I have a new toy!
Discussion
I got bored yesterday so arranged to collect the MR2 there and then (a bit of spontenaity is good for the soul).
Hopped on a train and 2 hours later (after a right battle with Natwest to get my money) it was mine.
The drive back was sensational, not to mention a little bit scary. I'm certainly not used to car-loads of young children staring at me!
The absolute funniest thing was people trying it on in G reg Ford Escorts, Volkswagen Polos and Smart Four-Fours.
I took it from Horsham accross country to Guildford (haven't really been back there since I finished Uni) then off around the M25.
Half-way along the country stage I met a modified G-Limited (TRD badge and Toms' Stickers, large exhaust, lowered, big wheels etc). We ran in convoy for a bit till he pulled off.
Wierd feeling that - normally when I follow an MR2 I'm dribbling, not glowing with newfound pride.
It is pretty stiff over poor terrain, but nowhere near as bad as any modified car I've been in. The CD didn't skip once in 100 miles. A strange clonking noise was quickly traced to the front boot where the jack had been left unsecured.
I haven't really given it major-beans yet, as I'm in the 'getting to know you' stage and don't want to die.
Suffice to say however, on the odd occasion that I unleashed the thing it was bloody fast!
I had a Celica 190-VVTI come past me off a roundabout, engine screaming. A quick push of the loud pedal and suddenly it looks like he's hit reverse. I nearly overtook him by accident!
Mental.
Avoiding a premature and spectacular death may be a bit tricky...
I spent a large part of the night hanging out of my window starting at it, grinning like a fool.
I'm absolutely dying to show it off. All my mates are car nuts but most of them think a 2.5 V6 ford or a 1.8 Nissan Silvia Turbo is about the fastest thing on the road.
Time; I think, for a little education... :D
Hopped on a train and 2 hours later (after a right battle with Natwest to get my money) it was mine.
The drive back was sensational, not to mention a little bit scary. I'm certainly not used to car-loads of young children staring at me!
The absolute funniest thing was people trying it on in G reg Ford Escorts, Volkswagen Polos and Smart Four-Fours.
I took it from Horsham accross country to Guildford (haven't really been back there since I finished Uni) then off around the M25.
Half-way along the country stage I met a modified G-Limited (TRD badge and Toms' Stickers, large exhaust, lowered, big wheels etc). We ran in convoy for a bit till he pulled off.
Wierd feeling that - normally when I follow an MR2 I'm dribbling, not glowing with newfound pride.
It is pretty stiff over poor terrain, but nowhere near as bad as any modified car I've been in. The CD didn't skip once in 100 miles. A strange clonking noise was quickly traced to the front boot where the jack had been left unsecured.
I haven't really given it major-beans yet, as I'm in the 'getting to know you' stage and don't want to die.
Suffice to say however, on the odd occasion that I unleashed the thing it was bloody fast!
I had a Celica 190-VVTI come past me off a roundabout, engine screaming. A quick push of the loud pedal and suddenly it looks like he's hit reverse. I nearly overtook him by accident!
Mental.
Avoiding a premature and spectacular death may be a bit tricky...
I spent a large part of the night hanging out of my window starting at it, grinning like a fool.
I'm absolutely dying to show it off. All my mates are car nuts but most of them think a 2.5 V6 ford or a 1.8 Nissan Silvia Turbo is about the fastest thing on the road.
Time; I think, for a little education... :D
Glad to hear that your having fun in Mr2 
Just a couple of life preserving tips, I don't want to teach you to suck eggs, so just ignore if I'm telling you what you already know.
Respect him on corners in the wet, they can be tail happy, if it starts to slide, drop it down a gear and give it gas, that'll shift the weight of the engine back onto the rear wheels and re-establish the grip. Whatever you do not take your foot off the pedal or brake, that will shift the weight forwards leaving 1/4 ton of engine sitting behind you wanting to be infront of you.....not good.
