Hey all,

I am thinking about undertaking a project car for a third machine. One that I can beat on, maybe autocross (for fun, I don't care about winning so not being stock is no biggie) and drive to work on occasion. Heck, since I would have 2 roadsters, I might even let the wife drive one to work on occasion!

I was considering buying a Lotus and selling the S, but because the Elise is impractical and expensive as a DD, I thought I might keep the S for summer DD and build a project car. Something similar to the Elise, VERY minimalist, very lightweight.

I would like to stay under $20k and slap it all together over 2009/10. I am torn between and MR2 spyder with a 2zz swap and SC Miata. A spyder can be modified and by tossing the spare and some crap out of the Spyder comes to almost identical power to weight as an Elise. Nicer interior than Elise, still mid engine, very reliable and high gas milage. Downside is its kind of ugly, Spyders cost more than Miata, you need to swap the whole freaking engine.

Miata with a MP62 I am not sure the power to weight but it would might even be higher than an Elise. There is more to fiddle with in terms of piggy backs and tuning, but the cost of the inital car is cheaper, looks better (IMHO) and parts are cheaper. They are fun and would be drifty, but I kind of like the idea of having a mid-engine and the RWD S2000.

Anybody with experience or other things to consider care to chime in with some advice?

I am not really interested in kit cars like Caterhams because price is too high and I would be afraid to drive something where I put together everything. The brakes or something would fail.........

 

i think the mr2 would be fun

 

the mr2 sounds more fun to me.

 

There are way more parts available for the Miata, and there's way more modification expertise out there for it as well...

 

True. But I also wonder if insurance would be significantly different. I don't want to get refused coverage if an accident occurs if they see a super charger bolted to it that they did not know about. With the MR2, the 2zz is so similar looking you'd have to be an owner to know the difference.

On the other hand, an SC Miata would haveone thing the MR2 does not have and that would be instant torque.......


I think I should change the title to "I am thinking about buying a money pit."

 

I doubt you are going to find an MR2 2nd gen with turbo or if you want stick a V6 in it. That's in good shape for cheap.

http://www.bryanf.com/MR2/index.htm

As for the miata, a no brainer. Supercharge, turbo, suspension, 5.0 Mustang motors, www.monstermiata.com you name it, you got it! Hell you could stick the F20C in there if you want.

I've seen people take NB miata interiors and stick them in NA and you have a decent more modern interior.

As for 3rd gen MR-S, stick a K20 in it but I doubt this project will be cheap. Suspension would be middle of the road, but the K20 has all that after market following.

Back to the miata, they sell special racing tires specifically for the miata races so it's almost a no brainer. Both cars so so light that in my opinion at speeds of double digits the RWD to Midengine wouldn't make a difference. Autocross however might... the miata being the easier to drive... but the MR-S/2 having the better launch....

 

On second thought, I think you should buy a race miata where most the work has been done. Spend about 12k on it, that leaves you with 8k or less to fix anything or upgrade or replace like tires/fluids/pads, etc.


Planet Miata

Don't forget you have Planet Miata.com if you want to replace a stock part!

 

I owned a 1991 MR2 turbo and loved it. The best car I ever owned. And I could be tempted by one again, but it is 2800 pounds and I will still have the S2000.

I am kind of interested in the superlight tossable car without having to pull things like seats and carpet.

But if I saw the right low milage white 93t that was driven to church on sunday by some old lady...............

 

Neat site. Thanks. Bookmarked!

 

2zz mrs hands down, add the hardtop and it looks even better!