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..I'm on my 2nd MK1 (done the T-Bar now on a Coupe, both Red) and love the AW-11 with a passion. My old man's had new AW-11's back in the day and now he's got the MK2 and swears its the better ride...someone who I used to work with had the MK3 which was a nice ride but I thought was a bit girly until I saw the V6 one on this site which looks the nuts....what the best drives you've had and in what mark?? 
- Circuit Pack 
I've only ever driven 3SGTE engined Mk2s so personally I'd be left wanting more grunt in either a Mk1 or Mk3 I expect. decent bushes next. 
Mike wrote:My money would be on a Mk1.5 or a turbocharged Mk3.
By all accounts Mk1s are very chuckable and are quick enough for most.
A well set up Mk2 is a joy to drive, the best mod I've done on my Tubby is the Tein coilovers, the car was transformed.
I drove a turbo'd mk3 on track and on a eurotrip and that felt pretty good, it had enough power to exploit the chassis. Was about 220bhp IIRC.- Circuit Pack The only thing that worried me was the fact that is sometimes felt like it could literally 'hop' off of the road. Weird feeling. Fantastic drive.'does' handle well, I simply wouldn't 'push' it as much as I pushed the Mk1. No disrespect to the Billies, but I wouldn't get them again. Tein next time. If it has the 'handling of the Mk1, a bit more power, that would be a winner. (Then again I nearly drove a Supercharged Mk1 but was shafted by the person who sold it to me), as does the Mk3 (Not a great deal of power) 
excalibur1814 wrote:If it has the
Other than that, the Mk1 and Mk2 all have their problems
- Circuit Pack - all different. Stiffening the chassis also seems to make the steering heavier, which provides much more feedback from the road. mattcambs wrote:Just to confuse the issue a bit: I've driven 6 different mk2 turbos and all of them felt different! Steering weight/feel, brake performance/feel, clutch pedal weight
I'd love to drive a mk1 and mk3 just to see what the lightweight MR2 ideal is all about.
My opinion on the mk2 is that it really needs suspension upgrades to make it turn in more responsively and feel sporty.
I've driven them all, I think pretty much every variation. You are right about needing suspension upgrades on the mk2. I remember driving Toni's Rev3 tubby (had done 24K) and that had teins on. They seem to range from being reasonably well sorted but not particularly stunning or inspiring/involving, to being completely out of sorts. I've driven lots of mk1s and the only one that felt really bad was an SC with absolutely shagged balljoints.- Circuit Pack 
michael wrote:Where are you driving too and from and what's the weather like?
Then I'll decide which car to take
- Circuit Pack Lauren wrote:
Are you some kind of lightweight northerner?
But I also spent an amazing day with the IMOC US chaps in the hills near San Jose and was blown away by time spent in the MK3 in a group of more powerful machines... michael wrote:
I'm a girl.
I just know that I covered a lot of big distances in absolute comfort in my MK2 with enough power and handling on tap to play when it mattered.
If I'm going to the south of France the answer to this would probably be a MK2, if I'm just going to kill some twisties then maybe a MK1.5 or the MK3 with a turbo.
Would agree. The MK1.5 is great fun and quick. MK3 turbo is a great compromise... remember covering a serious distance down to Dijon in a pretty short time.. the turbo was glowing red hot when i pulled into the services. It was also astonishingly good cross country on some very twisty roads between dijon and magny cours. I was in a convoy with two K20A engined elises and a caterham superlight. No issues keeping up.- Circuit Pack ... but what does the turbo conversion cost and it would have to be reliable (Don't even mention the luck I've had with the Mk1 and 2. But then again, that was just luck of the draw)(Goes off to Autotrader to look at the Mk3 prices.... Starts to feel sick knowing how much he's spent on his Mk1 and especially Mk2 which still isn't working 100%)mattcambs wrote:Just to confuse the issue a bit: I've driven 6 different mk2 turbos and all of them felt different! Steering weight/feel, brake performance/feel, clutch pedal weight
I'd love to drive a mk1 and mk3 just to see what the lightweight MR2 ideal is all about.
My opinion on the mk2 is that it really needs suspension upgrades to make it turn in more responsively and feel sporty.
I did drive my old man's MK2 again over the weekend and has more straightline grunt, but I thought it was a bit lame in the bends (mind you he has std. suspension 
)...I think my ideal would be to have my MK1 with a MK3 1.8VVTi + Twin Scroll Turbo lump installed...If I had the coin I'd have several versions so I could pick me fancy for the day (only x2 lottos numbers on Sat...F 
K IT!!!) (motorway, long straight roads) the mk2 Turbo would suit me more. It's comfy and devours miles at quite a rate. On near standard ones engine and road noise is even pretty quiet.matt_mr2t wrote:What I would like to know is, does that same ethos apply to mk1 and mk3 cars?
Are they comfortable and quiet for covering large miles?
I dont know why, but they dont look it, if that makes sense.
Because of their size they look like they're not cut out for it.
/ weekend car when its done. When I had my first MK1 T-Bar it was well modified and the Janspeed Exhaust noise got right on my boobs when I went upto N.Wales (I live in Kent). It was comfy enough but not with that exhaust setup, so won't be bothering with one on my Coupe. I don't think you could live with a MK1 as a daily driver for any significant distance...best off with the MK2 or if you cut hair for a living get a MK3 
The Mk1 (With a janspeed ) was quite loud and the Mk2 is better, bit still nowhere near as comfortable as some of the 'standard' pool cars in work. matt_mr2t wrote:I've never driven or even been in a mk1 or a mk3
I know for my style or driving
What I would like to know is, does that same ethos apply to mk1 and mk3 cars?
Are they comfortable and quiet for covering large miles?
I dont know why, but they dont look it, if that makes sense.
Because of their size they look like they're not cut out for it.
The MK2 does better for mile munching, but really if you want a quick mile muncher/autobahn stormer by an M3, they are quite a bit more refined.- Circuit Pack PJ3074 wrote:
Mate, thats why I love the Mk1, it does the bends like nothing else.
I don't actually think it's the standard shocks so much, though, which actually give a nicely compliant ride. A big improvement can be had by adding a good front strut brace and slightly stiffer springs.