Looking for an MR2/Other sports car

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Looking for an MR2/Other sports car

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2225 posts

Uber Geek

#1277942 6-Apr-2015 18:58

I still really love these cars, seeing this thread brings back so many fond memories

This was my one from quite a few years ago

If you are going to change the wheels go the whole hog and get wider rims for the back, it does add to the cost but they just don't look right on same rim width all round

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#1277951 6-Apr-2015 19:29

Wade: I still really love these cars, seeing this thread brings back so many fond memories

This was my one from quite a few years ago

If you are going to change the wheels go the whole hog and get wider rims for the back, it does add to the cost but they just don't look right on same rim width all round

Glad you're enjoying it.

That's a nice tidy example you had there. Not a big fan of the single exhaust. I think the twins are one of the many things that make the car unique. I do want to return to wider rims at the back. It looks a little bit more aggressive looking. The gen 2 models game with wider rims in the rear from the factory anyway.

I feel as if the more I return it to the old factory settings the better my handling will be.

Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#1277971 6-Apr-2015 20:59

I never got to drive it completely stock but have to say it did drive worlds better on stock rims, i thought it was relatively stock when I bought it sans the HKS air filter and plumbed in HKS blow off valve but someone had spent some money on it, aftermarket struts, springs, mechanical diff, gen3 rear subframe. The weird thing was it was still running stock exhaust and cat

I wasn't too hung up on the twin exhaust, looked like a restrictive birdsnest of pipe so got rid of it, gutted the cat, and ran 2.5" tube into a straight through muffler, it was surprisingly quiet all things considered and made a huge difference. Mind you this was fifteen odd years ago so buying aftermarket parts here in NZ was surprisingly difficult compared to how it is today so choice was very limited

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#1278058 6-Apr-2015 23:08

Wade: I never got to drive it completely stock but have to say it did drive worlds better on stock rims, i thought it was relatively stock when I bought it sans the HKS air filter and plumbed in HKS blow off valve but someone had spent some money on it, aftermarket struts, springs, mechanical diff, gen3 rear subframe. The weird thing was it was still running stock exhaust and cat.

Mine is totally stock standard. It drives well, but not "great". I think it's the tyres. Most of these cars have become hacks because things have broken and just replaced with trash, but I've been lucky to find an unmolested turbo without all the silly blow-off valve noises and crappy gauge installs.

Wade:
I wasn't too hung up on the twin exhaust, looked like a restrictive birdsnest of pipe so got rid of it, gutted the cat, and ran 2.5" tube into a straight through muffler, it was surprisingly quiet all things considered and made a huge difference. Mind you this was fifteen odd years ago so buying aftermarket parts here in NZ was surprisingly difficult compared to how it is today so choice was very limited

When you removed the cat, did you get that signature 3S-GTE "pop" or grumble when decelerating? Or did the muffler take all that away? Some have said, they get it all day long, on up/down changes, deceleration and revving. Others say they never get any engine over run pops bangs or crackles at all. Others have said they've needed to go as far as getting an after-market computer to trick the EFI in to dumping fuel in the cylinders when off of the throttle.

The stock exhaust sounds OK. But I couldn't help but wish all the way back home yesterday that it was louder and more raw. I don't want to sound like a hoon, but I don't want the cat and the muffler censoring all my fun! :)

ilovemusic

1439 posts

Uber Geek

#1278191 7-Apr-2015 10:38

basically if your car was made after 1 jan 1990 and registered in nz after 1 may 2010, it is illegal to remove the cat if one was fitted.

http://www.lvvta.org.nz/documents/standards/LVVTA_STD_Exhaust_Gas_Emissions.pdf

tyres - are you running staggered sizes ? ie. smaller at the front or same size front & rear ?

bs re002 are often discounted but the latest indonesian made ones are mediocre performers.

toyo is currently doing good prices on the t1-sport.

in the cheapy brands some neutons and maxxis get regular recommendation.

frankv

5680 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1278204 7-Apr-2015 10:47

You do need staggered tyres on an MR2... my first one had the same all round when I got it. When I replaced the rears with the proper size it made a huge improvement to the handling, particularly with regards to the snap-oversteer problem.

lxsw20

3552 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1278212 7-Apr-2015 10:57

Friend had an HKS Super Dragger exhaust on her Gen 4 Turbo, that sounded real nice, wasn't super loud either.

Tradepub

Free professional, reference and technical white papers (affiliate link).

Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#1278226 7-Apr-2015 11:08

DravidDavid:

When you removed the cat, did you get that signature 3S-GTE "pop" or grumble when decelerating? Or did the muffler take all that away? Some have said, they get it all day long, on up/down changes, deceleration and revving. Others say they never get any engine over run pops bangs or crackles at all. Others have said they've needed to go as far as getting an after-market computer to trick the EFI in to dumping fuel in the cylinders when off of the throttle.

