Cars are s***

[londonbill]

Or that's what I always believed until a couple of months ago.
Allow me to explain.
I've been mainly into bikes for 27 years now.
I've owned allsorts ranging from bulbous tourers to full on sports bikes.
My current Suzuki Hayabusa leaves nearly anything four wheeled for dead in a straight line, and has a top speed of 186mph (restricted).
I've always had cars of course, but for me all a car has ever been is an expensive set of waterproofs.
Never had one that made me want to drive it unless I had too, but that all changed recently.
My Mrs. took me to see a car she liked the look of, and so off we trotted to the dealers to see it.
What confronted me was a putrid green, rather pretentious looking Porsche rip off, called the Toyota MR2 Roadster.
Didn't do anything for me on first aquaintance but she loved it, so I took it for a test drive, and do know what, I rather enjoyed it.
The deal was done, and I picked it up a few days later, and decided on a bit of a spin along one of my fave biking roads.
Jeez, this thing flies.
I really wasn't expecting that.
Not so much in a straight line, but in the twisties, I found myself chucking it in and flooring it out of the bends at the sort of speeds that'd have me stting my pants on the Suzuki.
Confession time.
Me on the Suzuki and in the MR2 head to head, and whatever ground the car lost in the straights, would be more than made up for in the corners.
Haven't been going out on the bike lately.
Seem to be going for the MR2 keys now when I fancy a spin, and I never thought that would ever happen.
This car has captured my heart and soul, to the point I now wonder if I can be bothered to kit up in leather and lid etc. for my kicks, when I get more enjoyment out of this little green frog eye'd four wheeled matchbox.
Who'd have thought it.
Cars really can be fun.
Hello by the way.
I came across this forum searching for MR2 related stuff.
Yep, I'm hooked.

Edited by londonbill on Wednesday 4th August 05:27

[Blue Meanie]

Now imagine a caterham, or exige in the corners! Yup, cars can be fun, and yup, it's normally the corners that are the giggly bits! Welcome to PH.

[RDMcG]

Great car, the MR2, and absolutely right about the cornering. At the Nurburgring, which is the only place I personally see this (there may be many other places),there are mixed bike and car days. The bikes come ripping past all the time, only to be caught on the corners.........

[XJSJohn]

Blue Meanie said:

Now imagine a caterham, or exige in the corners!

wot he said

[zakelwe]

you're getting old mate, you'll be salivating after a Toyota Auris diesel in another 5 or so years

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Welcome to PH

Of course, the real smart people have both cars and bikes.

[Dave J]

you shouldn't hire a Caterham


you won't go back !

[londonbill]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Welcome to PH

Of course, the real smart people have both cars and bikes.

I'll probably go back to the bike when I get fed up with being stuck in queue's, and needing the space of a landing strip to overtake, but for now, this is suiting me just fine.

Caterhams ?

Don;t they use bike engines

Edited by londonbill on Wednesday 4th August 06:56

[Blue Meanie]

They can, but they have a huge range.

[Monkeylegend]

Try an R500, it will give you the acceleration of a bike and the cornering will be better than the MR2. Sorted

You will still get wet though.

[zx10ben]

I know exactly where the OP is coming from, except I came from the MR2 Roadster to bikes and was absolutely smitten with 2 wheels, to the extent that even the 5 min trip to the shops was a 1/2hr hoon.
Then last year I got myself an XF and over time noticed that the bike keys were starting to gather dust. Then last month the ZX10 went in the free ads and was gone.....!

Bikes are awesome no denying that, but then on an open road 4 wheels are also pretty dam good!

[unpc]

londonbill said:

Caterhams ?

Don;t they use bike engines

Not normally no. Most came with either Ford, Vauxhall, or Rover engines. Any of these will radically alter your perception of car driving. I used to ride bikes but IMO Caterhams are more fun.

[Mr Gear]

Sounds like you don't know how to ride the Suzuki properly.

[Kinky]

Blue Meanie said:

Now imagine a caterham, or exige in the corners! Yup, cars can be fun, and yup, it's normally the corners that are the giggly bits! Welcome to PH.

Hey, don't forget the MX-5

[Kentish]

Over breakfast this morning I was watching Top Gear and the interview with Stephen Fry who is into his bikes and he recounted two anecdotal stories.

One regarding a comment his cousin made who works in a trauma unit, he calls bikers "donors"

The other story was concerning his elderly relation who went in for a cataract operation and the Physician explained to her how they cut open the eye and remove the old lens and pop in a new fresh donor lens. He went on to say that they unfortunately didn't have a donor lens currently but it was raining so shouldn't be too long

I think this is what has always made me hesitate in getting as bike, ewr and a lack of licence

Edited by Kentish on Wednesday 4th August 09:35

[dylan0451]

am i dreaming it, or did they do the mr2 mk3 with the 190hp celica engine in?

[Chris71]

If the road is twisty enough and you're suitably commited you can chase big bikes in a relatively ordinary sports car. At the slightly more exotic end of the scale, I remember passengering in an Ariel Atom that had the measure of a well ridden Fireblade even on the straights.

I've spent a tiny bit of time on bikes (like the beast of a TS125X I used to have ) but there are lots of proper bikers on here who are into their cars as well. I think it's fair to say it's a rather different sensation - cars can't quite deliver the same sheer adrenaline rush, certainly not in a straight line, but there's something incredibly engrossing about balancing four wheels (or rather tyres) through a corner.

Anyway, welcome.

[kambites]

dylan0451 said:

am i dreaming it, or did they do the mr2 mk3 with the 190hp celica engine in?

If by "they" you mean "Toyota", I think you're dreaming; it was certainly never available in the UK if it did exist. After-market tuners have probably done it though.

[8400rpm]

It's refreshing to read a decent, balanced opinion on bikes and cars from a biker.

[Arese]

8400rpm said:

It's refreshing to read a decent, balanced opinion on bikes and cars from a biker.

They'll hate him in Biker Banter.

Edited by Arese on Wednesday 4th August 09:52