They are a sod on ice so if possible I'd avoid icy winter days.
Other than that they stick to the road like glue.
Just a couple of life preserving tips, I don't want to teach you to suck eggs, so just ignore if I'm telling you what you already know.
Respect him on corners in the wet, they can be tail happy, if it starts to slide, drop it down a gear and give it gas, that'll shift the weight of the engine back onto the rear wheels and re-establish the grip. Whatever you do not take your foot off the pedal or brake, that will shift the weight forwards leaving 1/4 ton of engine sitting behind you wanting to be infront of you.....not good.
They are a sod on ice so if possible I'd avoid icy winter days.
Other than that they stick to the road like glue.
timmy30 said:
Respect him on corners in the wet, they can be tail happy, if it starts to slide, drop it down a gear and give it gas, that'll shift the weight of the engine back onto the rear wheels and re-establish the grip.
Really?
Personally I'd have tried to match the power/wheel speed to road speed and steer into it gently. Opening the throttle would never have occured to me!
I think it's high time I booked in for a skidpan/trackday!
timmy30 said:
Whatever you do not take your foot off the pedal or brake, that will shift the weight forwards leaving 1/4 ton of engine sitting behind you wanting to be infront of you.....not good.
I do intend to be VERY cautious!
MrF! The pictures are coming! I have to dust down my creaky old digicam and get snapping.
If I can get today's project done at work I'm going to take another week off and deliver the car to some beautiful scenery especially for that purpose!
I'm almost giddy with anticipation - it's only 3 hours till I'll be back with it...
Just have to get rid of (what's left of) the Rover...
Nicol@ said:
It is probably going to rain tomorrow, so as mentioned, please be careful.
Just take it gently in the rain, regardless of getting used to the car or not. As you know, the car can be very tail happy (as my old '2 was).
Happy motoring anyway.
When I bought my first MR2, I'd had it for 2 days, took it out for a spin, wasn't even raining but had been the day before so the roads were damp, I made the mistakes outlined above with the result that Mr2 did a 180degree pirrouete leaving me somewhat shaken sitting in the oppsite carriageway, facing the opposite direction with the engine still running........in a somewhat dazed state I put the car back into gear and drove very very slowly home. It taught me a lesson that I haven't forgotten.
If it's a consolation it's the same characteristics that make the car such a nimble and precise delight to drive once you get to understand the physics of a mid engine rear wheel drive. Have you ever driven a mid engine car before?
Track day.. good idea
fun too and a safe place to learn the cars characteristics. Nicol@ said:
It is probably going to rain tomorrow, so as mentioned, please be careful.
Bought it just in time for summer...
I've never drivena rear-wheel drive car on the road before, let alone a mid-engined one. The only relevant experience I have are;
* Learnt to drive in Go-Karts and rear-engined off-road buggies
* One trackday experience in mid-engined Formula Ford race cars
The last words of its old owner before I drove off were;
"I've never spun it BUT..."
He'd lost the back a few times and very very nearly lost the whole thing. He also said to be ultra-cautious in the wet/damp.
I think I'll print this thread out and stick it to the steering wheel...
I only know one other lad who has owned a '2. He had a MK1 for all of one day before landing it upside-down in a ditch. That wasn't even a turbo!
Thanks for the advice guys & girls, I'll keep you up-to-date on any 'learning curve' moments.
Don't panic if I'm not back for a while though, I'm going on holiday to France (in a mondeo) tomorrow evening.
Just think about the physics of the car when your driving, get to know the feel of it. Just remember the 1/4 ton of metal sitting behind you, and remember that centrifual force and momemtum will both want that weight to be infront of you if you brake sharply or even decelerate on a corner.
BUT...... if you drop down a gear and put your foot down the weight gets thrown back, the back wheels are able to grip harder and you literally drive the little bugger around the corner, it blimmin marvellous fun, but takes a bit of practice.
