What could improve the MR-2?

StephenBennett · January 22, 2004, 15:27

Hi all

Now I'm over the honeymoon (3 weeks!) s:lol: :lol: s:lol: I've thought of a few things that would make the MR-2 just that little bit more special. Don't get me wrong; I'm really happy, but there's always room for improvement, right?

Here's my list

Courtesy light should come on when the key is used and turn off a couple of minutes after the door is closed. My Exxey had this and it's great for finding the key hole in the dark. Maybe light that too?

Heated wing mirrors

Ability to get cold air on face with hot air on legs. again, nice when driving late with roof up.

Steering wheel could lift up a bit more.

I'm sure there's more luggage room possible in the front.

Fitted bags should be available in the UK.

Cruise control.

Smaller rear view mirror.

Disable-able rear beep (my neighbours are not happy when I back off the drive at 3am!)

Louder alarm.

Stereo controls on wheel.

Starter button would be nice.

Regards

Stephen

Anonymous · January 22, 2004, 15:35

Heated wing mirrors = being looked into

Ability to get cold air on face with hot air on legs. again, nice when driving late with roof up. = open the window just a bit and it will hit you in the face

Steering wheel could lift up a bit more. = ummm, yeah i guess so

I'm sure there's more luggage room possible in the front. = you can take out additional bits in the rear bins for additional space

Fitted bags should be available in the UK. = nah, lets keep them for a select group!

Cruise control. = WHF! its a sports car, not for cruising! s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

Smaller rear view mirror. = just move it out the way with the double ball socket on the rear... problem solved

Disable-able rear beep (my neighbours are not happy when I back off the drive at 3am!) = it aint that loud, but someone on here has fitted a switch to turn that off

Louder alarm. = absolutly!

Stereo controls on wheel. = dont really bother me.

Starter button would be nice. = yeah, nice sporty feel! s:D

s:D

Anonymous · January 22, 2004, 15:44

Heated wing mirrors = yes please!

Ability to get cold air on face with hot air on legs. again, nice when driving late with roof up. = I'd prefer hot on the windscreen, cold/warm on me. Can't have everything though.

Steering wheel could lift up a bit more. = Doesn't bother me (but then I'm only 5'10").

I'm sure there's more luggage room possible in the front. = Not needed more. Adding luggage=weight and you've got to be careful where you put that.

Fitted bags should be available in the UK. = They are... you talk to Victor and they land up on your doorstep. Easy.

Cruise control. = It's meant for blatting round country lanes, not driving along boring motorways at 82mph.

Smaller rear view mirror. = Not a problem I've had.

Disable-able rear beep (my neighbours are not happy when I back off the drive at 3am!) = buy a pre-03 s:)

s:)

Louder alarm = Yes please.

Stereo controls on wheel = I've ordered a Sony ontrol... but they're out of stock at the moment.

Starter button would be nice = It would s:)

s:)

glow in the dark key hole = I never look to see where it is on the inside... so don't need it glowing. And on the outside... I use the remote.

Tem · January 22, 2004, 15:50

Here's my list s8)

s8)

Less stuff
Less weight
Less price

markiii · January 22, 2004, 15:58

I'd agree with most of those,

along with electriclly retractable mirrors.

They think parking inJapans is fun, they should try cinemes car parks and my garage.

and lower seat adjustment. This seems to have got worse not better with teh seats in the 03.

I suppose the question is how much more would we be willing to pay for them?

StephenBennett · January 22, 2004, 16:29

thanks for those replies, guys!

A few points.

Cold air in face - I don't want the window open when it's freezing and I'm listening to the Stereo. My old X1/9 could do this. I keep warm. I keep awake.

Cruise control - not everyone has a Ford to drive out and pick up the MR-2 in the country pile for blatting. Some of us have to use it as our only car. s:)

s:) What is this idea that a sports car can't be practical? And I find CC useful to keep to those long 20mph and 30mph stretches. It could be an option, no?

Rear beep - voiding warranty or buying an old car isn't a solution! It should be a choice. You should meet my neighbours!

Anyone got any other improvements?

Regards

Stephen

markiii · January 22, 2004, 16:36

cruise control can be fitted if you really want it.

Anonymous · January 22, 2004, 16:36

Quote from: "StephenBennett"Anyone got any other improvements?

Something to stop the drips when you open the door/window.

An adjust for the seat bolster/bump.

The old memory seats request (for when you go into the rear bins).

Lower suspension/smaller arch gaps without forking out for TTE springs.

Anonymous · January 22, 2004, 17:12

Quote from: "phil4"Lower suspension/smaller arch gaps without forking out for TTE springs.

