MR2 + 15K

Anonymous · May 1, 2004, 21:49

OK you lot. I need some help to spend some money. I've come into a bit of dosh and need to spend it s:D

s:D The missus has sanctioned 15K for a new motor, what should I buy? The MR2 is a year old (03) sable with 6000 miles on the clock, TTE exhaust, lowering springs, leather A/C and hardtop. What should I ask for as a part exchange. I'm thinking of a S2000, Boxter (ex demo), VX220, Elise. What do you think?

Anonymous · May 1, 2004, 21:59

Well, Lusaka has an S2000, Hopeforsun had a boxter for a while IIRC, woodendummy has a VX220 and John Woodward has driven an elise or 2... im sure they will give you their views.

With £15k and the 2 as a trade in, you can cover all of your options. If you want something similar to the 2 then i would say the s2000, if you want to be like every other car on the road then go for the boxter, if you want to move up a step then i would say the elise or even a VX turbo would be a monster!

Your other option i guess would be to stick a turbo in your roadster for £4k... that should see off most of the above apart from the VX turbo s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted:

juansolo · May 2, 2004, 07:29

With near as damnit 30k to spend on a car you have some very interesting options...

If you want to continue along the lightweight minimalist route I'd look at a VX220 turbo. A quite stupidly quick car. Or if you have to have a Lotus, the 111R. Personally I'd go for the VX.

For a bigger more traditional sports car I'd look at the S2K. Top, top toys and very quick. The Porker just feels bigger and lardier but is a cracking piece of kit also.

Or you could look at some older exotics and get something a bit special. You can get yourself a nice 993 Carrera 2. Or an Alfa SZ. You can even get a Ferrari 308/328.

Alternatively you could go pure track and buy/build a track nail and trailer for £14k and a tow car like a Seat Leon 150PD with what's left.

Anonymous · May 2, 2004, 09:58

I forgot to say the Z4 s:oops: :oops: s:oops:

LeeUK · May 2, 2004, 12:28

People, have you all lost taste? What about the most beautiful cars on earth?! Get a TVR!!! s:D

s:D

markiii · May 2, 2004, 12:41

well it's not midengined but droool anywat :-) :-) :-)

LeeUK · May 2, 2004, 13:04

Think i just wet my pants s:oops: :oops: s:oops:

Anonymous · May 2, 2004, 16:14

if i had around 30k to spend on a motor, it would probly go on a 2nd hand tuscan! s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted:

Anonymous · May 2, 2004, 17:12

The problem with a TVR is that I need the car to start in the morning and i'm not sure if I could afford the cost of all the oil! We've been out looking today and my shortlist is down to three. I've ruled out the Lotus and VX220 because they are too hardcore. The Boxter looked very nice and so did the S2000, the Z4 didn't as we could'nt find a garage with one (just one parked in the next street to us) the test drives will follow when i've read all the literature but at the moment the missus likes the S2000 the most, she even said to me to ask the salesman if they had a 'blue one' in stock.

juansolo · May 2, 2004, 17:27

The only issues I have with TVR's are reliability and the running/repair costs. Go for an older one with a Rover sourced V8 in it and you can do it all yourself. Anything with an AJP or SpeedSix engine is TVR only territory and some of the bills I've seen have been horrific. Go on Pistonheads (lots of TVR owners there) and look at the members cars sections where there are a lot of ownership diaries. Very scary stuff.

I'd have a Griff 4.0 tomorrow though. You can pick them up for a little over £10k also.

Anonymous · May 2, 2004, 18:04

Well, its a shame you have ruled out the VX and the Lotus. Personally, I don't think they are as hardcore as you would think. Ok, they might be a bit loud on the inside, but the ride is suprisingly good, ESPECIALLY on the VX and the new 111R. The 111R was configured with the lardy arsed american market in mind (sorry to any Yanks out there!), and although it is softer, most, including myself, would say it actually has the edge on handling over the "standard" cars. The originals had a little too much understeer. The 111R has none. If you want more of an every day car, then the VX is the one to go for. No understeer to speak of and the tubby is an animal!!!

