Your favorite 1980's 2 seat sports car . . .
10-11-14, 05:16 AM
#1
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
Your favorite 1980's 2 seat sports car . . .
MR2= Mid engined, rear drive, 2 seats.
The angular, oragami styling looks like nothing else built in the last half of the 20th century. It is a unique design. I really wanted a Mark I, flip up headlight Mazda Miata, until I seriously started looking at the MK1 MR2. I really do not give a **** that the Miata is easier/cheaper to service, not to mention much easier to find at a reasonable price.
I know pampered, low mileage, original MK1 MR2's are out there. You can easily fine one in that 5 to 10k range, which IMO is an absolute steal for the type of pedegree you get with that car.
The angular, oragami styling looks like nothing else built in the last half of the 20th century. It is a unique design. I really wanted a Mark I, flip up headlight Mazda Miata, until I seriously started looking at the MK1 MR2. I really do not give a **** that the Miata is easier/cheaper to service, not to mention much easier to find at a reasonable price.
I know pampered, low mileage, original MK1 MR2's are out there. You can easily fine one in that 5 to 10k range, which IMO is an absolute steal for the type of pedegree you get with that car.
10-11-14, 07:56 AM
#3
Lexus Fanatic
Since you mention 1980s, just a technicality, but the Miata debuted in mid/late 1989 as a 1990 model.
Still, for many persons, it's the obvious choice...reliable, simple, snappy, responsive, and with an ingeniously simple, one-hand top up/down activation. My main beef with it, though, is that, especially with the first two generations, it was simply too small and cramped for large, heavy persons over 6 feet tall. That eased a little with the 3Gen....but not much.
The MR2 had a lot going for it, but, with the weight of the drivetrain behind the driver, tended to be twitchy and unstable.....it was designed mostly for sharp curves, and didn't like to track a straight line, At speed, on the Interstate or other straight road, you were constantly nudging the wheel left or right to stay in the middle of your lane. The engine, particularly the turbo, tended to run hot because it was out of the cooling airstream in front, and had to rely on a far-away radiator and small cooling-slats on the sides and top.
I'd have to say, in some ways, that, though it was still a little small for me, my favorite 2-seater of the 1980s was the Honda CRX. It avoided the overly-tight packaging of the Miata, was a little more accommodating of larger persons, had more cargo space, and came in several different versions ranging from ultra-miserly XF (which had only 48 HP) to a semi-performance Si with 125 HP. Like the Miata, it was extremely well-built, and, IMO, had a manual transmission/clutch that was even more snappy and crisp. Its FWD also made it a little better in the snow than the Miata's spin-out RWD. The no-power assist steering, though, with excellent road-feel, was a little on the slow side for responsiveness, and lacked the Miata's instant response, but that also made it a little more stable on the Interstate. Many of its cult-fans, BTW, were let down when the CRX was dumped for the T-Top, semi- convertible Del Sol successor....which was poorly designed and was noted as a rattle/flex//squeak/leak machine, as Honda had little experience with that type of vehicle.
A number of drivers also liked the 1Gen and 2Gen Mazda RX-7 of the period, which had ideal weight-distribution, a turbine-smooth rotary engine, ideal road manners for a sports car, point-and-go handling, good assembly quality, and a generally good reliability record except for the engine. But the engine's rotor-tip seals tended to wear prematurely (a major issue), it had some emissions difficulties, used lot of both oil and gas, blacked torque unless run at high RPMs, made huge amounts of smoke when it flooded, and had rather expensive parts/service because of its exclusivity to that car.
Still, for many persons, it's the obvious choice...reliable, simple, snappy, responsive, and with an ingeniously simple, one-hand top up/down activation. My main beef with it, though, is that, especially with the first two generations, it was simply too small and cramped for large, heavy persons over 6 feet tall. That eased a little with the 3Gen....but not much.
The MR2 had a lot going for it, but, with the weight of the drivetrain behind the driver, tended to be twitchy and unstable.....it was designed mostly for sharp curves, and didn't like to track a straight line, At speed, on the Interstate or other straight road, you were constantly nudging the wheel left or right to stay in the middle of your lane. The engine, particularly the turbo, tended to run hot because it was out of the cooling airstream in front, and had to rely on a far-away radiator and small cooling-slats on the sides and top.
I'd have to say, in some ways, that, though it was still a little small for me, my favorite 2-seater of the 1980s was the Honda CRX. It avoided the overly-tight packaging of the Miata, was a little more accommodating of larger persons, had more cargo space, and came in several different versions ranging from ultra-miserly XF (which had only 48 HP) to a semi-performance Si with 125 HP. Like the Miata, it was extremely well-built, and, IMO, had a manual transmission/clutch that was even more snappy and crisp. Its FWD also made it a little better in the snow than the Miata's spin-out RWD. The no-power assist steering, though, with excellent road-feel, was a little on the slow side for responsiveness, and lacked the Miata's instant response, but that also made it a little more stable on the Interstate. Many of its cult-fans, BTW, were let down when the CRX was dumped for the T-Top, semi- convertible Del Sol successor....which was poorly designed and was noted as a rattle/flex//squeak/leak machine, as Honda had little experience with that type of vehicle.
A number of drivers also liked the 1Gen and 2Gen Mazda RX-7 of the period, which had ideal weight-distribution, a turbine-smooth rotary engine, ideal road manners for a sports car, point-and-go handling, good assembly quality, and a generally good reliability record except for the engine. But the engine's rotor-tip seals tended to wear prematurely (a major issue), it had some emissions difficulties, used lot of both oil and gas, blacked torque unless run at high RPMs, made huge amounts of smoke when it flooded, and had rather expensive parts/service because of its exclusivity to that car.
Last edited by mmarshall; 10-11-14 at 08:09 AM.
I was going to mention that one just for ***** and giggles 
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10-11-14, 12:25 PM
#8
Lexus Champion
I had an 86 MR2 which will always be the best car I've owned. It was a hoot at the auto cross course yet still a great road tripper (pack light!).
I also had an 85 and then 89 CRX, and those were great fun as well (but no MR2).
I also had an 85 and then 89 CRX, and those were great fun as well (but no MR2).
10-11-14, 02:26 PM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
10-11-14, 05:07 PM
#12
10-11-14, 05:46 PM
#13
Lexus Fanatic
Well, you had the mid-engined Fiat/Bertone X1/9, which like the Fiero, spent more time in the shop than on the road. But, again, that's why I didn't bring it up, and not many of them were sold. I've only known one X1/9 owner in my life, and that was one of our personnel chiefs at my old government office....he had a bright green one.
10-11-14, 07:07 PM
#15
Lexus Champion
I miss it to this day!