Why an MR2? - JuanSolo UK forumer
My brief was simple; I wanted something that was fun to drive. Out and out performance was not an issue as I have the Westfield for that. I wanted something that was utterly reliable and could be used on the odd track day where I simply could not be bothered to drive the Westie to the event.
Prior to buying the Westie I ran an MX-5 for over two years and planned on buying another. It was the car that I started doing track days in and was the most reliable, tough and cheap to run track car I've ever owned. A blast to drive on the road and top fun on the track. But after having a look around the Mazda dealers I took one for a spin and it was all very familiar and nothing new. It's not that it was bad, it's just that I've never bought the same car twice, even one as good as the MX-5.
So, slightly disappointed with my experience with the Mazda I looked at my options. I could buy a S1 Elise, a car that I love dearly. However that would be more of a replacement for the Westie. As I know that if I was faced with the option of using the Westie or the Elise, I'd end up using the Elise every time as it's far less hassle. Which would leave the Westie redundant. Plus, usable as an everyday car they may be, but they're not the most reliable cars in the world. They leak and start to look shabby when you put a lot of miles on them.
The next option was a VX220, better built than the original Elise and I deeply dislike the styling of the Elise S2 but unfortunately just too far out of my price range. So it came down to the MR2 and to be honest, as soon as I'd seen what they had done with the new model, I knew that if it lived up to my brothers rave review after attending a Toyota On-Track day (bearing in mind my brother owns a S135 S1 Elise, my favourite sports car period) that I'd push my budget and buy one.
On Road
It's not possible to appraise the MR2 without drawing comparisons to the MX-5. What surprised me was that when driving it, I found myself more often comparing it to the Lotus Elise!
The best way to describe the driving feel of the MR2 is an Elise-lite. Heavier but no heavyweight at less than 1000kgs, better built, better engine, better gearbox. It's softer, slower and lacks the sheer communication of an Elise, but then I'm buying it as a road car for 80% of the time and the other points count for more in the way I plan to use the car. However it still has that same feel and balance. An impressive achievement.
The ride is firmer than the MX-5 and there is less body roll giving the car a sportier feel. This unfortunately seems to exaggerate the scuttle shake in the MR2 making it much more noticeable with the roof down. As with the MX-5 raising the roof reduces it significantly and I suspect fitting the hard top would all but eliminate it. I have no reason to doubt that this would not also be the case with the MR2 also, however at an astonishing £2000+ (only available as an factory option with air-con) this is not something I'm going to investigate in a hurry. A shame it's not available on it's own as a dealer option as in the winter a hard top transforms the car into a practical little coupe.
Also I can't help but feel that without the weight of an engine over the front wheels and with the narrow front tyres that power assisted steering is an unnecessary luxury that lessens the feel and communication through the steering wheel. The steering is slightly too lightly weighted but on the whole, you can tell what the front end is doing and the feel is still pretty good. It's just a shame as I really believe that without PAS there is no reason that it wouldn't once again close the gap on the Elise driving experience.
Rated at a modest 140bhp/ton, the 1.8 vvti is not going to set the world on fire. That's not really what it's about though, it is more about fun than out right speed. The engine note is pleasantly sporty though muted. Noise regulations are to blame no doubt, as you can tell that there is a roary little engine back there that just seems excessively silenced. Something that can no doubt be addressed with the factory approved, tasteful and mind-bogglingly expensive TTE cat-back exhaust and maybe changes to the induction side of things.
What I wasn't expecting was that the car felt quicker than the old model mk3 that I test drove. It feels a little more punchy with the torque seemingly coming in further down the rev range. As I haven't read anything to back this up this may be down the excellent 6-speed manual transmission. The ratios are perfectly matched to the power delivery of the engine, keeping the engine on song and making the car feel much quicker than the figures might suggest. The gear selection is never going to compete with the MX-5's rifle-bolt action due to where the 'boxes are located in relation to the gear stick. But it does a nice positive action and is a joy to use and in the scheme of things it's better than the Elise 'box!
Braking from the all-round vented disks is superb. The pedal is has very good feel allowing you to brake right up to the point of lockup with confidence and ease. The pedals themselves are positioned nicely for heel-and-toeing.
On the whole it's a great package on the road. For sporty roof down motoring it is very hard to beat.
On Track
After gently running in the car (donuts were performed on an private airfield as part of the scientific experiment to prove the existence and test the functionality of the limited slip differential. 5000rpm was not exceeded...often) I took the car to Anglesey Circuit with BookaTrack to see what the car was like as a track machine. Being a very short, twisty and technical track, it suits small light cars like the MR2 down to the ground.
I'd forgotten how pleasant it was to just wake up, jump in the car and drive to a circuit. None of the ritual of checks, loading with tools, filling jerry cans, taking water and oil and general faffing that comes with running a Caterfield. Bliss! Upon arriving at the circuit just a quick check of all the wheel nuts, levels and fitting the towing eye was all that was required and I was ready for the off.
In the first session I was really feeling my way with the car. It's a very different thing to the Westfield to throw around a circuit. With the Westie you can rely on it's monumental grip, brakes, power and go-kart like handling to brutalise it around a track. Try and drive the MR2 like this and you are in a world of understeer as you inevitably arrive at corners too quickly and lack the power to snap the backend around with the throttle. All the fault of the driver not the car.
An adjustment in my (lack of) style in the second session saw a huge improvement in things, this car is so well balanced. Trail braking into corners allows you to flick the back end out and power through a corner on opposite lock. It's such a doddle to do. I expected with the car being mid-engined that it might be snappy on the limit and it wasn't at all, it's actually very progressive and forgiving. Including a 70ish mph moment of over-enthusiasm into School corner that was easily gathered up without incident *blushes* Such is the confidence this car inspires.
I'd even go as far as to say it has better balance and more goonable than the MX-5. One comment on the day was that with a little more power it would be a serious alternative to an Elise. It was that impressive.
The brakes stood up to the abuse well being strong and without any noticeable fade lap after lap. The tyres didn't fare as well though. Bridgestone's are notorious for overheating and melting on track and the RE40's fitted as standard to the car live up to this reputation. Admittedly I was giving them some serious stick and as road tyres they're very good, but for track use they really need changing. As Yokohama Advan Neova's designed for the mk1 Elise fit these rims I'll probably try these next as they are much more durable and are reputedly a superb track tyre.
As it is, I came away from the circuit convinced I'd bought the right car. The car behaved flawlessly and without incident. I had a very relaxed and top fun day in a superb car. Very highly recommended.
*extracted from another site