Still, its your money and you have to make your own choices. I would go for either and could EASILY live with them. Neither of them ride any harsher than the 2 in my opinion, they just "talk" to you more. Ok, like I said, might be a little noisier, but I could live with that and they both have all creature comforts such as leccy windows, central locking, more sound proofing etc.............

As for the Z4? My mate is currently in the market for a £30K+ car and he has already driven the 4 and was VERY dissapointed with it. He liked the looks, liked the interior, liked the hood but really didn't like the way it went one bit. He described it as driving a very fast pillow! He thinks he might go back to the S2K again (he already owned one, but had to sell cos of house). And the Porsche? Good car, but even my granny will own one soon............you want something different, surely? s:wink: :wink: s:wink: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

TVR? Stunning cars, but have to know what you are doing with them. Have a tendancy to chuck you backwards if you don't and are not the most reliable...................

Don't discount the Elise and VX. Test them and THEN see what you think. I reckon you might be pleasantly suprised.............

Anonymous · May 2, 2004, 20:29

There's a review comparing S2000 against Z4 in the May Evo - if you're quick you may still be able to buy a copy, if you haven't already (the June issue will be out next week). The S2000 has gone through a number of revisions since launched and the current model is a pretty good steed - better than the Z4.

The Elise 111R with the Toyota 2ZZ engine is bloody good and for pure driving is better than the VX220T. It can also be had with a touring pack that porovide a few more luxuries - but not many!

Boxsters are good - nice all round package with exemplerary dynamics and driver involvement - rock solid investment too.

As a suggestion - what about the nissan 350Z. I know it's only available in a tin top, which may rule it out, but it;s a cracking package for the money. You can aslo get a supercharger conversion if you get bored. s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted:

MRMike · May 2, 2004, 21:08

Allow me to solve your equation..

MR2+15k = S..2..K all the way. TBO off all the cars you've mentioned you won't be dissapointed with any.

Have to admit I am in love with S2000's ever since I went on a Tangerine day when I got to drove Diablo's, 360's, Nobles etc. Howver have to say the highlight was a passenger ride in an S2000. The driver said that the thing was lapping every day, all day without a problem since they had it..There's a statistic going around that since the introduction of VTEC not one engine has ever died. IMO opinion Honda really do make the best engines in the world..the lump thats in the S2000 is unbelievable, I won't rabbit on about it, suffice to say its the highest NA BHP per litre engine in the world. Downsides..well I don't think it will hold its value quite as well as a Porsche..but examples on forecourts seem to hold their value extremely well.

The Vauxhall and Lotus are fantastic, although i don't think they're 'quite' as every day usable as the S2000. The Porsche ..excellent in every department, but doesn't really do a lot for me..I always imagine dentists driving them. (Apologies to any dentists!)

As for the TVR..well my best mate had one..until we driving along one day and it started to rain so we wanted to put the windoes up...the car didn't want us to so we got soaked, as well as the interior! That car was at TVR more than he had it..the Gremlins are still there..IMO there is no way you could run one as a daily, only driver.

Anyways I'm sure you'll have lots of fun whatever you get!

Anonymous · May 3, 2004, 20:26

If the MR2 does go then the cars I am going to test drive need to be good. Went out for a blast today and had a great time. The roads were a bit greasy after a cloud burst to add to the fun. I saw a gold S2000 which looked very nice and must have seen more than 10 MX5s but no 2s.

Anonymous · May 3, 2004, 22:58

does it have to be a soft top? 30k buys a lovely 2nd hand Aston DB7 or if a convertible is a must, how about an XKR convertible?...

Anonymous · May 4, 2004, 12:34

I've spent a while on this too.

Z4 - proportions right for front engined car, details are awful - too ugly. Aparently, according to mate who has one, steering is terrible on 18s

S2000 - great looking, had a test in an early one and it was terrible to drive due to underpinnings and uunusable engine power. underpinnings are now sorted. engine is sorted too in domestic market where they have a 2.2 lump. (jap import?). been around a while now.

