Tussle with MR2 Turbo
07-23-2002, 01:18 AM
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Tussle with MR2 Turbo
Last night at about 9.30pm I spotted a black MR2 on Green Lane near Heathrow. My brother is planning on buying the NA version as soon as finds one within his budget. Anyway, I was following the MR2 which appeared to be an import (small plates) and a turbo! I heard the dump valve and thought
07-23-2002, 01:34 AM
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Figure on most MR2 Turbos being modded in some way or another (Japanese tuning culture). I know a guy who has one and it came with >370bhp!! Traction is an issue 
I wonder how well they'd fare against the S on a track though?
I wonder how well they'd fare against the S on a track though?
07-23-2002, 01:42 AM
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I know what you mean Tif! I was living and working in Tokyo for two years! There's a place in Yokohama called Daikoku Futo which is filled with tuned cars on a Friday night! Drifting, dancing, hydraulics - you name it - they have it - and the cars are awesome!
My friend had a white Skyline R32 which was mental! Drifting round the corners nearly made me wee in my pants! And the mods are endless! Autobacs is a cool place to go to!
My friend had a white Skyline R32 which was mental! Drifting round the corners nearly made me wee in my pants! And the mods are endless! Autobacs is a cool place to go to!
07-23-2002, 01:56 AM
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You should have seen the Elise that was for sale at Goodwood, they needed another trip to a wind tunnel to confirm it but they estimate the top speed to be .... 265mph!! And it is road legal! 
I forget what the 0-60 was listed as - anyone else see it? It was on a trailer near the "Pheasants" grandstand.
So I guess we need to be careful with MR2's from now on - they still look like a toy though!
- Frisky.
I forget what the 0-60 was listed as - anyone else see it? It was on a trailer near the "Pheasants" grandstand.
So I guess we need to be careful with MR2's from now on - they still look like a toy though!
- Frisky.
07-23-2002, 01:58 AM
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Frisky - I think we shouldn't underestimate any cars on the road! I was even outraced by a Ford Escort 16V! But it was during my run in period!
07-23-2002, 02:00 AM
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I did drive an MR2 Turbo complete with dump valve and owned a non-turbo late model MR2 which is still one of my favourite cars, second only to the S2000 of those I've owned. A non-turbo MR2 shouldn't be underrated, athough the S2000 is quicker, quite markedy so. The figures speak for themselves, the MR2 in standard form has a 0-60 time of just under 8 secs at best, and tops out probably at about 137 mph. Some of the last models made had multi- port injection as opposed to single port injection, giving a slight BHP improvement and probably a top speed of about 143 mph. You can't afford to take the casual appraoch to an encounter with one of these, although you should be quicker! I think I'm correct in saying that the MK2 MR2 is actually heavier than Celicas of the same vintage.
The turbo versions are all Jap imports and come 'Out of the box' at about 250bhp. They're a totally different proposition altogether. I would guess they're well capable of 0-60 times in the low 5s. They're also very easily and cheaply modded to be real monsters of well over 400bhp.
How do you spot 'em? (I hear you ask)
All imports have a square rear plate which s the first hint. there's a small 'turbo' graphic on the side body strip just in front of the rear wheel arch. A lot of owners remove it, prefering to be a 'sleeper' The real giiveaway is that in a non turbo MR2 the rear engine cover is just a flat plate fitting flush with the surrounding body panels. Turbo versions have an engine cover with stands about an inch or so proud of the surrounding panels and is very obvious when viewed from behind.
Unless you get a real good jump at the start I wouldn't bother! On the other hand I would imagine it's handling on the twisty bits really pushing the limit would make the S feel like it was on rails in comparison.
I think I'm correct in saying that the MK2 MR2 is actually heavier than Celicas of the same vintage.The turbo versions are all Jap imports and come 'Out of the box' at about 250bhp. They're a totally different proposition altogether. I would guess they're well capable of 0-60 times in the low 5s. They're also very easily and cheaply modded to be real monsters of well over 400bhp.
How do you spot 'em? (I hear you ask)
All imports have a square rear plate which s the first hint. there's a small 'turbo' graphic on the side body strip just in front of the rear wheel arch. A lot of owners remove it, prefering to be a 'sleeper' The real giiveaway is that in a non turbo MR2 the rear engine cover is just a flat plate fitting flush with the surrounding body panels. Turbo versions have an engine cover with stands about an inch or so proud of the surrounding panels and is very obvious when viewed from behind.
Unless you get a real good jump at the start I wouldn't bother! On the other hand I would imagine it's handling on the twisty bits really pushing the limit would make the S feel like it was on rails in comparison.
