I think I'm done with the MR2 as a track car...

I think I've finally really had my fill of trying to build the MR2 as a track car. With all the money and time I've dumped into it, I've managed to make it to a weekend's worth of autocrossing and 2/3rds of a track weekend. In two seasons.

Part of it is my lack of time and more recently, energy thanks to my job. Part of it is lack of a good shop around here that I can farm off work to when I don't have the time.

My approach so far has been that I try to buy few, but higher end/better made parts in an attempt to minimize wrenching time - no hassle with fitting stuff that doesn't want to fit and fun stuff like that. Or so one would think. It gets you fun stuff like this custom fit gauge pod pictured below (and I'm not talking about the ashtray pod that is designed for the gauges to be read from the roof):

Or a Momo wheel hub that doesn't fit despite me triple checking it's the correct one because the cut-out for the connector on the clock spring didn't take into account the connector for the airbag. Of course bolting the Prototipo on is unlikely to help with the boost gauge visibility, so there's that.

With hindsight, buying the ND over the Caterham didn't help with the track car issue, but that's done (plus my wife loves the ND, but was lukewarm towards the Caterham). Trouble is, that's my toy money tied up in the ND right now until I manage to sell the MR2.

Ah well, time to figure out if I want a "real" race car (as in purpose-built tube frame type stuff) or something with a Mazda or Porsche badge while trying to work out how I can make the last two booked and paid for events for the year.

Preferably a car with aftermarket parts that actually berkeleying fit.

First, time to return the MR2 to (mostly) stock.

sell MR2, cage ND, ????, profit. (okay maybe not profit, but fun)

Caging the ND isn't going to happen any time soon, though. Otherwise I could've just bought an ND cup car .

E36 M3 time. Grab a beater 4 door and have fun

Hummm...Sounds exactly why my old MR2 is now in Michigan with a new owner and not in my garage anymore. Too many little things that just didn't fit or with the car being so old, the flow of good parts was drying up.

I'd probably sell it and grab an E36 or what ever you like in that range and just beat it on the track.

Just a thought on the next one, buy someone else's already built track car. Seems like you aren't having so much fun on the wrenching end of things lately. Spend your time at the wheel instead.

Are you trying to run a certain class, what are your goals for a track car?

If your tired of wrenching on one, why dont you buy a cheap car that makes a relatively competent track car, with minimal prep.

Late model mustang, fbody, vette, early miata, e36 or e30. All have a huge aftermarket and stock replacement parts support, can be had cheaply, and could make a reliable track car with minimal prep, if all your wanting is seat time.

In reply to BoxheadTim: It sounds like you should sell the MR2 and buy someone's race car they're selling.

Sell MR2

Buy a Miata

Buy Exocet kit.

Mix thoroughly.

Go to the track and enjoy.

How much for the MR2?

In reply to Swank Force One:

Think you can get an F2T to C50 adapter fabricated?

In reply to Swank Force One:

Depends on how many of the speed parts you want with it. If you're interested, PM me on here and we can talk.

Not trying to run in a certain class for Auto-X or time trials.

By now it seems like it's a toss-up between Mr_Clutch42's idea of buying a "real" race car or turboswede's idea of an Exocet. I've toyed with the idea of an Exocet before - after 4 NA Miatas I'm comfortable with wrenching on them, plus there are awesome companies like Flyin Miata to help with the go fast bits. Heck, if I ordered an Exocet kit I'd already know which colors I'd want.

Re a purpose-built race car I'd probably look at either an SRR or SRF, with a remote possibility of a Formula Vee.

@Opti, the main problem (apart from the lack of availability of good parts) for me is the lack of wrenching time. Provided I get enough beer I can probably rope in a bunch of local club members to help with the big parts of an Exocet build, but what I lack is the time to do continued work on something like the MR2 that is slowly being converted into a track car.

In reply to pres589:

He'd have to fab an E153 adapter . That said, a 3S-GTE is good for a decent amount of power as is.

In reply to BoxheadTim:

Oh, that already exists. I should have noticed the difference in interior from an AW11.

Spec Racer Ford?

pres589 wrote: In reply to Swank Force One: Think you can get an F2T to C50 adapter fabricated?

