MR2 vs. MX-5 vs. Rover Coupe Turbo

[aaronjb]

I don't have a gay enough bone in my body (no pun intended) to drive an MX5

[adamshaw]

hi there, no worries PMkeates, just find the right car for you.

Right her we go i have an MR2 N/A - trying to sell it
MR2 Turbo Rev 3
and the wife has a MX5 1.6 MK2 i think - no pop up lights!

In my opinion - MR2 turbo out of the question as you stated! otherwise no contest

The MX5 is a great handling car and to be honest been a 1.6 i thought it would be slower than it actually is - pretty nippy considering although beign a smaller car the backend is alittle more happy. Advantages are you get the soft top.

MR2 N/A - great car, runs excellent and handling is very good....if you know how to drive rear wheel drive cars. Also wider wheelbase which helps. Running costs are average for a sports car, id say about 26MPG, whereas the Mazda you will get about 30MPG.

MR2 i would say has the better image, but the MX5 a quirky little soft top.
I agree with the comments about been a bit girly although it is prob people mainly been jealous....take a look at the MX5 owners club..alot on there are blokes.

However in my personal opinion i would still go for the MR2, ask the wife and she will say the MX5.

Think of it this way...both are excellent sports cars that you will have 100% fun out with.....its a win win situation.

Good luck

[WillyWonka]

what about an MGF?

[pete h]

Definitely don't agree with you there. I have not had 1 single comment from anyone in my work (engineering factory) about the MR2. One of my mates was thinking of buying an MX-5 and he got totally slated, i say again he was only thinking of buying one lol.

defo agree with you on that 1.

[Tain]

I have both - MX 5 J limited - Mk1 1.6, HKS cams, lowered gas adjustables, 15' wheels, strut bars, roll bar, lsd. Bit gutless at times, but the sideways makes up for it and having the roof of is just brilliant. Hell of a lot of fun, only problem with the MX 5 is someone forgot to think of the driver, little or no comfort/storage space etc, brilliant cars, great summer car, but even less practical than an MR2.

MR2 turbo - power and a diffrent sort of fun, no sideways and difficult on the limit. No less rewarding i find, but i'm always waiting on getting caught out and losing the rear. That will end in tears!

Despite both being sportscars, very diffrent animals!!

[matt_mr2t]

I don't have a gay enough bone in my body (no pun intended) to drive an MX5

You can't look hetrosexual in an MX5, fine if you are gay.
Same goes for MGF/TF saw some big butch guy driving one and it looked sooo wrong.

At the very least to drive an mx5 you need to be metro-sexual. But seeing as I'm stocky, bald with a hair chest I cant even pull that one off.

[jonb-]

I think the above his the nail on the head. It depends what you want. The MR2 is a GREAT car and a very FAST car on track but the MX5 will be more fun day to day.

I can honestly say in the icey wet conditions I had more fun driving a 1.2 corsa than i do my 2.

[aaronjb]

You can't look hetrosexual in an MX5, fine if you are gay.
Same goes for MGF/TF saw some big butch guy driving one and it looked sooo wrong.

At the very least to drive an mx5 you need to be metro-sexual. But seeing as I'm stocky, bald with a hair chest I cant even pull that one off.

I'm sorry but.. I'm just lost for words, frankly. That's the most ridiculous thing I've read in a while..

I guess you'd say the same about someone like me (stocky, bald head, hairy as an ape everywhere else) driving a Mk3?

[matt_mr2t]

I actually think the mk3 is alot less girly than an MX5 and an MGF so no I wouldnt say that at all.

[luthor1]

Just FYI, this is the most ridiculous thread I have ever read! It has degenerated into non-sense!

"Girlie car" "butch men" wtf??

[matt_bakermk1]

lol, funny comments guys!

Serioulsy though, the guy obvioulsy knows how he'll be perceived if he has an MX-5, so lets skip the issue of whether or not it's a gay icon-mobile or not (Mazda answered that by doing Jasper Conran Special Editions didn't they )

It's hugely irrelevant here as the quote refers to a mk3 MR2 and the latest MX5, but Peter Tomalin wrote in Evo immdeiately after driving the new MX5:

You'd have more fun in one drive in an MR2 than you would in a year with this

Like I said, irrelevantm but it amused me hugely

Back on topic...

Ask yourself 1 question first, cabrio or coupe?

Having worked that out you'll know whether or not to buy the MR2 or the MX5

Only consider the Rover if cost is more of an issue than the car you end up with. It IS a great car, but it wont give you the same driver satisfaction the others will, and it wont have the same long term reliability (although parts will be cheaper when it does break).

Good luck, they're all great cars in their own way, but they're also all very different so understanding what you want to get out of it the most should answer your query for you. If you choose MR2 we look forward to seeing you on here!

[LimeyMk1]

Another question that hasn't been asked is how tall are you? I'm 6'4" and find driving an Mx5 pretty uncomfortable, my size 11s get tangled amongst the offset pedals and it's a b1tch to get into.

As a driving experience though the Mx5's brilliant, I just wish they'd ditch the rubbish PAS!

[splashnatz]

going against most of the mazda traitors and gonna say MR2 - G Limited or UK GTi.

Get a girly roof one even (T Top). much more power than an mx-5 and MID-ENGINED ...

or , don't know if insurance would like it, what about a mk 1 mr2 supercharged import ?

[pmkeates]

Another question that hasn't been asked is how tall are you? I'm 6'4" and find driving an Mx5 pretty uncomfortable, my size 11s get tangled amongst the offset pedals and it's a b1tch to get into.

As a driving experience though the Mx5's brilliant, I just wish they'd ditch the rubbish PAS!

I'm 5' 8", but do have size 10 feet

Well, it's been narrowed down to an MR2 or a Rover Coupe. The MX-5's looks haven't appealed to me as much as the other's have as I've been thinking about it.

The choice now is:


MR2
-----
Handling and cornering performance
RWD (For 173hp, RWD is better in my book!)
Good looks and "mean machine" radiance
Will be more enjoyable to sit outside my house and clean


Rover Coupe
---------------
Astonishing straight-line performance
Cost (Purchase + insurance - in total about half that of the MR2)
No one suspects a thing from it


I suppose I'll have to think about it more. The best thing to do, really, is to go and see a couple of Rover Coupe Turbo's and a couple of MR2's. Drive them (This is hard to do at my age - no one trusts you!) and see what I prefer when factoring in an MR2 is twice the price.

Thanks so far!

[jimGTS]

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rev1/2s can be had for 1.5-3k in na form, depending on condition.....

[Scotster]

To be honest i wouldn't even think twice about it. Young guy with a 2 door 2 seater mid engine rear wheel drive car (preferably with T-top for the summer), or a .... rover?

Granted the rover is VERY fast but it just doesn't have anywhere near the same prowress, charm and looks as the MR2 in my book. The rover just doesn't have any character IMO.

Think about it this way, no offence, why is the guy with that CRACKING looking rover looking to sell up to get back to the MR2 life? The appeal of the car is amazing and once you have had one you will miss it if you get rid of it.

If you get the rover you will regret it eventually, if you get the MR2 you won't look back. In fact i guarantee when insurance allows you will be sitting in a turbo MR2 before you know it.

BTW this is coming from a guy who has only had one for 4 weeks and traded in his Evo V to get it! I will NEVER regret it!

Scott =oP