AM I WASTING MY TIME???

[Lauren]

Whatever money you throw at an MR2, you won't get back, particularly so if you stuff a MK2 engine in it

i built my 1.5 for about £3k (including bodykit,suspension,brake upgrades,interior and wheels) and sold it for £5k

Yes but you didn't factor labour into that. Plus you got all parts at cost.

[PW@Woodsport]

factor £2k labour in then ,your statement still isn't true.... 1.5's don't lose money lauren,only uncompleted or abandoned projects do

[firstmk1]

Running an old car is fine but you have to remember that everything that makes up the car is wearing out so over the longer term you could find yourself spending money just to keep it going rather than tuning it.

I take the view that my car is worthless so everything spent is money gone. I wish I'd kept it standard and bought something else after a year or so but everything seems obvious afterwards.

If you dream of a different (attainable) car then I'd spend as little as possible and plan to change.

[Lauren]

factor £2k labour in then ,your statement still isn't true.... 1.5's don't lose money lauren,only uncompleted or abandoned projects do

Well i've got to be honest Paul, not all 1.5 conversions go for 5K. Even if you sell the car for 5K, given that its cost 5K to do, you've lost money unless the car itself was free in the first place?

My point was that for most people, if you spend lots of money modifying a car, you won't get the money back. If you buy a standard car with the performance you want and leave it stock, then you will get a better return as a rule.

[andyj]

It's easy to make money on a mark 1 - you just have to be good at buying and good at selling cars!

I've had two - kept each for a few years and sold each for more than I paid for them ...with little running costs in between. Sold my last G reg NA after couple of years at 80K miles for £2350. Missing it like hell now though. Not so much missing the BMW 330ci was running at same time (which lost about £4K in value over same period).

You don't realise the value of a Mark 1 until it's gone. After selling it I tried going along to club meetings in another car but all the magic of a shared experience with everyone else was gone.

So keep or sell it ...but you'll still look back as it being one of the best car's you've ever owned. Why do you think so many people go out and buy them again?

[Lauren]

It's easy to make money on a mark 1 - you just have to be good at buying and good at selling cars!

I'm not arguing about how much fun the cars are btw. I've restored a Mk1 and run it for a year and not lost any money, so a years free motoring is pretty good in my book. What i'm saying is that if you start modifying its much harder to recoup the outlay.

[PW@Woodsport]

Well i've got to be honest Paul, not all 1.5 conversions go for 5K. Even if you sell the car for 5K, given that its cost 5K to do, you've lost money unless the car itself was free in the first place?

that particular car was £1000,i thought we were talking about money spent on making it a 1.5,not the actual cost of the car...our spray painter got given a mk1b last week for free and there are any amount of £100 cars out there that you could start with that will make perfectly good donors.

I agree not all 1.5's go for 5k,but my point is if you spend the money correctly with the right mods and the car looks stunning then someone will always give you a good return for your efforts.

But i take your point,a lot of money spent on cars doesnt increase its value,ive just found doing a 1.5 conversion considerably raises its value (provided the rest of the car is up to scratch).

[Quigonjay]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/161605.htm

the 2.5 boxter wont actually be that much faster than the mk1, might have an extra 80hp but also weighs 300kgs more

[ENSMR2]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/161605.htm

the 2.5 boxter wont actually be that much faster than the mk1, might have an extra 80hp but also weighs 300kgs more

There are however many track orientated (obviously aftermarket stuff) Boxters out there that can be purchased. All done by professional companies. In fact I was looking at one (not to purchase, literally looking) the other day.

[Speedy]

*cough*
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOYOTA-MR2-TURBO- ... dZViewItem
*cough*

£1952, only £3048 short

[HT]

*cough*
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOYOTA-MR2-TURBO- ... dZViewItem
*cough*

£1952, only £3048 short

He was trying to flog that for ages - love the bit about the bushes Even the exPW's mk1.5 (abet needing some wrk by all accounts) was sold recently for under £2k.

Not sure where these £100 bargain *cough* 'rust buckets' are coming from but ebay is the place they end up on (in bits). Good grief I would hate being linked to an auction such as above - who the hell buys a rust bucket then adds an engine with a 250bhp power to weight ratio engine, with crap suspension!!!

