|
I can only make comments on MX-5 and MR2 - I have owned a mk3 MR2 for just over 1 year and regularly peruse a facebook group dedicated to them, and my brother bought an 1.8 MX-5 (albeit NB) around the same time. So the comparisons to the MX-5 are with the NB in mind but I can't imagine there is a huge difference between the NB and NC.
Performance wise, they are very similar cars. The MX-5 feels you can drive it on its limit more casually whereas the MR2 has mountains of grip, until you don't and you end up facing the other way :)
The interiors are very similar quality but I image the NC would be slightly plusher than the MR2 as its a newer model.
Reliability wise, I can't comment too much on the MX-5 but don't think my brother has had any issues with it.
The MR2 has several things you should be aware of; rear subframe can rot but isn't neccessarily picked up on MOTs and health checks as its concealed by a nappy. Handbrakes never ever seem to work. Rear calipers stick quite often. The big one is probably the pre-cat in the manifold can break up and make its way into the engine and cause significant damage/write off the engine, so make sure any car you consider has had this work done. Quite a few oil burners out there as well, mine being one of them. I think it is caused by substandard quality piston rings on earlier models but not 100% sure. Having said all of that, I think with a bit of care when looking around and regular maintainance these problems can be mitigated.
Price wise, you can get a decent MR2 for less than that. £3-4k will get you a good late example. I didn't buy mine but I imagine if I tried to sell it, it would be worth ~£1k and its an '02 with 95k miles on it and a few little issues here and there but is mostly a decent motor.
Last note: MX-5 and MR2 are definitely sports cars, compared the the CLC I test drove once which was definitely a more refined drive and less wind-in-your-hair thrills.
I didn't really structure this well but hopefully you find some of it helpful.
|
