I've found a 1985 Toyota MR2 that I am going to go look at on Saturday (pending). I can pick it up for $1000 cash

*82,000 original miles
* 3 owners - first owners didn't drive it much (older couple), second owner had it till 62k miles, probably didn't do the 60k maintenance (timing belt/water pump?), and he has it now. Always did oil changes brake pads/rotors basic inflation
* No problems, body looks perfect, no rust, interrior is very good as well
* New tires, battery ,alternator. Muffler will need to be replaced (original muffler). Has new CD player w/aux for MP3 players

I just picked up (first of March 2006) a Honda CRX (1990 DX). It's been a blast compared to my primary/original car, a Monte Carlo SS (2000), which I still have. I do not want to keep both the CRX and the MR2, so I would replace the CRX, which I could probably get $1200-1400 with the work I've put into it (gaskets/plugs/cap/rotor/seals/lights/upgraded stereo/gabriel hatch struts)+ upgrades (SI drivers seat, Si wheels), and transfer the insurance, so I would have a few hundred off the bat to put into what the MR2 needed.

Anything to look for on an 85? Seems like a deal if it drives right, which I have been invited to do. I have a Toyota Mechanic going with me, who used to own an MK1, so that will help.

Thoughts? The CRX is a lot more practical as it has storage space, Honda fantastic parts availability, and I haven't seen too much of that on the MR2.

I do not drive like a nut, and when I drive 'spirited' it is alone, in good weather, at low speeds/high cornering... MR2 seems like a good car with a good learning curve to master >


But I really like my CRX... argh... what to do? I do not plan on racing either, and I think the reliability nod goes to the CRX, or am I mistaken? Let's keep this factual.

 

eww, mid engine cars are gross. i have found that the farther back in time you go, the more maintenance the car generally needs. which is obvious.. but i draw the line at 88 now. i had a 84 prelude and a 70 nova, and i spent a lot of my weekends fixing each of the cars so i could get to work. but you have a new car anyway.. is it one of the supercharged mr2's? i dont know much about them.

i also have an abnormal dislike of rear wheel drive cars, but that is because it snows were i live.

i would say if it is a supercharged mr2 that actually runs and doesnt smoke, you may have found a gem, but i dont think i personnally would go for it, but my situation is a lot different from yours.

 

I owned a 1st gen MR2. They are fun little cars. Probably one of the best handling cars of the era. They aren't without their problems though. Rust is a biggie. Mine looked great on the outside, but had body rot on the A-pillar post (where it joins the firewall.) You will want to have the car on a lift to verify the body's integrity. The other issue is that they are kind of a PITA to work on. The engine is not easily accessible and because of its design some maintenance items can be tedious.

The 4age is a good motor for sure, but they are completely gutless. The aftermarket is there, but it'll never be a B16 (unless you get a 20v or supercharged motor or something.)

The thing is...you have already invested money into the CRX.....and you are looking at buying an even older car that will likely require more work. It would suck to lose the investment of time and money you've already made in the CRX and have to start over again.

The CRX has the potential to be everything the MR2 could be...and be more practical in the process. The aftermarket is more plentiful and parts are easier to come by. I say stick with the CRX.

 

I would jump on that mr2

 

I hate you guys. I mean good points all around.

The CRX I picked up cheap (~870) because the hood flipped into the windshield. New hood, no more leaks, and no rust anywhere means I should be able to get 1200-1400 depending on how much people care about the body (has dings and dents and clear coat is coming off, though it is the metallic blue/almost turquoise, kind of rare). Anyway, I think the mid-engine would be interesting (though I've read about how little to no warning before it loses on you re: cornering), and RWD I've never had before... I am soooo tempted to squeeze it financially and keep both, but my girl would flip...I think... I would probably have to take her out to a really nice $100 dinner or something, heh.

I've heard good things about the motor. It is not turbo or supercharged, just stock with upgraded head unit (radio).

