Toyota MR2

[lozzzzzz]

When I tell people my plan for this car, 9 times out of 10 I get a negative response.  I'm hoping it might be different on this forum

I like a project (see the Scimitar in my other thread).  Knowing about bio, I have to have a diesel car, but I don't like front heavy hatches so here's the plan.  MR2 TDI, using a 110hp pump pre 98 VAG engine.  I love the MR2 and the engine is a strong-un and can be made to be a little more pokey with a minimum of effort. 

This has been the plan for a while.  I've been casually looking out for a suitable car, not really wishing to buy one yet.  Then this came along at £300. 





Its a 1991 with MOT till November, and tax for this month only, 84k miles and pretty good underneath.  There are some dents and a tiny bit of rust.  Its off to the garage to have its rust "nipped in the bud" then in a couple of week I'll get it back and start unpicking a 110hp tdi motor from a boring Sharan or Galaxy or something. 

I CAN'T WAIT 

Guess I should finish the bio rig first:)

[Dickjotec]

That looks a bargain I you have to many projects I think you need to concentrate on the bio and pass that on to me. For what my opinion is worth I think it will make an excellent fun economy motor.

BTW  You need to win the lottery so you can give up work! Mind you I seem to have even less time since I retired.

[Jamesrl]

Nothing wrong with a diesel sports car just look at the recent LeMans winners.

I prefer the previous model, the squarer one.

Anyway someone put a merc lump in a Roller creating the first diesl model.

[Manfred]

Go for it I say. Some diesels kick out serious BHP.  Especially when mated to a lighter body.
  Wish I only had the time and space to work on one.

[lozzzzzz]

Well it is now insured!  I'll be enjoying it in a couple of hours, then not seeing it for a month or two. 

Can't wait to drive it again. 

[Tony]

That's a beauty for £300.    Go for it!

Sure you can't be tempted with this for £500?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-E300-3-0-ENGINE-DIESEL-606-962-COMPLETE-WARRANTED-/350958288234

24 valve 3 liter turbo = 175 hp

No idea how you'd connect up the transmission though...

[nigelb]

I think you've got yourself a proper project there Loz.

If the 110bhp engine is anything like the one that was in my passat it'll go like stink. Great engine...dodgy turbo..but great engine.

[K.H]

Nothing wrong with a diesel sports car just look at the recent LeMans winners.

I prefer the previous model, the squarer one.

Anyway someone put a merc lump in a Roller creating the first diesl model.

I had the previous model, petrol, long before i had even heard of bio, lovely motor, like a roller skate

[Jonzeyboy43]

I had this model 2.0 twin cam, brill motor 35 mpg all day long however I drove it. And I drove it. No speed cams then. Great stereo as well. 4 years of ownership not one problem.

[Rossey]

Scimitar where?

I have a scimitar, still in bits

[greasemonkey]

Looks like a good project.
I remember a few years ago there was a bit of a thing about sticking diesel engines in XR2s and XR3s, usually a smoky old Ford 1800 TD out of a rusted out Escort van.
I was never very taken on the idea.
A tidy diesel in a car like that is a different story all together.
I wonder how much weight difference there would be? A relatively old petrol, against a more modern diesel. Maybe not all that much.

[lozzzzzz]

I'd like to say the car did the hour journey to our trusted body shop man, but it ran on two cylinders most of the way.......   oh well don't need that engine

(I'm sure its just the coil or something, they are good engines, but this one hasn't been looked at for a while)


When considering my options, I looked at that merc, its a cracking car!  but the 6 cylinders wouldn't fit in west-east. 

I had the 90hp version in my golf a couple of years back, I gave it two years of relentless abuse and it didn't complain once.  I'll be popping the 35hp extra chip on there too.  Now I'm sure there is a little hype and it might be a bit less than that, but people have said good things about it.  So 140hp tdi!!!!   that should do the trick

The Scimitar was in Practical Performance Car Magazine in January, a 7 page spread   And there is eveidence that I've spent far too long writing about it myself here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=149&t=989675&i=0&mid=246798&nmt=Project+Scimitar+MV6

Where are you Rossey, and what's the story with your Scim?

Godd point with the Weight, I could doa  before and after as we have a weigh bridge near us. 

[Rossey]

I'm in Luton.

It's a father son project that hasn't been finished.

We got two and recon engine for £200

It's a rolling chassis at the mo.

Engines never been run since it's rebuild and is fitted with Kent cams.

I did see a scimitar with bmw Diesel engine in and I'm trying to persuade my dad into putting a diesel in it so I can run it on bio and the car will get some use.

It's se5a I think 1973. 

[lozzzzzz]

Sweet!!!!  Tax Exempt and Bio....   that will be one cheap car to run. 

Get it done, the BMW diesel is a cracking choice, do it!!!!

I think I know the car you mention with the BMW diesel, it was up for a sale about a year ago, I think it was snatched up pretty quick on the Scimitar Club forum. 

[Head Womble]

Diesel MR2, you must be mad.

Only joking it's a great idea.
For some time I've had the thought of a Caterum with diesel power, but would go for a PSA 2.1td XUD11 12 valve,
bags of low down power, bullet proof, good for 400K (if looked after) and responds very well to a tweaked manual Bosch pump (10mm plunger, ground head) and bigger turbo.
The XUD11 is quieter and smoother than the VAG units.