Torn between two , mr2 turbo or Subaru impreza WRX ?

[AdsMr23sge]

I'm currently in the market for a new weekend toy however I've narrowed my search down to two cars a mr2 turbo or a impreza WRX

However I've owned 2 previous n\a mr2s and I absolutely loved them but I have a thirst for more power but still a all round package performance wise

Never owned a WRX but heard good things

Now I know this is a mr2 forum but has anyone had any Experiance with both ? The only thing that worries me with a turbo mr2 is the handling as I know they can be very on off

Any advice or info would be great

[alanmr2turbo]

ummmm mr2 turbo or WRX?

No brainer, WRX all day.

[AdsMr23sge]

Interesting
And what would your reason you would have the WRX over a mr2 ?

[rev2rich]

Mr2 vote reasons

Scoobys are expensive to upgrade due to the engine design

Mr2 are rare to see

Scooby's gear boxes can be so short that it is like a fast and furious film ... Never ending gear change's

Mr2 handle better imo

[Al-sw20]

WRX’s aren’t even fast. Unless you have an STI model.

Good launch until the chocolate gearbox lets go. Zero top end, even th MR2 has better top end than a WRX.

[AdsMr23sge]

Out of both of them I'm definatly leaning towards the mr2 more, rwd mid engine always have heard good things about the mr2 turbos

Around 300bhp seems like the popular with the turbos if tuning a little which would be fine with me I wouldn't want much more than that for the road anyway I want all round good balance and drivability

So for a clean revision 3 onwards what sort of price will I be looking at?

Also these are getting on a bit now somewhat needs to be looked out for I presume rust is a issue ?

[aussieGT]

MR2 cos' MR2's are Toyotas.

(and way cooler in a daggy and older way)

But I reckon SW's are ageing much better than rexxies.

[androo007]

Always loved the WRX STI. Must be the classic shape though.

Anything else is meh

[paulharry]

I’ve owned a wrx sti prodrive
They are a great car as standard,280 to 300bhp(wrx220bhp)they are brilliant to drive as you would expect with the 4wheel drive system but they are a totally different car in every way to a mr2 turbo
If you want a car that is a drivers car,easy to work on,fast,scary at times,good looking,and in my opinion is going to be one of the future classics £10000+
Like the Sierra cosworth in the next ten years then I’d go for a tubby
If your seriously thinking of getting a Subaru you should think about the evo
as well
Anyone can drive a Subaru hard
A mr2 turbo takes a lot more skill and has to be respected more or it will bite you
But if you ask the same question on a Subaru forum I’m sure the Subaru would be preferable
Like I said two totally different cars in every way
If you go fo a mr2 look for rot behind the rear bumper near the wheels and the rear of the sills just behind doors and before the back wheels

[Rob]

For me it would be the MR2 Turbo every day of the week unless I was actually competing in a rally or if it were a daily driver.

It doesn't matter that as a point to point car the WRX is way better with 4wd because in the most important way of all, the WRX is lacking......

The MR2 demands focus, every drive feels like an event to me.
I get excited at the prospect of taking it out and I am still left buzzing for some time after a spirited drive.
That is why it is the one to choose, because it makes you feel like you have something special, something that takes balls to drive hard and keeps you sharp. It makes you feel alive.

From friends who have owned a WRX all I hear is that they are amazing to drive fast but unrewarding and none have ever kept them very long.

The MR2 was never designed with the intention of carrying kids or the shopping - the Imprezza base car was and the fast one has a numb soul for this very reason.

[Rob]

Oh I forgot to say - my car was an NA for the first 6 years of my ownership and it has been a rev3 turbo powered car for the last 10.

The Turbo engine transforms the car into something beyond your expectations. I loved my NA and agree that you long for more power but I never expected the difference between the 2 cars to be so great.

The Turbo (definitely go rev3+) is an absolute animal compared to the NA. It's like the difference between an Escort Ghia and an Escort Cosworth.

[CalMac]

Agree with Rob is saying at the 'event' of driving the MR2 - it feels special.

I came from a Bugeye WRX with 313bhp - went through 4 gearboxes in the 10 months of ownership and poured at least a few thousand into 'trying to make it an STI'. I'd strongly advise stumping the extra cash for an STI in the first place for this reason (especially if newage, just for the 6 speed box).

I also didn't think that it handled THAT well - even on relatively decent 245 Vredestein Ultracs it understeered and wasn't as 'unstickable' as I had expected. This was despite changing the suspension, ARB's, anti-lift kit etc. which was all recommended on Scoobynet.

