Got an interesting trade offer today...

I've had my MSM up for sale for a month or so. I'm not entirely happy with it, dont connect with it, and I just generally find it really boring and annoying more often than not.

The car is currently in Louisville for a Haltech Platinum Sport 1000 install because I'm sick of playing Hydra's games. I have a feeling this may result in an entirely different car for the better.

And I'm ok with that since I haven't gotten any serious offers on the car.

... until now.

I was offered this car, the Mine's ECU with it, and $3k cash on top in trade. This was the opening offer, I bet I could get more out of him.

http://www.mautofied.com/1993-Toyota-MR2-Turbo_Import/listing/100573089/

Am I stupid for considering this?

What car?

Sorry, this board's formatting doesn't allow for copy and pasting to work in anything remotely resembling a logical or usable fashion from a mobile device, so i had to go back and edit on a Windows machine.

That looks like it's probably worth more than an MSM once you add 3k to it. But then again i dont pay attention to miata prices and therefore i consider an MSM to be worth 7-10k depending on condition. I have no idea what people actually think they are worth.

Do it!!!!! I'm loving Red since I got it. Plus, I think the MR2 is 10x better looking.

That looks like a nice MR2, if I were in your position I'd be very tempted.

For the $3k you might be able to buy some decent wheels for it .

Are MR2 turbos going for $9k these days? Seems like a lot, lol.

I assume MSM is a Mazdaspeed Miata?

I've seen your car go for the same prices typically as S2000s, usually low teens. I don't think i've seen a $9k MR2 in a while, lol.

Try to get him to throw in the "extra options". To me a $9k MR2 better have nothing at all wrong with it so try to at least get the seats if the interior is not great like he says.

I'd at least wait until you know how the MSM performs with the new ECU, before making that trade.

A modified, top-dollar MR2 is likely always going to be a hard sell, whereas your MSM should hold a steady value.

Luke wrote: I'd at least wait until you know how the MSM performs with the new ECU, before making that trade.

lol yes.

I just don't see a MR2 being better or more fun than the car he has so I agree with you.

Yes, you should really consider it!

Luke wrote: I'd at least wait until you know how the MSM performs with the new ECU, before making that trade. A modified, top-dollar MR2 is likely always going to be a hard sell, whereas your MSM should hold a steady value.

^^ What he said.

I would do it but I am not a Miata fan.

Swank Force One wrote: The car is currently in Louisville for a Haltech Platinum Sport 1000 install because I'm sick of playing Hydra's games. I have a feeling this may result in an entirely different car for the better.

Not trying to flounder, but what's the issue with the Hydra, I thought it was the ultimate Miata solution.

BAck to the offer. I konw nothing of MR2 values, but even with my well known dislike of anything with the T word on the back, thay are damn cool cars and I'd be very very tempted.

kanaric wrote: Are MR2 turbos going for $9k these days? Seems like a lot, lol.

I've seen rather nice ones got for over $10k. They're pretty rare cars anyway and unmolested or mostly unmolested ones are really hard to find these days.

I would try to sweeten that up a little because you don't really need it ($4.5k would be better) but as soon as the math works I'd likely do it. I've always liked the jelly bean MR2s and am not really a fan of the MSM so there is enough bias in my camp that I'd even overlook that awful color.

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: The car is currently in Louisville for a Haltech Platinum Sport 1000 install because I'm sick of playing Hydra's games. I have a feeling this may result in an entirely different car for the better.

Not trying to flounder, but what's the issue with the Hydra, I thought it was the ultimate Miata solution. BAck to the offer. I konw nothing of MR2 values, but even with my well known dislike of anything with the T word on the back, thay are damn cool cars and I'd be very very tempted.

Hydra is probably the ultimate solution if you live near FM. I don't live near FM. I also have a Hydra 2.5 on the car. (Older version.) 2.7 seems to be a big step up, but by the time i blow the money on the upgrade, buy another wideband sensor for an outrageous amount of money since the one i bought 1.5 years ago turned out to be DOA, then pay the tuner again to tune the car, i've spent money that would have paid for an ECU that's actually supported locally in any way.

There's really nothing inherently wrong with the system itself. It just doesn't work for my intended use/value.

Back to the trade itself. I definitely won't do it for $3k, the Mine's ECU, and the car. He'd need to step it up to $4k, the Mine's ECU, the new seats, and the car for me to REALLY consider it.

