My new Toy (1997 MR2)

[HughesR1]

Looks very OEM with that stereo and din pocket

I'm currently fitting a new headunit to mine and its total nightmare with the standard toyota system, decided to rip it all out and slowly build a custom system with ebay parts so I'm currently using the method applied by WackoJacko . iPod works quite well on long journeys!

[wackojacko]

Mine works great in traffic but above 30mph I can't hear it

Still, it's better than nothing.

[LukeSi]

I think the Head unit on mine is the best bit of wiring in the car the active system seems to work, 2 subs too which is nice.

[Dalto123]

This Saturday just gone I had the pleasure of driving Synchromesh’s car around some lovely roads in Hampshire and thought I’d write up a little review (his suggestion) of what it’s like to drive one!

I’ll start with the interior. It’s great, just what you want from a sports car. You sit nice and low, forward visibility is great, rear visibility a little difficult (especially when parking) – but not disastrous. The seats are very comfortable with a lot of adjustment possible to make them hold you just right. For such a low slung car headroom is still rather good. I think my favourite point had to be the high up centre console coupled with the short and snappy gearbox. Peddles are spaced well too, making it a doddle to rev match on the downshifts!

At 150,000 miles young it’s fair to say this car has been driven a lot, but I can confirm that this MR2’s motor has plenty of life left in it. For peak performance you must rev this little engine until the valves dance on the bonnet, it really does brings that little hooligan in you out. I found myself holding the car back in 2nd gear in built up area’s waiting the NSL sign on the outskirts just because I could bury my foot and take the car up to 7000rpm!

It accelerates nicely; as I accelerated onto the said NSL roads I would only have to take the car up though a couple of gears to be exceeding the speed limits (which I didn’t of course!)

However there is a slight downfall with this motor, it seems to lack a bit of low down grunt at times. If I approached a NSL road in third gear and put my foot to the floor the car just seemed to lag. The power wasn’t delivered with the punch it had been in 2nd gear. Another time pootling though a sleepy village in 3rd gear I approach what wasn’t a massive hill, as I ascended it I nearly grounded to a halt. It just could not make it up the hill!

Another point of consideration is the rather heavy steering at low speed a small annoyance when parking or when driving slowly around a village or town. But to be honest these points aren’t as bad as I make them out to be. I couldn’t care less if the steering is a bit heavy, and I couldn’t care less that there seems to be a flat spot in the engine. At the end of the day it handles like a dream, even in not great weather, slippery in fact I was taking the car up to the rev limit through the gears and taking some corners quite aggressively and it daren’t step out of line. The ride is firm, but comfortable enough, and the boot is even a decent size! The fact that it’s possible to buy one of these for less than £1500 is remarkable and I’m seriously, seriously tempted to buy one!

Now, anyone got a MK1 MX5 I can use to compare it with?

[Synchromesh]

So in my OP I mentioned my desire to get it dyno'd at some point, as it initially wasn't feeling as quick as I thought it would. Turns out, this was more a question of perception as I took the car to Surrey Rolling Road today, where it recorded a peak power of 154.7bhp - not bad considering its claimed factory output was 168bhp, and it will tomorrow roll over 150k miles. The technician told me most N/A MR2s record high 150s bhp, and I may be able so squeeze out a couple more ponies by having a look at the timing. For now though, I'm not at all disappointed.

[HughesR1]

I'de be chuffed if mine made that, gonna have to get it RR'd now

Think I saw this at Midlands Breakfast club, looked tidy!

[Ej74]

Does anyone know how to change the timing to increase power ?

So it aligns to the factory output

[Synchromesh]

HughesR1 said:

I'de be chuffed if mine made that, gonna have to get it RR'd now

Think I saw this at Midlands Breakfast club, looked tidy!

I don't think you did, unless my car drove itself there! Yep, quite pleased that the motor is still performing. A testament to Japanese engineering, perhaps.

[HughesR1]

I must have been dreaming But yeah its amazing how well they hold up. Mine is 20 years old still drives tight with no rattles, unbelievable.

[wackojacko]

our Tired old Rev2 must be on the dull side of 140ish bhp in that case.

Still takes down the E36 brigade though

[LukeSi]

Should get mine on a Rolling Road at some point. See how much power it doesn't have.

Hughes, the one at Cosford was this ones twin.

[carinaman]

The torque curve looks useful though.

[HughesR1]

LukeSi said:

Should get mine on a Rolling Road at some point. See how much power it doesn't have.

Hughes, the one at Cosford was this ones twin.

Phew, thought I was losing it already

[Synchromesh]

Part of my desire to get a more focused yet less expensive car this time round was to have something that wouldn't feel sacrilegious to track. And today that's what I did, kicking off the season with a place I've been meaning to drive for a while. Actually I did have a day booked there last year but it was cancelled due to ice, but at a heady 8 degrees no such impositions stood in my way this time round. As my first time on track with the MR2, the evening proved a good chance to get to know it, and the greasy conditions were a blessing in disguise, allowing me easier access to it's playful side. I feel my tyre choice had a large part to play in how the car handled, el cheapos on the front and Falkens on the back was always going to spell understeer city but as this car is primarily for the road I have to no objections to this safe setup. On track though, this was no barrier to provoking the car into a bit of sideways action around Graham Hill bend each lap, while the breakaway was manageable even for someone as devoid of talent as myself. Up until the last lap where I thought I'd try a bit harder, cue one large tankslapper, a messy gather up and plenty of childish giggling.


MR2 at Brands 1 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr


MR2 at Brands 2 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr


MR2 at Brands 3 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr


MR2 at Brands 4 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr


MR2 at Brands 5 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr


MR2 at Brands 6 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr


MR2 at Brands 7 by jlewisbarned, on Flickr

[Synchromesh]

Me being a bit silly:

Youtube - A greasy Brands Hatch - 09/04/13

[wackojacko]

Synchromesh said:

Me being a bit silly:

Youtube - A greasy Brands Hatch - 09/04/13

Brands suites an Mr2 really well.

[Synchromesh]

wackojacko said:

Brands suites an Mr2 really well.

I nearly wrote 'not quite up to wackojacko's usual standard of sideways hoorary'

[LukeSi]

Have you per chance got a screw mount attached inbetween the two bits of the cubby box? And hopefully this time next week I'll have a bit of sideways footage.

[Synchromesh]

LukeSi said:

Have you per chance got a screw mount attached inbetween the two bits of the cubby box? And hopefully this time next week I'll have a bit of sideways footage.

I used the GoPro flat adhesive mount in the top cubby.

Looking forward

Booked Cadwell Park for the end of the month, and will also be doing the MSV introduction to drifting at Oulton.

[wackojacko]

Synchromesh said:

wackojacko said:

Brands suites an Mr2 really well.

I nearly wrote 'not quite up to wackojacko's usual standard of sideways hoorary'

Oulton drift day will be a laugh.