RE: PH Goes Sprinting. In A 19-year-Old Toyota

[Adam Towler]

Thanks for the kind comments,

The car looks a bit better now compared to the photos as I'm slowly working my way around with the machine polisher... although not slowly enough in places... I've also got some freshened O.E. wheels too.

Need to sort the rust next, then the brakes and suspension.

I know the SW20 has its flaws, but it has many strengths too, and it's amazing value at the moment.

Will update on all this later in the year if I can...

[carinaman]

Check the video:

http://www.motorsportmagazine.co.uk/2011/05/03/vid...

'When MR2s go bad'?

[Zircon]

PaulGT3 said:

Why are people saying the SW20 is under-rated? They make a great GT car and the turbo's are quick but they aren't a very good drivers car and it would be my last choice for a sprint car.

Steering is light and vague, handling is less than pin sharp, N/A engine needs to be absolutely thrashed and even then its no rocketship, all in all it makes for a dull and uninspiring drive. I should know I bought a mint 1999 Rev 5 GT last year and it sits in the garage barely used as my £500 Xsara VTS is much more fun to drive!

Steering light and vague? Completely disagree - If anything I find it a bit too heavy, but the feedback is great. My E46 is light.

Nobody said the N/A was a rocket ship. It doesn't need to be to have fun on a track. It seems your Xsara has a 0-60 time of 8 seconds. The 1993 MR2 N/A will do it in 7.2. Faster than your Citroen, more power and all from the same size of engine.

Handling less than pin sharp. Agreed - but it is not an Elise / VX220 which you could describe as pin sharp. Put some new Bilstein struts that were OEM for some SW20 models, or better still some coilovers onto the MR2 and it is a pleasure to drive. In most cases you are looking at cars at or around 20 years old. Hardly fair to compare tired suspension to newer cars with much fresher stuff. What other £1k cars would you suggest that gave 'pin sharp' handling and rocket ship performance for that price?

If they are uninspiring cars to drive then why do they have a massive following, 2 race series and a good number of specialist parts manufacturers all over the world?

I would suggest your '99 is not as mint as you thought and could do with a suspension and tire change. Try driving an equivallent sports car of its time and then drive yours.

Edited by Zircon on Thursday 12th May 12:37

Edited by Zircon on Thursday 12th May 12:46

Edited by Zircon on Thursday 12th May 22:16