Am I wasting my money?

[Chilli Girl]

What little money I have.  I would really love to work on a 2, use it as a learning curve & try to save garage costs long term!  I'm rather taken with a bright green W reg one.  It had a new facelift engine fitted 3/4 years ago with approx 70k on the clock as original blew up! It's had rear brake callipers/pads only 12 months ago but sadly the MOT failed on the subframe and requires handbrake cables! I could have it for £650 BUT it's going to cost me to get it ferried from Kent to Wiltshire and just wondering if it's really worth the bother.  It is a Readers Ride car off the forum back in 2015 and read up quite abit on it. Also spoke to Miles (Cirencester) as his friend had it.  The current owner has changed oil in his care during the 6k miles he's done in it so I think the engine is probably a good one.  Any advice would be appreciated.

[J03]

If you have the space to work on it, do it.
For the money, I can't think of anything else that's as easy to work on / so rewarding when finished 

[delhusband]

I find it really satisfying now I can do oil, spark plug and air filter changes. I'm working up the courage to maybe have a go at swapping discs and pads at front. Small steps for me. Plus doing all the minor cosmetic bits and bobs.
I've saved a fair bit on that lot alone.
I think if im honest the weather is what stops me from trying more. I've no garage, nowhere to work inside. When its sunny I want to take it out and have fun driving it. When its wet I've got no shelter, and in winter it gets dark and no shelter or lighting.
If you have somewhere indoors, go for it and prepare for some initial outlay for some tools.  But for me, for now, I do still rely on my local mechanic.

[Chilli Girl]

If you have the space to work on it, do it.
For the money, I can't think of anything else that's as easy to work on / so rewarding when finished 

I think unfortunately changing the crossmember is out of my league sadly so I shall definitely need a mechanic to do that as I know Mikek said in the past, it's a b@gger of a job.

[1979scotte]

Where in Kent is it Jane?

[Chilli Girl]

Maidstone Scott which is about 100 miles from me. 

[1979scotte]

Maidstone Scott which is about 100 miles from me. 

If you are going to have a mechanic do the subframe how about getting it transported to Bexhill instead and getting headcase to look at it for you.
Its only 36 miles and if he can get it past the MOT you can drive it home?
Just a thought.

[Chilli Girl]

That's a good thought Scotte.  I've put in a cheeky offer of £500 and the seller hasn't said no but he wants to see if he gets a better offer in the next few days.  It's going cost me abit to trailer it and of course for the crossmember/handbrake so my offer will remain. We will see, but good call regarding Headcase. . Cheers Scotte.

[Essex2Visuvesi]

Crossmember replacement is not that difficult. I did mine on the driveway

I would suggest if funds allow have a spare set of rear arms at the ready. I went for a full set of hard race rear arms. But a refurbed set would suffice.

[james_ly]

Sounds like a good deal even if you have to pay for the subframe to be replaced. Low mileage facelift engine, fresh subframe; will make a solid car that shouldn't need much non routine maintenance. I quite like the green ones too

[K T M Rider]

Advice at the ready.

But before I go wading in with my size 9s i'm just trying to understand your motivations a bit more......

Would you be intending to have this car AS WELL AS your curent MR2 or INSTEAD OF ? 

[Chilli Girl]

As well as - I don't want to ruin the daily! 

[K T M Rider]

Thought so !

Here we go then........

Would you be wasting your money on a £500 MR2 ?

Definitely not. Can't really get much cheaper and they will always be in demand - complete or for spares.

Would you be wasting your money transporting it?

Not really. Kind of comes with the territory at this end of the market. Someone on ebay covers kent for £1.20  a mile so not extortionate for 100 miles.

Would you be wasting your money paying someone else to fit a subframe and handbrake cables ?

Well if your objective in buying this vehicle is as follows:

What little money I have.  I would really love to work on a 2, use it as a learning curve & try to save garage costs long term!............. 

