Newbie looking for a Mk1 + advice...

[microbike]

Hi there,

New to the forum, and to MR2s, but decided that it's the best blend of performance and value for a first time sports car/hillclimb fun car. Nice forum as well, well done all of you lot.

1. Can't see a 'cars for sale' section, but if anyone has one, please let me know. Seen a few on Ebay this week, but bit worried about buying 'blind'...

2. Also, ANY buying advice is most welcome. I know there are always model specific do's and don'ts, so please share your tips with me.

BTW - am based in the SW of England.

Thanks, Tim (microbike)

[Lauren]

Hi Tim,

I believe there are a few MK1s for sale in the 'Items for Sale' section, though a source where there are definately more MK1s for sale on the MR2 MK1 Club website:

http://www.mr2mk1club.com/forsale.html

The MK1 is a great car and get a good one and you will love it. But its also an old car, so there are a few things you need to look out for. The main issue is rust really. Particularly so around the rear wheel arches and the rear end of the sills where they meet the arch. I think its fair to say that nearly any MK1 that has good wheel arches will most likely have been to a bodyshop to get them fixed.

So really it becomes a case of making sure if the car looks good that repairs have been done well and it hasn't just been patched up with filler for the sale IYSWIM.

Mechanically the cars are quite robust, the main achilles heel being the cooling system to some extent as it needs to be filled correctly and with anti-freeze. Its the cooling system that causes headgaskets to blow and its normally because an owner doesn't fill it correctly or has a leak they are not aware of.

Also 5th gear pop-out can occur, so if you lift off while cruising in 5th and the gear stick moves more than an inch then you will have a problem in the making which wil result in not being able to use 5th gear.

Rear calipers are prone to seizing though a set of reconned ones neednt' break the bank.

Suspensionwise they are pretty good, though any car on original suspension will at best be tired by now.

aha found the buying guide which will save me typing all night and explains it more thoroughly than i can:

http://www.challoner.com/mr2/tech/mk1bg.html

HTH

Lauren

[Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve]

Lauren has covered most points but as long as you are not going to want to race the car on the track,i think the best option is going for a tbar!
They are so much fun in the summer,not so great in the winter because of leaks in the tbar but you can usually get them sorted!!
You might be lucky and get one without a leak but that is unusuall!!

All the mk1s are worth looking at but as Lauren said beware of rust! I doubht if you will find a car that is so much fun for the price!!!

[spudgun]

How do Tim, I noticed you were in the south west, and I am the regional organiser for the mk1 club in this neck of the woods. I may not be that local to you, but my contact details are on the mk1club site,
If I can be any help, get in touch.

[Lauren]

I wouldn't necessarily agree with you Steve!

I've had both and don't rate the t-bar. Mainly because the buffeting is so bad. When i originally bought a MK1 i held out until i found a t-bar, but 2 years down the line i found i never took out the t-bar panels.

But each to their own etc..

Worth bearing in mind that you will pay a premium for a t-bar car particulalry if it has leather. The leather wears badly and is of terrible quality and with a leaky t-bar it isn't exactly helped!

The coupe is cheaper in comparison and the cloth seats are far more durable. The coupe is also lighter and has better structural rigidity so handles better, though the t-bar doesn't exactly suffer in this respect.

The choice is yours i guess.

Lauren

[pistol supercharged pete]

Lauren has covered most points but as long as you are not going to want to race the car on the track,i think the best option is going for a tbar!

HA HA
very good steve
you know the best option is HARD TOP all the way:)
and manual windows of course:)

[Speedy]

One of the other weak points not mentioned is the sills - they go, and it's quite hard to check on a rev2 (with the skirts) without taking the skirts off, or getting the car up on ramps. It is fair to say that if you want to buy a mk1, then be prepared to budget for at least some minor welding and bodywork repairs.

Ours needed some welding and replacement rear calipers for it to pass it's MOT, which, while not hugley expensive, takes time to get sorted etc...

Once it's done though, it's a proper little go-kart even on tired old suspension.

