Should I buy it......

Discussion and technical advice for 84-89 AW10 & AW11 MR2. 3A-LU, 4A-GE, 4A-GZE.

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jrleech
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Should I buy it......

Post by jrleech »

I've been looking around for a while for a mint Mk1 NA in Helios blue. None of them are.

I went to see one yesterday morning in Sunderland which was very clean, it had 42,000 on the clock and had spent 11 years in an air conditioned garage doing 2000 easy miles a year. Problem is the current owner used it as a daily driver for 18 months, and while it's very good, both rear arches need sorting (they're not bad, but they've started to rust), there was a small spot at the bottom corner of the drivers door (on the sill under the hinges), and there were quite a few noticable scratches etc.. That was £3200.

Went to see another one last night which has 47,000 miles, and it is rust free. Problem is the lacquer is peeling in places, and so several panels will require rubbing down to paint and respraying. The other problem is that there's a dent in the roof just off the front drivers side corner of the sunroof, and an L- shaped ridge at the opposite corner (passenger rear).... it looks like someones rested something HEAVY on the roof with one corner making the drivers side dent and the other end resting on the sunroof, pushing it down at the passenger rear corner. I guess it'll push out from the insde with the lining off (it's not creased, only pushed in), but that, plus the panel respraying and it's adding a lot to the £3500 price.

I'm not paying £3200 for a car that needs rust cutting out and welding, so the first one is out of the window. I'm still tempted by the second car.... what do you guys / gals think??

Am I being unrealistic? There's a white one down the road (for a change!) which is a £3k low mileage one, but it's white, and I hate white. I could live with it if I sprayed the bottom half silver...... Might stretch to a Dark Mica Blue one...

Cheers,
Jon
un1eash
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by un1eash »

3.2k and 3.5k seems on the high side. I only payed 1500 for mine in april and people say its a minter. It has no body rust anywhere.
kevin..in
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by kevin..in »

'fraid the descion is ultimately yours but for 3K plus i would be really picky. for the dent prob try http://www.dentdevils.co.uk/ I saw the result of their work yesterday on a MK1 rear quarter panel I had seen where the dent was previously but couldn't point to the spot afterwards
jrleech
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by jrleech »

The thing that annoys me is that every car I've been to see has either been quoted as mint, almost concourse, or the best I've seen. I'm getting tired of driving half way across the country to find that I can spot several expensive to fix problems within 20 seconds.

There are a lot of £3k+ cars on the MR2DC website, most of which have very low mileage, always garaged etc... I'm reluctant to even bother seeing them at all, as I'm now getting into the mindset that they won't be as described in the adverts.

I'm sure I'll have changed my mind again tomorrow once I've had some sleep, at the moment I can't even be bothered to look any more :(

Cheers,
Jon
Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve »

I would say the second car is worth going for,as you say there are not many Helious blue ones to look at anyway!
I don't mind white mr2's,if the white one is that good might be worth having the bottom half sprayed silver!

If you are prepared to look at mica blue then obviously that would widden your search for a minter!

I'm suprised that the first one has rusted that much,even though it was a daily runner for 18 months.
Sounds as though the rear arches have not been cleaned out enough!

Even though mine is a jap import,every time i wash it i make sure i spend time cleaning out the rear arches,some people forget them!
Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve »

jrleech wrote:The thing that annoys me is that every car I've been to see has either been quoted as mint, almost concourse, or the best I've seen. I'm getting tired of driving half way across the country to find that I can spot several expensive to fix problems within 20 seconds.

There are a lot of £3k+ cars on the MR2DC website, most of which have very low mileage, always garaged etc... I'm reluctant to even bother seeing them at all, as I'm now getting into the mindset that they won't be as described in the adverts.

I'm sure I'll have changed my mind again tomorrow once I've had some sleep, at the moment I can't even be bothered to look any more :(

Cheers,
Jon


I suppose it's how fussy you are!
My dads car i would say is a minter,i have been over it many times and can't find anything wrong with it!Maybe you would!
No good for you as it's red!
jrleech
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by jrleech »

Mk1Supercharger SE Steve wrote:
I suppose it's how fussy you are!
My dads car i would say is a minter,i have been over it many times and can't find anything wrong with it!Maybe you would!
No good for you as it's red!


I wouldn't mind if I was REALLY fussy, but it's things like easy to spot rust, obvious scratches or dents, ripped seats etc..

Anything that's won a concourse competition is probably beyond by level of pickyness :) No, I couldn't buy your dads car, as 1. it's red, 2. it's a bit expensive for me, and 3. Your dad would have kittens when I put a Janspeed , alloys, springs, koni's etc.. on it :)

Quite fancy the Dark Mica Blue again now, Helios blue has become common at Tatton park as all the Mk1 club members have bought them and they all show up!!

Cheers,
Jon
anna
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by anna »

Over 3 grand with rust.... now that is taking the mickey....