[Charged]

Well after being insured on my 'rust bucket' 1.5 for just 1 day, I can assure you it was worth EVERY PENNY of the £4k + I've spent on it. EVERY PENNY!!!!


Porsche Boxter..? PAH, The 1.5 will eat them for breakfast

To all the doubters - why dont you have a drive in a 1.5 before making negative comments.

Ki's 1.5 sold for 4k + recently as far as I know.

Please get back in your 1.5 hating boxes now

[Speedy]

LOL, ok. It's not a 1.5 hating thing, it's just checking that I could sell one for £5k, after spending less than that on it.

[tonigmr2]

Well after being insured on my 'rust bucket' 1.5 for just 1 day, I can assure you it was worth EVERY PENNY of the £4k + I've spent on it. EVERY PENNY!!!!

Please get back in your 1.5 hating boxes now

Ollie, I didn't read it as anyone hating 1.5s, only questioning their £5K price tag. Sure the odd minter goes for that, but the majority do not. It's only a simple principle of what you spend on modding you do not get back, unless you are quite lucky or handy enough to do it all yourself to a high standard.
T

[HT]

Well after being insured on my 'rust bucket' 1.5 for just 1 day, I can assure you it was worth EVERY PENNY of the £4k + I've spent on it. EVERY PENNY!!!!


Porsche Boxter..? PAH, The 1.5 will eat them for breakfast

To all the doubters - why dont you have a drive in a 1.5 before making negative comments.

Ki's 1.5 sold for 4k + recently as far as I know.

Please get back in your 1.5 hating boxes now

Everything in moderation Ollie - my opinion was based upon an example posted not your £4k example.

[waynestoyotamr2]

Whatever money you throw at an MR2, you won't get back, particularly so if you stuff a MK2 engine in it.

Do you think I am onto a loser Lauren, considering I picked up my 1.5 ready to go for £1900 ???????

I dont think I will lose too much money on that!!

(if I take it easy with the right foot anyway!)

[waynestoyotamr2]

factor £2k labour in then ,your statement still isn't true.... 1.5's don't lose money lauren,only uncompleted or abandoned projects do

Well i've got to be honest Paul, not all 1.5 conversions go for 5K. Even if you sell the car for 5K, given that its cost 5K to do, you've lost money unless the car itself was free in the first place?

My point was that for most people, if you spend lots of money modifying a car, you won't get the money back. If you buy a standard car with the performance you want and leave it stock, then you will get a better return as a rule.

This point, on the whole is totally irrelevant, as nobody is building Mk1.5's to sell on! People are building them for themselves!

Apart from Mr Woods, who is doing it to other peoples cars.....

[David Sleith]

Well I have a S/C a 1.5 and a N/A.

They are all good and have different qualities attached to each.

I enjoy working on the 1.5 and get a great satisfaction knowing its all my own work even if its not mint.

Wether its restoring, modding or just plain driving the 2 the main thing is to enjoy it.

My 1.5 donor cost £120 and having spent prob about £3k on it I couldn't care less if it ends up in the scrapyard next week. I have had a smile on my face since the minute I cracked open the spanners.

[HT]

Well I have a S/C a 1.5 and a N/A.

They are all good and have different qualities attached to each.

I enjoy working on the 1.5 and get a great satisfaction knowing its all my own work even if its not mint.

Wether its restoring, modding or just plain driving the 2 the main thing is to enjoy it.

My 1.5 donor cost £120 and having spent prob about £3k on it I couldn't care less if it ends up in the scrapyard next week. I have had a smile on my face since the minute I cracked open the spanners.

Spoken like a true enthusiast

[tonigmr2]

Whatever money you throw at an MR2, you won't get back, particularly so if you stuff a MK2 engine in it.

Do you think I am onto a loser Lauren, considering I picked up my 1.5 ready to go for £1900 ???????

I dont think I will lose too much money on that!!

(if I take it easy with the right foot anyway!)

I don't think the guy who built it is feeling that though do you? I think that was Lauren's point - you can't build them and expect them to fetch £5K as a matter of course.
T