95-99 GSX or 93-95 MR2?

[Digitronical]

Hi guys, I have been looking at purchasing a new car. I have a 97 GST spyder with your basic bolt ons to the stock t25 and motor. I was convinced my next car was going to be a gsx, until my brother convinced me to look into the 93-95 MR2 Turbo. He mentioned it was the cheapest way to go quick and have ferrari like handling ability's.

I am more open minded than just quartermile racing, but autox and tracking abilitys, ontop of being able to put down a respectable quartermile time.

When he started going down the list of things the MR2 comes stock with for its cost, I started to become convinced that the GSX might not be the next car for me, keeping in mind that I am a budget minded tuner here.

He mentioned that the MR2 could outbrake a 2000 Ferrari 360 Modena, back in 1993, with 60-0 in 107ft, as well as getting the same skidpad results as a Ferrari F40 (.94g). With numbers like those on the stock brakes and stock pizza cutter 15" rims it comes with, I am convinced that there is much more room for improvement despite its amazing numbers it puts down already. He says that with the mid engined placement and its rearward weight bias, it gets much better weight distribution under braking and acceleration than front engined cars do, and its already lighter than a gsx with his weighing in at 2700lbs on an 18wheeler scale.

He has a JDM gen 3 3sgte, which ran a 13.3 in stock form, and an additional $250 in bolt ons to it and bald street tires, it ran a [email protected] and was told he wasnt getting very hard on it at the start due to its subpar 1.99 60ft. He says drag radials would of helped out a lot.

I like the fact that it doesnt have an interference engine, so if the timing belt breaks, I am only a timing belt away from getting it back on the road. It also comes stock with a metal headgasket, 540cc injectors, an iron block/aluminum head, stock oil catchcan, stock LSD transmission and some even came stock with widebodys and 500hp from the factory.

I think thats the thing that makes it a difficult decision, is that the MR2 already comes stock with so many upgrades over a GSX and is classed with AWD cars in drag racing over in Japan, due to its superior weight distribution MidRear setup, gets better gasmileage, and the 3sgte has won more JGTC's than the 4g63, and if your lucky enuff to find a TRD2000gt, you can get 2425lb, 493hp stock widebody, all %100 stock.

Now the GSX that I had been considering for uyears b4 I considered the MR2, doesnt come with a non-inteference engine, so if the t-belt breaks, Im screwed til I can save up enuff for a rebuilt head. I dont like how it comes with 450cc injectors, no oil catchcan, and a headgasket that isnt metal.


340whp on stock fuel system seems to be par for these gen 3 3sgte MR2's with mild bolt ons and a 50trim, I am afraid it might cost me a lot more to get a GSX to put down those kinds of numbers and outhandle or outbrake an MR2. My brother claims that the Mr2 will give me better handling/braking/fuel milage, better build quality, cheap to mod considering I can get a 50trim kit for a MR2 off ebay for $700.

Asa budget minded tuner, what car do you think I shud get since I want to tie or beat my brothers MR2 while spending as little as possible. Can I put down 340whp w/ a gsx AND run an 11.9? He did it all for $1500 and I wud like to do the same.

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^Pic of said car, I want to be fast enuff to pull of a plate similar to this one.

 

[JOEY A]

Here is a tip, drive a MR-2, and then drive a GSX... See which one you like better. And honestly, the MR-2's are death traps if you ever get into an accedent. Its not all about the numbers of the stoping distance or the quarter mile times and all that crap. Its about what is overall better. My opinion is the GSX is overall better, the main reason is the AWD. You can get a hole shot out on anyone that has a 2 wheel drive in any weather condition. Also with the AWD its safer on poor road conditions. Thats just my 2 cents.

They are not the safest car in the world, but I wouldnt call them a death trap

Did you look at your dsm? We dont even have air bags

 

[kiwidog]

I'd go with a GSX, they are cheaper to mod, easier to work on and when the weather gets real bad what are you going to drive if you get the MR2. Almost any car can be made to handle and brake well with the right setup and parts, so your brothers statement that the MR2 can out handle and brake a GSX is null and void.

I'm also trying to figure out how he thinks a stock MR2, be it a JDM or USDM version, can go 13.3 stock in the quarter. From everything I've found a stock USDM MR2 does around 14.6 and a JDM version is only slightly better at 14.1, also a stock 2G GSX is around 14.9 if you know how to drive.

