MR2 Mk2 NA - As much fun as a tubby?

[Greddy-Matt]

Although, I have only ever wrapped NA's round tree's

Makes it sound like you do it for fun!

[Race Idiot]

MR2's are one of the few cars ever built that looks great 'out of the box'. Most other cars need modifying to make them look any good. The only improvement would be slightly bigger wheels maybe.

I think you can realy only apply this to rev3 and upwards. Rev1's look horrible standard, non colour coded sidestrips no front spliter 4x4 ridehight and tiny little wheels.

As for the NA/Turbo thing, I felt that the NA you could have more fun in day to day driving it. The turbo seems just seems to get you to naughty speeds far too quickly. Although the extra grunt does come in handy when you need to overtake.

[Racer7]

MR2's are one of the few cars ever built that looks great 'out of the box'. Most other cars need modifying to make them look any good. The only improvement would be slightly bigger wheels maybe.

I think you can realy only apply this to rev3 and upwards. Rev1's look horrible standard, non colour coded sidestrips no front spliter 4x4 ridehight and tiny little wheels.

As for the NA/Turbo thing, I felt that the NA you could have more fun in day to day driving it. The turbo seems just seems to get you to naughty speeds far too quickly. Although the extra grunt does come in handy when you need to overtake.

ah ha! this exactly the sort of info i was after! I'm not really looking to do 160mph or whatever. Just want acceleration for overtaking power.

[Greddy-Matt]

If its overtaking power you want then the tubby wins hands down, overtaking is nice and whooshy.

[dawolf]

MR2's are one of the few cars ever built that looks great 'out of the box'. Most other cars need modifying to make them look any good. The only improvement would be slightly bigger wheels maybe.

I think you can realy only apply this to rev3 and upwards. Rev1's look horrible standard, non colour coded sidestrips no front spliter 4x4 ridehight and tiny little wheels.

Yeah, I was talking about the rev 3 onwards

[Racer7]

If its overtaking power you want then the tubby wins hands down, overtaking is nice and whooshy.

just spent ages reading loads of other threads and have come across the idea of a v6 option.

How does this factor in to the mix of N/A and Turbo? And how much (ballpark) does this cost?

The Pound is so weak against the Yen at the mo that it's putting me of hitting up Newera with a sourcing request. (I'm impressed with Rash's 55k Rev 5 - so now know its possible to get low end mileage - but also found a 98 rev5 N/A for £3k with low mileage)

[Tiny]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_PkswoXMx0 exspensive but that noise

[Michel]

cough http://www.vimeo.com/1496510 cough

[Martin F]

cough http://www.vimeo.com/1496510 cough

that sounds awesome mate, almost makes me want one

what power is she putting out and what exhaust is on her ?

[dawolf]

That sounds great. I would have a V6 even though it's a bit slower than a turbo the power delivery must be really good and it's probably better on fuel. With a bit of mild tuning you could probably get up to 210/215bhp which is plenty for an N/A.

[AAB]

I just looked in the garage, and I have to say I think Nails' car doesn't look at all like a kev'd up Halfords anything. It's a nice body kit, actually very subtle, it just seems to add a little aggression to the appearance, and goes nicely with the black.

My n/a is staying more or less standard, mostly for cost reasons, and because bodykits won't improve my sprint times, but everyone buys their car for their own reasons, and that's all good with me.

[HighwayStar]

Just got to say I disagree with only Rev3 and on cars looking good out the box. Sure they're lower and colour coded but that isn't always the best look depending on colour and trim and many prefer the rev1/2 spoiler and rev 2s have 15" wheels same as the later cars.
I like the 'older' look of the early cars and celebrate it.

R.

[Ryan S]

Just got to say I disagree with only Rev3 and on cars looking good out the box. Sure they're lower and colour coded but that isn't always the best look depending on colour and trim and many prefer the rev1/2 spoiler and rev 2s have 15" wheels same as the later cars.
I like the 'older' look of the early cars and celebrate it.

R.

that coz you've only got a rev1??? haha, just kidding, i totally agree with you, only thing i don't like about the rev1/2 is that horrible centre panel between the rear lights!!! so dated!!!

[Nails]

I think the whole rev 1/2/3/4/5/1 million etc don't look that much different, in fact before I was an MR2 owner I had noticed the rear lights/rear spoiler difference, but had never noticed the colour coded strips or slightly bigger front splitter. The colour coded strips depends what colour the car is, on black mine are met grey and I think serve to break the side of the car up and give even more shape. I prefer the rear rev 1/2 spoiler and I have to admit I dont really like any of the rear lights.

