Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Discussion and technical advice the SW20 MR2. 3S-GTE, 3S-GE, 3S-FE etc
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xxlukexx

Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by xxlukexx »

Hi all,

I've been lurking here for a few weeks, looking for info for buying an MR2 turbo. This weekend I went to see imoc member Benny P and bought his black rev2 off him http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=49922

I've just sorted out insurance, I've got an alarm being fitted tomorrow and I'm picking the car up tonight and I can't wait!

Anyway, I wanted to introduce myself here, and if anyone has any tips on driving one of these things for the first time (other than treat it with respect, which I have already seared into my brain in preparation!) then I'd love to hear them.

Cheers,

Luke
jimGTS
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Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by jimGTS »

if its wet/raining, dont go planting your foot sharply when going round a bend.....(or roundabout for that matter).....until of course youve learnt how the car feels and handles....
xxlukexx

Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by xxlukexx »

jimGTS wrote:if its wet/raining, dont go planting your foot sharply when going round a bend.....(or roundabout for that matter).....until of course youve learnt how the car feels and handles....


Duly noted. I'm going to take it very easy for a good few weeks/months and keep my wits about me. I like the car too much to risk crashing it!

Cheers,

Luke
ICEMAN

Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by ICEMAN »

Hi mate and welcome. Good advice from Jim there. Just take it very easy as it looks like it will be a horrid wet journey. Just thought I would add mr2,s do wheel spin in 3rd in the wet as I found out. So its not to wise to open it up :)
SW20Paul
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Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by SW20Paul »

nice looking car mate :)

Fastest colour as wel 8)
Charged
IMOC Committee
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Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by Charged »

be careful in all road conditons, its now Autumn, they'll be all sorts of sh*te on the road which could spin you out, gravel, wet leaves etc etc... remember its a powerful rear wheel drive car not a FWD fiesta. Take it easy!
Most Tubbies get written off this time of year.
If you can't see the angle, you're in trouble.
xxlukexx

Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by xxlukexx »

SW20Paul wrote:
Fastest colour as wel 8)


That's what I thought! :-)
L0rdMike
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Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by L0rdMike »

ICEMAN wrote:Hi mate and welcome. Good advice from Jim there. Just take it very easy as it looks like it will be a horrid wet journey. Just thought I would add mr2,s do wheel spin in 3rd in the wet as I found out. So its not to wise to open it up :)

Are your tyres made of paper or something?
adam3442
Posts: 606
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2005 3:11 pm

Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by adam3442 »

ICEMAN wrote:Hi mate and welcome. Good advice from Jim there. Just take it very easy as it looks like it will be a horrid wet journey. Just thought I would add mr2,s do wheel spin in 3rd in the wet as I found out. So its not to wise to open it up :)


Your not wrong there fella, found that myself the other day! Need toyos for the rear
GeoffC320
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Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by GeoffC320 »

adam3442 wrote:
ICEMAN wrote:Hi mate and welcome. Good advice from Jim there. Just take it very easy as it looks like it will be a horrid wet journey. Just thought I would add mr2,s do wheel spin in 3rd in the wet as I found out. So its not to wise to open it up :)


Your not wrong there fella, found that myself the other day! Need toyos for the rear


That won't stop it spinning if you've got enough power :mrgreen: ...not that I have to worry about that anymore since I sold mine :-k
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Scott Barton
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Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by Scott Barton »

Welcome to the site mate and to MR2 ownership. Hope the love affair grows and grows!
Sorted your link out by removing the brackets. It now works when you click on it rather than cutting and pasting. :wink:
IMOC - winners of JAE best overall club stand 2010, 2013, 2014 & 2017!
1994 GT-S T-Bar 397bhp with NOS *sold*
2016 Porsche Cayman 981GTS 347bhp Flat Six
xxlukexx

Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by xxlukexx »

Just got in from picking the car up. It's brilliant, I'm very, very happy!

I've been taking it very easy at the moment, but that's partly why I wanted a faster car - you can drive slowly and smoothly, then if you want to get past someone or go for a gap the power is there.

