"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
05/18/2020 at 20:32 • Filed to: Toyota MR2, way2blu, MR2, Review, oppo review, toyota, Mid-engine
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"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
05/18/2020 at 20:32 • Filed to: Toyota MR2, way2blu, MR2, Review, oppo review, toyota, Mid-engine | 13
| 20 |
The 1991 Toyota MR2, “@WAY2BLU.” All images mine unless otherwise stated.
Having driven this 1991 Toyota MR2 for over three years now, in just about every driving situation imaginable, it’s time for me to write up a review of the car so far. I’ll cover everything from interior ergonomics to driving dynamics, with a dual emphasis on both daily- and performance-driving comfort and capabilities. As a reader-requested bonus, I’ll also do a scientific test of the “WAY2BLU” paint job.
So, What the Heck Even IS an MR2?
MR2 stand for “Mid-Engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-seater,” “Midship Runabout 2-seater,” !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! It’s Toyota’s mini-supercar, its lil’ Lamborghini, a mid-engine machine for the masses. The fun thrills of a Ferrari with the tame repair costs of a Toyota.
Produced on-and-off from the mid-1980s to the mid-2000s, the Toyota MR2 saw three generations of design. Mine belongs to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , or in the case of naturally-aspirated models like mine, SW21. Toyota produced the SW2X-generation MR2 throughout the 1990s, and it was available in the United States for the 1991-1995 model years.
An overly dramatic photo showing off the MR2's engine bay, as well a its trunk and frunk.
With a transverse mid-engine layout, the MR2 uses engine and transmission combinations typically seen in front-wheel-drive Toyotas. Don’t be fooled though, the MR2 neither drives nor sounds anything like a FWD Toyota. The mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive powertrain combines with a short wheelbase to create a highly engaging driving experience.
With snappy cornering abilities and a rear weight bias, MR2s have developed a reputation for being notoriously dangerous to drive. Later in this review, we’ll debunk some common misconceptions about the Toyota MR2’s “snap-oversteer” handling.
Interior & Ergonomics
The 2 nd -generation MR2 is small yet spacious. Outward visibility is almost entirely uninterrupted. With the windows down and the sunroof open, it’s almost a convertible in overall vibe.
At a leggy 6’2” and 180-lb curb weight, I’m probably not the driver Toyota had in mind when designing the MR2. Yet, I fit in the car surprisingly well. With only a tilt (but not telescoping) steering wheel and a 2-way manual driver’s seat, I still found a comfortable driving position easily. The large-diameter steering wheel is easy to turn, despite the manual steering rack.
The MR2's Nautical Blue interior is a great place to sit and drive.
While the factory gear shifter doesn’t have “short-shifter” angles, it is very easy to use due to its proximity to the steering wheel. It takes minimal time and effort to change gears, as long as one’s hands are at the 9- and 3-o’clock positions on the steering wheel, as they should be.
The door armrest and shift-linkage tunnel are positioned perfectly as elbow rests for relaxed driving. With comfortable seats, the MR2 can actually cruise nicely for longer drives around town and on back roads.
Daily Driving and Commuting
The SW21 (non-turbo) MR2 comes with Toyota’s !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , which has a very short 4.176 final drive to aid acceleration. This means the naturally-aspirated car actually accelerates nicely around town, but struggles on the highway. At 65 mph, the 5S-FE engine is already spinning at around 3,000 rpm in 5 th gear. Positioned right behind the driver, this motor blares its song loudly just to reach the speed limit on most freeways.
The !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but that’s not a deal-breaker in a ~2,700 pound car. The 5S-FE, which displaces 2.2 liters, is very much a “daily-driver” motor. It make a strong 144 lb-ft of torque early in the rev range, which makes the MR2 easy to drive locally.
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It’s a car that makes even short trips to the grocery store an occasion. Everything, from the gearbox to the steering to the windows, is manual on this car. It feels a lot like driving an older classic car, but without the “this car feels
old
” vibes. Toyota’s chassis design and overall build quality provides confidence while remaining engaging to drive.
The chief benefit of the mid-engine layout in daily driving is how close the engine’s intake is to the driver’s ears. Right outside the window, you get raw induction note on acceleration. Just listen:
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It’s even more addicting on an autocross course.
Debunking “Snap-Oversteer”
This is a car that comes alive at the limit. To drive this car fast takes focus and commitment. The most common opinion about ‘90s MR2s is that they display “Snap-Oversteer” and cause crashes with little warning.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions and oversimplifications in the world of import cars, right up there with the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . MR2s do not “ snap- oversteer.” That implies some degree of unpredictability. This is a car with highly predictable, if unconventional, handling.
