Help me pick my next build

[Lauren]

I'm going to start a new build and need some input. I've narrowed it down to two platforms. Either would be strictly a 3/4 car and a toy. I'm bored with the mini platform so here's my choices.

 

1. Mr2. I have tons of knowledge with mkii. I've owned about 15 of them. I found a clean southern car no rust. I would do a Honda k20 swap and eventually turbo it after I get it running. This is a bolt in swap now a days and has more potential then a 3sgte and the stock ecu. The k20 has an adapter plate to bolt to Toyota trans and motor mount kits and wire harness readily available. On top of this a client has an RSX type s with a bad tranny that I can have.

 

2. Bugeye wrx. This would be a new platform for me. I know nothing about them. Found a clean no rust sedan with bad bottom end. The positive with wrx is back seat for my girls car seats.

 

I need help deciding which route and any wrx guys please chime in.

[Not Brian]

I love 2g MR2s. A boosted K20 swap would be tits.

[Cordell]

I thought the bugeye had some of the weakest drivelines in Subaru's performance cars?

 

Out of those choices I vote MR2.

[Forrest Gump 9]

Build the Mr2. That thing will be more desirable than the wrx will ever be

[Not Brian]

I'm sure some Subaru bro will chime in with a huge tl;dr, but only 2002's had issues. I think only half that year, actually. Regardless, by now every cheap bugeye has been ragged within an inch of its life and I'd be afraid to touch one.

[Geeesammy]

K20 in a Mr2 is just faggot.

 

I'd rather see a 3s in one but not like you'll hold onto the car long. You'll get it up and running then off it to some kid to destroy

[Lauren]

The 3s isn't that great. I know I've done just about everything you can do. The stock ecu is garbage and full stand alone aren't reliable with them. Its an old design engine. Now the e153 trans is super stout so that will stay. A K20 is a badass engine that can with stand 400-500 whp easily with a budget turbo kit

 

And yeah I'll probably sell it after I drive it for awhile. When the numbers make sense they go. I do not enjoy driving my cars. I enjoy wrenching and building them. I spent two years on a build fully stripped down and built up and sold it 6 weeks after.

[unfunnyryan]

Built MR2

 

Then you can sell it to me for cheap when it's done.

[Geeesammy]

The 3s isn't that great. I know I've done just about everything you can do. The stock ecu is garbage and full stand alone aren't reliable with them. Its an old design engine. Now the e153 trans is super stout so that will stay. A K20 is a badass engine that can with stand 400-500 whp easily with a budget turbo kit

 

And yeah I'll probably sell it after I drive it for awhile. When the numbers make sense they go. I do not enjoy driving my cars. I enjoy wrenching and building them. I spent two years on a build fully stripped down and built up and sold it 6 weeks after.

 

Why exactly? And what standalones don't work with them?

[BStowers023]

Built MR2

 

Then you can sell it to me for cheap when it's done.

 

Came in here to say this. I would love to cruise around in a 300-400whp 2nd gen MR2 :fuckyeah:

 

I do like them a lot. It's like a homeless person living in a sewer's Ferrari

[Green Bastard]

Isn't there a v6 swap for the mr2? I don't know much about it but I remember hearing about it (and that it is more capable than the 3sgte). Also, fuck the bugeyes. All I ever hear about Subies is either the ringlands are the weakpoint or the trans is made if glass (depending on the year). Brian is right though, most of those issues would have been sorted by now but are still likely clapped out.

[Lauren]

Yes their is a v6 if I wanted to stay NA. Turboing is all custom fab and complicated and does t have the aftermarket support like a K20

[Grudes]

MR2 as said above the 02 WRX's had weak drivelines and we very prone to rust. However there is alot of aftermarket stuff for them

[RyM3rC]

last I read up on the v6 swaps they starved for oil very easily and the toyota v6 sounds like dogshit. and custom parts for something as rare as that are going to be self-fab or $$$, at which point you might as well start out with a better platform.

 

would suck to have $10k+ into something and still get trolled by a clapped out c5 in every way

[Draco-REX]

I'll be the "Subaru Bro"..

 

As said above, the 2002 and early 2003s had a weak transmission. Later year 5speeds had a reinforced case that prevented the flexing that cause tooth sheer.

 

Now, also said above, you're going to be hard pressed to find a bugeye WRX that hasn't been beaten on in one form or another. This isn't necessarily a bad thing however. "Subarus are like Legos". They are VERY swappable and easy to work on; a hold-over from when the factory supported stage rally efforts. So as long as there isn't much rust, you can certainly build a bugeye WRX to like-new condition again, the parts are out there. What it comes down to is how much are you willing to put into this.

 

For an example, I did a 6-speed swap on my old bugeye. I picked up a grey-market driveline from a v7 JDM STI, everything from clutch to hubs, and it bolted right up. The biggest problem wast the transmission harness. The JDM harness was wired backwards for the USDM chassis. However, the USDM 5-speed harness and sensors literally screwed directly into the JDM 6-speed with no issues.

 

Now after typing all that, personally I would rather drive the MR2. But that's because I've pretty much done it all in a Subaru. You've said that you have tons of experience with the MR2, maybe it's time for something different?

[Draco-REX]

land the toyota v6 sounds like dogshit.

 

Not when done right:

[10phone2]

2rz in a mr2. If you want the tall deck route, 3rz. You can get the same power at the k20, not have to worry about sleeving the block, and still a 4 cylinder. Edited December 27, 2017 by 10phone2

[Lauren]

I like the bugeye look but would be open to blob and hawk eye as well

[carl1647545492]

MR2 K20 with boost.

[Grudes]

I like the bugeye look but would be open to blob and hawk eye as well

 

Blob and Hawkeye STi"s had much better drivetrain's but the 04's suffered from Synchro problems. The 06's probably had the strongest transmissions

[Geeto67]

Subaru, but rather than a bugeye get a 2dr Impreza from the previous gen and swap a legacy GT/Baja turbo/ outback xt drivetrain into it.

[Geeesammy]

Still waiting to hear why a standalone wont work

[Robochan]

What's a "3/4 car?"

[Lauren]

What's a "3/4 car?"

 

My third/ fourth car.

[99StockGT]

What kind of fun are you looking to have in it? To me you have some pretty vastly different cars there. Having built/rebuilt/fixed tons of Subarus of that era there are a few PITA things with them as previously stated. With a blown bottom end, that's personally the only way I would buy a Subaru for fun.. blown up. No matter who says they've done what and upgraded this or that you never know the health of those things. Nothing sucks more than buying something that seems fine for the first 100 miles you own in then scatters and demands a $3000+ rebuild.

 

Personally I think the K20 turbo MR2 would be more fun per dollar spent. It's different, quirky, reliable, and kinda cool. The Subaru will get you into a WHOLE other world of car culture, not that it's a bad thing!