THSCC Forums

I have been looking for another Miata and ran across a MR2 second generation. Are these as reliable as the Miata? I don't have the time to tinker with it all the time...however, I want it to be fun and it will be autocrossed.

Any suggestions on other vehicles that fit this criteria?

Thanks

David

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96 Cobra...street car
94 Miata M Edition ES HCDD Panasports

In a word, No.

Honestly, there isn't much out there that is more reliable than a Miata, so don't let that deter you...

Les Davis (who will probably chime in) had a 91 NA and a 91 Turbo (formerly owned by Shawn Whipple) that I co-drove. The NA spun a rod bearing and eventually got a TRD short block. The Turbo got a new TRD shortblock and a rebuilt turbo. I believe Jack Hall's car ended up with a new engine also (His used to belong to Jonathan Roberts - ES Natl. Champ)

As for Les's cars, both were 100K+ mile cars, so neither one was exactly a spring chicken.

The MR2 is a very rewarding car to drive, but it is not forgiving of mistakes, certainly not in the Miata way of doing things.

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Tom Freeman
'98 M3/4/5 | '93 Spec3 325i | '12 TSX sport wagon | '03 Tahoe
Team Silver Bullets '91 240SX

Just to clarify, these were not TRD racing built short blocks, these were stock part number Toyota short blocks I got through the Toyota contingency program. I'd hate to be accused of running a built bottom end engine in stock class.

The 2nd gen MR2s do seem to have some issues with bearing failures in the mid 100K miles range. I don't think it affects all of them, but I certainly have heard of many. Probably depends on oil change interval over that time frame and driving style. Essentially the same engine as the N/A MR2 is used very reliably in Camry's and Celicas of the same vintage, so it must have something to do with the cornering forces the MR2 is capable of generating. Other than bearing failure the cars seem to be pretty reliable though.

For years I ran my Miata R at autocrosses. Last season, and what's happened so far of this season up here, I've been co-driving Jason's 1993 MR2Turbo. The biggest thing I've had to get used to is the dang BOOST and having to get on the gas earlier than I think I need to. Other than that, I find it a blast to drive.

We just put the big Suspension Tech. front bar on it and whoa! is that fun on a dry airport course. Not really such an improvement on a wet parking-lot course on Hoosiers, but that might not have had anything to do with the bar.

For those that know my history, I HAVE NOT spun this car yet. I've always heard that they are very prone to spin. Don't know why that is (that I haven't spun it). Maybe I just know how to countersteer properly from all my experience in the Miata.

Jason's has been very reliable. (knock on wood) It's not daily driven except for sunny days once it's done snowing for the year, and it doesn't get HPDE time.

YMMV.

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Diane (Hall) Bundas
1992 Spec Miata #48 - 1997 Chevy Tahoe - 2007 Honda Civic Coupe

Ask Jim Pastorious. He's got 1 of each. You'll have to be very patient and search hard in finding a deal in the price range you want. Those kind of deals don't fall in your lap.

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“I feel safer on a racetrack than I do on Houston's freeways.” - A.J. Foyt

Kevin Butler
Mobetta Autosport Spec E30 #612
2003 C5 Z06 Corvette
AFR Miata, SM2 61, '93 w/200 SC'd RWHP - soon to be resurrected
Waaaay too many other projects....