Without delving too deeply into the physics of driving fast, here’s an explainer: MR2s have lots of weight in the back of the car. This means good traction for the rear wheels, when the car’s weight is on them.
Lift off the gas abruptly, and suddenly the weight shifts forward. The path of least resistance is for the back end to swing around. Since you’ve just lifted and taken away weight from the rear wheels, the tires have less resistance to sliding and break traction readily. BOOM, sideways.
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To go from full-throttle to no-throttle, mid-corner, is just poor driving. An error. An MR2’s abrupt oversteer doesn’t mean you carried too much speed into a corner. It means you got scared and let off the gas, when the car would have been much happier if you kept it going.
This isn’t a car that requires otherworldly skill to drive. It just punishes bad driving. Smooth driver inputs are one of the first lessons in any motorsport class, and they apply here too. Drive smoothly, and an MR2 will reward you endlessly.
...
Drive an MR2 properly – brake smoothly and stay flat-out on the gas for the rest of the lap – and enjoy. This car is fun. The steering is direct, if a somewhat wide ratio, and has good road feel. If you can nail the corner entry in this car, the rest of the lap flows effortlessly. Acceleration, out of corners and beyond, is quite planted.
The chassis deserves far more than the stock 130 horsepower. Luckily, plenty of engine swaps are well-documented, such as
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and
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hardware. Even
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.
Current Verdict
I’ve had this car for 3 years and haven’t even begun to explore its full potential. It’s comfortable to daily drive and a treat on an autocross course. If you ever get the opportunity to test drive an MR2, I have two words for you: Do. It.
Bonus: Just How Blu is my MR2?
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ? In the following, highly scientific test, here’s a comparison of the WAY2BLU paint job to the MR2’s original Nautical Blue:
On the RGB color scale, Nautical Blue reads a B-value of 146. That’s the blue part of a screen’s pixels lighting up to 146, on a scale of 0 to 255. WAY2BLU reads a B-value of 251.
251 out of 255 is very close to the bluest a blue can be. 98.43% of fully blue. The bluest of all blues, bluer than the sky itself.
Yet, with those WAY2BLU plates, I feel the car deserves to be even bluer. Stay tuned for more blueness, Blue Stage Two.
If this story blue your mind, check out @WAY2BLU on Instagram too for more blue MR2 content and adventures! Now for the real question: just how blue is Blue Stage Two going to be?
Ermahgerd!
> way2blu does a rev update
05/18/2020 at 12:23 |
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Excellent color combo.
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> way2blu does a rev update
05/18/2020 at 12:31 |
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What?!?!?! The world cannot handle blue stage two! It’s too blue of a hue, a new hue that could hew a gnu! The last 4 B values are always the hardest.
Great review though. Very well written and clearly lots of work went into making it concise. Nice!
ihm96
> way2blu does a rev update
05/18/2020 at 12:32 |
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Love it but to be fair you didn’t really debunk the snap oversteer. Nobody ever says that snap oversteer is some impossible unpredictable thing, and even if they do that doesn’t mean that’s what it is. You kinda set yourself up a straw man argument and then just said that’s bad driving.
It certainly is bad driving or a mistake, but the point is that the car behaves differently and snap oversteers in conditions that a differently configured car wouldn’t. It’s not really debunked so much as just if you drive very well you won’t lose control because you’ll learn how to drive around it like any car.
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way2blu does a rev update
> ihm96
05/18/2020 at 12:40 |
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On the contrary, lots of people do act like MR2 handling is impossible and unpredictable. My experience asking car friends about MR2s was one of “don’t do it, they’re so dangerous!!”
Reading into it here on Oppositelock was actually where I found out what you’re saying here, that MR2s are actually manageable. I appreciate that you’re chiming in here on this too.
MM54
> way2blu does a rev update
05/18/2020 at 12:54 |
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Nice writeup. I thought you got rid of this for a Camaro but maybe I’ve finally lost my mind.
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way2blu does a rev update
> MM54
05/18/2020 at 12:56 |
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Actually have both now! I’ll have a review of the 1LE Camaro up soon too.
Michael
> way2blu does a rev update
05/18/2020 at 13:49 |
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ihm96
> way2blu does a rev update
05/18/2020 at 14:05 |
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Well non car people in general think that about a lot of stuff haha. I had a Corvair though so I’m well versed in the art of defending your car against unfair attacks and criticisms. (*cough* Ralph Nader *cough*)
Mid engined cars are great for many reasons, but learning how to deal with the oversteer especially in an unpredicable situation is crucial. Its easy to say oh yeah just be smooth and don’t let off the throttle but there are scenarios where you may not have the chance or say something suddenly enters your path like a car coming around a bend too hot the other way. Just something you have to be aware of.
