I'm at a point where I am really lusting after a turbo car again. I went to a track event yesterday and rode in a turbo MR2 that was incredibly fast and still was on the stock turbo. I'm considering selling my car for one but there's always the option of just turboing the miata.

Here's how I see pros/cons. The miata is lighter and has a better suspension, and is a convertible. It isn't comfortable since I had to put in race seats and it will probably cost 3-4k to turbo it to about 200-225hp from what I can tell. Also it's a pain in the *** using the 3 point belts with the race seats, doesn't have cruise control, power windows, power steering, or working A/C, so getting to track events is sometimes painful.

The MR2 is pretty light (27##) and handles decent stock and has a good bit more power. It's probably only a 2-3k to get one after selling my car, and then upgrading at least the brakes for track duty.

I imagine things will be biased here, but I'm curious what you guys think. My car handles well but it's just slow on track and I'm ready for something a little quicker, yet still reliable and fun.

 

MR2s are porky little things. 2700lbs, jeez.

 

Do you have any fab skills? That's going to make the turbo Miata route better beecause it will be a lot cheaper if you can make parts.

 

I highly doubt you can leave an old high mileage turbo car stock without replacing and upgrading a bunch of things to reliably track it.

That said I love MR2's. Such a great car. Just not something I'd consider tracking over a miata. Miata is cheaper, has cheaper parts, lighter, and easier to work on. Getting 200hp out of one is a piece of cake.

I'd get an mr2 for street/daily driver use. Not track. Just my .02

 

For cereal. Miata for track *****

 

Miata by far. Cheapness, reliability, ease of work, and above all, SUPPORT! From what I've learned, there's not that many people tracking them, and a forum like this is a huge help which it apparently doesn't have.

 

clean turbo mr2's are hard to come by and expensive, at least they are around here

 

Lol @ the poll. This site is not biased AT ALL.

Seriously though, turbo mr2 are amazing. But imo, the turbo miata is a better track car in every way.

 

The way I'm looking at it is this. There's a MR2 nearby that's 6k, and it needs probably $500 worth of work I'd guess and has had a lot of maintenance done. Then there's turboing my car, which requires a good bit more money. Even if I sold mine for 4.5k I'd still be ahead and have a more comfortable car on the street, where it would primarily be used with only 3-4 HDPE's per year.

 

Looks like you've got your mind made up already. You're just looking for confirmation

 

I wouldn't give up the convertible aspect. Too nice during the spring and fall. Going fast costs money. Eventually you will see an MR2 at the track that yours could be like, and then it's all over. better brakes, suspension etc. etc. Basing this decision on money when "track" is involved isn't a good idea.

I vote miata. I think you can do a 200hp miata for under 2k if you watch the for sale thread and have patience. Leave suspension alone and get sticky tires.

Alternately, I still believe slow can be fun. Just be the fastest of the slow. Don't get a turbo, and put money into suspension and tires. Maybe a megasquirt to squeak every drop you can out of your naturally aspirated goodness.

 

Mr3

 

The miata already has coilovers and newer azenis on the stock wheels, and does well against other slow cars. Even being "king of the slow cars" doesn't do much for me. haha. I'll keep an eye on the classifieds though in case some amazing deal comes up.

 

Seriously, you are asking such a question on MIATATURBO forum?

Of course a turbo Miata, but in all honesty, a turbo MR2 has always been one of my "dream cars" in the affordable and realistic category. Nearly bought one once, but talked myself out of it because I knew it would be a money pit... so I bought an RX7 with 200k+ miles on it instead. I would still to this day LOVE to own a clean MR2, but finding them like mentioned before is tough. I see this one guys dark grey MR2 turbo every time I go to a friends house. Always shined up nicely, not sure if he ever even drives it. Been tempting to stop and ask if he wanted to sell it and how much if so. More than I could afford, pal. MR2 styling is just so damn sexy, inside and out.

 

Yeah, I knew it would be biased but I thought I'd get some opinions of guys that have already been down this road and how it's working out.

 

em r not

 

Around here clean ones like that go for 7+. **** that.
Such a nice car, but like the supra, the clean samples are getting more and more expensive with every year.

 

3SGTE is a hell of a motor.

 

no one has brought up that 2nd gen mr2 have a tendency to snap and spin you around.

 

Try posting this on MR2OC or something and show us what they have to say.