MR2 Winter Mode Activated!

"MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig" (MR2_FTW)
01/13/2015 at 18:15 • Filed to: Toyota, MR2, MR2sday, Winter

Today I put winter tires on for the first time. They are General Altimax Arctic 185/60R14 on stock AE82 steelies (fun fact: this is actually the stock tire size for this car). Initial impressions: It's soooooo wobbly! The super deep tread + super soft rubber + taller sidewalls = driving on jello.

Also, in my fanboy brain, there is some resemblance

DISCUSSION (14)

Slant6 > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
01/13/2015 at 18:19

What's it like owning a MR2? It's on the list for next car to replace my Saab wagon. I'm looking at all generations.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Slant6
01/13/2015 at 18:23

It's awesome. I adore this car. I can get more specific with comparisons to other generations/models if you like, but I warn you I can talk for wayyyy too long about these things haha.

Slant6 > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
01/13/2015 at 18:26

You should write a long post about MR2 ownership. I'm sure more people are interested.

deekster_caddy > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
01/13/2015 at 18:39

But write about how they drive IN THE SNOW......

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Slant6
01/13/2015 at 18:39

Well cliffsnotes of basic ownership (specifically of a mk1) I guess:

More fun to drive than anything in it's price bracket (looking at you, NA Miata)

Parts aren't too expensive. Some are easy to find because of the "80's Toyota parts-bin" nature of the car, but the MR2-specific parts can be a challenge to locate (especially Supercharged model-specific parts)

The midship layout does make mechanical work a little more complicated, but honestly it's easier to work on in many regards than my Cressida (big RWD sedan of similar vintage).

The interior is very comfortable for anyone up to 6 feet. Any more than that and it can get cramped, especially in non-hard top models.

Storage space is actually really good. You get a decent trunk in the back, and enough space under the hood (referred to as the "frunk") to fit a bunch of stuff as well.

Fuel economy is awesome. NA models will get high 20's city and 35+ on the highway, SC models get mid 20's city and around 30 highway.

The 4A-GE LOVES to rev and rev and rev. Stock redline is 7,500rpm which in the early-mid 1980's was pretty crazy. Also the rev-happiness has a leg up here vs the much-praised NA Miata which doesn't rev as high due to having hydraulic lifters as opposed to the 4A-GE's solid lifters.

Because they are old, most of these cars are in sorry state and need some maintenance. Because it's a Toyota, you can rest assured that once you fix something, it will stay fixed for a long time.

I can do further stuff as far as modifying the car, how it compares to other similar cars, etc if you like.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
01/13/2015 at 18:40

Group B all the things!

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > deekster_caddy
01/13/2015 at 18:41

Haha, well when we actually get some, I will. Supposed to be wintery mix tomorrow followed by like a week of highs in the low 50's here. VA winter is weird.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
01/13/2015 at 18:41

All. The. Things.

Roadster Man > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
01/13/2015 at 19:29

I drive an NA Miata and I've always wondered about the AW11 MR2. The 4AGE is legendary and it definitely has a leg up on the BP8. What about oversteer? The miata is super easy to slide around. I've heard the MR2 will bite you back due to the engine setup.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Roadster Man
01/13/2015 at 22:50

It slides around in the snow like a champ, but in the dry, you can't get much angle without going ape-shit. Basically if you slide it more that a little you're being an idiot and the car will snap back the other way and punish you, much like a Porsche does (unless you've practiced a LOT and know how to drive it). The biggest things I love about the AW11 MR2 over the NA Miata is the steering feel, view from inside (MR2 is much more cockpit-like with a hood that slopes down so steeply you can see the road like 4' in front of you it's insane), and how fast it changes direction due to lower polar moment of inertia and a much MUCH stiffer chassis. That said, a Miata with factory manual steering and a good setup can come close in terms of steering feel, but as far as I know no quick ratio rack and pinions are available for the Mazda, whereas a Quaife setup on an AW11 is just about as perfect as you can get with a car.

3.14 rad/s > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
01/14/2015 at 17:12

I would LOVE to drive my MR2 in the winter, but I'm afraid of rust from the massive amount of salt Michigan coats the roads with. I'm considering putting my MR2 on a trailer and taking it out to an unsalted parking lot to do snownuts. I just have to find an unsalted parking lot.

Roadster Man > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
01/14/2015 at 20:54

I thought that aggressive driving would be a little tougher in an AW11. you can get silly in an NA and bring it back in line in any weather. I bet the driving position is crazy, with no engine up there it must be like a fighter jet. That's why I love those cars so much, it's just an 80's fighter jet!

Yeah, I've got a roll bar and soon I'll have frame rails installed, so I'm actively trying to stiffen up the chassis of my NA. I need to drive an AW11 to feel that steering- I thought my car had great feel even though it's powered. The one advantage the Miata may have is its gearbox... It's my favorite part of the car, no doubt. With a weighted knob it's just so good. Short, snappy, but a bit notchy so you know you're doing something. Sitting next to the transmission has its perks!

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Roadster Man
01/14/2015 at 22:29

Frame rails are a night-and-day addition on a Miata. I honestly think a roll bar (a proper one, not style hoops) and frame rails should be on every one.

But yeah, NA power steering is super numb compared to the AW11, actually kind of on par with SW20 steering feel. As for shifter, they are definitely different, but I like both. Solid shifter bushings to get rid of the rubber definitely crisps the MR2's feel in that department.

Roadster Man > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
01/15/2015 at 23:18

Ugh, I can't wait to finally get the frame rails on my Miata. I've got a bolt-in Hard Dog roll bar on my NA, and I immediately noticed a difference.

I want to drive an AW11 so bad! I would love to have both in my garage some day.