MR2 Quirks

[CyborgGT]

Hypothetically speaking, if I were to go shopping for an SW20 Turbo what are the problem areas I should look out for? Recalls, common wear items, popular rust spots, etc. And how are they to own, with regards to things like ease of doing your own repair work and costs of running?

This is one of many actual performance-oriented cars I'm considering to keep the Honda company and have something else to drive when it's parked for projects, and since they're so popular around here I figure who better to ask than the open-minded enthusiasts of GTP!

Thank you for any input!

 

[E38]

If you are into trackdays, watch out for grass and curbs...

This happened to someone at a Toyota club day I was at a few years back http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1WWN-Igq8I

Other than occasionally turning turtle they seem to be pretty bullet proof.

 

[Eric.]

Turbos aren't really that cheap in good condition, and the 3SGTE isn't the most reliable motor as far as I know. Parts are also a little on the expensive side I think. If you were to get one, spend a lot of time learning how MR cars behave before you go spin it off in to a *.

 

[CyborgGT]

Yeah, the wheelbase looks awefully short, I'd be hesitant to push it for a while. Does the MR layout help in the wet vs an FR, or does the weight more easily overcome the tires in a turn?

I was expecting that car in front to roll, I kept thinking "come on get closer," then it happened. They top heavy, narrow or what? Looking at them I figured they'd be pretty stable in that way.

The MR2 looks like a cooler alternative to the MX-5... which I love, btw. But if I were to get a cheap two-seater roadster it'd be the S2000, though I hear they can be skittish at the limit.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

MR2s would be a fair bit more unpredictable in the wet than a regular FR due to the layout really. Many articles I've read on them say that they're pretty wild in the wet if you push it the wrong way.

The AP1 S2000 seems to be similarly oversteer-y...but I still want one. Badly.

 

[Azuremen]

MR2s would be a fair bit more unpredictable in the wet than a regular FR due to the layout really. Many articles I've read on them say that they're pretty wild in the wet if you push it the wrong way.

The AP1 S2000 seems to be similarly oversteer-y...but I still want one. Badly.

You've never driven either though, I take it.

An MR2 in generally will bite you if you are too jerky with the steering and throttle. In the wet, it will be a bit easier to put the power down than in an FR, like my M3 is quite a bit easier to power over (and not just cause of the torque) than the MR2s I use to have. However, once it does start to slide, it is quite bit more difficult to manage than a decent FR car, again comparing the MR2s I've had to my M3. Also pretty easy to get sideways if you brake while turning in or even just lift off the throttle. Very easy.

As for the SW20, the 91 and 92 have a different rear suspension setup that tends to make them more spin happy. Hardtop turbos are extremely rare as well. 3S-GTE is pretty strong, but they are always smoking I feel.

Time_attack could tell you quite a bit more about them.

 

[Eric.]

MR2s tend to like to turn with the tail sliding out just a little. Done right, you'll be steering nearly straight with just minor adjustments with the wheel and controlling your line with the throttle. An NA MR2 with an open diff will usually come out of a slide with more throttle input, unless it does happen to get wheelspin. Lifting in a slide is pretty much a big no-no, same for braking. A small "drift" angle isn't hard to manage, but with the rear weight bias it can easily spin further than you expected and then its going to be more difficult to catch (you might pendulum back the other direction). Even on Star Specs my AW11 slides like crazy in autocross. With enough traction or an LSD an MR2 can get some awesome traction out of a corner.

And then there's straight line traction.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

You've never driven either though, I take it.

Hence why I said what I said.

I've test driven an SW20, but obviously not "like I stole it", nor in the wet.

 

[Keef]

There is only one major problem with an SW20, the turbo models in particular. They tend to spin out spectacularly when you're not paying attention.

 

[OwensRacing]

You've never driven either though, I take it.

An MR2 in generally will bite you if you are too jerky with the steering and throttle. In the wet, it will be a bit easier to put the power down than in an FR, like my M3 is quite a bit easier to power over (and not just cause of the torque) than the MR2s I use to have. However, once it does start to slide, it is quite bit more difficult to manage than a decent FR car, again comparing the MR2s I've had to my M3. Also pretty easy to get sideways if you brake while turning in or even just lift off the throttle. Very easy.

As for the SW20, the 91 and 92 have a different rear suspension setup that tends to make them more spin happy. Hardtop turbos are extremely rare as well. 3S-GTE is pretty strong, but they are always smoking I feel.

Time_attack could tell you quite a bit more about them.

Oh it is the TQ. Don't even fool yourself. TQ is twisting power. Hence twist wheels harder they break traction easier.

But you keep on preaching your gospel.

 

[homeforsummer]

Oh it is the TQ. Don't even fool yourself. TQ is twisting power. Hence twist wheels harder they break traction easier.

But you keep on preaching your gospel.

What on earth are you blathering on about? None of what you wrote has anything to do with what Azuremen said...

 

[eSZee]

AZ mentioned TQ not being the only reason he can over power the rear tires in the M3.

 

[homeforsummer]

AZ mentioned TQ not being the only reason he can over power the rear tires in the M3.

I stand corrected. Still, it's not like Azure was talking out of his bottom in the rest of the post (saying "and not just because of the torque" seems fairly accurate in context), and it doesn't really justify the condescending know-it-all post that quoted him.

 

[eSZee]

Agreed. His last few posts have been like that.
Probably didn't get an iPhone for christmas. We'll let it slide.

 

[Eric.]

Yeah, not the first time he's taken the asshole route replying to me either. I just return the favor these days.


FR vs MR, an FR will power over easier, without a doubt. Miata vs. MR2 is very good comparison. I drove Casey's (casey_2005) Miata in the rain and just taking a couple turns at a spirited rate it started to oversteer. The MR2 would do it also, but it tends to want to understeer first if you're that smooth.

 

[Azuremen]

Oh it is the TQ. Don't even fool yourself. TQ is twisting power. Hence twist wheels harder they break traction easier.

But you keep on preaching your gospel.

Oh, you mean Torque. Gotcha. I'm using to using real words when I post on the internet because, well, I'm not in a rush to generate a response. My bad.

That aside, my M3 being a 95, the torque and power are shifted to the right a bit more while the gearing is also a touch taller. What I was more specifically implying is that because 60% or so of the weight is over the rear wheels in an MR2, it will hook up a bit better under power. Even in the snow, it was generally smoother and easier to just lift for a moment before applying power in my MR2s. And accordingly, it was easier to pick up speed while sideways in the MR2s versus the M3, which certainly has nothing to do with torque.

But what do I know, I was just preaching my gospel. Even if I'm not sure what that really is...