Faults:

Alternator packed up - a cheap replacement is the Rover K-series 1.8 alternator. It fits straight in, and just needs the adjuster bar lengthened, and works 100%.

Crank pulley separated - the alternator pulley is compressed onto the tapered crank pulley with a rubber insert. This came loose and had to be replaced.

Rust claimed the car - front subframe, rear arches, front corners of boot, cockpit floors has huge holes, sills had completely gone.

General Comments:

Superb car, with impeccable handling and reliability. MPG is excellent (40mpg), and I couldn't fault the car one bit.

The car is a motoring journalists favourite, but I really hate to agree. It feels excellent to drive, the driving position is brilliant and is the large seats are very comfortable - the interior trim feels solid, and the pillar-less doors close with a satisfying, quality sounding thud. Gear change is easy due to the gear stick being inches from the steering wheel. I don't subscribe to the 'driver's car' statement, but this is pure driving fun.

It's practical enough to carry a decent amount of shopping in the boot.

I'd have another one in a shot, but it'd have to be rust free. These weren't rust proofed very well, or at all.

Faults:

Faultless.

General Comments:

Rare, rapid, blown 1600 engine provides terrific torque and power for 1600cc. Add a Mongoose exhaust and you have 155bhp+, 155ftlbs torque minimum.

Corners on rails.

T-tops off, and it's a convertible.

Disturbs Honda Civic Type R's, even though it's 18 years old.

Add an 180mm pulley for up to 180bhp and 180ftlbs torque+.

Excellentm and all for £2500.

Beat that...

Faults:

Mainly rust, to most body panels, sills and non-critical chassis components.

Worn leather on seats.

Ignition coil intermittent fault.

General Comments:

What can I say about the open-top T-Bar MR2? If you can live with the "soft" reputation, and the rust, this car is so much fun.

Only moderately quick, but handles beautifully, fast enough to exhilarate and great on the limit.

For a 17 year old car with 130000miles, I use it every day and it's only really let me down once, which was cheap and easy to fix.

Dealer support is great, they stock all parts (although expensive) and are happy to help keep these cars on the road.

Nothing special on paper, but just amazing to drive, with fantastic reliability.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

I've always wanted a Mk1 MR2 so was happy with my purchase. I knew it would not be as quick as previous cars, I've had a fair few 6 cylinder BM's including the E30 325i, E36 325i and the E28 M535, all fast in a straight line, but a handful in the twisty stuff.

The MR2 in contrast is the best balanced car I have ever driven. Mid engine and rear wheel drive results in a very responsive drive, you can really push the car into any corner and it grips and grips some more, it generally tends to understeer before it oversteers, which is nice and predictable as I like it, buy an old BM if you like going backwards, I've tried it a few times and didn't think much of it.

The MR2 is slightly underpowered, but not by much, too much BHP would effect the handling, but I still think another 20bhp would be useful, although 120bhp from a 1.6 is respectable. Totoya did produce a supercharged version which had the extra BHP and I imagine that is an almost perfect sports car.

The brakes on the MR2 are also strong, with disks all around, but generally its accepted that most need new rear calipers by now which seem to be a weakness, along with the rear arches which suffer from rust.

The engine is strong and likes to be reved, I've done approx 10,000 miles in mine since purchase with no reliability problems. which isn't bad for a 1.6 with 150,000 on the clock.

The T bar is nice on sunny days, as it can be removed so you can appreciate open top driving.

The car is also good on fuel due to its light weight and small engine, average 30-35 mpg.

There is even a boot which you can get 6 shopping bags in, and more storage space under the bonnet.

In conclusion if you are looking for an economical, reliable, sports car for under £1000, with exellent predictable handling, for B road blasting I can think of no competition.