Cargo space and seating?

Hi!

I've been looking at various 80s Japanese cars for a daily, and I saw an AW11 MR2. I was intrigued until I remembered that the thing has a very small cargo area, split into two trunks.

This brings me to my question: assuming a daily-driver car driven by a normal 16-year-old, how many cubic feet of cargo space and seats/doors would I realistically need?

Also, I understand many of you may not think a 1st-gen MR2 is a good second car. I am considering other cars, and feel free to suggest your own (looking for a quirky 80s car with cloth interior).

Thanks!

~RS8_TTW12

RS8_TTW12 said:

This brings me to my question: assuming a daily-driver car driven by a normal 16-year-old, how many cubic feet of cargo space and seats/doors would I realistically need?

Based on my own experience from that age, I would say one cubic foot, one seat and one door.    I'm not sure what kind of luggage a 16 year old would be carrying around, other than maybe a school backpack.

I owned a 90 Miata and a 88 MR2 at the same time. The MR2 had significantly more usable storage than the Miata

As long as your kid is not on the hockey team, I would not rule out the MR2. 

In reply to John Welsh :

Don’t think he’s got a kid. 

I have no AW11 experience, and I'm 40, but I daily drive an SW20 MR2. You have to get creative to fit some larger items:

But it does just fine as a grocery getter.

The aw11 has more cargo space than a Miata. I found it was plenty.

For me the bigger concern would be parts availability. 

When I was in high school, a big back seat or a big front bench seat came in handy.  

But then again it did get me in a bit of trouble. 

I had an AW11 in college (04-08) and for a couple years after. Sure, move in day at my various apartments sucked.  I never had to shuttle drunk friends from the bar in it.  Was even surprisingly reliable before I started track days.

Where there's a will, there's a way to make it work.

Adding some detail to what broke on it...

Head gasket blew at NJMP, then drove it home on the Jersey Turnpike. Made it, but engine was toast. Swapped in a JDM 4agze with pulleys, and the stock NA transmission. Well, axles and wheel bearings/hubs became consumables from that day onward.  Had a bunch of track days and a couple full seasons of autox on it before I sold - so I guess it could have been much worse.

stuart in mn said:

RS8_TTW12 said:

This brings me to my question: assuming a daily-driver car driven by a normal 16-year-old, how many cubic feet of cargo space and seats/doors would I realistically need?

Based on my own experience from that age, I would say one cubic foot, one seat and one door.    I'm not sure what kind of luggage a 16 year old would be carrying around, other than maybe a school backpack.

my personal minimum would be no doors, one window, and 1.5 cubic feet of cargo space

Apparently this is now the "MR2s transporting bikes" thread.

Great! Thanks for all your help and ideas.

Anyone got any suggestions for a car, then? Criteria in the OP.

In reply to RS8_TTW12 :

I think several people suggested that an AW11 may work for what you asked. 

80's cars are thin on the ground where I live. AW11, RX-7, E30 covertible or maybe a Z car is about all I'd expect to find. 

We got my neiece a regular cab longbed truck. Three people in the cab, tops. Only one passenger allowed by my brother.

However, the practicality of it helped her make extra money, and was incredibly useful for rotc, band, and moving out of state to college.

Three on the tree and manual steering meant she could leave the keys in it and it was theft proof.

My first car was a 70 duster. 20 years old at the time. Plenty of space for stupidity, and a big enough trunk to move out of state to college.

My daughter wants a 1st gen neon (one in the driveway). Ive daily driven them, and road tripped. Plenty of space for anything. But hers will have a rear seat delete.

prelude, or previously mentioned "z31" 300zx

or  learn how to swap an engine

If you want something from the '80's, you should probably consider a fly-and-drive

I daily drove an 87 mr2 through the end of high school and to the end of college (about 5 years). Had it pretty low on coilovers and a set of 272 cams. It always had enough cargo room for what I needed. Also being mid-engine it actually did well in the snow, I drove in snow deep enough to have the front bumper kicking snow up over the hood and never had any issues. being a 2 seater it keeps the shenanigans to a minimum. Pretty dead reliable with regular maintenance.