200hp Variable Valve Timing version of the MR2.

Toyota : Rev 5 G-Limited BEAMS VVTi

Maybe it's just too much Gran Turismo and I am being mad. Mica beige. I love it.

Could just about stretch to keeping the Furby and having this beauty as a weekend car.

They're crap on the track

Tempted?

What to be *** end backwards down a ditch, no ta...lol

200hp Variable Valve Timing version of the MR2.

Toyota : Rev 5 G-Limited BEAMS VVTi

Maybe it's just too much Gran Turismo and I am being mad. Mica beige. I love it.

Could just about stretch to keeping the Furby and having this beauty as a weekend car.

The import turbo ones do handle better than the UK ones for some reason, but dont know about this one. I would personally go for a late Turbo car myself.

Chris

Tempted?

What to be *** end backwards down a ditch, no ta...lol

Are they really that bad? Twitchy?

Is it a mid rear thing or just an MR2 specific thing?

I must admit I have heard lots of horror stories, and they all seem to be about MR2s rather than MGFs or Elises or VXs

That said, I read lots of horror stories about S2000s being rear end twitchy and yes they are, but they are controllable when the back end steps out, and a lot of fun...

I've heard plenty of tales and seen plenty of bent MR2's.

I think the later ones a'la Walkie are alot better.

Are they really that bad? Twitchy?

Is it a mid rear thing or just an MR2 specific thing?

I must admit I have heard lots of horror stories, and they all seem to be about MR2s rather than MGFs or Elises or VXs

That said, I read lots of horror stories about S2000s being rear end twitchy and yes they are, but they are controllable when the back end steps out, and a lot of fun...

Ive got a friend of a friend who had a MR2 turbo..

Hes a pretty ****-hot driver normally

got distracted aproaching a corner (his missus nagging him)

when he realised he was going in a little bit too hot.. and knowing the car, he didnt attempt the turn.. he just took his hands off the wheel and braced himself...

when they bite.. they bite hard.. its not big and not clever facing on-coming traffic on a roundabout

Re: Mk3's: No damn luggage space whatsoever though.

Like them a lot other than that, really do. Great to drive.

Not that the Mk2 has much more space I guess.

Just looking at some MR2 forums and the amount of 'backward facing' stories...scary.

Are they really that bad? Twitchy?

Is it a mid rear thing or just an MR2 specific thing?

I must admit I have heard lots of horror stories, and they all seem to be about MR2s rather than MGFs or Elises or VXs

That said, I read lots of horror stories about S2000s being rear end twitchy and yes they are, but they are controllable when the back end steps out, and a lot of fun...

Hi

They are not "bad" as such, just a car you have to focus properly on to drive fast. The killer is lift off oversteer. UK cars were worse for some reason, different rear geometry if I remember correctly. They are not alone in this, earlier Porker 911s had a bite to them as well. Therefore, you have to plan each corner properly and get it right first time, otherwise you are treading a fine line.

The MKIII has a lot less stowage, the MKII having a useful boot space behind the engine bay, but is a very much more driver focussed car. Still needs careful planning though as they are also easy to stuff if you get it wrong. The general scenarion seems to be that you get some power oversteer which builds up extremely quickly (trust me I know). You need to lift off the gas a tiny bit to regain traction at the rear and also to be super quick with the opposite lock. If you lift off the gas a little too much, all the weight tranfers to the front tyres and the rears lose grip completely, with all the engine mass back there as well, you spin. You also need to plan things properly, too fast into a corner makes it tricky at best, so considered driving is a must. In the wet, multiply caution level by 10. Be careless in either car and you quickly land in a world of sh!t.

On the upside, the weight near the axis of rotation gives you very quick direction changes and a very accurate and direct steering response.

Chris

Interesting car, friend used to have one. Crashed it twice, first time it was repaired after a moment on a roundabout, second time it was written off.

Thanks for the input Chris, I have never had a mid engined car so that made an interesting and informative read.

I have had a few RWD front engined cars (TransAm V8, Z3, S2000) , never seemed to get into too much bother with them, although the S2000 started drifting at about 60mph pushing on through a bend one time. That was a bit scary. I used to treat the TransAm with a lot of respect as they aren't the best handling cars to start with. The Z3 had TCS and ESP (or whatever BMW call it).

I used to find the S2000 easy to 'catch' when playing with the back end in 1st gear, was always sensible with it in the rain though.

As a 2nd car maybe the Mk3 would be more suitable, has the benefit of roof down motoring, and can be had for the same kind of price as this Mk2.

Found another Mk2 on Autotrader with 39k on it, Leeds area. That beautiful Cosmos Blue (purply-blue) colour. But, again, it's up near the 6k mark which of course the Mk3s seem to start at, pricewise.

The Beams edition is like the holy grail of MR2s!!! I love my MK2 MR2 it's great fun to drive and it is so precise into corners (it's only the 173bhp version too!!). I have driven it on country lanes in the pi$$ing rain and never had the rear get twitchy once. i would go for a MK2 (biasd i know :P ) But blokes look wrong in MK3s (sorry Jimbo!!!) Go for a T-Bar if you want a fun toy

Here's mine

Nice motor. Yes the BEAMS is nice but it is in Aberdeen, a long way from here. I don't know if I will go and see it when there are so many regular UK MR2s about, and only 20hp less...

To be honest the standard 173bhp is plenty fun to play about with. The 0-60 is pretty much on par with a standard Octy vRS. With regards t othe backward facing Anyone can feck up in any type of car!! It's how you drive it, I have not had any twitchy rear end moments yet and i have driven plenty on really twisty wet country roads.

I've been in a certain MR2 MKIII, At a track day. The initial punch of the line is fantastic, and the handling is spot on. As it was wet, i didn't get to feel the full effects of the way it handles. But, I'd be tempted by the MR2 MKIII for sure.

With it being a light, low car, 150 hp (I think) is enough.

Sod it, I've found a lovely UK spec MR2 Mk2 and I'm going to go for it. Watch this space for pics (next weekend I expect). Monkeychild, it is the Rev5 in Cosmos blue like the pics I posted above but an R-reg. 45000 miles. Picking it up for £4600 with 12 months MOT, 9 months tax and just serviced.

I'm buying it as a fun, weekend car, it wont be used in the rain (well not often anyway lol) and I shall make sure it has decent tyres on it. Bloke says it has Yokos on at the moment but MOT said only 3mm tread left.

I drove my mate's MR2 Turbo on the airfield a couple of years ago. She thought it was super quick but it was a huge disapointment for me, you couldnt get the back end out controlably even on the airfield. It just understeered then suddenly snapped out at the back.

Did good donuts tho

Up till then I was looking at one but kept my MK4 Astra.

I am tempted by a turbo but everyone on MR2 forums says the UK N/A version costs little to run, is reliable, etc. The turbos (quote) "Have 100 more things to go wrong and they generally do"

With a UK car (of low miles) you generally get all the 'peace of mind' stuff like all the old MOTs to verify mileage, stamped up service book, ability to HPI it.

The Japs can be a little unknown history wise.

Plus, the tubbies drink fuel like it's going out of fashion!