Thanks for all the feedback. The MR2 community in general seems to be a fantastic bunch of genuine enthusiasts that are all very helpful. I've gotta start saving for my Beams engine now :)

It was so hard for me to find redtops when I was looking for a Beams and you guys are just effortlessly find them :'(
and they're good finds as well. Never bought from wholesale car parts so I wouldn't know their workmanship. The Celica one on eBay is a pretty good deal, shame about the transmission tho :/
Some people have problems with the intake but mine was idling quite happily even with a messy custom jobby - Caldina intake hose from throttle body and a metal pipe to house the AFM to pod filter. In fact putting in the stock airbox (scored from yahoo Japan, whooo!) I feel about the same. Might have even lost a bit of torque according to friend who sat in it. I might consider going back to pod because with stock the intake noise got dampened. With the pod it was orgasmic (I had a Simota shielded pod filter)
The Beams dedicated forum was very helpful to me as well

Beams sound so good with a pod, just sucks that the engines do not respond to air box changes very well. I have a SXE10 Blacktop Beams in my car and we just cut the whole bottom of the box off. It ran terribly with flat spots with a pod etc, I know this is the same for the Redtop/Greytop too. Driving Darrens car you can feel the difference of only having VVT on the intake on the Redtops. If only you could get a Blacktop to work in  FWD format!
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp74U1oG5VI
 

What made you all decide to go Beams rather than turbo? Had you all driven them before deciding, or did you have other reasons for wanting the Beams?

The reason why I went BEAMS was:
1. I already have a turbo MR2 which I only driver occasionally and on MR2 club tracks days.
2. Wanted to keep my daily MR2 NA
3. Always wanted a BEAMS powered MR2 :)

I went BEAMS because I wanted a bit more power and torque, but I don't really like the throttle response of turbo cars as much as a good NA engine. So > BEAMS.
 
I'm also a bit older than some MR2 enthusiasts, and I find the sound of atmospherically vented blow-off valves to be completely embarrassing. So > BEAMS.
 
Drag racing from traffic lights isn't my scene either, but being able to finely adjust the turn-in on my car with subtle throttle control while I meander around a winding country road is. So > BEAMS.
 

Mister2, my feelings exactly! (i'm not exactly young either)
Mister_two, i wish i could afford more than 1 lol, but i'm very lucky to have the one i do.
I'm looking to enhance it in the best way for my own driving enjoyment. I think Beams will give me what i'm looking for, i'm not after huge power, just fun responsiveness.
I hope to get over to the eastern states in future to attend some events, and hopefully i'll be able to catch up with everyone sometime.

i was originally going to go V6 , but then i stumbled upon the red top goodness at a local wrecker and couldn't say no.

Lucky find voodoo, was it from a celica or mr2? Did you have any troubles with the conversion?

My original engine was chewing thru oil and major service (200,000km) was due so my choices were either

1. Major service
2. V6 (1MZ)
3. BEAMS

The major service was gonna be somewhere north of 2k and since I wanted something different it was either V6 or BEAMS. I was on my P's so turbo wasn't an option. I was essentially on the fence between these two until I blew (sort of) my engine. Needing to replace my engine asap I then realised V6 would've voided my insurance in a crash and the rest is history :)