EssDub
OEM ones will outlast you/the car/your ownership of said car.
 
And SCA/Repco wouldn't know a MR2 even if it bit them in the ass.

Okay so OEM it is!

5SGTE
^^ I would be willing to bet the odd sca would know plenty about mr2s, just gotta find the right one ;-)

Can't entirely agree with it, literally just 2 hours ago I saw a post on Facebook about a mate's girlfriend being hired at SCA. Neither him nor her have turned a wrench in their life.

"Is $100 reasonable for a set of genuine plug leads? Cause I was wondering if there's any downsides to going aftermarket instead (not that I know of any - I saw on Twos'r'us that the STI plugs are decent)"
 
IMO go for genuine leads because apart from being high quality, you won't have to worry about fit. 
 
You may be interested in this:
http://www.mr2australia.com/mr2play/tm.aspx?m=100110
 
 
 
 
 

Another possibility for bad fuel economy is a blocked up catalytic converter.

There's supposed to be a fairly large temperature difference between the front and back of the cat. There's  also supposed to be minimal pressure difference. Any MR2 experts know the normal ranges for these? I don't have a lot of experience with engines, most is just reading I've done, and I read that a blocked cat was a common cause for poor fuel economy in MR2s.

I'm actually not sure how the temperature difference theory works, but some cars have two O2 sensors, one before the cat and one after. Don't go burning your hands just yet, I think the differential would be quite small if I was to guess. I've also seen a youtube video where the mechanic drills a hole (lol) before the cat and one after it, and sticks a pressure probe in each hole to get pressure measurements. Interesting stuff, but again, I have no practical experience, I was hoping there is an exhaust expert on this forum to offer some actual sane advice.

mr2y
I'm actually not sure how the temperature difference theory works, but some cars have two O2 sensors, one before the cat and one after. Don't go burning your hands just yet, I think the differential would be quite small if I was to guess. I've also seen a youtube video where the mechanic drills a hole (lol) before the cat and one after it, and sticks a pressure probe in each hole to get pressure measurements. Interesting stuff, but again, I have no practical experience, I was hoping there is an exhaust expert on this forum to offer some actual sane advice.

What are you talking about, using my bare hands to measure the heat of both pipes around the cat while the car is running is perfectly sane!

I feel like you might be on to something here though - as stupid as it sounds, sometimes when you mash the go-fast pedal, you feel that hesitation. As if gases were getting stuck in the exhaust. Ergo, blocked cat. Especially considering swapping out the spark plugs, dizzy cap and rotor did nothing. If only there were a way to test it simply.. I may have to take a trip into an exhaust shop.

Does anyone know the dimensions of the cat? Might ask for a quote for a new one. Oh and would I see much of a benefit from a hi-flow cat on an NA? I can't imagine I would

Not yet, no. I don't even know where the O2 sensor on this car is (Eric tried helping me but mine apparently isn't in the same location). I'm guessing it's further up the exhaust system under the engine but I haven't bothered finding it yet

That plus the fact that I bought a Denso universal one - so I'll have to crimp the factory plug onto this new O2 Sensor, but I also don't know if it's going to mount properly either. I've seen a few O2 sensors have that a plate on the 3SGE, whereas mine doesn't.. I found some pictures to explain what I mean
 


One I bought



Plated one

According to that I should be getting 550kms to a tank. Realistically, it's more like 415-430 kms if I'm lucky to the point where it's running dry

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