Don't need it. F2T to E153 adapter already exists. Would need to make one motor mount and mess with axles, that's about it.

But 3sgte is superior, so no real reason to do that.

I have a nicely prepped real race car (BMWCCA IS class, E36 M3) for sale if you are interested. It's a good blend of "faster than an M3", stout safety and still has working windows and door locks so you can park outside without filling it with water or having casual passers-by dicking around in there.

You've traveled this road multiple times already. You need to stop buying $hit boxes. I'm sorry but it's the truth.

Sell all these little $hit boxes that you've accumulated and buy the nicest, best maintained, built E36 M3 or E46 M3 you can find. Find one with a documented service history that had the suspension bushings, coolant system, brakes and suspension all done. You should be able to easily do that for ~$10-12k.

Then you can actually enjoy driving the car. You don't have the time to work on the cars, so they just sit there and taunt you. Buying a well sorted car that has a huge aftermarket support system and is easy to work on is the way to go.

You'll save so much money in the long run by doing this vs continually messing around as you have.

docwyte wrote: You've traveled this road multiple times already. You need to stop buying $hit boxes. I'm sorry but it's the truth. Sell all these little $hit boxes that you've accumulated and buy the nicest, best maintained, built E36 M3 or E46 M3 you can find. Find one with a documented service history that had the suspension bushings, coolant system, brakes and suspension all done. You should be able to easily do that for ~$10-12k. Then you can actually enjoy *driving* the car. You don't have the time to work on the cars, so they just sit there and taunt you. Buying a well sorted car that has a huge aftermarket support system and is easy to work on is the way to go. You'll save so much money in the long run by doing this vs continually messing around as you have.

^^ Definitely some truth here especially something like an Exocet build will take a lot longer and have a lot more frustration than your MR2, other option I think is best is buying someone elses already prepped track/race car saves a lot of money that way.

Actually there is no accumulation of E36 M3boxes, there's only the MR2 that's more of a project than just a driveable car. Yeah, there's also the K1100LT but that's a brake overhaul and a service away from being DD'able. Heck, it would already be back on the road if a US-based parts supplier would get their act together and get the brake lines out to me...

Yeah, I agree there is some truth in docwyte's post. I mostly agree with the exception of the M3 part - sorry, I just don't like E36/E46 M3s all that much, and I've driven enough of them to know that it's not going to change for me.

I think the main takeaway is that I need one vehicle to wrench on and one to drive, but separate vehicles so I can do away with the time pressure of having to either fix the thing right now or not being able to take part in the track events. Despite appearances I actually enjoy wrenching and modifying a car, I just have very limited wrenching time.

At this point I'll put the MR2 together so I at least have a chance to take part in the last two track events, or get a chance to sell it before the next event.

Did you sell the CRX and the E30? At one point it seemed like every car in your stable was in some sort of state of broken-ness.

You buy Miata's but know you can't fit in them. You look at a Caterham or an Exocet, both of which will be project cars with a Capital "P". Bespoke one of types of cars aren't what you need to be looking at. They'll have running issues, parts issues, issues finding someone to work on them and ergonomic issues.

I keep harping on the M3 for a reason. That's because it's an extraordinarily AWESOME track car. I KNOW you can make one to fit your ergonomic needs. They're cheap to run, easy to work on and have an immense aftermarket.

You have a paucity of time to work on a car. That means you need to get something solid, something that's easy for you to work on if you want and easy for a shop to work on.Plus something that has multiple vendors to orders parts from.

Get an M3. Get a Mustang. Get something like that. Stop looking at these esoteric kit car type of vehicles that while cool, will ultimately drain your wallet and your time and become a mountain of suck for you like the MR2 has.

^ the man has a point

Also, I think there's something to be said for getting a track car you don't really care much for. I hated my E30. With a bloody passion. But if the damn thing had been more reliable and I'd probably still have it as a track car simply because I wouldn't give a flying berk if I balled it up (especially considering how much I sold it for compared to how much I paid for it...).

it's time for spec 2WD 22RE powered toyota pickup (pre tacoma branding) racing. Cheap, bulletproof, low enough to not roll, rwd, not a lot of tire, will slide if you don't get it right.