which should i get 01 model or 04

Anonymous · July 15, 2004, 20:22

I know the actual differences between the two models etc, but i was wondering if people had a preference. I am desperately after a mr2 but money (as always) is a bit tight. Because of this im thinking of getting the older style mr2 roadster instead of the revamped version....

Any thoughts???

Anonymous · July 15, 2004, 20:46

Whichever style you get, you won't go far wrong.

If money was no object, then get the one you prefer the look of (some people don't like the '03 rear lights, some prefer the front bumper on the '03 etc).

If it's a function thing, then the facelifted model does have extra bracing that improves the drive (although you can always add the extra bits onto a pre '03).

If though, as you say, money is tight, then go for whichever one is within your budget. You won't be disappointed.

Darth Paul · July 15, 2004, 20:50

What he said. I've owned both, and they've both been brill.

Anonymous · July 15, 2004, 21:24

yep i've owned both and apart from the risd being ever so slightly stiffer with the facelift model, not a great deal in it. As said you can add the extras later if you wanted to s:)

s:)

Anonymous · July 15, 2004, 21:29

u should be able to pick up a pre facelift model for about 10k (depends on what age u are lookin at) and use an extra 2k to tart it up abit which would possible save u about 7k.
if u do go for the earlier model just check the back ground of the car and find out as much info as possible regards to service history.the advantage of going new is that you have the 3 year warranty and u could have the optional extras included in the price if u shop around.
good luck and congrates on an excellent choice of car.

Anonymous · July 15, 2004, 22:05

Nothing like a brand new car though! s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Anonymous · July 15, 2004, 22:10

Agreed new cars are nice but having just bought my first second hand car I'm sure I've made the right choice. If you go second hand you can get a LOT more kit for your money like leather and air con, which to me is worth more than the novelty of a brand new car, but then I might be biased s;)

s;)

Anonymous · July 15, 2004, 22:21

firstly thanks very much to everyone thats replied to my post.

Basically ive got a little toyota yaris 1.0L that i will be putting in part ex. Its approaching 3 yrs and thats why i wanna get rid of it. I know im going to get a mr2 but which one is the problem....I prefer the facelifted model and really want aircon, hard top, and leather. I know i can get leather fitted anytime, but i realise that hardtop has to be fitted when first built.

If i go for the new car, I know the book price is over £20k, but ive been quoted £18200, So ill be saving 2000. Its just when ive been looking at second hand ones, it seems that the milage is high etc and im only saving about £1500.

SteveJ · July 15, 2004, 22:23

Quote from: "MR2Roadster"but i realise that hardtop has to be fitted when first built.
.

Take a closer look on the forum - several people have retro-fitted the hard-top. The only problem is finding one for sale!.

Anonymous · July 15, 2004, 22:49

as a stroke of luck there is one on sale at the moment.
http://www.mr2roc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4657
(sorry but dont know what colour car u are looking for though)

Anonymous · July 15, 2004, 22:57

Quote from: "jonboy"as a stroke of luck there is one on sale at the moment.
http://www.mr2roc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4657
(sorry but dont know what colour car you are looking for though)

I tell you, you just can't beat the members on this forum for their smoothness and service! s:D

s:D Keep up the good work guys and gals... cough, cough <Back on topic now>

Anonymous · July 15, 2004, 23:03

only saving 1500?

Good condition Private sale Prices... from parkers...

New      (19410+leather+metallic=20400 - or £18300 say from a broker)
2004/04      15955 (save £2300)
2003/53    15210 (save £3000)
2003/03      14785 (save £3400)
2002/52      13250 (save £5000)
-
2001/51      11555 (save £6700 - but no warranty)

Actual Autotrader I've found to be around these figures - usually a little higher - maybe due to it being summer.

If you want the 2003 model, you may be able to save £3k, but the main problem I find is having to wait around for the model you want to come up on autotrader - and the damn mr2s are as rare as hen's teeth. Especially if you arelooking for a sable hardtop ac red leather combo...

Basically, I'm as confused as you are. But willing to get into large amounts of debt, either way.

Liz · July 16, 2004, 05:04

Quote from: "nickpark"-
2001/51 11555 (save £6700 - but no warranty)

You can always buy an extended warranty - either from Mr T or the AA (other warranty companies are available!)

Anonymous · July 16, 2004, 08:28

Personally, I would have said that finding a second hadn 2 with leather and Air-com would have been easier than without as most people tend to go for both on the options list. Better second hand resale values too. But, even so, still difficult to find on Autotrader. Just keep trying. You WILL find the combination you want second hand, just maybe not immediately......

