after driving both I can assure you the MR2 is like 80% of an elise but WAY more comfortable and roomy. Hard roof is well worth for rigidity. As is front strut bar. all other stiffening is BS. A torsen is also a great upgrade :D
See, this is reassuring. With my mods (wheels/tires, Coilovers, upper strut braces, sway bars, front member brace, weight savings), the car should theoretically handle similarly, if not better than a stock elise/exige, and with a turbo or swap of some sort, have as much or more power as well. The only thing lacking is the looks which is subjective, but with the TRD lip kit, I think it looks pretty damn good. As for bracing, my mindset is If i've got it, why not do it, considering I don't have a hard top as of yet.
Turbo off and sold. Lip kit fully installed. Big wing installed, swaybars installed.. working on flat floor, front splitter and rear diffuser.. lots happening behind the scenes.
many. full TRD replica body kit, big wing and aluminum pylons I designed, intake mainfold, throttle body and headers/exhaust modificaitons, prepping for a 2zr sway with prius 13:1cr pistons and e85.. and new black soft top.