[Uridium]

Ongoing argument on many a forum I know but as a daily driver which would you go for?

An MX5 or an MR2 roadster...

Not interested in alternatives...it's going to be one of these two....

[imightbewrong]

MX5s normally get suggested when someone wants anything from a sporty weekender to a family car - hard to see it losing this one

Friend of mine has an MR2 as his only car - never costs him any money and is a lot of fun from my passenger-seat perspective

[GBDG1]

The MX5 has one big advantage - a proper boot!

Not that I am biased

[alexs2]

I have a couple of friends who've had one of these each.

Apart from the boot space issue,it would be difficult to choose as both are totally reliable,cheap to run and well made.

[tonyrees687]

I think the MR2 Mk3 looks a little old, MX5 not dated to much

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by tonyrees687

I think the MR2 Mk3 looks a little old, MX5 not dated to much

Oddly that's the reason i favour the MR2 over the MX5 at the moment, i think the MK1 and MK2 MX5's looked dated whereas i don't see that on the MR2...

Lack of boot doesn't fuss me either...Have got a 7 seater people carrier for lugging stuff around and we are both used to using motorbikes for commuting..

Really looking for something fun and interesting for me and the wife to take turns in driving to work and back, me in the daytime and her at night.

On the motoring forums the petrolhead types all rave about how good a 'drivers' car the MX5 is yet in car reviews the MR2 is usually praised just as highly if not more so. Maybe the level of forum 'love' for the MX5 over the MR2 is just because it was out way before the MR2?

[Anastie]

My wife has had two MR2's in the last 6 years. She went for a change last year and bought a Z4.

I have not driven an MX5 but I prefer the look of them to the MR2. I think the boot, the interior and equipment levels outweigh the MR2. I hated the MR2 not having aircon. Even with the roof down I would have liked aircon!

The MR2 interior had lots of hard plastics.

However both MR2's were extremely reliable and economical. Great fun to drive and sweet gear change.

My preference would be an MX5. My wife would say MR2 without any hesitation

[GBDG1]

The other thing to say is, have a drive of both.

If you go for an MX5 then look for a Mk2.5 sport. They are identifiable by their 6 speed box, heated leather seats, bigger brake calipers, better suspension and Limited slip diff. (The gear box and heated seats are usually the give away)

As an alternative you could go for a Euphonic, which has an LSD, but not upgraded suspension.

I can't remember all the reasons why I didn't consider the MR2, it was probably insurance related among other things.

One thing about the MX5, for a lightweight and fairly small engined car, they are not super economical. You can expect less than 30mpg from the 1.8 and a bit more from the 1.6. Also tax is fairly expensive at £260 p/a (no idea what it is on the MR2)

[wack]

Don't be tempted to get an MRS , a friend had one, the gearbox packed up and nobody could fix it, not even the specialists in the area because heir computer wouldn't talk to a Japanese import

I'd say MX5 , I've had 2, both over 15 years old , never spent a penny on either of them , there's a reason it's the worlds biggest selling sports car

[RobM]

Given the choice of either, it would be the MR2. There really isn't a wrong decision here, as all the plus points for one applies to the other, but the more modern looks, build and tech' of the MR2 would win it for me.

The MX5 has the cult following for very good and is universally respected, but the MR2 can match it toe-to-toe in every regard in the real world (i.e. away from internet experts). You really can't lose.

[NewBeetle]

Originally Posted by Uridium

Not interested in alternatives...it's going to be one of these two....

cough "early TT roadster" cough oops couldn't resist sorry.

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by NewBeetle

cough "early TT roadster" cough oops couldn't resist sorry.

Don't like German cars....or French for that matter. No rationale behind it I'm sorry to say...just an irrational dislike Nothing to do with Reliability or price either...i just have a BIAS to Japanese and (rather bizarrely I know) Italian Cars/Bikes

Must admit...half my steering closer towards the MR2 is caused by the........ get this particular trim model of MX5 with this suspension setup, this diff, these brakes, these wheels etc... bit too petrol head for me I'm afraid...

Quite like the old fashioned car hunting simplicity of looking for a plain simple MR2 that's in best nick, lowest miles for best price.......they are all virtually the same. Either it has leather and AC or it doesn't is your buying choice.

[GBDG1]

Originally Posted by Uridium

Must admit...half my steering closer towards the MR2 is caused by the........ get this particular trim model of MX5 with this suspension setup, this diff, these brakes, these wheels etc... bit too petrol head for me I'm afraid...

You don't have to, but they are more desirable and hold their value better. The differences are nominal unless you're doing track days or really pushing the car. All models have the same power, so it's quite a similar driving experience.

