[Mk2] [Generic] Scared of Mk2s -how to make them safer

[Greddy-Matt]

...If you 'fishtail' then you are putting on too much steering opposite lock, too late.

Too much opposite lock = knee jerk reation with the wheel = spare underpants time.

Unless you know where the limit is and how the car reacts once it starts losing grip 9 times out of 10 you will panick and do the above Its a natural reaction...

[vishpish]

really interested to hear what people say here! ill definetly be spending a wee bit on my tyres now lol!jus bought GAB sports 15" in white look the SHIZZZZZZZZ lightweight too lol

[dawolf]

If you must go for budget tyres, Champiro are reasonable - had a set on my Mk1 SC and they were OK ( only swapped them after picking up a couple of screws in them in the paddock at Anglesey )

I didn't think much of the Champiro's at all, terrible in the wet. I changed to Toyo's even though they had plenty of tread left on.

[ferrit]

It's all about respecting the car, and it's limitations.

[RyanRs]

vishpish - i really wouldn't worry about it too much mate. yes they can spin, but as said a few times now, its basically down to driving like a wolly in the wrong conditions!

just make sure your tyres are in good condition, correct PSi, tracking etc is all set up right and your shocks are in good working order.

i was like you once, i had a 2.0 zetec converted mk6 escort.. had about 125bhp 120 lb/ft or something, then i sold it to get my mr2 which i brought with 300 RWHP 290 lbft torque , and i had never drove a RWD before!!

i have owned it 2 years now and come CLOSE to spinning it twice, that was down to temper as i had been forced to do 15 mph all the way through a town as i was stuck behind some old woman and there was nowhere safe to overtake, it was p1$$ing it down and when she turned off , i opened the throttle on a slight corner and did a lil drifting (by accident!)

Oh 1 other thing... Dont get overconfident in the car too quick.. else just when you think 'Oh, this is actually easy, what was i worrying about' you will end up facing the other way!

[Lauren]

...If you 'fishtail' then you are putting on too much steering opposite lock, too late.

Too much opposite lock = knee jerk reation with the wheel = spare underpants time.

Unless you know where the limit is and how the car reacts once it starts losing grip 9 times out of 10 you will panick and do the above Its a natural reaction...

Sure, most people will. But if you develop your skill you will not make this kind of error.

[mr2nut123]

As said in all the other posts really, smoothness is the key point not necesarily the speed (although) that obviously counts. If you DO want to test the limits of the car, at least wait for quiet times on the roads when absolutely nobody is around and take a few roundabouts slightly quicker on the inside to see how the car handles. Better still, go to a trackday with it.

[Lauren]

As said in all the other posts really, smoothness is the key point not necesarily the speed (although) that obviously counts. If you DO want to test the limits of the car, at least wait for quiet times on the roads when absolutely nobody is around and take a few roundabouts slightly quicker on the inside to see how the car handles. Better still, go to a trackday with it.

The way i see it, it would be worth spending £200 on a trackday or handling course if it helps you understand how to control your car. Its got to be cheaper and more convenient than repair costs when you spin off the road.

[mr2nut123]

True, but to some of us younger drivers 200quid is a lot of money to save up. Aslong as you don't go being a hero driving like an idiot and keep to low speed harsh acceleration when theres plenty of space available and nobody whatsoever on the roads, i'm all for it. I dont agree doing it racing and when theres other people around though.

[Lauren]

True, but to some of us younger drivers 200quid is a lot of money to save up. Aslong as you don't go being a hero driving like an idiot and keep to low speed harsh acceleration when theres plenty of space available and nobody whatsoever on the roads, i'm all for it. I dont agree doing it racing and when theres other people around though.

You drive a turbo MR2 and £200 is a lot of money to save? I guess its more a question of priorities.

[mr2nut123]

True, but to some of us younger drivers 200quid is a lot of money to save up. Aslong as you don't go being a hero driving like an idiot and keep to low speed harsh acceleration when theres plenty of space available and nobody whatsoever on the roads, i'm all for it. I dont agree doing it racing and when theres other people around though.

You drive a turbo MR2 and £200 is a lot of money to save? I guess its more a question of priorities.

Well at 21 just buying a house for first time yea 200quid is a lot of money. Few years down the line it will be well different as i'll have my MCSE and can start demanding more money but for now i'll quite happily struggle a bit to keep this thing

[Greddy-Matt]

...If you 'fishtail' then you are putting on too much steering opposite lock, too late.

Too much opposite lock = knee jerk reation with the wheel = spare underpants time.

Unless you know where the limit is and how the car reacts once it starts losing grip 9 times out of 10 you will panick and do the above Its a natural reaction...

Sure, most people will. But if you develop your skill you will not make this kind of error.