My Rev 3 turbo is running a little less power and feels a LOT more mental - but in a good way! Keeps you on your toes, while also pulling hard still at higher speeds and pretty stable on the motorway

I do hanker after a V6 Classic Type R Impreza occasionally - but it would need to have the 2.5L (preferably forged) and 6 speed to really turn my head now. Breaking down and waiting 4/5 hours to be recovered when the gearbox sh*t itself got reaaaaal old after a couple of times!

[mrtwo-red]

4 wheel drive is grest if you can /are able to left foot brake as in ralling but not in the real world, a 4 wheel drive is the same as any other drive when you have your foot off the gas "no wheel drive "
myself and a friend did a track day at donnington and the sessions were stopped every time we wnet out as there was a car in the kitty litter ...yes you guess it an, evo or a scooby ? 4wd !

[SpecMR]

I've owned both.

On my 3rd Mr2, rev3 import Turbo. The Sti was a 2007 model.

The sti was a great road car, good for the school run, shopping, then blasting home, it was a great all rounder. The handling and 4 wheel drive is great. But, get ready for all the boy racers getting up your ar$e!

The Mr2 is faster, I know that comment will see some back lash but it just is. Probably not in the corners but off the line it is. I think the Mr2 is a rarer car these days and has the old school sports car look and feel which alot of people are looking for these days.

In short, both good cars but both have areas in which they are better, and worse than the other.

Classic result, personal choice will avail

[pbmr2]

had a classic wrx import with only about 280hp, was an easy car to thrash everywhere.
It was very dull until really chucking it about, it needed chucking about to get the best out of it. understeer and 4 wheel understeer are a real thing. Being happy with the tail hanging out and the throttle pinned is a must to get the most out of the scooby. At anything under flatout they are boring to drive.

The build quality of the cabin was terrible, it had a number of electrical faults with the engine sensors.
A mate had a P1, it was waaay better than the average wrx or sti. still had a crap interior though.

Mr2 turbo is faster, the cabin is nicer and they handle better down a twisty lane.. in the dry.
The toyota has a more reliable engine and gearbox setup, both car suffer rust these days.

Very, very different cars. The rally slags have a solid place in my heart but the mr2 is more fun to drive.

[AdsMr23sge]

Thank you for all your responses much appreciated

I've definatly decided to go for a mr2 like I've said before I have a had 2 n\a mr2s previously and I loved them , so a turbo is definatly something I want to try

For me to all about the overall driving Experiance and from what everyone is saying the mr2 seems much more of a special occasion aswell as the more rewarding drive , they look awesome aswell I love the seating position nice and low with a small cabin feels like a little race car

I'm after something in good condition that I can look after , stick in my garage through the winter months so how much should I be budgeting for to purchase a rev3 turbo onwards? The prices seem to vary alot at the moment

Also I will be looking to increase performance but I wouldn't want to go over the top and start forging engines etc so a safe power seems to be around the 300bhp mark? Breaks and suspension would be the first modifications I would do I think I'm getting ahead of myself here.. excited much lol

[markstevieandmads]

My rev 2 turbo easily pulled away from an sti scooby down the m4. We didnt do stupid speeds (obviously) but when we got on the slip road and off the motorway he followed me into a car park. Thinking he was after a fight, he just rolled down his window and said how impressed he was with my car and that he had actually been trying but just couldnt keep with me when pulling away lol

My rev 2 turbo was standardish then as well.

[Al-sw20]

Buddy of mine had a version 6 STI sedan. Quick car, my old ‘91 turbo with ct20b, exhaust and down pipe and 1 bar of boost would walk away from it on the highway with ease.

[alanmr2turbo]

Interesting
And what would your reason you would have the WRX over a mr2 ?

Firstly, youre going to get mostly the 'oh mr2 for life' since you asked the question on a MR2 site LOL same as you would get mostly 'WRX for life' on a Subaru site.

But for me if i had to choose the WRX is more practical more seating space, more doors and more boot space.

Oh and then there's the parts issues. For instance try finding an E153 gearbox. Few and far between and when they come up the prices are crazy.

Yes a slightly modified MR2 turbo may crawl away from a standard WRX but lets face it, roads have these things called bends in then and then it would be bye bye MR2 especially in the wet. Which will then bring the usual response of 'oh choose these tyres' Yep, choose those and you get in the corner quicker and also die quicker when they let go LOL

Then you have the rust to contend with although there are a few with no rust but few and far between.

I personally cant wait to get rid of mine even after all the work and money i've put into it over the last 10yrs+. It's probably a good 8 or 9 month since i drove it.

[Race Idiot]

Don't the Imprezas put less power down to the wheels due to extra power loss from the awd drivetrain?

Gotta admit I'm pretty envious of the parts availability for the Subies though, but thats got to be expected as they sold so many in comparison to the mr2.

Not knocking em though, I'm sure their great cars.