Have N/A converted or Import Turbo?

[n52]

Wondered what people thought would be the best option for me.

I have contacts in the jap industry so I could get a turbo imported fairly easily. A fresh turbo I would probably be looking at around £5k.

I could have my current UK N/A converted for around £2k. my only concern is the condition of UK cars compared to the Japanese & their non salted roads. I would worry I'd get it converted and in 3 years time it will be rusted to death (even though it's currently in good condition)

With a conversion it would also increase the rarity factor of the car as it's a rev 5 and would become one of the few rev 5 turbo's (and a conversion)

I'd also need quite a few other bits on the NA to pay for like the insurance (based on conversion), declaring to DVLA etc

What are peoples opinions?

[jimGTS]

japan still salt there roads in certain areas.
where those areas though i dont know.

dont "assume" because its an import it will have no rust!
its not like every mr2 in japan is pristine, they are not.

in 3 years time the import could also be rusted to death!

sure you are more likely to find less mileage and generally less wear and tear, but they are an old car now.

gone were the days when people were importing over 30k mile models that were near new (compared to 70-100k mile uk cars).
the condition and mileage has been levelling out these last few years imo.

if you go with a specialist, insuring a converted car shouldnt be a problem.


guess it comes down to, would you rather an import over a converted car.
i sure as hell wish my converted car was a geniune rev4 import turbo, but alas, i bought on condition and modifications i was interested in. it just so happened to be a converted car, so ive had to deal with it.
saying that, im now appreciating the history i have of it, less toys, so less weight and the oem alarm.


by the way, this is coming from someone who used to own a genuine modified rev5 import turbo! rare as rocking horse do dar.

[craig]

If you're at a fork in the road, I'd go for a genuine MR2 turbo over a converted car.

A fresh import from Japan will be in much better condition than a UK car.

You could always remove your rear speaker covers, and

a) check for the sponges in the inner sill
b) shine a torch down into the inner sill and check for rust.

I personally would go for a genuine MR2 turbo though.

[juliankv73]

If you're at a fork in the road, I'd go for a genuine MR2 turbo over a converted car.

A fresh import from Japan will be in much better condition than a UK car.

You could always remove your rear speaker covers, and

a) check for the sponges in the inner sill
b) shine a torch down into the inner sill and check for rust.

I personally would go for a genuine MR2 turbo though.

+1

I totally agree with Craig.

If your car is a minter, then the bonus of converting this to a turbo seems good, but then youve got to factor in the costs involved.

Plus nothing beats a Factory JDM turbo car, you can still get low mileage MR2 turbo's both in this country and in Japan, just got to be patient for thr right one to come along.

But as Jim says, they wont be silly low mileage by virtue of the age of the car, but buying on condition is paramount.

Jim was fortunate to purchase a minter of a car, that the previous owner had forked out the initial cost of conversion.

When I had mine done, back in 2005 I left some £6.5k there for the conversion and additional (New& used) parts, plus retro fitting air-con =now not working .

Now the prices have come down for conversions as people sway towards the V6 conversions or 2.2 stroker engines. But theres always a place for the 3sgte

The other bonus of buying from Japan is that you can can either specifically look for a bone stock turbo or go one with a few goodies or with engine and supporting modifications according to your wish list or potential use for the car.

Unless your lucky a converted car will get a few nicks, scratches etc along the way due to the amount of work involved in the conversion..mine did lol.

Nothing beats that tight feeling having all trims nicely in place, no trim pieces missing or rattling from turbo wiring going in or shakes and rattles that wouldnt be there on a nicely sorted JDM turbo.

If I had a choice of a JDM turbo or my converted car, as much as I love/hate my car (more love usually, but hating at the moment lol), then I would still prefer a sorted JDM Turbo..

[2mad]

I would still prefer a sorted JDM Turbo..

If you can find a nice one jdm its the way to go, i would go rev3+ no mods if possable, mabe exhaust and airfilter no boost controller, checking the actuator hoses were standard and the owner hadn't just removed boost control and fitted any old vacuum hose to try and fool you.