The stock exhaust sounds OK. But I couldn't help but wish all the way back home yesterday that it was louder and more raw. I don't want to sound like a hoon, but I don't want the cat and the muffler censoring all my fun! :)

It had a nice slightly raw rasp on acceleration but definitely no cackle or obnoxious noise, mind you the muffler was hand-built by a motorcycle nut who knew a thing or two about these kind of things, was nice thick wall stainless about 600mm long and packed with a truckload of steel wool. I never had any issues from police due to noise if that is any indication :P

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#1278239 7-Apr-2015 11:37

ilovemusic: basically if your car was made after 1 jan 1990 and registered in nz after 1 may 2010, it is illegal to remove the cat if one was fitted.

http://www.lvvta.org.nz/documents/standards/LVVTA_STD_Exhaust_Gas_Emissions.pdf

tyres - are you running staggered sizes ? ie. smaller at the front or same size front & rear ?

bs re002 are often discounted but the latest indonesian made ones are mediocre performers.

toyo is currently doing good prices on the t1-sport.

in the cheapy brands some neutons and maxxis get regular recommendation.

Not too worried about the legalities regarding the cat. I've never failed a WOF at VTNZ or any mechanic I've been to for lack of a cat. I'll look in to the Toyo T1-Sport. They are looking like a good option.

lxsw20: Friend had an HKS Super Dragger exhaust on her Gen 4 Turbo, that sounded real nice, wasn't super loud either.

It just seems to be a trend with these engines. The cat and the muffler is missing on our Caldina GT-T (which is also a gen 4 turbo) yet is as quiet as a mouse. Sounds good when you put your foot down though. I'll be looking out for that exhaust.

Wade:
It had a nice slightly raw rasp on acceleration but definitely no cackle or obnoxious noise, mind you the muffler was hand-built by a motorcycle nut who knew a thing or two about these kind of things, was nice thick wall stainless about 600mm long and packed with a truckload of steel wool. I never had any issues from police due to noise if that is any indication :P

I don't want a silly backfire every 10 seconds when accelerating or idling. But I love hearing the odd crackle every now and then. I get it sometimes even now, not very regularly, and it's quite muffled. I think I'll need a V8 if I want the sound I'm really after.

lxsw20

3552 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1278501 7-Apr-2015 16:50

Turbos act as a muffler of sorts.

Psilan

856 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1278524 7-Apr-2015 17:05

My '96 GT-S says hello :D
Completely stock except for the clear indicators and the side indicator blanks.

Voyager referral - https://refer.voyager.nz/68QKJ8XKK

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#1278559 7-Apr-2015 17:56

Psilan: My '96 GT-S says hello :D
Completely stock except for the clear indicators and the side indicator blanks.

Completely stock! That's a very rare sight indeed! Usually when you buy a car, you see 12 dozen of them driving around all of a sudden. But I look every single day and have seen two on the road since I've got it! The ones I have seen have been molested by boy racers with silly tow hook soft toys, stickers, big wheels and silly body kits. :(

Join the MR2 club! If you haven't already :)

Psilan

856 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1278570 7-Apr-2015 18:16

I was in the club, but it wasn't really my thing.

I have a few aftermarket bits sitting around in the garage. Was never sure whether to fit them or not. TRD exhaust (dual), TRD front bar, front and rear TOMS bars, ARC intercooler, ARC intake (box type), Tanabe b-pipe.

I got a 3.0R 6spd Legacy wagon recently and now the wifey has the 2. I had a '96 N/A previously. When I first got the GT-S it was scary fast!

Voyager referral - https://refer.voyager.nz/68QKJ8XKK

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#1278579 7-Apr-2015 18:48

Psilan: I was in the club, but it wasn't really my thing.

I have a few aftermarket bits sitting around in the garage. Was never sure whether to fit them or not. TRD exhaust (dual), TRD front bar, front and rear TOMS bars, ARC intercooler, ARC intake (box type), Tanabe b-pipe.

I got a 3.0R 6spd Legacy wagon recently and now the wifey has the 2. I had a '96 N/A previously. When I first got the GT-S it was scary fast!

Cool! I'd be pretty tempted to fit the TRD exhaust. At least it's Toyota genuine. They did have a TRD model that came with all the luxury extras such as factory bucket seats and fancy braces and exhaust upgrades. :)

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1278656 7-Apr-2015 20:20

Why MR2 whyyyyyy David :P

Get a 328 E36 manual motorsport packaged BMW :)
I got a S4 audi recently. Much better than the BMW but it cant do skids like a BMW.

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