Boxster - mid engined. quality. looks great. being upgraded in 2005 (I have one on order)

TVR - beautiful, rough, fast, unreliable, not well made.
Lotus 111R - looks good, roof is a pain (try it). at least you can get air now. fast and prob better than vx

vx220 turbo - looks fine, if you like that sort of thing. will loose money because of badge. money better spent on lotus.

SLK - best place for your money. now looks a lot better and goes a lot better. new.

heathstimpson · May 4, 2004, 20:12

The above posts highlight that the cars you are thinking about are all good; it just comes down to personal taste at the end of the day. Take them all out and see what you have the most fun in and which one has the looks to die for in your eye. If we all had the same taste eh the world would be a boring place full of 2's s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Hope4Sun · May 5, 2004, 00:29

Theres a lot of good cars out there for that sort of money, you could be one of the first and import a 350Z convertiable or go for something really mad (Skyline or a Supra s:roll: :roll: s:roll: )

Personally though with hind sight i would not buy a 986 over the 2 again, even though i bought the S model with sports suspension, exhaust, etc and it was really good fun (don't get me wrong fantastic car, build quality is amasing, goes like stink, but don't ever expect to get let out of a junction again s;)

s;) ), the smile per mile factor was not the same as the 2 (for me any way) just too heavy to get the same fun feeling.

I think with the age of your 2 and what your loose on a trade in, etc. Is to hang on to it, stick the cash in the bank and buy a turbo'd 2 if and when they come out, just my 2p worth though.

Andy

Anonymous · May 9, 2004, 11:44

Quote from: "Jonny Turbo"SLK - best place for your money. now looks a lot better and goes a lot better. new.

Certainly all the early reviews of the new SLK have been extremely positive - they say its a 'proper sports car' at last and its a million miles away from the earlier model. Might be worth trying to blag a test drive in one and see what you think... s:D

s:D As Jonny says, traditionally SLKs hold on to their value very well so you shouldn't suffer too much in terms of depreciation.

Sundance s8)

s8)

Anonymous · May 9, 2004, 16:50

there is a new vx220 due out very soon vxr220 it has 220bhp as apposed to the 200 form the normal 2.0 turbo. it also has even better suspension than the normal 220

0-60 less than 4 s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: s:twisted: :twisted: s:twisted: (quoted)

and it is expected to cost less than thirty grand so it might be up your street

Peter Laborne · May 9, 2004, 22:26

The new super-powerfull VX220 is to be called the V-XS.

A GM 3 litre supercharged V6 engine pumps out 320bhp, gives a 0-60mph of 4 secs and then takes you all the way to 160mph!!!!

The thing is it will cost around £45,000. s:shock: :shock: s:shock:

At the moment it is only available through Allon White Sports Cars (0845 3457666).

Here's a few piccies:

However, if you like the VX220 and can't afford the V-XS don't worry. You can convert your 220 into a V-XS for around £18k-£20k.

markiii · May 9, 2004, 22:53

only snag is the replacement for teh vx is supposed to be front engined as it shares the GM Solstice platform.

that looks likely a kitted vx to me.

Peter Laborne · May 9, 2004, 23:07

Quote from: "markiii"that looks likely a kitted vx to me.

It is a kitted VX...with the mother of all engines for it!!!!

Bigger intakes for radiator and brakes as well as side and roof ones for the engine. And a f-off big rear wing.

As for the engine, this requires a completely new rear subframe and suspension. Have a look at the side photo above...the engine nearly fills this s:shock: :shock: s:shock:

For this who like engine stats:
GM V6, 3 litre longitudional and mid mounted
DOHC 24 valve
Rotrex SP30-94 supercharger and charge cooler
Power 320 bhp @ 6,500 rpm
Torque 280 lb ft @ 4,250 rpm

SteveJ · May 9, 2004, 23:07

It's a conversion - follow this link..... http://www.allonwhite.co.uk/s-sport.asp

Oh - and it's still only pie-in-the-sky - it isn't available yet.

Anonymous · May 10, 2004, 01:20

Look as if its been to the dentist and had all its teeth pulled out s:lol: :lol: s:lol: what a horrible front end.