I always love seeing the MR2 content though so keep it up!
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way2blu does a rev update
> ihm96
05/18/2020 at 14:13 |
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How was the Corvair to drive? Those have always looked super fun to me.
I hope to write a more detailed explainer on my experiences with mid-engine handling in the future. Tried to keep today’s article more brief; I appreciate the feedback either way though.
You’ll definitely see more MR2 content! I’ve got many more adventures planned with the car.
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ihm96
> way2blu does a rev update
05/18/2020 at 14:27 |
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It was freakin awesome. Was a dream to handle with how light it was. Only reason I sold was that I was super young and had no garage to keep it over the winter so I drove for the summer and flipped it on ebay. Sold it for twice what I bought, only maintenance I did was fixing the alternator conversion the guy had improperly wired up.
I would love to find another again. I never should have sold it, but alas. Was blue on blue and cost me 2200, sold for 4100.
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ihm96
> way2blu does a rev update
05/18/2020 at 14:32 |
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Just looking at these pics is making me sad and regretful haha. Blue and blue is such a great combo. The other favorite car of mine I need someday is an R107 SL. One of my best friends that taught me a lot about cars had one before he passed away. Such a great combo. Pic of the SL and my friend below
RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire
> way2blu does a rev update
05/18/2020 at 16:16 |
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having owned a 5SFE-powered Camry, it makes me chuckle to think of that engine in a sporting context.
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way2blu does a rev update
> RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire
05/18/2020 at 16:30 |
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It’s a genuine performance bottleneck in an MR2. The rest of the car can do so much more, especially with good tires. Nothing screams “engine swap” quite like a 5S-FE MR2.
SiennaMan
> way2blu does a rev update
05/18/2020 at 21:10 |
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I really enjoyed the write up, thank you. I first really became aware of the MR2 when I’d gone to a small garage in a middle of nowhere town and the owner/mechanic was talking to a friend of his who had a red MR2. What had meant to be a 5 minutes stop was at least 30 minutes talking with the complete stranger about his car. It looked like no end of fun to drive.
SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
> ihm96
05/18/2020 at 21:36 |
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I’ve got an SW20 with the Turbo. It’s been remarkably reliable... my main bitch on the driving experience is the “heavy” steering. You’d never close your eyes and think you were in a 911 or a Cayman.
It’s got plenty of grip, brakes OK, but the steering feel is a downer for me.
YMMV
Nauraushaun
> way2blu does a rev update
05/18/2020 at 21:40 |
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My 3S-GE is more powerful at 163hp. Yours sounds lots better though, and I imagine it’s torquier . Mine sounds nice, but yours sounds sick!
I agree that I haven’t really seen snap oversteer scenarios. There’s so much grip in the dry, but if you make it let go by driving like an ass, it lets you know beforehand.
In the wet it’s different. I find a curious tendency whereby you turn, the front dives in, and the back doesn’t quite follow suit. So then you’re sort of sliding. But not through power-oversteer or shifting the weight around from side to side, just from turning in too sharply. The car will oversteer before it understeers.
Also, once I was on a big winding corner in country Victoria doing about 90km/hr in the wet. So I was turning and feeding in a bit of power cautiously as it was a fast corner, and the rears let go on me, probably a similar effect to above but at a much higher speed. Somehow I managed to feel it coming and apply a bit of oppo and keep it together, but it would’ve been a nasty accident otherwise ;)
That said, when you do want to throw it around in the wet it’s a lot of fun. It’s not easy as the MR layout isn’t good for holding a slide, but it behaves very MR and it’s great fun.
These cars get a lot of shade and I can’t imagine why. The MR layout is used by so many supercars and hypercars for a reason, and so having it available at a cheap price is definitely a good thing. I’m glad you love yours too!
itranthelasttimeiparkedit
> way2blu does a rev update
05/18/2020 at 23:52 |
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Mine threw a rod or something out the bottom of the motor, still kicking myself for selling it. Should have just done a swap. Now they’re impossible to find for <5k, and those are beat to shit and/or riced out ones. I might even be happy with an auto n/a at this point ha
phenotyp
> way2blu does a rev update
05/19/2020 at 00:07 |
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How much more blu can you get?
The answer is none. None more blu.
Just Jeepin'
> way2blu does a rev update
05/19/2020 at 08:36 |
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Fortuitous timing.
https://jalopnik.com/at-4-300-could-you-be-lured-into-this-2001-toyota-mr2-1843518710
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> Just Jeepin'
05/19/2020 at 10:25 |
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I want a Spyder so badly. Lighter than a Miata, mid-engine, modern parts availability. It’s a dream of an autocross car.