Welcome back! Today we’re taking a look at a couple of small sporty numbers that both run and drive, but neither one is quite ready for prime time. And both could benefit greatly from more sympathetic owners, it sounds like.
But first, let’s finish up with yesterday’s off-roaders. It was a close-ish vote, as I thought it might be, but the Daihatsu takes the win. It sounds like the uniqueness of it was a factor: YJs are everywhere, but how often do you get a chance at a Daihatsu Rocky? I think the little flying squirrel would be my choice too.
Several of you, including our own illustrious YJ-owner-in-chief, said that if the Jeep had had a 4.0 inline six instead of the 2.5 liter four, the voting would have been very different. I suppose that’s true, but honestly, I’d be fine with a four-cylinder YJ, as long as it’s a manual. And yes, I have driven one. Just downshift and step on it when you need to.
If there’s one thing that’s sorely missing from today’s new car market, it’s fun. We have very fast, very capable cars that will blow the doors off anything made previously, but they’re all oh so serious. The designs make them look like they’re concentrating really hard; it’s the face a pole-vaulter makes just before running down the track. Older fun cars had a more happy-go-lucky demeanor, like a puppy waiting for you to throw a tennis ball. I miss that.
Today’s cars are both in the happy-puppy camp, but both of them could use rescuing from the homes they’re in. Neither one has been treated particularly carefully, from the sounds of it. They’ll both need a little work before they can be their normal fun selves again. Let’s take a look.
1988 Mazda 323 GTX – $4,800
Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 1.6-liter dual overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, AWD
Location: Vancouver, WA
Odometer reading: 200,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives, but leaks oil
You know what’s a cool word? “Homologation.” All right, in most contexts it’s a boring concept; all it really means is getting something certified to say that it meets the rules. But in the context of motorsports, a homologation special is a street-legal car built in sufficient numbers to allow a company to race it in a “production” based racing class. In order to homologate its turbocharged, all-wheel-drive 323 hatchback for the FIA World Rally Championship, Mazda had to build 5,000 street-legal versions first. About 1,200 of them were sold here in the US. This is one of them.
The GTX may look like Grandma’s 323 hatchback, but under the hood is a turbocharged 1.6 liter twin-cam four, which drives all four wheels through a five-speed manual – and that’s the only choice. Automatic drivers need not apply. I have read that these gearboxes have a reputation for being fragile; just be nice to it and it should survive. This one had its engine rebuilt, and it runs and drives well, but it has a crack in the valve cover and leaks oil all over. A new cover is included; I don’t know why the seller hasn’t just installed it to fix the problem.
Outside, it has a really strange custom paint job: it’s mostly red, with what looks like either a white or silver roof, but there’s a weird fade effect on the pillars. I can’t decide whether I like it or not; it reminds me of a tequila sunrise. Or the old Tide race car.
Overall, though, it doesn’t look too bad. You’re not likely to find a running 323 GTX for cheaper, at any rate. Fixing an oil leak and putting up with some weird paint may be worth it.
1986 Toyota MR2 – $4,000
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter dual overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: San Jose, CA
Odometer reading: 120,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives, but hit a curb and now the brakes vibrate
It’s a genius idea, really: Take the transverse engine and drivetrain from a front-wheel-drive economy car, and move it to the back of a small two-seat wedge. Fiat created the X1/9 this way, from the 128, and later Pontiac did the same thing with an X-body to create the Fiero. Toyota joined in the fun with this car, the MR2, using the engine and transmission from the FWD Corolla.
The MR2 uses the same 4A-GE four-cylinder engine as that Corolla FX16 we looked at on Monday. This one has the correct gearbox, however. The seller says it sat for two years, on non-op registration, before being reawakened recently. It fired right up and ran great, and they couldn’t resist taking it for a little spin. And then this happened:
That’s damage from hitting a curb, and anyone who has ever pushed a mid- or rear-engine car hard knows exactly how it happened. Go into a turn too fast, and the car understeers, pushing straight ahead instead of turning. Panic and lift off the gas suddenly, or worse, hit the brakes, and the weight shifts from the rear tires to the front. The front tires gain traction, the rear tires lose it, and the car spins out. This is called “snap oversteer,” and it has humbled many drivers and ruined many sports cars. The damage looks mostly superficial, and the seller claims it still tracks straight, but the brakes vibrate now, meaning something is likely amiss in that left rear hub/brake area. And it also means they almost certainly bent one of those cool three-spoke wheels, which is a crying shame.