Mid engined cars IMHO handle much much better than front engines cars...think of all of those mid engines super cars...but they are less forgiving and so demand a bit more of the driver. But that's the fun isn't it.
Read this webpost it should help alot......
www.mr2.com/TEXT/91_vs_93.html
BUT...... if you drop down a gear and put your foot down the weight gets thrown back, the back wheels are able to grip harder and you literally drive the little bugger around the corner, it blimmin marvellous fun, but takes a bit of practice.
Mid engined cars IMHO handle much much better than front engines cars...think of all of those mid engines super cars...but they are less forgiving and so demand a bit more of the driver. But that's the fun isn't it.
Read this webpost it should help alot......
www.mr2.com/TEXT/91_vs_93.html
timmy30 said:
Glad to hear that your having fun in Mr2
Just a couple of life preserving tips, I don't want to teach you to suck eggs, so just ignore if I'm telling you what you already know.
Respect him on corners in the wet, they can be tail happy, if it starts to slide, drop it down a gear and give it gas, that'll shift the weight of the engine back onto the rear wheels and re-establish the grip. Whatever you do not take your foot off the pedal or brake, that will shift the weight forwards leaving 1/4 ton of engine sitting behind you wanting to be infront of you.....not good.
They are a sod on ice so if possible I'd avoid icy winter days.
Other than that they stick to the road like glue.
Wouldn't you be better off being in the right gear before you enter the corner? Changing down mid slide will a) take time and b) apply braking to the rear wheels as you lift the clutch making things worse.
Book yourself in with www.carlimits.com - best money you can spend to improve your cars performance....
Enjoy your toy!
I had one a few years ago, and once I'd got used to the handling, it was an absolute blast - it's the best feeling in the world when you can flick and then hold the back end out round corners!!
I did find that upgrading the wheels and tyres helped a lot - on the original 14" wheels, the back end could be a bit twitchy, but only when 'pushing through'. On 18's however...
PS - totally agree about the comment about the ice - I first test drove my MRT on an cold winter's morning, and wondered at the time why the seller was so nervous!
>> Edited by option click on Thursday 18th August 17:28
I had one a few years ago, and once I'd got used to the handling, it was an absolute blast - it's the best feeling in the world when you can flick and then hold the back end out round corners!!
I did find that upgrading the wheels and tyres helped a lot - on the original 14" wheels, the back end could be a bit twitchy, but only when 'pushing through'. On 18's however...
PS - totally agree about the comment about the ice - I first test drove my MRT on an cold winter's morning, and wondered at the time why the seller was so nervous!
>> Edited by option click on Thursday 18th August 17:28
Congrats on picking such a cracking car 
I have had my MR2 T. for 4 years and have only ever managed to seriously come close to losing it twice!!
The first was on day two of ownership, comming off a roundabout in the wet and putting down to much power, having somehow NOT spun the car the old bill suddenly appeared behind me, but proceded to drive past..... pi$$ing himself
The second was due to diesel on the road at a roadabout exit
As was said earlier they are a pig on a cold winters day BUT if you have to drive to work and you get their earlier enough - a empty car park can be a cracking reward
Anyhow, best of luck, hope you enjoy it and get the best from it ohwww and for the love of god if you havent already got some decent tyres, go buy some! - Toyo Procies work well on mine.
Welcome along and happy motoring
I have had my MR2 T. for 4 years and have only ever managed to seriously come close to losing it twice!!
The first was on day two of ownership, comming off a roundabout in the wet and putting down to much power, having somehow NOT spun the car the old bill suddenly appeared behind me, but proceded to drive past..... pi$$ing himself
The second was due to diesel on the road at a roadabout exit
As was said earlier they are a pig on a cold winters day BUT if you have to drive to work and you get their earlier enough - a empty car park can be a cracking reward
Anyhow, best of luck, hope you enjoy it and get the best from it ohwww and for the love of god if you havent already got some decent tyres, go buy some! - Toyo Procies work well on mine.
Welcome along and happy motoring
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