after long debating.... some have heard the long and short of it and are probably very sick of me and this topic >> but ive been stuck between a rock and a hard place for some time now...

my current winter car (93 Eclipse GS AT) is basically a POS and dying out on me gradually.... basically the heater no longer works and driving to and from work each morning at 6:30 is quite unpleasant. Reguardless after the spring comes around my sister is going to get the eclipse (granted it is still alive) and i will be SOL for a daily driver because there's no way i can use the MR2 daily, especially at school (very bad area). so im stuck with options:

1) Fix the heater on the Eclipse, buy it off my parents and let my sister get something newer and a little safer, though i HATE this car because it is AT, but im not really a fan of my sister driving this car either for her first vehicle.

2) Let my parents deal with the heater, let her take it, and get another beater... most likely wont be able to spend over 3-4k on one >> probably wont get much better than the current eclipse

3) Let my parents deal with the eclipse, sell the MR2 and get a brand new car... it will either be a tC, WRX, or Cobalt SS.

the good and bad of option 3:
tC) my favorite features of the 3 cars, MIGHT be able to afford the supercharger... but FWD and heavy = not good for Autocrossing, which i am determined to do this summer. most of all i dont want a FWD car without my MR2 >>
WRX) whats not to love about the WRXs performance (besides poor top end), the newly stlyed interior is very nice, great for beginning autocross in stock class, UNFORTUNATLY would cost about 1/3 of my monthly income, with 1/2 going towards school costs, and the remaining would be left to gas, girlfriend, and whatever else i could afford (which wouldnt be much)

SS) great car, could get deals via GM discount and possably other rebates, very comparable to the tC, but i am REALLY set on not going back to having just 1 FF car.

so whats your opinion?? ive been racking my brain going in circles and always ending up back in the same place.

The tC and SS aren't very comparable unless the tC has the TRD supercharger. I'm really wanting a tC or an xA. But I think you should go with the SS. I've never driven one but damn they are comfy.

-Akimbo+Jan 21, 2005 - 7:53 PM


good point, yea i was referencing the SS to a supercharged tC, which the tC is MUCH cheaper base price, even with the supercharger, though putting on options like the ground effects kit and spoiler as well as 6-disk changer and other features the SS has would make them very similar in price. the difference is all that is standard in the SS and optional in the tC

simple .. keep the 2 and buy a celi for winter. duh

-gh0st_d0g+Jan 21, 2005 - 5:11 PM

My thoughts exactly. >> 3-4k is perfect for a nice 94/95 celi >>

agreed, the problem is finding one not all fudged up in that price range locally >>

dont ever sell your MR2, i love your car man

the colbalt ss is nice, and seems to have a lot of good options for its price, but I would say keep the mr-2, cause your not going to sell it for what u want. Then look for a celica or even a civic for a daily, and trash the eclipse.

I'll trade ya my celi for your MR2 >> I will even drive up there to get it....>>

if u sale the MR2 let me get it

Just keep watching the papers and also look onlin. Celi's will come up in your price range (mine was 2.3k and it runs just fine) if you keep an eye open.

right on... i talked to my dad not long ago... we'll see what happens, he seemed a little confused by me suggesting the idea of buying the eclipse from him lol... KBB rates it between 1700-2100... i donno but i wouldnt pay that much for that garbage heap >> ive basically got till spring to think about it and bank what i can... if i didnt have to pay for school i would have no problems... bah. oh well, thanks for the opinions! keep em coming >>

If you're looking for JUST a Celica, I can sell you mine. But keep in mind it's auto. I don't know if you wanted it for a daily driver or what.

Wisdom. Wouldn't it be fun to have a cheap virgin 6gc to mod now that you know what you know? >>

#1 goal: no FWDs w/o the MR2 >> thanks for everyones offerings! and if i could afford any one of them w/o giving up the MR2 i would jump on it. i love 5th-7th gen celicas, which is mainly why i still stick around and since coomer is kind enough to allow me to continue moderating even though i am not technically part of the family anymore. in my experience 5th - 7th gens are the best fun cost-effective daily drivers out there... (you might as well count the tC in there as well because it is the celica replacement anyways) unfortunatly ive had a taste of a true sportscar and cant give that up without an equal sportscar replacement >> most likely i will go for a 5th gen in the spring if buying a beater is the route i take... though i would rather have another 6th gen. anyways any other opinions are more than welcome!

-jgreening+Jan 21, 2005 - 10:44 PM


god id be in the doghouse with my girlfriend if that were the case lol she already wants to kill me for how much time/money i spend with one car... if i had 2 id be dead hehe... chances are the MR2 will remain a project car and the other car (6gc or whatever comes) will remain stock besides maybe a few little things to make the ride more enjoyable

I hear ya Tim. I know about dog houses because of the Celi......that said, you could just restrain yourself a little........ >>

restrain??? whats the meaning of this "restrain"?? >>

Good point....

update: apparently i can get a much better deal on a WRX than i initally thought and wouldnt really have an issue making the payments... im starting to reconsider... any suggestions?