Absolutely! I parked up on an incredibly slight off camber the other day, and noticed 7 inches of gap between the front wheel and the arch... SEVEN! count 'em! s:shock: :shock: s:shock:

I even measured it to make sure! s:oops: :oops: s:oops:

Tim

aaronjb · January 22, 2004, 17:19

Quote from: "phil4"The old memory seats request (for when you go into the rear bins).

Now that would be nice..

The seat going lower would be good too (for those of us with fat legs!)

More power (~200bhp sounds a nice figure, IMHO) - perhaps not an issue if you only ever drive at full bore round country lanes/racetracks, but for an everyday car it's a bit underpowered (maybe I'm just spoilt?)

I think that would make it pretty much perfect for me.. YMMV of course s:)

s:)

Tem · January 22, 2004, 19:55

For those who want a cruise control:
m http://monkeywrenchracing.com/mr2_spyde ... ystem.html m

Guys@SC seem to like it and it's pretty cheap at current USD/GBP rates...

Anonymous · January 23, 2004, 09:17

a light in the glove box ... ahh that drives me crazy!!

kanujunkie · January 23, 2004, 10:17

i have to agree with Stephenbennet on the subject of cruise control. I like a lot of people on this site have only one car and as such rack up a lot of miles going to and from work, for me this means 40miles to work, 38 of them on the M25. s:cry: :cry: s:cry:
i would love to have cruise control fitted for the motorway, after all it can be turned off for when you go and burn it out on the the country lanes!! s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted:

Anonymous · January 23, 2004, 12:27

The alarm is fine, its the placement. The spare wheel covers the sound.

Anonymous · January 23, 2004, 12:45

how about a comparison of the x1/9 & the mr2?
i very much wanted one of thos when i was 17.

Anonymous · January 23, 2004, 12:55

5min job to disable the rear beep - did mine a year ago and toyota haven't said a thing about it. Its been in for plenty of warranty work aswell.
They must wonder why it doesn't beep in reverse though?!

You could always join the wire back together if needed - and no one will know any different (unless they're very eagle eyed and take the dash apart!)

Jon

StephenBennett · January 23, 2004, 14:50

Quote from: "Jonny Turbo"how about a comparison of the x1/9 & the mr2?
i very much wanted one of thos when i was 17.

OK, here goes s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

X1/9

Great handling. Definitly better than the stock MR-2. Not sure how changing the shocks and tyres and suspension on the 2 would change this. I could really throw the exxey round corners and never lost it once. The 2 is twitcher, but then it is a lot more powerful.Perhaps I'll get a better comparison when I have more time in the dry!

Design: the X1/9 is a great design. It feels like it's one persons idea - and that they wanted to make a practical, affordable sports car. The luggage spaces rear and front are genius, as is the Targa placement and spare behind the driver. It just feels like somone has sat in the models and pre production runs and just worked everything out.

Cheap to run: Yugo spares fit. Enough said.

Modifiable: Uno turbo conversion is fun.

Bad bits;

Rust.

Italian electrics. They just took the battery positive terminal and wired the whole bloody car in series. This means the right hand light is dimmer than the left and the drivers auto window is slower than a manual winder.

Noise. Not a nice sound - and loud. Better with a 'sports' exhaust.

Unreliable: Mainly electrics, but brake corrosion too.

A nice, cheap, second car. Great fun to drive round country roads. A struggle at distance.

MR-2

Beautiful build. Powerful. Great handling (beter than the MX-5, but bettered by the Smart Roadster which is very Exxey like - even down to the unreliability and leaks, if the forum is anything to go by.

Fun to drive round country roads yet relaxing on motorways. Neat hood. Seemingly reliable. Powerful enough for me!

Nice shape but doesn't have the 'soul' of the Bertone as far as I'm concerned. Many of the 'what could improve the MR-2' comments above where in the X1/9. The Exxey always felt like someone had actually driven the car before it was finalised.

Actually, I'd compare the Smart Roadster to the X1/9 more than the MR-2.

Both cars turn heads and gather many compliments.

I miss my Exxey, but I have to have one practical yet fun car. The MR-2 feells like a cut down more expensive car, while the Exxey felt more like a fun bin part car - which it was of course! The original MR-2 was a bit Exxey like in looks and probably bore the same comparison.

Regards

Stephen

StephenBennett · January 23, 2004, 14:53

Quote from: "Jon H"5min job to disable the rear beep - did mine a year ago and toyota haven't said a thing about it. Its been in for plenty of warranty work aswell.
They must wonder why it doesn't beep in reverse though?!

You could always join the wire back together if needed - and no one will know any different (unless they're very eagle eyed and take the dash apart!)

Jon

The thing is jon is that it's sometimes useful to have the beep. Just not at 3am!

hence the choice would be nice.

Regards

Stephen