[MegatronUK]

Top tip... if the sills are gone, mk3 Escort sills can be cut to fit very easily. We just did one side for about a tenner. They're not quite the right shape, but with the skirts on you can't tell.

[crazylegs]

how much money are you looking to spend? i will have one, maybe two for sale in the very near future.one with 117000 and the other with 70000 but a replaced low mileage fensport engine and a unichip(less than 2000 ago).give me a pm if you want to know more.

[waynestoyotamr2]

All I can add to this is make sure the quality of the rust repairs is good.

Get your hands in behind the arches and make sure there are no chunks of body filler or fibre glass.

Perhaps take a magnet and run it around the arch when you are inspecting the car, obviously, where the filler is, the magnet wont stick.

[disco stu k]

Hi Tim, ok everyone has told you all the bad points to watch for. Now the good, wether coupe or t bar, the glass comes out of the roof, which on a good day adds to the fun and responsiveness of this little 2 seater. They're relible, reasonable cheap to run once they're up to scratch and will make you grin! There`s just enough boot space for a weekend away or a set of golf clubs. And best of all, a fountain of knowledge here, it god forbid anything goes wrong, welcome and enjoy!

[Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve]

As you say Lauren everyone to their own but i love the tbar and as soon as the sun is out i take my top off not a nice sight soon shows i've had too many beers

[waynestoyotamr2]

As you say Lauren everyone to their own but i love the tbar and as soon as the sun is out i take my top off not a nice sight soon shows i've had too many beers

LOL Steve - you're not the only one mate!!!!!!!!!

[Tony jinxy froude]

Get a T-bar !!! they dont all leak.... mine doesnt, and in the summer with the glass off its wind in your hair motoring..................... well it would be if i had hair !!!! loads of fun for not loads of money, you can get a car which suits your money these days too, a £500 car will want work & probably wont have an mot but at least it should be drivable, £500 - £800 will get you a car with an mot, and a car which has had some work done but could use some improvement, £800 - £1200 will get you a great car, with average millage, probably T-bar, with slightly tired leather, but little or no rust on the arches and a car that you can use with little worry, £1200 - upwards, very low millage MK1 with excellent service history, no rust and generally been very well cared for or above £2500 for a supercharger, hope this helps & welcome to the world of MK1's, Jinxy

[jimi]

Good buyers guide here http://www.challoner.com/mr2/tech/mk1bg.html I'm on the T-bar side as well even good in the winter with the tops off.
hth

[Mike 'MR2' McHugh]

My advice.....get a mk2 ! *runs and hides from lauren*

[waynestoyotamr2]

My advice.....get a mk2 ! *runs and hides from lauren*

LOL - if you want a Mk2, buy a Ford Mondeo - the same size car, the same amount of fun, but cheaper!

[Lauren]

My advice.....get a mk2 ! *runs and hides from lauren*

Tsk!

tbh though if Tim is looking for a MK1 he's hardly going to look at a MK2 is he?

I get the impression that a MK1 buyer is quite different from a MK2 buyer or so it seems at least.

[PW@Woodsport]

ive got a fully bodywork restored white mk1 t-bar coming up for sale shortly(new wings/arches/sills),its awaiting fitment of a new windscreen before sale...i will post up details when its done.

[microbike]

WOW!
Loads of advice here for me, so thanks to you all. Lauren gets a lot of mentions! And you're right, a Mk1 buyer won't look at a Mk2. At the risk of upsetting someone, I will say that to my mind, the Mk1 was the pure MR2, in the same way that the early 911's are more sought after and more highly prized than the 1980's cars. I think this often happens in life, something about the first thing you do being the best, and often hard to improve on.
Oh dear, hope that's OK with the Mk2 side of the forum... hope you understand what I'm getting at.
Would of course love to see any pics or info anyone has of the Mk1's for sale out there. My dream options after reading all the advice would be:
* Sunroof/Coupe model (but open to offers here)
* Plently of service history inc. history of cambelt/service/etc
* An obviously 'loved' car
* £1000 price range (give or take)
* Nothing 'doggy'

So there we are!

Thanks everyone.

Tim