Good luck

Ps. after doing the usual body work checks already stated , look for service history, cam belt change, water pump change, clutch change ect.. find a good'n

[gavsdavs]

They don't underseal the JDM imports (do they?)

(Mine wasn't undersealed - worth looking at)

[2mad]

They don't underseal the JDM imports (do they?)

(Mine wasn't undersealed - worth looking at)

Underseal is a bit of a tricky one, it could be mint underneath and undersealed to keep it that way , It could a disaster underneath and unsealed to hide the rust.

Mine was not undersealed and i could clearly see it was mint

[MR2 Rich]

If I was doing it again with a budget of around 5k. I would build one from a mint turbo shell with a forged engine, then at least you know there isn't anything hidden.

[jimGTS]

Mint condition car and new forged build for 5k?

Maybe if you built the engine yourself.

[MR2 Rich]

Mint rolling shell about 300.
Forged 3SGTE built from scratch made under 2500.
Donor car for parts 1000
Labour 1000.

[n52]

He's probably not far off. I may well go with Rogue motorsport as their packages start at £1200 engine bundle with £900 labour.

[gavsdavs]

I would be impressed if you can find a genuinely mint shell for £300.
If there is any rust you're spending at least that on fixing it up...

[craig]

Mint rolling shell about 300.
Forged 3SGTE built from scratch made under 2500.
Donor car for parts 1000
Labour 1000.

My mint rev 3 turbo tintop shell was a non rolling bare shell, panels missing, no body loom, no interior/struts/or windscreen, I sold it for £200.

£5K for a fully rebuilt, mint, forged engine MR2 turbo inc. labour is extremely optimistic.

[MR2 Rich]

Mint rolling shell about 300.
Forged 3SGTE built from scratch made under 2500.
Donor car for parts 1000
Labour 1000.

My mint rev 3 turbo tintop shell was a non rolling bare shell, panels missing, no body loom, no interior/struts/or windscreen, I sold it for £200.

£5K for a fully rebuilt, mint, forged engine MR2 turbo inc. labour is extremely optimistic.

No it is isn't.
Just because you got 200 quid for you shell doesn't mean it was worth it.
For my fully rebuilt engine with second hand block and CT20b with everything new from Toyota except forged pistons and Exedy clutch was around 2500. That included taking the engine out and putting it back in and all machine work and parts, I helped take the engine apart and cleaned up the new block and sump etc.
There was a white Tbar Rev3 on here with a blown engine for 800 quid earlier this year.
I know what I would be charged for swapping everything over from one shell to another which is 1000 quid.
So I think around 5 grand is spot on. Maybe a mint shell would be a few hundred more than I said but that would be about 5k.

[GeorgeL]

Mint rolling shell about 300.
Forged 3SGTE built from scratch made under 2500.
Donor car for parts 1000
Labour 1000.

My mint rev 3 turbo tintop shell was a non rolling bare shell, panels missing, no body loom, no interior/struts/or windscreen, I sold it for £200.

£5K for a fully rebuilt, mint, forged engine MR2 turbo inc. labour is extremely optimistic.

No windscreen?

[gavsdavs]

You can't assume much on cars of this age. Everything is old/deteriorating/reaching end of life.

Would always budget over what you think its going to cost....

[tsango]

Yeah reckon the issue is in finding a decent turbo that's not been hacked to death.

I purposely bought a UK car that was totally UK original, then had it converted. I could then ensure that all the parts that needed replacing in the engine were replaced (such as crank bearings), and get some upgrades at the same time, like the Intercooler.

However £2k won't cover that unless you're doing it yourself.

Surely if your car is decent now, then if you look after it, it should be just as pristine in 3 years time. I expect mine to be better in 3 years tme, as I replace trim parts and keep on top of any body work.

[tsango]

He's probably not far off. I may well go with Rogue motorsport as their packages start at £1200 engine bundle with £900 labour.

I'd be amazed if you only handed over £2100..!!!