On mine Ive also removed the scoop and replaced the number plate with a more suitable one aswell as continuing to tidy it up. Im trying to get all the little jobs done before I get the keys to the new house as it needs everything done, wiring, plumbing, central heating, roof, a re-structure of the rooms, 12 30 foot trees out of the front garage and the rear yard needs dropping about 2 foot so I can make it into a drive, and thats just the start.

been repainting the rear panel, scuttle panel and wiper arms today, aswell as making a new front plate holder. I'll get some new pics up sson as I've finished.

[HighwayStar]

What centre panel between the rear lights?

R.

[Ryan S]

What centre panel between the rear lights?

R.

the bit that you've taken out(really tidy by the way!!), you know, the bit that says mr2 on it.

[Deezee]

Having owned (and driven HARD ) a 3SGE and 3SGTE (N/A and Turbo) The turbo is far, far better. You can enjoy the drive more because you have the power to pass slow moving traffic and not get stuck in queues. Plus the power band is very wide (nearly twice the torque in a turbo), unlike the N/A.

Plus all the uninformed, poor driver, urban myth crap is making my blood boil. A turbo car isn't more likely, than a standard car, to spin out, infact its less likely because you get them (Rev3+) with a limited slip differential to manage the power through the wheels. Also a turbo car isn't laggy, nor does the turbo "kick in unexpectedly" and send you into a tree (throttle control anyone??). Its just crap from people who know little. Turbo engines are built stronger, so you can ignore nonsense about how they are prone to failure, just avoid the cars that have the boost raised, as this inevitably reduces lifespan on the engines.

Ignore the cosmetic details of the cars (you can change parts easy), the fact is the Rev2 has improved (larger) brakes and then the Rev3 + have improved engines, limited slip diff and bracing.

If your serious about driving, then get a Turbo, why would you want a less powered car? Lets be honest, your going to regret not owning a turbo more than not owning a N/A.

[steve b]

Plus all the uninformed, poor driver, urban myth crap is making my blood boil. A turbo car isn't more likely, than a standard car, to spin out, infact its less likely because you get them (Rev3+) with a limited slip differential to manage the power through the wheels.

Sorry, your wrong.

LSD means that when you do loose traction you've lost it from BOTH rear wheels and the car WILL slide. N/A with no LSD when you start to loose traction only ONE rear wheel will spin the other will continue to grip. This means dramatic tail end action is less likely in the n/a.

The turbo has more torque, thats the very reason they fitted an LSD to raise the level at which it breaks away, thing is that level is often accidentally reached by inexperienced drivers in the wet and when they reach it, its too late. N/a they'll just spin away the power with one wheel.

There are a number of people on this site who had owned n/a then bought a turbo and within a week spun it for this very reason.

[RobCrezz]

Plus all the uninformed, poor driver, urban myth crap is making my blood boil. A turbo car isn't more likely, than a standard car, to spin out, infact its less likely because you get them (Rev3+) with a limited slip differential to manage the power through the wheels.

Sorry, your wrong.

LSD means that when you do loose traction you've lost it from BOTH rear wheels and the car WILL slide. N/A with no LSD when you start to loose traction only ONE rear wheel will spin the other will continue to grip. This means dramatic tail end action is less likely in the n/a.

The turbo has more torque, thats the very reason they fitted an LSD to raise the level at which it breaks away, thing is that level is often accidentally reached by inexperienced drivers in the wet and when they reach it, its too late. N/a they'll just spin away the power with one wheel.

There are a number of people on this site who had owned n/a then bought a turbo and within a week spun it for this very reason.

Thats not exactly true. A LSD doesnt mean you lose traction from both tyres. It means, under power the diff will lock if one wheel loses grip, increasing traction, but if you still power on, you will spin, as you would if you did the same in an open diff car. People spinning is more likely due to having the increased power of the turbo IMO, If anything the LSD makes the car more controllable when you do go beyond the limit.

[steve b]

My rev3 tubby on the standard bilstiens and 18's with 40 profile tyres (not my choice), was as you said a bit lairy in the wet. There was lots of grip but I don't remember ever trying to get near the limit due the snap oversteer characteristics and lack of easy throttle control to counter it.

But my current mk2 n/a has standard susp, stock 15's and the non-lsd diff.

When pushed beyond the level of grip, the lack of lsd means the inside wheels spins and outside grips (but without drive). This does allow some travel of the rear end but never at much of an angle and it regains grip quickly. This makes it easy to control by the throttle input. If you keep on the throttle its just spins the inside wheel but the angle of drift doesn't increase, because the outside wheel is still giving grip. If you lift off the grip returns to both wheels and returns to driving in straight line.

Well i'm not the only one whos gone Tubby to n/a and thinks this makes a difference.

Funny as my Track car has an LSD, torsen like the rev3 turbo MR2 so its hardly like i'm lacking experince in the difference of how an open diff rwd car and an LSD equipped one drive.