That was kind of my whole point Lauren

[Race Idiot]

The way i see it, it would be worth spending £200 on a trackday or handling course if it helps you understand how to control your car. Its got to be cheaper and more convenient than repair costs when you spin off the road.

Would you say that http://www.cadence.co.uk/ are decent? Because i've been looking to book a days course with them sometime next year.

[acf8181]

True, but to some of us younger drivers 200quid is a lot of money to save up. Aslong as you don't go being a hero driving like an idiot and keep to low speed harsh acceleration when theres plenty of space available and nobody whatsoever on the roads, i'm all for it. I dont agree doing it racing and when theres other people around though.

You drive a turbo MR2 and £200 is a lot of money to save? I guess its more a question of priorities.

Indeed....if you can't afford decent tyres you've got a car that you simply can't afford.

[steve b]

True, but to some of us younger drivers 200quid is a lot of money to save up. Aslong as you don't go being a hero driving like an idiot and keep to low speed harsh acceleration when theres plenty of space available and nobody whatsoever on the roads, i'm all for it. I dont agree doing it racing and when theres other people around though.

You drive a turbo MR2 and £200 is a lot of money to save? I guess its more a question of priorities.

Indeed....if you can't afford decent tyres you've got a car that you simply can't afford.

Yep, if you have to worry about where £200 comes from then you need a cheaper car to run. What happens if your clutch goes? Have to park up the car for a month or two so you can fix it? Hell a tyre, clutch and speeding fine and you'd have to take out a loan.

[Tiamat]

You drive a turbo MR2 and £200 is a lot of money to save? I guess its more a question of priorities.

Indeed....if you can't afford decent tyres you've got a car that you simply can't afford.

Yep, if you have to worry about where £200 comes from then you need a cheaper car to run. What happens if your clutch goes? Have to park up the car for a month or two so you can fix it? Hell a tyre, clutch and speeding fine and you'd have to take out a loan.

I have a good job and I worry where the next £200 would come from. I budget for the Insurance, Tax etc and its not a problem, but unexpected tyre / clutch things cannot be forseen. Yes I have a few savings, but its a bit all encompassing to say you should get a cheaper car - given the tyres for my MR2 would cost the same as for my work hack Pug. The bike tyres are the most expensive for me and yet its the cheapest to run, so not always simple.

[mr2nut123]

Indeed....if you can't afford decent tyres you've got a car that you simply can't afford.

Yep, if you have to worry about where £200 comes from then you need a cheaper car to run. What happens if your clutch goes? Have to park up the car for a month or two so you can fix it? Hell a tyre, clutch and speeding fine and you'd have to take out a loan.

I have a good job and I worry where the next £200 would come from. I budget for the Insurance, Tax etc and its not a problem, but unexpected tyre / clutch things cannot be forseen. Yes I have a few savings, but its a bit all encompassing to say you should get a cheaper car - given the tyres for my MR2 would cost the same as for my work hack Pug. The bike tyres are the most expensive for me and yet its the cheapest to run, so not always simple.

Exactly. I'll be honest now and say that i'm only 21 and on 18k so i'd say that's a fair good wage for my age (even though i'm been offered interviews for 22-24k roles for when i'm ready to move). 200quid is a lot of money for the majority of people to be fair.

[splashnatz]

bit off topic this now isn't it ! but, as it already is,

If you can't afford to fix the car, you SORN it for a few months. for lots of people on here the mr2 they own is their pride and joy. Maybe for some £200 on a track-day is pocket change, for the MAJORITY it's a right chunk of cash.

Maybe some mr2nut123 would prefer to spend £200 on fuel, rather than on a trackday. That way he gets to drive his car on the roads so he can visit people and so on, AND have a wee play when its safe to, and just be HAPPY. Instead of paying £200 to go to a track somewhere, find its full of people who keep driving onto the grass (so he can't explore his cars potential anyway) and getting in his way, and have to pay fuel on top.

... or maybe he'll save that £200 for incase his clutch goes.

[Greddy-Matt]

Tis true, a lot of unexpected hiccups happen with these cars it can be very hard to budget for such things although I've now saved up a "fix it " fund which I dont dip into for anything but emergency repairs

[Ian Geary]

my rear T1Rs are getting on a bit now, and in the damp the car will start to twitch if I use the full rev range.

Having said that. I'm currently taking my DAS course, and compared to that the MR2 is like being back in the nursery - so safe and easy to get around in.

so to me it's just a question of perspective.


coming from a fwd car it took a while (and new tyres) before I was confident of what the car would and wouldn't do.

I didn't use a track day for this, but there are still ways of doing it safely (eg car parks, wide empty roads etc)

ps I'd forgotten what it was like to be on £18k - my motor then was a 1.1L fiesta popular...tyres £15 each - bargain

Ian