Cars You Never See Anymore

[High Voltage]

Mrs Voltz's daily driver

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Saw one of these out of the corner of my eye burbling around the streets of Wells (Somerset) this weekend just gone

View attachment 105877 Suits you Sir

 

[hash tag]

So, what's the MR2 like to live with in real life? Drive and hendle well? reliable?

 

[existentialist]

So, what's the MR2 like to live with in real life? Drive and hendle well? reliable?

If you say it quickly in French, it sounds a bit like "merde"

 

[A380]

The 124 Spyder fills that niche for Fiat now and nobody buys those! Also, it would almost certainly have to be a turbo which is more difficult (expensive) to package in a mid-engined platform. Which is also the reason why Toyota won't do another MR2.

The Spyder is just another little sports car (or the same one in the case of th MX5...) I think you are right about the turbo issue.

But I'd still like to see a tiny mid engined two seater non super car. But I almost certainly wouldn't buy one though, which is probably the problem...

 

[DownwardDog]

So, what's the MR2 like to live with in real life? Drive and hendle well? reliable?

I had a mark one 1988 MR2 and it was great. It revved forever, had go kart handling and was boringly reliable. It wasn't that fast though and was basically impossible to slide.

 

[DownwardDog]

But I'd still like to see a tiny mid engined two seater non super car. But I almost certainly wouldn't buy one though, which is probably the problem...

Lotus Elise? Or do you actually want the car to arrive at its destination under its own power rather than on a truck?

 

[A380]

Lotus Elise? Or do you actually want the car to arrive at its destination under its own power rather than on a truck?

Yes, I'm a bit traditional about that. And having a wiring loom as opposed to a random number generator....

 

[High Voltage]

So, what's the MR2 like to live with in real life? Drive and hendle well? reliable?

I will tag Mrs Voltz izz and see if she will reply as it's her who drives it - but a high level report - it's a Toyota it's reliable as fuck, it only gets a 6 monthly(?) oil change and service. GoKart like handling. She's been unlucky with tyres having punctures but that could be the same with anyone - watch out for the roof either leaking OR not being tucked in correctly, this resulted in the space where the roof folds back down into filling with water - and this was traced back to the . . . drain holes getting blocked (she parks the car underneath trees, so's to be expected) Her's is an '04 plate, not too sure on the mileage when bought or what it is now

 

[ringo]

View attachment 105877 Suits you Sir

My favourite. Nearly used the money I set aside for my campervan to get one instead. Don't suppose the family would have been so impressed though

 

[izz]

I will tag Mrs Voltz izz and see if she will reply as it's her who drives it - but a high level report - it's a Toyota it's reliable as fuck, it only gets a 6 monthly(?) oil change and service. GoKart like handling. She's been unlucky with tyres having punctures but that could be the same with anyone - watch out for the roof either leaking OR not being tucked in correctly, this resulted in the space where the roof folds back down into filling with water - and this was traced back to the . . . drain holes getting blocked (she parks the car underneath trees, so's to be expected) Her's is an '04 plate, not too sure on the mileage when bought or what it is now

Handles like a nice tight charm, gorgeous for chucking into bends. Nice acceleration although I do get overtaken nowadays - had 45k on the clock 5 and a bit years ago, now on 128k. Bought it for around £6k. The roof leak was neither a roof leak nor it not being tucked in properly, the drainage channels had blocked and a period of biblical rain resulted in water inside the car, but in the storage bins behind the seats so if you know to clean them out its fine. She has had a gearbox change about three years ago and a recent oil leak fix, also a new radiator about a year ago. Downsides ? Your choice is a passenger or luggage, but I see that as a bonus. My only complaint is that when Emmie gives up the ghost I'll be heartbroken and unable to buy a new one.

e2a very bad in the snow or ice. but we haven't had much of that in recent winters.

 

[High Voltage]

Handles like a nice tight charm, gorgeous for chucking into bends. Nice acceleration although I do get overtaken nowadays - had 45k on the clock 5 and a bit years ago, now on 128k. Bought it for around £6k. The roof leak was neither a roof leak nor it not being tucked in properly, the drainage channels had blocked and a period of biblical rain resulted in water inside the car, but in the storage bins behind the seats so if you know to clean them out its fine. She has had a gearbox change about three years ago and a recent oil leak fix, also a new radiator about a year ago. Downsides ? Your choice is a passenger or luggage, but I see that as a bonus. My only complaint is that when Emmie gives up the ghost I'll be heartbroken and unable to buy a new one.

I "think" you mean new clutch and associated bits 'n' bobs not gearbox change

 

[izz]

I "think" you mean new clutch and associated bits 'n' bobs not gearbox change

whatever, you know i'm not well.