Anonymous · July 16, 2004, 15:46

Hope you don't mind the hijacking, but I've sent you guys PMs 'cos I have a leather and air "51" MR2 for sale with Toyota warranty. I love the car, but it's time to change and get a 4 seater soft top so that I can take more than one child out at a time s:)

s:)

Anonymous · July 16, 2004, 16:33

thanks for the replies.

Im actually after a blue car for those people who were asking.

Nickpark, thanks for the prices, ive found the similar sort of saving as u stated from brokers, around 18200

However when i looked for a second hand blue mr2 with hardtop, etc it was about £16k and sometimes more and it had a very high milage.

So for a saving of only about 2k at the most between buying a new one from a brokers or second hand one, is it really worth it.

ill have to think some more about this one it think... pros and cons for everything

Anonymous · July 16, 2004, 17:45

If you fancy changing colour, we're looking to sell ours in a couple of weeks. Silver Y/01, A/c, Hardtop but no leather, just serviced MOT & taxed 12 months, 14,200 miles, I lady owner. Everything standard, always garaged.

Liz · July 16, 2004, 19:02

Out of interest why is high mileage such a problem if the car has been looked after and serviced in accordance with the manufacturers specifications? Is this a hangover from the past when engines weren't meant to last and were really on their last legs by 100,000 miles, cars go on and on these days, not wishing to start a major debate just curious?

Anonymous · July 16, 2004, 22:56

well im aware that engines are better than the ones ages ago

the average milage for a car per year is around 12k

This particular car was less than one year old and had over 36k on the clock. That is a heck of a lot

SteveJ · July 16, 2004, 23:10

Quote from: "MR2Roadster"well im aware that engines are better than the ones ages ago

the average milage for a car per year is around 12k

This particular car was less than one year old and had over 36k on the clock. That is a heck of a lot

I'm on my 3rd roadster - 1st one did 58k in 20 months, 2nd one 14k in 4 months, and current one is 7 months old and has 27k on the clock.

Touch wood, I've never had an engine problem (1 SMT failure on the first car and ABS probs on the 2nd one) and as anyone on here will confim, I'm not the most sympathetic driver by any stretch of the imagination.

Anonymous · July 16, 2004, 23:20

...so why are there hardly any high mileage mr2's for sale??

(ok, so there aren;t many low mileage mr2's for sale, either!)

but, huh?

Anonymous · July 16, 2004, 23:55

Toyota world in birmingham had an lagoon blue 02 model with leather, air con and bodykit for about 14,000, mileage was reasonable too at about 20000 or so, they are out there dude!

Anonymous · July 17, 2004, 09:59

is the 02 model the new revamped one or the older one???

does it have a hard top??

what the web address

Slacey · July 17, 2004, 10:12

Quote from: "MR2Roadster"is the 02 model the new revamped one or the older one???

does it have a hard top??

what the web address

The '02 are pre-facelift, no idea about the HT.

Toyota World (Birmingham)
Cuckoo Road
Star City
Birmingham
West Midlands
B7 5SY
Tel: 0121 322 7777
Fax: 0121 322 7788

aaronjb · July 18, 2004, 00:02

I reckon there's another factor in 'new or secondhand' - what do you want to do with the car...

If you want a car you can get into and drive, never thinking about anything (bar sticking to the service schedule), never really worry about mechanical things going wrong and just use as a workhorse - then get new, or at the most a year old - you have a full manufacturers warranty (which will almost certainly cover more than an AA one - bet you couldn't persuade the AA to replace the alloys for bubbling, or brake discs for cosmetic rusting s:)

s:) )..

On the other hand, if you want to save an absolute packet and have a car that you can modify out-of-the-box without having to worry about a warranty (not that everyone does worry about that, I know some people modify while in-warranty, myself included although it'll only be minor things), then go for a 3 year old car..

Mine was just over a year old when I had it (18 months, or thereabouts) and had 27k on the clock - it still felt like new, just the odd niggle, minor problem with the belt tensioner but other than that it's been good so far..

I still had that mental hurdle to get over, though, when I bought mine.. 27k sounding like a lot of mileage - and it's not just the engine that does that, don't forget - all the rubber parts, shock absorbers do that mileage too..

But then - if you buy a four year old car that has 10k on the clock, the rubber parts have still had four years of perishing and going hard, the bolts still four years of rusting in place etc etc..

Anyway.. go with whichever suits your budget and your intentions best, I think, is the best advice I have s:)

s:)

Aaron

which should i get 01 model or 04

Darth Paul