It just sounds like your brother just wants you to get a MR2 since he has one and he's biased towards it, whereas I guess most of us would be biased towards the GSX since most of us have Mitsubishi's.

I say just do some research and try not to lean too much on what other people tell you about the 2 cars and make your decision on what appeals to you and what you would like more. Either way your going to have a quick, fun and great handling car so you can't go wrong either way.

 

[redtsi252]

I have driven both cars, and I will say a turbo MR2 is no joke, and how often do you see them...the are rare and fast....

My opinion is If you have a DSM, and your selling it for another car....Get a GSX

But if you already have a DSM, and you gonna keep it and buy another car....GET THE MR2

They Hook up like a sum bi***....and they are light as shit

BUT AWD IS NO JOKE

 

[Digitronical]

I dont know if it is harder to work on or not, but I got someone who is an mr2 enthusiast enuff that he works for next to nothing, he works for beer.

I dont know any eclipse tuners locally, last time I had my eclipse repaired, it cost $4400 for a new transmission/motor mounts/transmission mounts and a cv. All that for a non-lsd tranny. In my experience with the eclipse I have not found them "cheap". I dont know if it was more or less at toyota, but if it was more, I would feel that I am probably getting a higher quality part since they often hold a spot in the top 10 most reliable manufacturers in the world which I never seem to see Mitsubishi grace a place in.

And the quote on the axles snapping like tooth picks, He pointed me out to his ATS Chromoly CV axle cages for a mere $325. Problem solved.

Where did we get our facts from? Google of course, I dont make up numbers.

http://www.members.tripod.com/turbocharged98/mr2.htm
^60-0 in 107ft and .94g on the skidpad bone stock
(14.3 quarter because it is using inferior USDM 2nd gen motor instead of JDM 3rd gen 3sgte)
http://www.geocities.com/bestsportscars/f40.html
^.94g stock Ferrari F40
Ferrari 360 Modena Pictures and Specifications
60-0 in 110ft Ferrari 360 Modena

While these numbers were done with top of the line rims and tires on the Ferrari's, the same or better numbers were pulled with the MR2 that you would have a hardtime downgrading from since it was done with pizzacutter stock rims and street tires. I can only imagine what it would do with sticky tires and wider larger diameter rims. I was wondering where you got your information, that u would want to claim that mine is bogus?

 

[kiwidog]

--------------------

Where did we get our facts from? Google of course, I dont make up numbers.

http://www.members.tripod.com/turbocharged98/mr2.htm
^60-0 in 107ft and .94g on the skidpad bone stock These numbers can only be acheived by using today's tire technologies, bone stock uh I don't think so.
(14.3 quarter because it is using inferior USDM 2nd gen motor instead of JDM 3rd gen 3sgte) And how much is it going to cost to buy a JDM 3rd gen motor and then swap it into your MR2, not trying to get on you about anything I'm just asking.

The website you got these numbers from is a site someone made on the tripod members area using numbers that they apparently found somewhere. Believing anything you find on a tripod website is like believing everything you read on wikipedia. I'm just saying to do some actually research and get the actual facts of these cars, I'll post up the link to the numbers I found when I get home as I'm leaving work right now and don't have the time.

 

[whitedawg]

I've owned 2 MR2's and at least 5 or 6 DSM's, no doubt the Toyota is more expensive to mod dollar for dollar. I got my yellow MR2 to just under 300whp and it was starting to get expensive. I upgraded to a CT20B (JDM turbo on Gen III's) and still made less power than the 16G on my Laser. My MR2 mod list was a mile long too. The Toyota ECU is a bastard and advances the timing way too much when you use an AFC, I'd go with a standalone or piggyback ECU that can control the timing. MR2's are definitely more attention-getting but if you're looking for pure straightline performance, get the GSX.

Yellow and Green Mister's with my old FWD Laser in the background

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Yellow Mister with Volk's

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16G vs CT20B

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[94_eclipse]

They are not the safest car in the world, but I wouldnt call them a death trap

Did you look at your dsm? We dont even have air bags

If you hit somthing head on.. there is nothing there but tin. Also with the engine in the back it takes away traction to the front tires, so there goes your steering... And i feel that air bags too more damage than they should so it does not bother me to not have them.

 

[2gGSX]

Peter, no offense to you but from I wouldn't listen to your brother just based on the crap he posts on STLSR. 1500 dollars in mods? What about the cost of that engine and the swap if he paid for that? IIRC though he bought it from deadguyperez and it had the 3rd gen motor in it already.

