RE: Toyota MR2: PH Carpool
Discussion
Lovely looking car mate!
And as someone who has driven both, the Turbo puts so much more of a grin on your face! The standard sounds sporty but is a bit lacking in comparison. Both are still good cars though.
The turbo felt that bit special, and you have a nice soundtrack over your left ear. Apart from that silly wastegate noise that sounded like a cow farting... Or an owl being run over...
And as someone who has driven both, the Turbo puts so much more of a grin on your face! The standard sounds sporty but is a bit lacking in comparison. Both are still good cars though.
The turbo felt that bit special, and you have a nice soundtrack over your left ear. Apart from that silly wastegate noise that sounded like a cow farting... Or an owl being run over...
danjama said:
Sounds like you should have taken the roof panels off for that drive? 
Here is my beloved:
Biscuit factory by danjama, on Flickr
Just ticked over 106k. Every drive is smile inducing.
I would love to go on track with her but i'd be terrified of binning it or something breaking
Just wondering, can anyone who has driven an NA and Turbo, give their opinion on whether the 'fun factor' is dramatically increased when going to the turbo? Or is it not enough difference to warrant the change?
Here is my beloved:
Biscuit factory by danjama, on Flickr
Just ticked over 106k. Every drive is smile inducing.
I would love to go on track with her but i'd be terrified of binning it or something breaking
Just wondering, can anyone who has driven an NA and Turbo, give their opinion on whether the 'fun factor' is dramatically increased when going to the turbo? Or is it not enough difference to warrant the change?
Edited by danjama on Monday 8th July 11:42
As someone that currently owns both - they just seem like totally different cars to me. I have a totally standard Rev 2 NA and it seems perfect for B-roads straight out of the box except for the slow steering - something Toyota included for safety/longevity of the cars I expect 
One thing I've noticed is that the (optional) power-steering is actually relatively unintrusive and will deactivate over 50mph - it's just the slow rack that let's it down slightly. I know there was a group-buy for RHD quick steering racks on the IMOC but I missed out on it. They are a popular mod for the LHD cars in the USA.
As far as the functionality of the wing goes, I think it has more to do with helping move the hot air away from the engine lid - The notched design with a flat engine lid would suggest that air displaced by the car is not then flowing down over the low wing but I'd like to see one in a wind tunnel. I have no idea though - it's all physics or something clever like that.
This is a really brilliant Carpool piece about a really good car that gets used properly. I'd love to see a companion/follow-up piece about living with and driving a turbo - I've only had mine since December so a still getting to know it.
PS - I really like that shade of blue.
One thing I've noticed is that the (optional) power-steering is actually relatively unintrusive and will deactivate over 50mph - it's just the slow rack that let's it down slightly. I know there was a group-buy for RHD quick steering racks on the IMOC but I missed out on it. They are a popular mod for the LHD cars in the USA.
As far as the functionality of the wing goes, I think it has more to do with helping move the hot air away from the engine lid - The notched design with a flat engine lid would suggest that air displaced by the car is not then flowing down over the low wing but I'd like to see one in a wind tunnel. I have no idea though - it's all physics or something clever like that.
This is a really brilliant Carpool piece about a really good car that gets used properly. I'd love to see a companion/follow-up piece about living with and driving a turbo - I've only had mine since December so a still getting to know it.
PS - I really like that shade of blue.
GingerWizard86 said:
Fasntastic little car, nice read. Can I ask though that you refrain from flashing people out though..
As a driver and a biker I have been on the receiving end of someone flashing another out and it ended up with me breaking my femur in 6 places, destroying all the ligaments in my knee and breaking my left elbow because the driver who was flashed automatically though it was safe to exit their junction without looking. Flashing according to the highway code is a warning and not a "come on out bro". Flashing implies that its safe to manuver without carrying out normal checks.
Pretty clear cut case of an idiot driver then, flash makes little difference to someone with poor road sense.As a driver and a biker I have been on the receiving end of someone flashing another out and it ended up with me breaking my femur in 6 places, destroying all the ligaments in my knee and breaking my left elbow because the driver who was flashed automatically though it was safe to exit their junction without looking. Flashing according to the highway code is a warning and not a "come on out bro". Flashing implies that its safe to manuver without carrying out normal checks.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Your first mid-engine car but no mention of the way it changes direction!
Knew I'd missed something 
It's a good steer, decent steering feel and very little body roll. Like you mention, this contributes to sharp direction changes - I just hope one day it doesn't swap ends too quickly on me! Being mid-engined, I find it has much more rear grip than front grip, so will eventually wash out as you power out of bends. Shame it isn't as tail happy as an MX5 though, but it's swings and roundabouts (yep, they're fun too).
slicknic said:
Well written James. Makes me wish I'd taken a ride in it when we were in Essex a few weeks ago....
Nick, we'll drive together at the next one mate.FIREBIRDC9 said:
My only beef is that on my 137 mile drive to japfest 2 yesterday , The glass roof and lack of Aircon was not fun!
Oh , and no cupholders!
Both points very valid. Mine has the AC but it doesn't work at the moment. Lack of cup holders is an issue, but one I've just got used to.Oh , and no cupholders!
jturn said:
What wheels did you have on initially? The ones in the pictures look like the standard Rev3/4 articles.
