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Okay, so I'm new to the site, but new the the MR2. I've only driven the wonderfully handling 91 Turbo - 3 different cars. I wouldn't trade the back end of it for a "nicer" (read in "less of a driver's car") for anything. I've been driving them for about 11 years and hang the tail out on a regular basis...only looped once (and once I was in it, decided to try for a 360...only made it to 270).
The 91/92 suspension is what makes a mid-engine car FUN! Come in too fast into the corner, lots of front end understeer, come in a little slower, get on the gas smoothly just before apex, the car stands on the outside rear corner and carves a beautiful turn, get on the gas harder, and light up the rear tires for a very nice drift. Get on it too hard (that is how I looped it, turned in too quickly and on the gas too hard..and the help of some loose gravel just to make it interesting), well, you had better be fast with your hands.
I have taken the car around sweeping turns where I've had to play with the steering and gas at the same time, modulating them to "dance" between the front end sliding and the rear...I was at the limits of adheasion in a very tight piece of road that had concrete walls on both sides....one lane...pretty dumb, I know, but it was a hell of an exit out of it when it started to open up and I could nail the throttle! Posted speed limit in the turn - 25 mph...my speed through the turn, 75 on H rated tires (HARD and NOT sticky), exit speed 125 mph before slowing down to merge with traffic.
I'm an old guy that used to roadrace motorcycles back in the 80's...the MR2 is the closest that I've ever gotten to finding a car that worked as well as my race bikes.
If you want a true drivers car, go with the early crossmember of the 91/92...not too good for rain and snow. If you don't feel that you want that kind of risk, play it safe and go with the later model...
By the way, I traded in my race bike racing for Catamaran sailboat racing...
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