I know what you mean by people not advertising properly. When we were looking for a good second mk1 (after finding the typical faults with our first) we went all across the country trying to find a decent one. It was topped off by some ebay idiot (who apparently 'deals' with mr2's) tried to pass off an 'immaculate' mk1 - floorpan was crumbling (into our hands), rust on arches, poor respray - hell it didn't even have a boot lock! immaculate my a**e!
tbh you should be able to pick up a good condition lowish mileage (say 80000) for no more than £2000.

We ended up finding a really good example on the Isle of Wight, but sold it on 1 month later as a SC came up that was too good to pass up. Body work was A1, 90000mls, £1700.
Not bad, but in mica blue ;)
Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve »

So your not after a totaly standard car!
Sorry but i thought that was what you were after.

I agree that it would seem a shame to see a car ,that is ready for showing,to have a Janspeed put on it but i am considering that on my sc!
jrleech
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by jrleech »

Mk1Supercharger SE Steve wrote:So your not after a totaly standard car!
Sorry but i thought that was what you were after.

I agree that it would seem a shame to see a car ,that is ready for showing,to have a Janspeed put on it but i am considering that on my sc!


I am after a standard car, because the standard ones are usually in better condition than the messed with ones. I'm happy to buy one that's already got the Koni's, Janspeed, Alloys etc... but they tend to have been driven hard, and usually aren't in that good condition compared to the 'show cars'.

Mine will be a modified 'show car' :)
jrleech
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by jrleech »

anna wrote:Over 3 grand with rust.... now that is taking the mickey....

I know what you mean by people not advertising properly. When we were looking for a good second mk1 (after finding the typical faults with our first) we went all across the country trying to find a decent one. It was topped off by some ebay idiot (who apparently 'deals' with mr2's) tried to pass off an 'immaculate' mk1 - floorpan was crumbling (into our hands), rust on arches, poor respray - hell it didn't even have a boot lock! immaculate my a**e!
tbh you should be able to pick up a good condition lowish mileage (say 80000) for no more than £2000.

We ended up finding a really good example on the Isle of Wight, but sold it on 1 month later as a SC came up that was too good to pass up. Body work was A1, 90000mls, £1700.
Not bad, but in mica blue ;)


Found a 80,000 mile Helios Blue in Autotrader, and it's local!! Might go and have a look, the guy has owned it for 13 years!

I do like the Mica Blue, makes polished alloys stand out much better than the Helios blue due to the contrast difference.

All the really good Mica Blue ones seem to be SC's.... I might have to buy an SC, and fit an NA engine and gearbox :)

Cheers,
Jon
ppmr2
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by ppmr2 »

hi jrleech :D

i dont suppose you would be interested in a grey metalic na would you ?
as there is a chance i may be selling mine in the very near future.

drop me a pm if interested and i can give you more info

cheers

ppmr2 :mrgreen:
Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve »

jrleech wrote:
Mk1Supercharger SE Steve wrote:So your not after a totaly standard car!
Sorry but i thought that was what you were after.

I agree that it would seem a shame to see a car ,that is ready for showing,to have a Janspeed put on it but i am considering that on my sc!


I am after a standard car, because the standard ones are usually in better condition than the messed with ones. I'm happy to buy one that's already got the Koni's, Janspeed, Alloys etc... but they tend to have been driven hard, and usually aren't in that good condition compared to the 'show cars'.

Mine will be a modified 'show car' :)

Only thing i can say is,it won't be standard if you change the car,as soon as you change anything,it will not be standard,as if it came out of the dealers!,as my dads car is,except for the non Toyota battery!
miss mk1

Re: Should I buy it......

Post by miss mk1 »

To be honest they both seem pricey - i would want a pearler for that much! absolutely perfect!

Mine was £1800 - no rust, near perfect bodywork but lots of miles on the clock

i dont mind though as i plan on swaping engine anyways

T x
jrleech
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by jrleech »

I think I've been talked out of / talked myself out of either of those cars... you're right, they're not worth the money.

Just phoned the one in Autotrader, usual suspects when it comes to bodywork, so I've left it... at least the guy was honest!

Might end up with a Metallic Grey Import NA though :)

Mileage isn't an issue really, it's the bodywork that's the issue with Mk1's. Engines are cheap and bullet proof. Glad you got a good deal Miss Mk1 :)

Steve... I don't want to own a standard car, I want to buy a standard car, then mess with it. I've no desire to enter real concourse events, as they're far too anal for my liking. I do like the 'show and shine' events where a tidy but modified car can win a prize or two....