I managed a couple of years before my thirst for more power needed quenching and I upgraded to a turbo so see how you go!
The tubros don't do it for me - I'll take throttle response and a linear NA power delivery over power any day of the week.I managed a couple of years before my thirst for more power needed quenching and I upgraded to a turbo so see how you go!
These were the original wheels:
_MG_4166.jpg by jlewisbarned, on Flickr
GingerWizard86 said:
Fasntastic little car, nice read. Can I ask though that you refrain from flashing people out though..
I generally refrain from reversing priorities or making other peoples' decisions, but on some occasions it helps oil the mechanism of traffic flow. I'll only do it when there's no margin for it to be misinterpreted, or read by someone other than who it's intended, but let's continue this discussion in the AD forum rather than here.anything fast said:
curious to know what does 4000 rpm in top gear relate to in terms of motorway speed??
Journalistic licence, or something... 
Synchromesh said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
Your first mid-engine car but no mention of the way it changes direction!
Knew I'd missed something It's a good steer, decent steering feel and very little body roll. Like you mention, this contributes to sharp direction changes - I just hope one day it doesn't swap ends too quickly on me! Being mid-engined, I find it has much more rear grip than front grip, so will eventually wash out as you power out of bends.
Mubble said:
Had my turbo for about 6 years now. Keep thinking of selling it for something more comfortable, but can't find the heart to do so.
I'm trying to get around to scrapping my second MR2 at the moment, due to rust that I don't really want to pay to have fixed. That picture makes yours look so perfect, I had a sudden urge to find someone to fix mine.Does any other car look as beautiful for the price?
Meoricin said:
I'm trying to get around to scrapping my second MR2 at the moment, due to rust that I don't really want to pay to have fixed. That picture makes yours look so perfect, I had a sudden urge to find someone to fix mine.
Does any other car look as beautiful for the price?
Haha, any photo can make a car look good.Does any other car look as beautiful for the price?
To be honest it is impressive when you consider mine is 21 years old.
But then it's had a lot spent on it to keep it like that. But I agree with what you're saying. There aren't many 20-25 year old sports cars that look as good at the mk2 MR2 for only £1k-£4k.
The simplest change to make them look more modern is the Rogue headlights.
http://www.roguesystems.co.uk/forms/Product.aspx?I...
They really do make a difference to the front end.
I do miss mine.
I changed it a lot over the years I had it. Probably a bit "chav" for most people though (prob a bit "chav" for me now).
http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/uploads/111...
http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/uploads/110...
http://www.roguesystems.co.uk/forms/Product.aspx?I...
They really do make a difference to the front end.
I do miss mine.
I changed it a lot over the years I had it. Probably a bit "chav" for most people though (prob a bit "chav" for me now).
http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/uploads/111...
http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/uploads/110...
Always fancied an MR2, my previous daily was a 91 celica GT import with the earlier 2000cc engine, bloody great car the engine would rev round the near the redline all the timeuntil it got to 248,500 miles when it let go badly, as with all engines a regular oil change is a must
Good to see you are enjoying your car.
Good to see you are enjoying your car.
corradoboy1983 said:
205alive said:
Just out of interest, would there be any adverse effects if the spoiler was removed; I think they look cleaner without one?
I don't know for certain, but I know that the spoiler created a lot of turbulence (No s*** Sherlock eh?), just by the fact that a mate of mine was riding his motorbike behind me on the motorway, quite a way back at about 70, and he had to move into the next lane due to buffeting. Also the front end has a tendancy to get lighter at motorway speeds. Neither of these prove anything, but I felt like the spoiler was actually functional rather than just for looks... I remember it being quite twitchy sometime too, but not sure if it was just mine. Replaced all the dampers and it was still the same...Edited by 205alive on Monday 8th July 11:08
Loved it though! What a car!
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Heres my old turbo with spoiler remover, it does look a little more Ferrari and is not to many peoples liking. I always thought the spoiler spoiled the lines somewhat. It does help create a low pressure area over the engine area which aids cooling, also its meant to help stability in crosswinds. I had no adverse effects and drove mine for 50k miles without one
Edited by torqueischeap on Tuesday 9th July 19:56
Edited by torqueischeap on Tuesday 9th July 19:58
I'm glad you have a non turbo they have a sweet engine. To get the best out of the engine I found was to make it really efficient by this I mean work on trying to keep the engine temperature low, stick an induction kit filter right in the cooling slat. (At idle it sounded like a jet fighter was about to take off because the pipe was so short into the engine.) Exhaust - fit a lightweight aluminium with either no box or a smaller one, just keep the catalic converter. I cut mine off because it was faulty which caused major problems with MOT's. I hated the standard wheels so I fitted small lightweight ones which does make it feel faster.
So you had handbrake problems too yeah mine snapped twice and my stereo refused to play CDs so I replaced it with a double din sized radio which looked great. I loved the interior because it was so focused around the driver.
So you had handbrake problems too yeah mine snapped twice and my stereo refused to play CDs so I replaced it with a double din sized radio which looked great. I loved the interior because it was so focused around the driver.
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