 

[hash tag]

She's been unlucky with tyres having punctures but that could be the same with anyone on

Handles like a nice tight charm, gorgeous for chucking into bends. Nice acceleration although I do get overtaken nowadays - Your choice is a passenger or luggage, but I see that as a bonus. My only complaint is that when Emmie gives up the ghost I'll be heartbroken and unable to buy a new one.

e2a very bad in the snow or ice. but we haven't had much of that in recent winters.

"Unlucky with tyres." "chucks into corners." Hmmm, wonder if they are connected?
Luggage or passenger is a bonus - my baby is a 2+2, but only if you have no legs and very little room for luggage space
As for the MR2, I would be tempted by a roadster or targa top (if they exist).

 

[High Voltage]

"Unlucky with tyres." "chucks into corners." Hmmm, wonder if they are connected?

No, these have been "genuine" punctures with nails and general road detritus - although Mrs Voltz did come out one morning and noticed that there was a large shard of glass neatly placed(?) right up next to the back tyre . . . now it might have got there by accident or did it?

She's got the convertible - they do do a version with a removable hard top, that would be MY preference to be honest, apart from the ball ache of "where do you put the fucking roof" on the one sunny day a year you actually do get the roof down (and as an aside, I think I can count on the fingers of two hands the amount of times we've got out with the roof down

 

[hash tag]

I hired a car last weekend with run flats. DON'T be tempted, they are awful.

 

[Teaboy]

I hired a car last weekend with run flats. DON'T be tempted, they are awful.

Were you on a track day or something? The run flats I had on a 3 series were fine couldn't tell the difference from any other tyre. The real shit thing about them is having to pay £180 to get a new tyre because of a minor puncture which could have been repaired otherwise.

 

[dessiato]

I always wanted a



Great car after Lancia sorted the over braking problem.

 

[hash tag]

The run flats were probably cheap. They were very noisy and not at all smooth. Mostly driving up and down M1

 

[High Voltage]

I would have thought that by their very nature, run flats would have fairly stiff side walls (the pool car at work has them and they're fine, but they are Michelins, so not cheap ones), but with the stiffer side walls will come a harsher ride

 

[hash tag]

This morning I saw two moggies being driven by youngish females; have not seen a moggie being driven for a while. Though there is a tired black one parked up nearby. Are they now hipsterish, sort of like the 500'S?

 

[Sirena]

I had a mark one 1988 MR2 and it was great. It revved forever, had go kart handling and was boringly reliable. It wasn't that fast though and was basically impossible to slide.

A friend of mine has one.

I have an MGF which is just tin and plastic but it has a lovely little engine. I actually love my little car.

I had a look at a 'Which' type comparison between the MGF and MR2 and it said the MR2 was the winner on every practical point.

But I went in my friend's MR2 and it was cramped, uncomfortable and (for a sports car) really boring. And the engine sounded like nothing.

 

[hash tag]

The MG has character which a japanese will hardly ever have.

 

[Sirena]

The MG has character which a japanese will hardly ever have.

Sorry, ignore my whole post,because I got confused.

My friend's car is a Mazda MX5 not a Toyota MR2.

I have another friend who had an MR2 but I've never been in it.....

 

[passenger]

These where great little cars ,Sports model came with tennis racket head restraints

 

[CrabbedOne]

Wrote off one of these spinning out on ice. Lovely practical motor.

 

[hash tag]

It's an Alfa, whats not to like.
A colleague has a saloon one of those, I think. It even has a wooden steering wheel. It's certainly become a classic and is appreciating in value.
Sadly, his rarely gets driven anymore.

 

[weltweit]

My pics from a recent transport festival, you don't see many (or any pretty much) of these anymore:





A dutch friend of mine had one and took me for a drive in it, really enjoyed the nostalgia!

 

[bi0boy]

It's an Alfa, whats not to like.
A colleague has a saloon one of those, I think. It even has a wooden steering wheel. It's certainly become a classic and is appreciating in value.
Sadly, his rarely gets driven anymore.

Wooden steering wheels are great for traumatic chest injuries.

 

[hash tag]

But Alfa drivers are sensible drivers. I don't think it had seat belts yet alone more modern safety features like airbags, anti lock breaks, cross plys....

 

[Leo2]

Speaking of old bangers (no, not Mrs Miggins down the street ,) this is what I have been driving (when I can afford the petrol) in the 4 years since I was 16. Not quite something you never see now - but getting there. It is 15 years old this December, and done nearly 110,000 km. It used to be my mum's but she gave it to me as a birthday present when I turned old enough to drive. It is my baby, and will have to do me until I finish uni and (hopefully) begin earning my keep. But most people are surprised at the condition for such an old car.