I know turbo lag is a bad thing, but I really like the way the power comes in a bit after you put your foot down, and I like the way it builds the longer you hold it.

Not going to go on too much as you all know what they're like to drive. It's enough to say that this car is going to keep me happy for a long, long time.

One last comment...I really like the sound it makes when it starts, it's so cool that all the noise comes from behind!!

Thanks to everyone who replied for all your advice and encouragement. I'll post another update once I've had another play tomorrow.

Cheers,

Luke
jmachling
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Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by jmachling »

Sounds like you're going to fit into MR2 ownership juuuuuuuuuuuust fine :D

Good attitude towards the car's power, nice respect for the car as a whole - keep it up! Good members make IMOC what it is.

I've had my tubby for just over a year and I've learnt SO much from these pages. Read as much as you can and do as much maintenance yourself as you can. Learn the oily bits to save many £££s!

MR2s should carry a government health warning, though - they're seriously addictive!
Mikejc
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Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by Mikejc »

Welcome to the club and congrats on your new Tubby ;)

Mikejc
xxlukexx

Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by xxlukexx »

One more thing - I've just been searching for info on the gurgling noise coming from the engine when I stop. Can't seem to find a consensus on this, so I wonder if anyone can answer these questions?

1. Is it doing any harm to the engine?

2. Is it an indication that I should have let the care idle for longer before I turned off the engine?

3. Is the turbo in a Mk2 rev2 cooled by oil or water? Cos I've heard that it's oil-cooled turbos that really need idling, whereas for water-cooled ones it isn't as important. Also, if the coolant water is what's cooling the turbo, I can see much more easily why the coolant might bubble when I stop, but if the turbo is oil-cooled this means that the engine itself is heating the coolant to such a high level.

From reading past posts on this I'm not worried as it sounds fairly common, but if anyone can answer any of those questions I'd be really interested to hear it.

Cheers,

Luke
Quigonjay
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Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2005 8:43 pm
Location: Blackburn

Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by Quigonjay »

1. No
2. No
3. Oil AND water cooled :wink:

the gurgling is completely normal
xxlukexx

Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by xxlukexx »

Thank quigonjay, that's *exactly* what I wanted to hear!

Cheers,

Luke
ICEMAN

Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by ICEMAN »

L0rdMike wrote:
ICEMAN wrote:Hi mate and welcome. Good advice from Jim there. Just take it very easy as it looks like it will be a horrid wet journey. Just thought I would add mr2,s do wheel spin in 3rd in the wet as I found out. So its not to wise to open it up :)

Are your tyres made of paper or something?


I will call Good Year and find out what they make there Eagle F1 tyres out of then mate. Im quite sure its not paper though ](*,) :lol:
ICEMAN

Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by ICEMAN »

adam3442 wrote:
ICEMAN wrote:Hi mate and welcome. Good advice from Jim there. Just take it very easy as it looks like it will be a horrid wet journey. Just thought I would add mr2,s do wheel spin in 3rd in the wet as I found out. So its not to wise to open it up :)


Your not wrong there fella, found that myself the other day! Need toyos for the rear


Yeah mate was quite a shock :shock: . I have Eagle F1,s on aswell and they are good tyres :lol:
ICEMAN

Re: Picking up my first MR2 tonight!

Post by ICEMAN »

xxlukexx wrote:Just got in from picking the car up. It's brilliant, I'm very, very happy!

I've been taking it very easy at the moment, but that's partly why I wanted a faster car - you can drive slowly and smoothly, then if you want to get past someone or go for a gap the power is there.

I know turbo lag is a bad thing, but I really like the way the power comes in a bit after you put your foot down, and I like the way it builds the longer you hold it.

Not going to go on too much as you all know what they're like to drive. It's enough to say that this car is going to keep me happy for a long, long time.

One last comment...I really like the sound it makes when it starts, it's so cool that all the noise comes from behind!!

Thanks to everyone who replied for all your advice and encouragement. I'll post another update once I've had another play tomorrow.

Cheers,

Luke


Glad your happy mate. Look forward to you update :thumleft:
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