Cheers,
Jon
kaiowas
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by kaiowas »

For 3k+ I'd want nothing less than perfect bodywork and 50k miles tops. Any visible rust and I wouldn't pay more than half that. My mica blue only cost me £1500 with 140k, wouldn't say the bodywork is perfect as there are a few dings and touched up bits of paintwork but it's entirely rust free having had all 4 wings replaced in the past and everything comprehensively waxolyed.
tamiyauk
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by tamiyauk »

Hi Jon,
Just read your thread and thought I'd let you know that I'll soon be selling my MK1 Supercharger Coupe, it is a white over silver 1989 F Reg Hard top (the best handling for stiffness) and is in my Gallery photo. It is in excellent condition without any rust and has been garaged by myself and the previous owner when unused. I have had it for 18 months and the previous owner had it for 4 years prior to that, he was the first owner after it's import. The car interior is in excellent condition and I have just replaced the centre console for a nice shiny nearly new one. I shall be taking additional photo's soon to start the selling process. The non standard parts are just:
Magnex stainless steel exhaust
MK3 Alloys and nearly new Nakang Ultrasport NS2 tyres (7 -8mm tread remaining) and I still have the original tear drop alloys that the buyer can have with the car.
Momo steering wheel + original if required.

I have taken this car on the Castle Coombe track day sessions as organised by Peter Scatchard and it has had a total of 2 x 15 minute track sessions in the spring and 2 x 15 minute sessions this September just gone, it drives faultlessly and is very quick and fun but now I have got the track day bug I feel the need to upgrade - but not this car! It is very close to original and I want to sell it that way, my next purchase is probably going to be a MK2 Turbo with uprated shocks which will be my next track day car.
This car is not used daily as I have a family car (Renualt Espace) I use to and from work most days unless it's great weather in which case it would be a sin not to take the MR2.
The car is I believe one of the lastest MR2 Superchargers made having a high level brake light, retractable mirrors and working Aircon (I have had it charged once but it needs a recharge). It has the original toolkit and flare that the Japanese put in their cars, it was de-restricted when imported so does not bleep at a certain speed (I think 100kmh). It also has a single slot CD player and radio.

The bad points:
The speedo does not work, it is stuck on 57803 miles, I estimate the car has about 70,000 miles in total from what the old owner told me and the mileage I have put on the car.

I am after £4500 for this and am not in a rush to sell as I don't see myself without an MR2 either way, if your not interested no worries and good luck with hunting the Blue one :lol:

All the best,
Jon
MegatronUK

Re: Should I buy it......

Post by MegatronUK »

Paul Woods has a very nice Helios blue that he's restored. Give him a shout.
jrleech
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by jrleech »

Jon: Thanks for the offer, but I want an NA, I don't like the Superchargers. Sounds like a nice car though.

MegatronUK wrote:Paul Woods has a very nice Helios blue that he's restored. Give him a shout.


I went to see Paul Wood's Mk1, in fact, I'm the reason it's got a full set of Poly Bushes and new ball joints, as I sent them to Paul before viewing it, then when I got there I was far from impressed with it. So that ended up costing me over £600 including paying Paul to fit them, so I'll not be doing that again. The car was mechanically sound, but it needed both rear arches doing, there was rust on the drivers door sill, there were easily visible dents in the passenger door, and the interior needed replacing. It certainly wasn't what I was expecting.

My search continues.....
PW@Woodsport
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Re: Should I buy it......

Post by PW@Woodsport »

jon i was hoping to avoid any sort of conflict about this car but i wont have its condition slated on a public forum,the rear arches on this car certainly do not need replacing,they are as solid as they come,there is no exterior rusting at all,only the underside lip had a few blebs on it when you came which has since been rectified,they are now perfect.The bottom door post rust that you found (and i missed i hasten to add) has also since been repaired.Ive also taken care of the 3 dents you spotted so that the bodyshell is perfect...and i resprayed a full side of the car...i would call this over the top work for 3 small dents in the door but being a bodywork person its nothing for me to sort.

I described that car as the best helios t-bar id seen at the garage which is totally true,i never once said it was perfect...yes the interior needs work,i told you that prior to coming up,it needs a radio surround,a new gear gaitor and a drivers seat.....thats not a new interior required so i resent that comment.

Now its my turn to say something,you are far too over critical and your price expectation is not even in the right ballpark,a mk1 with superb bodywork (which is everything on a mk1) can easily fetch 2k,add perfect mechanicals to that and they can sell for £2.5k,now add the fact its a rare colour/roof combo....i'll be blunt,the car you are looking for doesnt exist for the money you want to spend.I dont want an argument mate,but likewise i wont have someone insinuate that i falsely advertised a cars condition or mislead you in any way.

As you said when you came here,you should have viewed the car before making any sort of decision,i stand by what i told you- re the cars condition,its since been improved following your comments and a set of bridgestones on very good alloys added.

I live in the real world where i know the difference between these auto trader "mint" mk1s and cars that are genuinely good...you'd think i was selling a scrapper the way you talk about it,ive seen many many mk1s in less than perfect condition sell for much more.

I hope one day you find the car you are after,i really do....nows the time as prices for mk1s have dramatically fallen recently,good luck mate.
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