last couple of years - Roger's and FGRob's being the two that come to mind.  These are now owned by Forum members as far as I know.

So, I think that your best bet is to try and find one that has been well loved and maintained with as few owners as possible.  Whether you buy this privately or from a dealer shouldn't really matter, because I would hope that a low milage, fully serviced example will continue to give years of trouble free motoring.  The problem will be finding that car!  I think that mine is probably unique now, as I'm not aware of another one on the forum that has been owned since new, though there are probably one or two out there in the wider world, owned by sad gits like me, who intend keeping their car for ever!

Good luck in your search and post up what you eventually end up buying.

Thanks for your post MisterK!   s:) s:)  

I made a bit of progress towards MR2 ownership today - the AA inspection came through fine for this car...
http://www.performancecarcompany.com/stock/car21/index.htm





There were a couple of minor issues, the dipstick and interior light need replacing, and the front shock absorber gaiters are split but they should be sorted by the dealer, who had put it through an MOT last week.
I am taking a trip down to Hampshire on Tuesday to view it in person.   s:D s:D

If for whatever reason I don't end up buying this car, I'll be sure to focus my search on finding one that has been lovingly maintained by an enthusiast.

[MisterK]

Nice looking car and low mileage for year.  Good that its got FSH.  Some slight mods - lip spoiler on rear and lowered. Silver hardtop on sable car a bit unusual, but good it's got a hard top  - if you buy it you could maybe swap it for one the correct colour.  Maybe this is the car for you.  Fingers crossed.

[salvatore10]

I thought the hard top was the same colour as the car!   s:oops: :oops: s:oops:  Are you sure?    s:shock: :shock: s:shock:  
In the second picture the bodywork around the aerial seems the same colour as the rear bottom right portion of the hardtop, which is closest to it.
The shadows and reflections give quite a deceptive contrast. Maybe it's my ancient monitor?

[StuC]

I thought that at first too mark, I think it is the same colour though.
Follow the reflection lines of the roof and onto the rear quarter, it seems to match.

[SteveP]

Looking at the pillars I would say its a match.  s:D s:D

[salvatore10]

Looking at the pillars I would say its a match.  s:D s:D

  s:D s:D  

Paying slightly closer attention to the report, I noticed the tyres are mixed front and rear...
==================================Min Tread Depth (mm)
Front RH===Bridgestone  185/55/R15=======5
Front LH===Bridgestone  185/55/R15=======6
Rear LH====Continental   215/45/R16=======4
Rear RH====Continental   215/45/R16=======7

Should I be looking to switch these immediately, or wear them out first? Perhaps I could haggle a discount based on this -
I've read that brand mixing front to rear is not advisable. 4mm vs 7mm at the rear.. has the previous owner just been going around roundabouts?   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

[MilesH]

My opinion is that as long as they're matched at the axle and there's no significant difference in type (i.e. semi-slicks front, road biased tyres rear) I wouldn't worry.

For example, you could have 4 tyres the same brand but the rears are 3 years older than the fronts, that may have more of an effect on handling than the different road based brands that are used.

Others may differ in their opinion  s:) s:)

[mikey P]

I would agree tyres likely fine matched across each axel and good brands. Likely the lower tread relates to a puncture.  It would check for even wear across the tyres while viewing the car.

[Ardent]

At least they are the same on each axle and the correct size and stagger. A lot better than where I started from.

[Anonymous]

Looks like a nice car!

[SteveP]

Good luck with your viewing tomorrow looks a nice car.

[salvatore10]

Thanks guys, hopefully tomorrow I'll be posting as an owner!  s:) s:)

[salvatore10]

I bought it!  s:D s:D  
I then ate a tuna sandwich in it, it stills smells now.   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:  

I've driven about 60 miles in it so far around Hampshire, I'll do the long drive north tomorrow.

[1979scotte]

Nice looking 2

[Anonymous]

Well done!! Well you've got a long way to go home but it will be worth it.

Shame on you for eating a stinky sarnie in there. Shame!

[Anonymous]

Looks super clean by the way

[Bernie]

Great result looks a good one enjoy the drive back

[Joesson]

Looks good.
The top matches the car!
Enjoy your drive home.

[SteveP]

Looks good   s:D s:D

[loadswine]

Very nice indeed! Enjoy.  s:) s:)