For $5k, Anything Better Than an MR-S?| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

NONACK HalfDork
8/12/14 1:58 p.m.

I'm considering spending more than my usual ~$1500 on my next DD. Interior/storage space is a non-issue, and I'm yet to find anything else that beats the MR-S for steering feel and handling at the $5k price point, but I'm not a fan of the looks. If I was buying another older, cheaper car, I'd get another AW11 MR2. Hell, maybe I'd just get a really clean one for $5k.

What cars am I not thinking of? I like things that are engaging to drive above all else, and for looks I don't feel that it gets much worse than the early 2000s Toyota styling of the car I'm considering.

P.S. I think Miatas are boring, they're too easy to drive quickly (don't feel enough like they want to kill you)

GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
8/12/14 2:02 p.m.

There are aftermarket parts that can greatly improve the looks of an MR-S...for driving feel, the only cars that could compete are a Miata or an AW11 (you could get a nice one for that money - or many typical older rusty basketcases).

Edit: Or maybe an X-1/9?

NONACK HalfDork
8/12/14 2:07 p.m.

An X1/9 as a DD in the Northeast=a mound of X1/9 oxide after one winter

The AW11s don't fare much better, nor does my current RA65 Celica, but at least they survive the winter well enough to get another coat of rust inhibitor the next spring.

I'm OK with trading "feel" for other types of fun, like excessive horsepower.

johndej Reader
8/12/14 2:14 p.m.

e36 M3, RX7, Sentra se-r (spec V), civic si, sn95 mustang?

Fobroader Reader
8/12/14 2:18 p.m.

SN Mustang, for that kind of pirce you can score a fairly decent V8.

NONACK HalfDork
8/12/14 2:18 p.m.

M3- can they be had in "not totally ruined" condition at $5k?
RX7- maybe a really rice FB, I don't like FCs and FDs cost more, although I'd love one
Front wheel drive makes me sad
Sn95s and foxbodies... I couldn't live with it. Hate the E36 M3ty engineering, hate the interior, the looks. I'd rather have an F-Body, to be honest, and only because I have an irrational thing for the 3rd gens. An S197 maybe, but again, I think they're not that cheap yet.

kanaric Dork
8/12/14 2:19 p.m.

Better? Better in terms of size and storage without a doubt but you won't find a better car in that price with the same dynamics.

$5000 is hard because with RWD cars that are not terrible you will not find anything newer or the same as as a MRS.

As far as engaging to drive, any older rwd cars fit that bill. Z31 turbo, S13 240sx, RX7, 944, etc you could find all of those for less than $5k. They would be better sized than a MRS for sure. Z31 for all around mod potential, 240SX for inexpensive engine swap or stock power + suspension mods, RX7 for weird engine, 944/924S for stock power + suspension mods, E30. It depends what you want out of the car and how much work you want to put in it to achieve that goal. Do you want handling? Do you want power? Do you want both? Then how much work you want. You can make a good handling Z31 with 300+ hp power far easier than it would be to do the same with a 944 non turbo or MRS. However it would be easier to make a good handling MRS than a Z31.

You could also find comparable to cars above from the same era. Like turbo volvos.

Anything from 2000 or later that is RWD that I know of will be expensive unless it needs work or is a Miata.

NONACK HalfDork
8/12/14 2:22 p.m.

In reply to kanaric:

A Z31 is on the short list if I decide to "cheap out" again. I've never had a DD newer than 1993, but of all the newer/more expensive stuff, the MRS is the only one where the performance advantage seems in line with the price. I'm not sure what I mean when I say "better" since as of the last 15 cars or so, it appears that I actually enjoy total crap

Adrian_Thompson PowerDork
8/12/14 2:24 p.m.

What about a late E30 318is? Going up fast, but $5k should buy a very nice 'is'

I'm not a Toyota fan, and like you I don't like the looks of the MRS, but I have driven one, and it does make a very compelling story for itself in the fun to drive category. I can't imagine how much fun one would be with a few less lb's and a few more hp. Hard to argue for an Elise when looked at like that.

kanaric Dork
8/12/14 2:26 p.m.

NONACK wrote: In reply to kanaric: A Z31 is on the short list if I decide to "cheap out" again. I've never had a DD newer than 1993, but of all the newer/more expensive stuff, the MRS is the only one where the performance advantage seems in line with the price.

The best advantages to Z31 is you have good resources. You have nistune available to you, a stock turbo capable of near 300hp if you have a pre-refresh version, and suspension parts are not uncommon. It's not the best for finding parts and after market obviously but it's not the worst either.