Then it does rather look that way to me   

By way of a comparison If I wanted to go racing I'd probably much rather spend my money paying for circuit entry fees than spend money getting to circuits just to watch OTHER people racing, so if you are buying a car to do car maintenance on, why are you considering spending a significant amount of money so that SOMEONE ELSE can do some maintenance on it ?

So what if it (eventually) could do with a subframe and handbrake cables (before it can be legally returned to the road)?

They are just the reason the car is cheap. 

And what's the rush exactly, when you ALREADY have an MR2 ?

So, buy the car, get it home and then don't even think of spending a penny on mechanics fees, spend money on TOOLS (and also you could do alot worse than get yourself a Toyota repair manual)

Then just start with the simple stuff, a basic engine service:

Plugs
Air Filter
Oil filter
Oil

Then Brakes

remove and clean calipers / brake bleeding / remove discs (replace or if ok just repaint centres maybe)

Then whatever takes your fancy.........

Remove full exhaust ? (Cat would need to come off for subframe anyway  )

Remove and inspect radiator (cheap to replace and fairly often required)

Bleed coolant

Etc. etc. Etc.

The point is it's not about what the car "wants" it's about what you want - which is to learn car maintenance.

So put your time money and effort into that, not into mechanics fees.

And then  - as if by magic - one day you might just feel ready to consider tackling a subframe replacement   

 

[K T M Rider]

Hmmm .... On reflection that's maybe a touch ranty 

In my defence I read this thread this morning then spent most of the day with it going round my head while driving.

Ah well 

[bigjeff5591]

"bit ranty" but spot on - if you have garage space, prictice / learn on something you care about, - should be fun, not a chore, as KTM Rider says, breaking for spares should cover cost if it all goes pear shaped !

[Chilli Girl]

Thank you that really is excellent advice, really appreciate that.  Sadly, I haven't heard back from the seller yet but I see it's still for sale.  He clearly wants as much as he can get for it but you never know he maybe in contact soon as money is better in his pocket and get rid than having it hang around abit longer.  I'll keep you posted and cheers again for the reply and help.  If I take it on, I'll no doubt be posting every minute for loads of help but getting that manual will help and the right tools for the job!

[Joesson]

Sorry Jane, late to your thread, but I have mentioned on here previously that if you have the enthusiasm to learn basic car mechanics it is a good move to spend the "Garage fee" on a basic set of tools and then add to them on an -I need that to do this basis. With my recent experience I really wouldn't call KTM Rider's thoughts "ranty"!

PS see the shout box about ratchet spanner's on offer at Lidl!

[Chilli Girl]

Well, the seller has been in touch - £500 and it could be mine!  I want to now arrange for it to go to Headcase if he was able to get it back on the road and then I could drive back to my home.  Anyone knows him well enough or details so I could discuss further with him?  Need to sort out getting it there, any advice please?  I'm getting abit excited about this now?

[Joesson]

@Chilli Girl - I suggest you put this request on the Shout box Jane.

[1979scotte]

@Chilli Girl - I suggest you put this request on the Shout box Jane.

PM him Jane he is very very busy.
Currently rebuilding mine then a 2zz plus everything else he has to do.

[Joesson]

@1979scotte  - I think you may have got it right that time

[1979scotte]

@1979scotte  - I think you may have got it right that time

Was feeling a bit sorry for you after TFL got all over your thread.
Not so much now.

[Chilli Girl]

Update on the little green 2.  I've been in touch with Headcase and he is very kindly going to view it on my behalf tomorrow afternoon so he will give it a good going over and get back to me to say it's worth having or not. (Thanks to Scotte for recommending).  I have already thought of a name for it, sorry girls and gals, I like to name my cars, as you know. IF it's going to be mine, he's going to be called "Kermit", yeh very original!  I'm hoping there isn't another one called that on here, apologies if there is!  Anyway, update in a few days.

[Call the midlife!]

Hmmm, I'm sure there's a Kermit out there already, it's the island green one with the full body kit. Brother/sister to the smashed up Sable?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Treboeth]

Danny Joice calls his Kermit, but that is a very different animal indeed.


Unless you are going to mod her Jane.