[un1eash]

Originally Posted by wack

Don't be tempted to get an MRS , a friend had one, the gearbox packed up and nobody could fix it, not even the specialists in the area because heir computer wouldn't talk to a Japanese import

I'd say MX5 , I've had 2, both over 15 years old , never spent a penny on either of them , there's a reason it's the worlds biggest selling sports car

It wasnt a semi auto by any chance was it? These were known for their faults and should be avoided. Manual gearboxs are like any other and can be easily refurbed or swapped out.

ps. I vote MR-S, been trying to get my financee to get one for years. Ive had my mk1 MR2 for 7 years now.

[Epicurus]

Another vote for the MX-5!

[Uridium]

Just to throw a spanner in the works i've been offered a mint 2.0 turbo Astra convertible..no not as fun as an mx5 or mr2 but it's mint, cheap and ridiculously practical for a convertible having 4 seats and a decent boot....aagh

even though the practicality really isn't important to me it does make me think..:-(

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by Epicurus

Another vote for the MX-5!

Because you have an MX5 or have you driven both?

[KyleS1]

I would vote for the MX5. It's a great fun car to drive, or be a passenger in.
A mate had the MR2 and it was twitchy as hell to drive, especially in the wet. RWD, very light, and wet dont mix well in it.
The MX5 is more practical, and although you have a 7 seater, it would be nice to nip to the supermarket in it and be able to buy more than a box of corn flakes.

[inkafone]

Engine in the MX5 is old technology - I got 37MPG from mine (1800 Mk2 140BHP) on long journeys - consumption goes right down over 4K revs on the motorway (needs a longer 5th - 6 speed box isn't much better). The MR2 has the better engine (cats in exhaust manifold need removing or bits of them can get sucked into the engine....) and is over 100kg lighter. Both cars drive better with a hard top on - Mazda has more luggage space - Toyota has the engine in the right place. Facelift MR2 just edges it as a SPORTS car.

[Dude a llama]

I bought an MR2 about 2 years ago, its on a 51 plate with leather and air con, done 80,000 miles,everything works and is still tight as a drum. The interior is still like new, has a sweet gearchange and drives nine tenths like the Lotus Elise I used to own, it just doesn't get driven as much as I'd like 'cos of kids!

It gets a thumbs up from me

[DOBLY]

I'd go for a late model (2006 or 2007) Toyota MR2 6-speed manual - model code W30.

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by DOBLY

I'd go for a late model (2006 or 2007) Toyota MR2 6-speed manual - model code W30.

Sadly out of budget Looking at 3.5k max...

Off to look at a few 51/52 plate cars today

[wack]

Originally Posted by un1eash

It wasnt a semi auto by any chance was it?

It was , last I heard it was parked on his drive going nowhere

[un1eash]

Originally Posted by wack

It was , last I heard it was parked on his drive going nowhere

Yup, when they go wrong it cost a bomb, its usually the pump and cost around £2000 to fix which in some cases just isnt worth it. Main thing to remember is avoid the SMT MR-S.

[Wild Weasel]

I prefer the Mk2 MR2 to be honest. There's a Mk3 just up the road from me and it just looks like a Porsche Boxster rip off.

[KelvinS1965]

Whichever you decide, try to remember your original premise of 'cheap roadster'. I've just gone through a similar process, only I was planing on spending maybe £3.5-4k on a tidy BMW Z3 2.8.

I couldn't find what I wanted and ended up spending nearly 2k more than I'd planned. I set my heart on a blue one and when a mint Blue 3.0 turned up I went to have a look, just to see what the dearer 3.0 was like, with no real intention of buying it...The other 'compromise' options were considered long and hard, but in the end I thought that I'd only regret buying a colour I didn't like with the smaller engine, just so I could have a convertable (never owned one before). I'm picking mine up on Saturday and can't wait, even though I'm lucky enough to have a brand new 320d Touring for work the idea of an 11 year old convertable is more appealing.

I hope you manage to find a good example of whichever car you decide on. Ask lots of questions before travelling to view as many seller's idea of 'mint' isn't necessarily what yours is.

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by KelvinS1965

I hope you manage to find a good example of whichever car you decide on. Ask lots of questions before travelling to view as many seller's idea of 'mint' isn't necessarily what yours is.

Yes I've looked and test driven 5 so far...none quite fitting the bill. Still trying to find the right one

It's a 3rd car though so I'm in no rush. The right colour/spec/condition car will pop up at some point

[KyleS1]

Originally Posted by Uridium

Yes I've looked and test driven 5 so far...none quite fitting the bill. Still trying to find the right one

It's a 3rd car though so I'm in no rush. The right colour/spec/condition car will pop up at some point

Absolute best attitude to have when looking for a car!

[Uridium]

Found one. 03 Facelift Model, 60k miles and utterly mint...

[NewBeetle]

Originally Posted by Uridium

Found one. 03 Facelift Model, 60k miles and utterly mint...

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Noice, how much did you get it for if you don't mind me asking?