'91 vs. '93 MR2 Handling

From: P. Feret
Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 15:56:59 -0700
Subject: 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* Feret



From: kca@interserv.com
Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 20:18:27 -0700
Subject: 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. :-(


Kip "Looking for a 91-92 Turbo that I can afford" Anderson  
kca@interserv.com