Pros of the MR2: It's not a soft top (I actually don't like convertibles), it has a much superior motor and is probably already making more power than my MSM ever will. The transmission is superior. The interior is roomier, there's more cargo space. It's arguably a sports car on another level. It's a comfier car.

Cons: The MR2 is less supported. The "Community" is smaller, so finding used performance parts is substantially harder. As a whole, it's probably worth less, but the cash on top would come close to offset that. (I think that car would sell in the $6-$8k range on MR2oc, potentially higher. My MSM is probably $12-$13k range.) It's an older car, so in theory it will be less reliable. (I'm probably going to go ahead and call that a toss-up)

And of course, i've already spent a metric buttload of time and a chunk of money trying to turn the MSM into something i consider acceptable, so there's that to consider.

Then the other thing i have to consider is that i really wanted my next Toyota to be a Celica AllTrac. The MR2 wasn't REALLY on my radar because of the AllTrac wanting. I'm already building another powerful RWD car. The MR2 doesn't scratch the powerful AWD itch. (Neither does the MSM.)

I'd go for it if he sweetens it up like you want, but then again I really like MR2s.

In reply to Swank Force One:

Dude, I would do that trade. Tat is a very nice looking MR2, yes, even the color and wheels. Get him to throw in everything else and more cash and make out like a bandit. Enjoy the MR2 for a bit while you finish off the other projects, then sell it to finance the AWD build if you're still not feeling it.

Javelin wrote: In reply to Swank Force One: Dude, *I* would do that trade. Tat is a very nice looking MR2, yes, even the color and wheels. Get him to throw in everything else and more cash and make out like a bandit. Enjoy the MR2 for a bit while you finish off the other projects, then sell it to finance the AWD build if you're still not feeling it.

I'd probably ask for MORE money if he threw in the wheels. Those things are berkeleying awful.

I agree.

But then again, he's offering $3k cash, that should buy a nice set of TE37s .

BoxheadTim wrote: I agree. But then again, he's offering $3k cash, that should buy a nice set of TE37s .

I'd be thinking more big baller status and going with a set of Work Meister S1s.

Either way, i just responded to him and said that i can't do this right now, as the MR2 would then become the cross-country car, and while it would probably be a better car for that than the MSM, i wouldn't feel good about taking a new-to-me car on that trip in 3.5 weeks. (Probably more like 2.5 weeks once i finally got the car.)

I let him know that if he still had the car when i returned, i'd certainly be interested in working something out.

In the meantime, i find out if the MSM will be transformed on Saturday. (And then get to fix the leaking oil return line. It never stops with this berkeleying thing.)

So now that the MSM is sorted out and running like a top... something else just came up.

1985 Toyota Mark II. (Legit RHD import, 1g-gte 2.0 6 cylinder turbo powered, 5spd.)

I know that this trade is particularly stupid, but that's what toys are for. The MSM doesn't make "sense" in the first place, so that's fine i suppose. I told him i wanted $6k on top of the car for the MSM, and he didn't seem to flinch.

I found more video of the car, and the top end sounds like it could use a going through.

But ZOMG this thing is gorgeous.

In reply to Swank Force One:

Holy hell dude, that car has cool in spades! I like the first wheels and take out the useless roll bar.

It wouldn't come with the Works, it'd come with the Panasports, which is fine by me.

The more i think about this, the more i really want to do it. I'd take a small-ish bath on the MSM, but i'm taking a bath even if i sell it for cash at this point anyways.

This is probably going to hinge upon SWMBO. I don't know that this car is "her style," and i know she likes the MSM a good bit. I also know that she's not going to want to be within 50 feet of the 93 Miata when i'm done with it at any given time. So this would be me "taking away her sports car."

Swank Force One wrote: It wouldn't come with the Works, it'd come with the Panasports, which is fine by me. The more i think about this, the more i really want to do it. I'd take a small-ish bath on the MSM, but i'm taking a bath even if i sell it for cash at this point anyways. This is probably going to hinge upon SWMBO. I don't know that this car is "her style," and i know she likes the MSM a good bit. I also know that she's not going to want to be within 50 feet of the 93 Miata when i'm done with it at any given time. So this would be me "taking away her sports car."

If I were closer I would help her have you admitted.

You obviously need to be protected from yourself.