2013/05/10 12:53:52
MonsieurDeux
I bought this car because i loved the look of them and with the classic 4age, what could be better? 
after buying one I feel like I don't think I could live with out one! They are fantastic cars, cheap to run and handle well and although i've got my eye out for a S/C one to build up my heart will always be with my little n/a a-dub

I want to change the colour of the rims, to either white or black, and maybe put a set of new extractors and exhaust to open up the sound a little more! 
I shall update as I go, and see where things take me
2013/05/10 15:05:28
wiso
so, you just posted this car up in showroom. did you just buy this car? an ad for this car went up on gumtree just yesterday. 
 
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/aldgate/cars-vans-utes/1987-toyota-mr2-aw11-white-low-kms/1019337893
 
I was looking at the add last night trying to work out what the car was, has S1 interior, engine, bumpers, but S2 body and side vent by the looks of your front strut towers. it also lists as automatic, but pics show manual shifter
 
then I saw you post this and thought that car looks really familiar. is someone playing silly buggers with your photos?
2013/05/10 15:22:24
MonsieurDeux
I have put an add up for it, only because Ive had it for 6+ months, and if i can stirr interest while im adding to it and sell it, I can look out for my next a-dub which will be a super charged, with out selling it i wont have the money 
So I thought I would put it up and just see what happens and have fun with it in the mean time!

Its definatly a manual and has the S1 interior (I have been in a few S2 interior cars but i find the S1 to feel better) And it has the other S1 stuff such as arial and front bumper, and the side skirts and vent are also S2, so its a bit of a mixture! 

Although I know nothing of it being an auto, as i'm pretty sure it came manual, but im not 100% sure of this! 

I dont really want to sell it, but if it means I can go grab an S/C then maybe its worth it 
 
2013/05/10 15:34:43
wiso
have you had some good drives in an SC?
 
make sure its what you want, otherwise you might end up doing like i did, buy NA, go this is great, need more power. then sell and buy an SC, realise the power is awesome, but then realise there is a big trade off in handling for that power, so you turbo it because the supercharger dies and they are getting hard to find in good condition, then you sell that and buy another NA again and realise after all that even though they lack power they are a super fun little car.
 
 
2013/05/10 15:45:39
MonsieurDeux
I have had a couple of drives in an sc, and the main reason i was looking at getting one was because of just that little bit more power!
Does the handling drop just because of the increase in power, or because of the heavier compnents? 
It truely is a fantastic car! I just wish it had a little more oomph
2013/05/10 15:58:52
wiso
heavier components, more rear end weight. you certainly can get them to handle well, but they really need a much better setup to make it happen.
 
one thing you really do have to take into account these days though, the Supercharger, these are now over 20years old, alot of them are on there way out and since they aren't a rebuildable item in time they will get rarer and more expensive.
 
but that said the SC model is still great. I used to love that instant burst of torque in mine. but yeah I think my sensible side one out in the end.
2013/05/10 16:07:21
MonsieurDeux
Thats certainly something ill have to consider, also the fact that I will have to spend more getting them to handle as well.

I was looking into putting an sc14 with larger pulleys, so it made a bit more power, but hopefully with a (newer) condition sc, but finding these parts get harder and harder
 
Thats one of the only things missing in the 16v! the torque when you put your foot into it! 

For the moment ill just keep it and enjoy it, but see how it goes interest wise and then weigh up the pros and cons
2013/05/10 16:28:55
wiso
I know guys out there who have put koni/eibach combo on their cars and they handle quite well. but original JDM SC models don't have rear swaybars remember, alot of times they don't have the tabs for mounting them either, so kits need to be had to mount these things etc. Remember most springs out there for these cars in the world are designed for the NA cars, so the extra weight on the rear the springs won't have the same effect, some makers do have specific SC model springs. The best handling SC I have seen has a few thousand dollars worth of Tein Custom made coilovers under it. Another one I know that handles very well has TRD Gymkana springs
 
You want torque for the 16v get some cams, a set of 264deg cams makes a HUGE difference to the 4AGE.
 
I am not trying to turn you off here mate, just sharing some of my experiences owning all the different models. good luck, and have a look around. think about what you really want out of the car.
 
all the best.
2013/05/10 16:34:32
MonsieurDeux
Thats good info, but dont think your trying to discourage me! all the advice is appreciated, maybe its better to look down the road at a 20v swap, or even longer duration cams like you mentioned

Its a bummer that they dont even have tabs to put aftermarket sway bars in, makes it difficult to do things without too much fabrication.

Ill have a look down the road of cams etc. and see how it takes my fancy, cheers! 

In the mean time ill have to just take more photos 
2013/05/13 15:57:06
maj
If you want a car with more power, don't bother with an SC, go for a more modern turbo'ed car. Use it to get it out of your system and then every time you come back to the NA and chuck it into a corner, it will put a smile on your face the turbo simply can't compare with. You will find the turbo addictive and want to keep both though!
 
Mine is an SC Auto but that's a different beast altogether, the torque is what makes it fun rather than the power, and I can definitely agree with what Wiso has to say about handling in an SC, the auto makes it worse!
I wouldn't call the SC a powerful car at all. It just makes the AW11 feel like a bit bigger and lazier car than what it should be. I still like what I ended up with though, but the thought of an NA screamer crosses my mind more often than I'd admit. My wallet simply doesn't agree though so I doubt I'll ever get an NA adub.
 
Your car looks very fresh and mint still. If it doesn't have any rust (or very little), I'd hold onto it if I were you. 20v Blacktop swap would be the ultimate swap I think.
If you have to get an SC, keep the NA for a while before you decide which you would rather have in the long term.
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