'91 vs. '93 MR2 Handling
From: P. FeretDate: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 15:56:59 -0700Subject: MR2 handling capabilities.Ok here goes. I wrote about this 2 months ago for those who remember, forgive me. I own a '93 MR2T and a '91 MR2T and prefer the '91 MR2T.Here are the reasons why: With an experienced driver the '91 has better rold holding capabilities. With its shorter arms, the car is VERY responsive to all movements. It is ADVANTAGEOUS to have control over the rear-end in or out. In corners the '91 holds MUCH, MUCH harder than a comparably set up '93 suspension if IF you keep the gas on. Let up once and the tail will wake you up and tap you on the shoulder. My feelings with the '93 is that for the general public the suspension changes were an improvement. SCCA drivers typically drive the '91-92 models if they have a choice. I feel Toyota made the car to fit the vision of a production racer. Realizing the general public needs saftey built into their cars (because they aren't competent enough drivers) Toyota made the suspension changes. My suggestion is the following if you would like to not damage your car yourself. Others hitting you is another story as I have found out...Learn, in a careful manner, just where and when the rear comes un*stuck* with the pavement. Start slowly, turning more and more sharply until you find it, just make sure you have TONS of room on the outside of the turn. Be careful it'll surprise you. Then remember what you did to break it loose. Corners can be negotiated much faster than you expect with the correct amount of HP. Remember, letting off the gas has the same effect as hitting the brakes. Weight is transfered from edge to edge, Newtonian Physics takes over. Following a rule of Smooth Driving, not aiming at being fast will always help.I didn't recommend this to anyone, just put it out there as a possibility.Hey Kip, looks like I'll get a new paintjob...How's your IZUZUZUZUZUZ coming?Pete *Knot-head* FeretFrom:
kca@interserv.comDate: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 20:18:27 -0700Subject: MR2 Re: 91-92 Bashing>> This type of scare talk is getting on my nerves. I haven't found the >>91 Turbo to be this tail happy car everyone is scared of.>> >> The only 93-on I drove, handled like crap. It understeered a lot and>> my modified Integra could outhandle it.>> >> - Jeffrey>> (who doesn't spin his Virage cart off the track at Malibu Grand Prix)>You just haven't pushed it hard enuf yet
As an amateur racer, I liked the handling of my 91 Turbo. The tendancy for the back end to break loose before the front is what makes the 91 and 92 real driver's cars. Careful modulation of the gas in a hard corner can yeild very satisfying 4-wheel drifts under power. It's mostly a matter of learning how to drive the handling characteristics of the suspension. In these times, way too many drivers have spent way too much time behind the wheels of heavy American metal or FWD cars. No wonder the MR2 recieved a bad rap from the likes of publications like Consumer Reports - just check out their last review of minivans!Yeah, the rear suspension of the 91-92 is somewhat quirky for the uninitiated, but anybody with a strong familiartiy of rear wheel drive and power induced oversteer will relish in the enhanced 'point and shoot' driveability of the car. (Very quick through a slalom with the right rhythm.)The nay-sayers of the 91-92 MR2 have never really driven one hard. It requires a special finesse that rewards a skilled driver.Yeah, I know some of you are now thinking 'Didn't he launch his car off the road backwards into a tree?' Yes, but when driving at 101%, the car will leave the road regardless of which end breaks loose first. In my case, it didn't really matter which end of my car struck the tree first. It would have been a total loss either way. - Too much speed. Not enough road. :-(
Forum for every generation Toyota MR2. Including the AW11 and SW20.
Linear Mode