If you got one and wanted it to be faster than a GSX of similar price, that probably won't happen. I had a friend with a 93 MR2 (2nd gen 3S-GTE and all) and there's a lot different between the two. For the record, I hated doing anything with that car. It's definitely different from working on a DSM, and in my opinion, more awkward.

Another point you may or may not have thought of is how ludicrously expensive the aftermarket parts are for those cars. A turboback exhaust for them is the same as it is for us, and it's half the piping (albeit more bends). It's next to impossible to get a FMIC on the cars, so people end up going SMIC, trunk-mount, or A2W. There are no "bridge" engine management systems--e.g. it's just a SAFC (or the like) and standalones.

Get the GSX.

 

[Boo5t_Addict]

Bang-for-your-buck the GSX will be easier to run consistent low times with, and can be made to handle very well. More importantly though, it's how good the driver is. The Ferrari will still destroy the MR2 on any actual racetrack, because Ferraris don't get brake fade as bad, the power curve is more linear, etc....There's more to it than just 2 Google stats. The aftermarket for 4G63's is much bigger than the one for the MR2, so that makes finding the right part, for cheaper, easier. AWD's can be made to handle very well without a lot of mods. Also, you won't see very many 11 second daily driven MR2's out there, as traction at that power level is a major issue. Not for the AWD though. Safety is better in the GSX too. There are guys that run 11's on here with the 16g and still get 32 mpg. I'd like to see ANY MR2 do that. They do look sexy though. But I'd never trade a 6-bolt 4G63 for a 3SGTE. Besides, when you import from Japan, I don't care who you buy from, it's always a risk to get a motor. It's obviously not running when it gets to the distributors. A buddy of mine ordered an engine for a different, but more common platform, from one of the most reputable motor importers, and even though it was supposed to have approx. 30-60k miles, he spun a rod bearing in the 1st week. Even changed the oil and had it all cleaned out before we dropped it in. For pure performance potential reasons (for a daily driver) I'd choose the GSX. Nothing compares to AWD, and the potential offered by the DSM platform is awesome. MR2's are great-looking, fun to drive, and awesome stock. But expensive, not as easy to find parts for, and I've yet to see a 3SGTE make the power (reliably) that a 6-bolt 4G63 can make (reliably). Keep an open mind, but my ultimate explanation is this: The MR2 starts off stock better than the 4G63 in the handling and 1/4 mi. dept., but the 4G63 has much more potential for less $$.

 

[Turbo Monk3y]

LAwl I own both cars .... If you drive a gsx and then you drive an mr2 you will hands down take the mr2 for corner/ability to stay in your lane.. The Gsx is a pig up front and will fade the brakes faster up front. I have my Gsx for Drag racing all coilovered out but Its not built for taking corners considering I have a welded center diff... But The Mr2 will put a smile on your face everytime you get in and drive it... The GSX is just all out a beast if you want to go faster per dollar.. my Talon is almost ready to go start trapping 135-140mph this year and my mr2 is my other daily that only traps 108-110mph but its still a fun car.. So it comes down to this.. If you are a Noob then get the dsm they are easy and alot of times fool proof, if your getting into more of feeling like a challenge and want a car that will get looks everywhere you go then get the Mr2.. Or buy both like me.. they are my favorite cars besides the supra and skyline...

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[meliketoball]

A friend of mine died in his a few months ago with his MR2. He was driving 80 MPH on the freeway. Tainted MR2's; A shame because we graduated together a few months before his death.

 

[dSmgs-T]

GSX hands down!

 

[xxtremes33]

stock vs stock i would go with the mr2. but if u plan on upgrading it at all, id go with the gsx. the mr2 is a pain in the ass to work on.

 

[Clutch GSX]

If youre planning on modding then why the hell are you even talking about stock performance. Its pointless. It seems like you dont know much about cars and working on them so get the GSX since it will be MUCH easier to work on. Everyone says the MR2's are sexy, which I agree with but i think GSX's are just as sexy, atleast 2gbs. MR2's may be more rare than eclipses but i dont think they are more rare than built GSX's. if you want cheap, easy to work on, and reliable, take the gsx. Plus you dont want to copy your brother so you? I didnt think so.

 

[terdferguson]

I have been in the same situation, except between getting a GSX or another Mustang. It seems to me that my friends consider all Eclipses as sissy, FWD girlie cars. I like the GSX as the supposed underdog to quiet the naysayers.