I've played Maximum Tune 2, but the only machine is 45 minutes away, and I've only gone twice. I do, however, have a Maximum Tune 1 machine at my local arcade. My main card is a fully-tuned blue JZX100 Chaser that usually has 700HP/B, and that's the card I used to gain all of the top time attack records on all courses on both machines.
As far as cornering goes, there are three things to remember:
1. Above all else, you need to keep off of the walls.
2. Don't fight the car and try to keep grip; allow the car to slide, because it's just going to drift anyway.
3. Take a racing line through the corners that has you turning the steering wheel as little as possible. The more you turn the wheel, the more you slow down.