[tweakmonkey]

Which would you buy?


1999-2003ish Miata
or
1999-2007 MR2 Spyder



I'm leaning toward the Toyota.

[Mr. Ali]

I like the way the toyota looks more than the miata. No idea how each one stacks up performance wise.

[funkgab]

i'd rather take the toyota, i drove an mr2 and a miata, the miata is fun and all, but its so small... although the mr-s is lighter and faster than the miata, i think the miata would be more fun well also the miata looks a bit better, but it all depends what your doing i guess

[tweakmonkey]

Yeah, they are quite different all things considered. The Miata's a bit cheaper used, but the Toyota isn't bad. The gas mileage is better on the Toyota, and obviously being MR would make it really fun to drive (like a lil Ferrari!). The Miata's a classic roadster though and that's always fun. I will test drive an MR2 pretty soon and go from there. I've driven a Miata before and it was a lot of fun.

I figured if I sell my Insight I can switch directly to one of these cars. I don't drive enough to really utilize the 60 MPG, so I might as well drive something that's more fun.

[Juballharshaw]

Well if you buy a Miata I'd have to take your mancard. MR2 wins by default.

[XEN]

Originally Posted by Juballharshaw

Well if you buy a Miata I'd have to take your mancard. MR2 wins by default.

Yep, no room for balls in that tiny thing.

[tweakmonkey]

I <3 Miatas... I'd never be afraid to drive a car because it's associated with being feminine or something. The Miata's badass: RWD, 2300 lbs, roadster. 30-50 years ago it would've been the man's car of choice but all this macho truck BS killed the roadster image.

That said, the MR2 is more like a 914 / Ferrari and probably corners like an F16. The Miata sure looks sloppy in comparison. I imagine the chassis are pretty similar though. *still leaning heavily to MR2, just looking for any experience or thoughts*

[MaesterB]

MR2 hands down.

Miatas are shit. Personal opinion. I hate the look of them and I hate the people that usually drive them (snobby short people that think they can double park their little shit cars).

[smirnoff]

Whichever one more tweakable of course

I'd go Toyota.

[sims]

Win Win.

I've never had the pleasure of driving an MRS myself, they were never sold in Canada do to our tighter crash regulations With that said However, as of about 2 months ago Canada just standardized our crash regulations to be the same as the US, and we can now import them!

The first one I've ever seen I watched at the strip last weekend, Guy brought in one from the states. Ran a 12.8 happened to come with a 2ZZ from a Celica GTS and a Greddy Supercharger (on that note, anyone heard Greddy went bankrupt?)

like I said, I have no first hand experience, but on paper it looks like a spectacular car! its obviously completely impractical, but with that said it looks like an extremely fun car, amazing handling potential, Mid rear and 2100 lbs! If you willing to do an engine swap I hear they can be pushed into the 13's NA with a 2ZZ and bolton's. With the motor swap, and a Good LSD, suspension work, tires,brakes and clutch upgrades you've got pretty much the next best thing to a lotus Elise.

The fact that you’ll likely get 30MPG out of one on average doesn’t hurt the deal either

I’ve honestly put some thought into selling the GT-Four and getting one, I bought the GT-Four under the impression it would be my only car, and I needed something reasonably large and AWD for our winters, Now that I have the Hilux as my DD and don’t need something practical I’m considering a few other cars

I don’t know if I can bring myself to sell it though, I’ll never ever have the chance to have one in this condition again, and it’s such a rare car, If I wasn’t an idiot and didn’t buy a house with a 1 car garage I’d do both.

Watch out on the MRS though, apparently they have an issue with the cats clogging and killing motors. As long as the cats were replace(better yet removed) or the car is low mileage and good condition your save, but I’d be wary of cheaper higher mileage ones. The engine is pretty built proof it’s a corolla motor :P even the 2ZZ motor is extremely solid(celica GTS). If I got one it would get a 2ZZ, intake, exhaust, and an ECU upgrade and call it a day(for the engine atleast :P)

What can I say about the miata, I’m clearly bias to Toyota, but it’s a great car to. The engine holds up to boost well, its also light and nimble. It’s a little more practical(in the sense that when you pop the trunk there’s no engine there :P) good gas mileage, abundant aftermarket, probably better selection for used cars. Something about the miata just doesn't do it for me though. if I wanted that format I'd be going with an S2000, there totaly different prices ranges, but in that price range the MRS is the clear choice for me.

If you can afford the absolute impractically of the MR2. Do it, pleeeeeease.

[tweakmonkey]

After doing some research, it looks like 2003 is the earliest model I'd want. The front-end, rear, lights, and interior are all a lot nicer on the 2003. I would love to do a motor swap and probably will if I can find one for a decent price. I'd just sell off the old one. Maybe if I get lucky I can find one with a blown motor.

I'd do an intake, exhaust, lightweight flywheel, better tires, *maybe* wheels (stock ones look nice), and software. I can get a lot of stuff for a decent discount!

[sims]

sounds like a really good start, the stock wheels do look nice, I'd be putting on a set of much wider 16's staggered wheels though, and ateast some brake pads to. Coilovers or a good spring and shock setup would go a long long way on one aswell.

[tweakmonkey]

Even with the stock brakes and tires the car can stop from 60 in like 113 feet. But yeah, that's on the list somewhere.

[b00gerflick3r]

MR2. The Miata just looks to round for my taste. Better lines on the Toyota.

[sims]

Originally Posted by tweakmonkey

Even with the stock brakes and tires the car can stop from 60 in like 113 feet. But yeah, that's on the list somewhere.

doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement :P

its extremely light which puts it at a huge advantage against most sports cars these days.

[nidex]

I guess if I had to take one of the other, probably the MR2. I couldn't drive either, considering I used to do basic work for this dyke who drove a MR2, and every time I see a Miata it's some flaming homo or a chick driving it.

But who am I to talk about girly cars, I rocked a MK4 Jetta

[Jishory]

i guess i hate the miata less

[bigwill51534]

A buddy of mine has a Miata that he tossed a supercharger, coil-overs in the rear, intake, exhaust, and a few other goodies. That car is pretty damned fast, and is a blast to drive. He doesn't have much money wrapped up in it, either.

~Will Courtier~

[sharky]

i think mid-engine, lighter weight... Yup MR2.

[Chris]

I've never, ever felt safe in a Miata. Fuckin' death trap cars man.