I'm getting me a 2002 WRX for 15,500 tomorrow. I love that car and I would go that route if I were you. But I also love the MR2 so I would be torn, its your car and your decision.

i found my celica from a dealer for 3700, had a door dent but that only cost like 300$ to fix

id drive the eclipse, save up, and buy like an ST or something, maybe evne a GT , you can have them that low, maybe even have to do some driving but its worth it.

and autocross the mr2!

Get a r-32 or r-34 they are sweet and tons of hp to boot.

-boosted_K2+Jan 28, 2005 - 7:32 PM

i find it too easy to spend money on my WRX

personally, if i had a choice between an mr2-t/6gc option and a used WRX, i would take the first option

if it were a new WRX, i would take that,

but used turbo AWD cars can have serious problems. many wrx's are modded to make like 400hp then are brought back to stock when they are sold.

-97sccelica+Jan 29, 2005 - 10:53 AM


yea. it would be a brand new 05 WRX... however ive been looking through a few other options and will be following up on those options here soon >> i will most likely be getting something within a month or 2 >>

well after long hard debate and considering all options ive decided i only want one car, and unfortunatly that cannot be a MR2 >> so middle to late this spring i will be looking to sell the car... heres the specs from what i had posted back when i was thinking about selling it previously... however the price is much lower >>

some quick specs:
1991 White Turbo T-tops (5-speed, naturally)
~94,000 miles on the body, body is completely streight, not even a ding or dent on it, completely rust free and been garaged every winter of its life.
~8,000 miles on the rebuilt motor, which was dynamically balanced
all records are available from the motor rebuild (done by previous owner)
leather interior (seats worn but everything else is in incredable shape)

modifications:

Engine
.02" overbore with JE forged pistons
TTE headgasket
50 trim compressor wheel on CT-26 turbo
K&N intake
Borla proXS custom catback exhaust (HKS sport exhaust also available)
Magnecor wires

Drivetrain
Fidanza Flywheel
New(er) OEM clutch
TRD short shifter
TRD LSD

Suspension
fully adjustable koni shocks
93 Spec springs
16" Speedline MIMS wheels
TRD front and rear sway bars
Goodridgestainless steel brake lines
EBC greenstuff brake pads

Exterior
Full ViS racing border style bodykit
BRAND NEW paint job
Erebuni Autopista style spoiler

Interior
Alpine CD/MP3/WMA CD player (basically brand new)
Autometer boost + oil pressure gauges in dual A-pillar
TRD shift knob
Autovation "MR2" pedals

Other goodies
hot pipe, valve cover, IC to TB pipe, TB inlet and X-bar all freshly powdercoated
car has always used Mobile 1 full synthetic motor oil
car has been running excellent as of being garaged for the winter

Maintanence just performed
New OEM spec NGK laser cut spark plugs
oil + filter just changed
K&N filter just cleaned and re oiled (will throw in filter recharger kit)
speed gear assembly just replaced
valve cover gasket just replaced
both serpentine belts just replaced by toyota dealer

Maintanence performed last fall
New brake pads
New rotors
New Kumho 712 tires
new timing belt


11,000 Firm

email me @ k2celica97@aol.com or IM me on AIM @ k2mr2t91

car is located in Clarkston, MI

thanks.


CHANGES TO THE LIST:
this time around: the car has a CT20b turbo installed and runs like a champ, now has a TWOSRUS manual boost controller to regulate boost pressures and a FCD set to 17.5PSI to save from boost spiking. the CT26 previously mentioned will be included but needs a rebuild. also will throw in a Blitz BOV (though the factory BPV that is installed is a better unit in terms of response and performance, this gives you the option of the "really cool BOV sound")

the other change... THE PRICE: price dropped to 9k from previously mentioned 11k... i purchased this car a little over a year ago for 7500 dollars and have invested well over 5k within the past year... so essentially a 12500 investment. in addition to the new turbo, i also installed new accessory belts... other than that everything has been upgrades rather than maintanence.

but yea... car wont really be good to go untill mid-late spring just because it is garaged and i am not quite in the position yet to get my replacement vehicle. so just kinda putting that feeler out there.

later guys!

oh and as a note the maintanence under "last fall" is talking about fall of 03, just to clear up any confusion.

Sad to see that MR2 go. Well. Now get a swapped sixth gen. I wish I had the money for that car. Insurance would blow.

This post has been edited by Akimbo: Feb 2, 2005 - 11:13 AM

actually insurance is quite cheap... its only like 1100 a year if you do just basic comprehensive. but anyways i think i jumped the gun by listing it for sale again haha im waiting for conformation but im 95% sure now the car is staying right where it is >>

Hey Tim, just some advice. If you plan on getting a BRAND new car that's straight off from production, for ex. like the Cobalt SS, my suggestion is to wait on NEW MODEL cars until at least the 2nd year it's in production. Don't get brand new 1st yr production cars.

Working here at GM, I see all the new vehicles come out and chances are the first year they're trying to work out all the "squeeks and rattles", faulty parts or additional enhancements that they might have to do to the vehicle. 2nd year the car has been on the market they usually work out all those minor/major issues.

It's better to be safe than sorry you purchased a new vehicle and there's all these "rattles", etc. going on.