Which TurboBeater: Starquest, XR4ti, or MR2?

I'm shopping for my newest fun beater (really I don't even need a car for my pathetic commute). Looking at these three candidates:

Starquest: http://racine.craigslist.org/cto/3181207258.html

XR4ti: http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/cto/3179920584.html

MR2: http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/3170351403.html

All three of these cars have been on the bucket list for some time now. What is the GRM opinion? Which would be the, uh, least unreliable? My current daily is an Alfa Romeo and I'm not afraid to turn a wrench...

One of those cars is a frickin' sweet AW11, I'm too biased to give advice here.

ugh - rust

I like the conquest for box flare goodness but a ford with a comb over that makes an operational sound might be too hard to resist.

I'll take the merde (MR2 in French ;) ) for 2499, Alex.

I really like the '88 MR2 SC that I had so my vote goes there.
I see the front plate says www.clubmr2.com so you might find some more info about the car over there.

I like all three as they are all on my 80s turbo list.

The Conquest looks like it has some rust issues but IMO is the best looking and coolest.

XR4Ti should be solid against rust as it was thickly undercoated from the factory and the 88 is the best year, and you can make crazy power levels safely with a stock setup, but it's a love/hate aesthetically, especially in stock form.

The MR2 is just crazy fun, different, and should make you grin ear to ear every time you go-kart it...

Pick one, you will have fun.

The standard 4AGE is about as bulletproof as it gets, not sure about that frankenmotor though. The AW11 is worth it though, I'd go that route.

In reply to Raze:

I agree completely.....I would pick the starquest though, as I would be leary of the mr2 with the turbo conversion. Especially for a grand more....otherwise, it'd be a toss up

Look better, be cool, and get a bunch of spare engine parts(sounds completely normal) and prolly the best of the three all around.....go with the Conquest.

Be rather unusual, but the possibility to make the most power out of the three......the Merkur

And spend more for the mid-engined tax, but get the best handling(most likely)......get the MR

Choose wisely.....

I'd probably opt for the Mitsurysler, but it's a tough decision.

MR2 for availibility of parts alone. Mid engine boosted motor to put the nail in the coffin.

I've driven a heavily modified Starquest, meh at best. I would have to say it's the toughest looking car of the bunch though.

If the MR2 was $1500 like the other two I wold be driving it now...the extra $1k is hard to justify though, especially on someone else's build. Given, it sounds like the guy knows his stuff. That being said the Starion seems like the guy has already thrown a bunch of aftermarket dollars at it, and the spare parts are a bonus...but '88 XR4ti manuals are NOT easy to come by either....

THIS IS MY DILEMMA! Dammit. If that $1700 325is hadn't sold, this wouldn't be a question...

MR2 is second only to Miata, and really seems like there are more beat up old MR2's for cheap than there are Miatas.

Hence, I've been looking for an inquiring about MR2s.

starquest

XR4TI.

Cheap, easy power upgrades and the potential to make over 400rwhp with junkyard parts. Plus way too many people will mistake it for an old Tempo or Taurus, making for great fun when you waste somebody.

Refer to www.turborford.org for upgrade ideas.

I crave box flares. And I have yet to see a starquest in the metal, seem rarer than rocking horse poo and hens teeth combined here.

XR4Ti.

XR4Ti if you need some space, MR2 if you don't, I like the idea of a Conquest but they seem like a bit of a project at all times.

MR2 without a doubt

The mr2 seems like the best car of the three overall, but whether it's worth ~40% more is questionable.

Personally, id pick the starquest.

I've owned turbo mk1 MR2's and there a blast my last setup was a t3 60 trim and the car spend more time sideways then straight lol

If the mr2 does in fact have the hks turbo kit on it BUY it they are extremely rare and the only good way to turbo a mk1 other then building a custom manifold. The hks kit uses a garret t25 turbo so your limited to about 180whp but It looks like the motor has been rebuild with the factory forged GZE pistons and that makes the short block just about bullet proof ,I've seen them crack 400hp with out breaking a sweat.

The only thing holding that car back from being a monster is a bigger turbo,injectors,intercooler and megasquirt.

Caleb wrote: The only thing holding that car back from being a monster is a bigger turbo,injectors,intercooler and megasquirt.

The same thing can be said of the X-Ratty.

All the parts on the Conquest are cheap Ebay junk, I would look elsewhere.
The X-Ratty is an 88. -100000 points for no high rise wing.

If the MR2 has a real HKS turbo kit on it, and its in decent shape and complete, and the market for HKS parts in the MR2 market are the same as they are in the Galant VR4 market, that car is worth $1000 more than the asking price just for the HKS parts.

I would go with the MR2, if its a turd, you could easily pull the HKS parts off, return it to running and net a few grrr for your trouble.

Winston wrote:

Caleb wrote: The only thing holding that car back from being a monster is a bigger turbo,injectors,intercooler and megasquirt.

The same thing can be said of the X-Ratty.

Almost, except you can hit near 300HP with the stock 35# injectors, an intercooler, and an MS

jrw1621 wrote: I really like the '88 MR2 SC that I had so my vote goes there. I see the front plate says www.clubmr2.com so you might find some more info about the car over there.

Club MR2 has been effectively dead since the very early 2000s. I still have my license plate frame. David Hawkins of www.twosrus.com ran it, and still supplies MR2 parts.

MR2oc.com and mr2board.com are the go-to places.

I vote MR2. I'm looking for a Mk1 vintage race car. Awesome cars, if not competitive.

Not really a MR2 fan, but it's probably the best solution of the 3.

The Ford is mostly bulletproof, but the transmissions are weak and parts availability is somewhat troublesome. Interiors don't hold up well, either.

The MitsuE36 M3si will poof head gaskets and crack heads, and I haven't seen one even in a junkyard in a few years. Good looking car that unfortunately doesn't live up to it's appearance.