My CRX still needs more work though. It needs a front end alignment, new windshield, and lastly, input shaft bearing, as I get grinding when I coast in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, little bit of 4th, and none of 5h gear... I can do the tranny myself but that's 11 hours of work, and the windshield = ~250 for install + glass + moulding + guarentee, $100 for alignment (right)?

So it needs work still.

p3

 

stick with the crx, mr2's are great cars but a major pain in the *** to work on, and shops rape you on repair costs if you cant do it yourself.

there is nothing like working on a honda. My dog (a yorkshire terrier) could do it

 

This CRX is the first car I've ever worked on (beyond tires/windshield fluid =P), and it has been silly easy. Will have to talk to some Toyota biased people and see what they say too...

more input!

 

I had an 86 mr2, they are fun cars, mine had a different suspension ( cant remember for the life of me what) I tracked it some it was good in the twisties but dog a$$ slow on the straights, and definately not as reliable as my crx's. they all seem to have oil leaks, brake rotors are hard to find and they are like 50 bucks each, all the parts are more expensive and harder to find.but if the timing belt breaks your ok because its non interfence.

 

Thanks for the input justin'. The 85 stock isn't that slow, 8.9 0-60. Brakes can be changed over to MK2 brakes with not much work, but yeah, parts worry me... though the Motor in the Mk1 is supposed to run forever, even with the leaks, which I've been learning about.

Thanks for the input.

 

What do you think your long term plans would be for the CRX? Is it just a runner thats great on gas or your fun car? As for the MR2, I found out Toyota makes things easy to maintain but its hard to find out how to approach. The starter for example on some MR2's (newer) that I've worked on look like a bitch to do but if you just take off the passenger side wheel its cake to get the starter bolts. If you wanna start autocross those MR2's are really good for winning PAX times because you can stay in a stock class and still get a good raw time. You can also take those cars to there limit on the streets (I mean backroads not street racing) unlike other cars and have a lot of fun driving it. CRX's are fun too and I myself think this would be a tough position to be in if I had the same opportunity.

 

I'm really a keep it stock kind of guy until I am more established in life. I just want something that corners really well and has 'ok' acceleration. The CRX is roomy compared to the MR2. Yeah it is a tough position, thanks for your input. No AutoX in my future.

 

I recommend getting the MR2 if you like a sports car. It may be slightly older, but you're getting rear wheel drive, a rear engine car. What other cars can do that? The NSX, and many RACING cars out there. I made a topic on this a long time ago and I decided to keep my MR2. Not only is it better in corners, faster on track (probably not the best in drag because of various techniques needed to make it perform better), but is not as hard to work on as most people are saying. If you have ANY car repair or slight knowledge of cars and have any common sense whatsoever, these ARE NOT MUCH harder to work on than the CRX or any Civic for that matter. All the problems you'll get are common for any car it's age, and if you treat it right, you'll come out a winner. There are PLENTY of parts for the 4AGE (the engine that also exists in the Corolla, AE86, and other similar cars). Sure the Civic's CAN be built to do incredible things, but they literally are a dime a dozen (counted over 30+ in various places and literally saw only ONE MK1 MR2 coming home from a mall 40 min away). If you want to stand out, and have quite possibly a great auto-x, track, drag, or drift car, choose the MR2. That's my $0.02. If you want to ask more questions, you know how to reach me.

 

One of the big car magazines (car and driver i think) did an article comparing the CRX, MR2, and (don't laugh) Pontiac Fiero. Look for that, I believe it was in 88.

 

head over to MR2OC.com and look some stuff up

i had a MKI with a 5sfe engine in it and i loved it, never drove one with the stock motor though

im a big guy too (bout 275 lbs) and i fit pretty nicely in there with no problems, it got about 37mpg and was pretty peppy

like i said i never drove a stock one, but i liked the one i had

 

Thanks for the input gents. I'm going to go test drive it and look it over.