Otherwise, it looks really good, and it only has 120,000 miles on it. Cars like this are having their moment right now, and values keep going up, so it’s likely worth fixing. But take it easy on the curves until you get the feel of it.
The prices of these cars may look a little steep, especially considering their condition, but look at what a really clean example of either one goes for. These are, well, not bargains exactly, but decent deals. You just have to be willing to do a little work. Which one are you going to rescue?
(Image credits: Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist sellers)
I am a Mazda guy so clearly that gets my vote. A 323 was supposed to be my first car. My grandma wanted to give it to me but the car needed tires and a few other small things and my parents decided I shouldn’t have it. But honestly I would take either of these. Both fun little cars
So Mister Two caught a few lumps. It’s not Humpty Dumpty level, so I’ll take the chance.
I love this generation of the 323. I also really want the WRC to bring back the homologation requirement to try and make the cars relevant and maybe bring down the cost a bit.
I had a coworker who had a 323 GTX. Awesome car. I still want to vote MR2, but that damage scares me. Also I find the creamsicle paint on the Mazda oddly appealing.
I was all set to vote MR2 since they are pretty special especially the body style, but w/ the damage have to go w/ the 323 which is special/rare in it’s own right and looks like a ton of fun
GTX, no question. It’s very rare to start. Like probably F40 rare. A peaky little turbo four with a manual and AWD? Yup! With four seats and a hatchback? What more could you ask for?
The Mr2 damage looks like it could be a lot worse than just body. Plus it’s the NA version. Nah. Not only is the Mazda going to be more fun, but WAY more practical to boot. Hands down on this one.
Scrolled to immediately vote MR2… and then saw the damage. 323 it is. I’ve got a 2022 AWD turbo 3 hachback and the 323 would be nice on days my knees aren’t in so much pain I can drive a manual.
Both are a siutation where I would much rather spend more for better examples.
I had a GTX in the early 90’s and it was a blast. I still miss that car, so it gets my vote all the way. Make sure you deal with the crankshaft pulley (if not already done).
Mazda for sure. Mid-engine is fun, but 323GTX is funner (this time). Also far easier to work on than a Mister Two.
That MR2 may have some suspension damage from this smack, so sadly, its zoom zoom time.
These are both cars I’d enjoy good versions of. Exterior condition is my deciding factor here and voted Mazda.
Both are great. The 323 seems overpriced though. I’d love to have the mr but it’s a case of size 5 shoe for a size ten foot and it is overpriced as well.
Mr2 is more interesting, and I think I can probably source a straight rim.
I used to sell Mazdas back when the 323 GTX (and the far less known 323 GT, a fwd 4-door sedan with the same engine and epic torque steer) came out. I could sworn the GTXs all came with power windows, but maybe that was just the two we were allocated (both of which I sold, no easy task when they were edging into RX7 money)
323 GTX, I love those little rockets, although the,first gen MR2 is,also good
Man this is a tough one; I have spent time in both cars, sort of, I had a Mk1 MR2 for some 100k miles, and loved every single one of them. Snow, rain, around town and road trips. I had the badge engineered Tracer version of the Mazda 323 and for $500 is never owed me a dime. For an econobox, I fit tons of stuff in it over the years, it survived totaling a Volvo without a scratch (although I burst the brake lines) and it went out in a blaze of glory with an alternator, water pump and head gasket failures with a cracked block all at once. I hadn’t decided when I started this post, but I think now, the combination of the usefulness of the hatch, the AWD and turbo has won out
The Mazda is more up to the task of how I’d probably want to use it – something fun that I’m Ok with sorting, but not trying to turn into a show car. The story of that Toyota is heartbreaking because it looks really good otherwise. As it stands, it would take a fairly decent investment to get it back to pre-mishap shape.
Like a lot of you, I was all primed to go MR2 as mid-engine RWD beats AWD any day, in my book. But the damage on the Toyota is a little scary, and I’m pretty sure that even I could do the valve cover replacement. And the pack of cigs(?) on the hood leads me to believe that the interior of the MR2 will not be a nice place to spend a lot of time. Mazda for the win!
Voted Mazda due to uniqueness of the GTX. It was going to be close but the MR2 is a really low car so good chances that it’s more than just bodywork, broken wheel, bent disc etc. etc. And was the friend the one joy riding the car? If so, some friend!
The correct answer here is both, but voted GTX because bodywork sucks.