I think the previous MR2s unfairly set the tone for snap oversteer... the mk3 is a better handling car. Putting a front strut brace on also helps the steering feel a lot. Obviously, you could get a complete bracing set up for more stiffness, but the front brace on its own makes a huge difference, cost effective, and easily installed.
The MR-S came out at a time when Toyota was basically calling it quits on their sports cars and was somewhat half baked yet still came out so good. Had Toyota actually paid attention, it would have been a legit contender with the MX-5 for best drivers car for that segment. The handshake agreement that was in place with Lotus since the first gen AW11 (and Lotus getting the Toyota engine in their Elise to make it more reliable versus the Rover engines) handcuffed the ZZW30 to only have the 1ZZ engine without the lift ability on the cams. Its SO frustrating that instead of offering a LSD as a factory option they offered the bizarre sequential gearbox that was programmed too conservatively for longevity on the clutch. Should've come with a LSD option and a frunk and it would have at least held a decent fight against the MX-5. Really sad how this was such a half baked measure from Toyota on an incredible concept.
My buddy has one of these on KW V3 and 2zz swapped along with a few other mods and it was probably one of the best handling cars I’ve ever driven. Changing my FR mind to MR driving was tough but also very fun once I got the hang of it!
I love my mr2s as well. Unfortunately im at a point in life in which i would like to move on and just buy a daily driver for a while but cannot sell it for more than peanuts and a beer.
I've spun mine completely, only once before, like a full 360 but my car has an LSD. Plus I hooning and trying to massively get the tail out. That being said the snap oversteer you keep referring to is the 2nd Gen, not the 3rd Gen.
I thought the UK (and Japanese ones) come with an LSD from the factory, and it was only the US spec one that has no diff? Assume this one is an import from Japan being RHD?
During my (short but fun) experience with RR and MR, best recommendation for me to say would be - its like a motorcycle, its most stable when you brake before the corner and lightly accelerate into it, then full gas at the exit. Or you SLIGHTLY trail brake, never fully lifting from accelerator. That being said, snap can be mitigated by NOT buying the sw20, and having your rear suspension slightly stiffer than front I've always wanted an mr2, zzw30 or aw11. Its the closest thing you can get to a street legal gokart or a motorcycle with 4 wheels (not atv).
Awesome analysis. Had numerous cars in the last 20+ years including s2k, 911’s and M cars. But I always have love for this car. While the stock version is decent, once you put a different engine in it, suspension mods, bracing, LSD, it becomes the most balanced, fun, reasonably cheap upkeep and engaging driving experience for the money. I currently have a k24, lsd, wide body setup and it’s as fun as my old 997 4s.
Thanks for the reviewing this car. Lately I've been wanting and thinking of getting one in the future for dual purpose reasons. Daily driver and weekend track duty
16:03 Actually they do have ABS. If the one that you drove doesn't, then the owner probably deleted it. Otherwise, yeah that's how the MR2 is. The factory suspension is waaay to soft but once you drop in a good suspension (mine has a KW V3) the car is a beast of a drivers car, an absolute blast to drive. That this one has sway bars probably helped as well.
Great video! It's great to see this car get some love and driven well on track, I'll be taking mine out on track as soon as the weather is better. Small correction note: This car has ABS, you can see the light come on the dash in this video.
Would you trust this car at/near the limit on an empty mountain road? To me, the ideal for handling balance is not just what options it offers you (trail/lift oversteer, power oversteer, etc.), but more importantly how wide is the window for you to correct. The issue with the old school 911's wasn't necessarily the handling balance, but the snap characteristic with the RR layout (and suspension geometry and SWB). This MRS with the MR layout and low polar moment should be a much more forgiving car. The only downsides I can see are it doesn't seem to the power/diff to power oversteer out of a corner. Also the lack of ABS. Nice video btw, enjoyed it!
I do. However I drive a facelift (03+) which has some aero and chassis differences that mostly improve stability at high speeds. It also has a Torsen LSD (Standard UK Equipment on a facelift). The window to correct should the car get upset is narrow compared to more traditional options like the MX5, for the same reason RR cars can be. However, it is far harder to upset than those options. On the street you'd have to be driving like an idiot to make this car unstable in a lower speed environment like that. I'd suggest bracing it up ASAP - Hardtop if you can, and/or underbody braces particularly in the middle of the car. You can feel the lack of roof otherwise. With that, the car offers great feedback and even stock handles very well - of course, you can do all the usual things to make it even better, coilovers, ARBs, etc. Finally, there is ABS on all years as far as I'm aware... guessing it's been removed here?
As someone who has owned two MR layout cars, one of which I pushed hard at the track, might I ask WHY you would be near the limit on an empty mountain road? The risk reward isn't worth it. MR cars limit are HIGHLY unforgiving compared to a typical FR layout (eg: BRZ) so if you're on public roads, you really shouldn't be near the limit because correcting a MR snap that you didn't plan for is VERY difficult, if not impossible, due to the weight being on the rear. If you look up the history of MR car layouts in WRC (they existed for a BRIEF period), they were immediately ditched because even the best of the best found it impossible to straddle the limit repeatably enough. Stay safe dude. Happy motoring.
@@KevinWong_BRZ how else am I going to larp being Takumi-san if it's not by risking my life and that of others on a public mountain pass. Take it to the track if you want to get close to the limit of cars people.
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