Then after that is the advantage that i've seen good running decent looking turbo Z31s for $3000-$4000.

NONACK HalfDork
8/12/14 2:27 p.m.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

I've had an e24 and e28, and for some reason they just don't hold my interest past the first 3 months of ownership. I fear that an e30 would be the same, although I came very close to buying a clean s54 swapped one a while ago.

NONACK HalfDork
8/12/14 2:28 p.m.

In reply to kanaric:

Then they're expensive in your area. I see them here for ~$2k occasionally, although they disappear fast at that price. I've also been pricing the various components of an lsx Z32...

Giant Purple Snorklewacker MegaDork
8/12/14 2:30 p.m.

"better" is tricky. There are a lot of compelling cars for $5k but few have the MR layout and I assume that is the differentiation that has you shopping them in the first place. I like the idea of a newish, bulletproof, cheap mid-engine sports car but I am with you on the looks of the MRS. It's goofy. I'd shop for the last gen of the MR2 first I think. I'm not put off by the last of the Fieros either. I think either could be fun and better looking with a little work.

NONACK HalfDork
8/12/14 2:32 p.m.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

I've had like 3 SW20s... not that they aren't on the list. My V6 swapped '91 was an excellent DD until I went and turned it into a rallycross car like a dumbass.

MR isn't necessary, what else is "compelling"? It seems like most of the really fun stuff starts closer to $10k, and I'm not spending that for anything without a roll cage.

kanaric Dork
8/12/14 2:32 p.m.

NONACK wrote: In reply to kanaric: Then they're expensive in your area. I see them here for ~$2k occasionally, although they disappear fast at that price. I've also been pricing the various components of an lsx Z32...

lol that's funny, I would definitely consider that then. Around here though this is non-rust and garage car zone, idk where you are, so all proper operating Z31s are mostly also extremely clean. That or prices went down since I last shopped.

kanaric Dork
8/12/14 2:36 p.m.

btw if you are shopping for how to build a LS Z32 look up building a RB25 Z31. They came with the RB20 in Japan so it might be possible that you could even pick up a NA Z31 and then easily RB swap it and have a car that then is also very easy to work on and with a better engine than the SOHC v6. You could probably get a minimal car easier if it is a non-turbo and start from a lighter chassis.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker MegaDork
8/12/14 2:47 p.m.

NONACK wrote: MR isn't necessary, what else is "compelling"?

A pretty nice E36 325/328 or E46 325 (variants is, C, etc.) and/or the occasional Z3.

A fair E36 M3 but at 5k you have to be really careful and know what you are looking at.

kanaric Dork
8/12/14 2:48 p.m.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
NONACK wrote: MR isn't necessary, what else is "compelling"?
A pretty nice E36 325/328 or E46 325 (variants is, C, etc.) and/or the occasional Z3. A fair E36 M3 but at 5k you have to be really careful and know what you are looking at.

A Z3 would be interesting. A coupe would be even more, but I bet they are not under $5000.

Swank Force One MegaDork
8/12/14 3:01 p.m.

If you buy the turbo built miata i have for sale for $8k, i'll throw in a roll bar for free?

Other than that, i can't help you, as i'm trying to get rid of the Miata in favor of an MR-S, myself.

NONACK HalfDork
8/12/14 3:07 p.m.

In reply to Swank Force One:

A salesman you are not, good sir

Swank Force One MegaDork
8/12/14 3:09 p.m.

It's WAY faster and certainly engaging. I really just want something slower and uglier.

captdownshift GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
8/12/14 3:48 p.m.

Funny thing is I came to suggest a turbo Miata to him, preferable with a big power, laggy turbo though so that he's sure that it's trying to kill him, when he least expects it

Will SuperDork
8/12/14 3:55 p.m.

Fobroader wrote: SN Mustang, for that kind of pirce you can score a fairly decent V8.

I see more and more $5k LS1 4th-gens, and I think you'd be really, really disappointed if you bought an SN95 over an LS1 Camaro.

That said, I'm not sure it sounds as if the OP would be into either car.

Swank Force One MegaDork
8/12/14 3:56 p.m.

captdownshift wrote: Funny thing is I came to suggest a turbo Miata to him, preferable with a big power, laggy turbo though so that he's sure that it's trying to kill him, when he least expects it

No no... the trick is to slightly undersize the turbo, then run LOTS of boost. Way scary-er from what i've learned in the last few months.

Very engaging. Don't sneeze mid-corner.