I searched the board but couldn't find any opinions. Which car handles better? MR2 Turbo from 1990-1995 or the FD3s RX7? Is one really better or are they equal?

All I want is a nimble cornering machine. Power means little to me. If I want to go fast I have a motorcycle for that.

So which is the better handling car stock?

 

Thew RX7 will definitely handle better. I had a 92 MR2-T and from what I remember it put down .94 on the skidpad but even the Touring FD put down .97 and the R1 .99 - you'll feel the difference if you drive both but the MR2-T will definitely hold it's own and handles extremely well - cheaper and more reliable too

 

MR2s are bad ***, especially if you can find a hard-top 93. However, they aren't much of a real 'driver-friendly' car if you follow me. They're not very forgiving, before you can truly get a lot of out of them you need to hone your personaly driving skills. At least that's my experience with the ones I've driven and the people I know who own them. Amazing machines when you can drive them right.

FD is more of a driver friendly car as the feel is more conventional. It's a basic RWD front engine platform, it's been tested, and developed. Most people can get into it and drive it. As kwik said, the FD will definatly handle better no matter how you look at it. However, if you want a car that's challenging to drive an MR2 would be fun. The MR2 requires more driver input.

 

One's famous for handling (rx7), one's (in)famous for handling badly (mr2).

To be brutally honest, it's simply a fact that the average driver will struggle with a midmount rwd car like the mr2. Snap oversteer can be a bitch.

The mr2 T (particulary the later 90s models) is a great car though - not to be underestimated. That said, it's the rx7 and NSX that are the rwd champs when it comes to japanese circuit racing.

If you want pure sports car handling - the rx7 is close to unbeatable. If you want ultra fast cornering combined with ultra predictable handling - look at something 4wd (evo, wrx, etc).

 

Bad handling MR2? The MR2 is the easist car I have ever drove. You dont even have to correct when you drift that car it always wants to go straight.

If we are talking about like mountain driving at high speed, I would pick the FD, if we are talking about drifting I would have nothing but a MR2

 

then why are there no (or very very few) mr2s used in drifting?


MR setup is not for drift

 

Mid-engine RWD cars are not for the inexperienced. As was previously said, snap-oversteer is a bitch, and those cars are not forgiving of those with heavy right feet. That being said, the 5k rpm "kick" the FD throws at you isn't something a novice driver will deal with easily either. Between it's power and ultra-lightweight rearend, I wouldn't put the FD in the "easy-to-drive" category either.

You've picked two of the more difficult cars to drive quickly (read: safely) around corners unless you really know what you're doing. At anything less than 9/10ths, both of the cars can be alot of fun to drive, but start getting toward the edge, and both will bite you if you're not careful. Good luck.

 

Who the hell drifts anyways?

 

i agree


I also owned an mr2 and it was very very easy to throw around...honestly I felt more intuitive with the toyota than my fd...however my fd I trust...Id not take right hand turns at sixty in the toyota...but I would spin it around like a top....i love mid engine cars.


j

 

I've lost control many more times in my 91 Mr2 than my 93 FD

 

Well if you are getting the MR-2 don't get the 92-91. They have a problem with been tail happy. in 93 they fix that problem. in the other hand both car weight about the same too. but the weight distribution on the MR2 sucks all the weight in on the rear motor, gas tank.

 

Yes, the 91-92 are more prone to the rear coming out, but you'll get more out of a properly setup 91-92. In 93 the car became more driver friendly, not so much to the novice mind you, but still more so than the 91-92. In 93 they added bigger brakes, larger wheels and more rubber out back, an LSD, and they also added a lot more dampning to the rear suspension so that the breaking point of cornering is more defined, tho it's still pretty hazy to a new driver.

The 91-92 when setup with 93 brakes and LSD will be capable of outperforming the 93 tho. The breaking point is less defined but the car is capable of a little more. Most the local hardcore auto-x'ers who run MR2s had 93 hardtops but have since switched to 91 or 92 hardtops and upgraded them with a few 93 parts.

In short, if you're a badass driver you'll get more out of a 91-92. If you're still learning to hone your skills get a 93, tho I wouldn't drive it aggressivly still without really geting to know what it will do.

 

A relatively objective comparison of these two cars (and several others) can be found in the March 1992 issue of R&T:

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/m...article02.html

(I like how the RX-7 has the fastest overall lap times)

 

imo i think if u can master the mr2's mr setup it will handle better which is why ferraries,lambos,mclarens, etc have mr but the fd will be much easier to drive right away.

SpiritR mr2's arent good for drifting cuz they snap oversteer or sumthin

 

I'm not worried about which car is easier to drive. I have plenty of skill and Auto-X experience. Tail happy cars are just plain fun. Only thing you have to remember is to leave enough room for the car sideways

 

How many of us here have ever owned MR2s..?

I had a 91 and I thought it was easy as hell to control. I just think in the MR2 you dont have to correct steering around corners if it starts to spin, if I was ever in that situation I just let go of the wheel, which is VERY VERY hard for even experienced drivers to do. IF you do this in the FD and dont correct your steering, YOU WILL eat the wall.

 

I've never owned an MR2 but they're quite the sought-after car around here and I'm good friends with many many MR2 owners. Needless to say I've driven them many times and I'm pretty well acquanted with them. They are by no means 'easy to drive'.

 

My FD is my first front engine sports car. I had a Lancia Scorpion , Fiat X19,and a first gen MR2 . All were rear wheel mid engine design. Since the Lancia is the car I learned to drive with its always felt weird driving front engine cars. Yes the back end can snap out on you, and if have any decent driving skills you will hammer it down and straighten the car out . Any car pushed to its limits isnt easy to drive .And if it was easy , would it be boring ?

My FD gives me one thing all my other mid engine cars lacked ...HP and a lot of it .I think in a tight autocross my X19 would have a good shot at my FD , but add some straights and it would be game over very fast .

 

You should consider a miata.

 

Super Stock

SS BMW M5 ('00+)
SS Chevrolet Corvette C5 ('97+)
SS Dodge Viper R/T, GTS Viper SRT-10
SS Lotus Esprit Turbo
SS Mazda RX-7 Turbo ('93+)
SS Porsche 911 (996 chassis) ('98+) 911 Turbo, 930 (2WD)


A Stock
AS Acura NSX
AS BMW M Coupe and Roadster ('01+) M3 (E46)
AS Chevrolet Corvette C4 ('84-'96) Corvette ZR-1
AS DeTomaso Mangusta Pantera
AS Ford Mustang Cobra SVT ('03+)
AS Mercedes E55 AMG SLK32 AMG ('02+)
AS Mitsubishi Evolution VIII ('03+)
AS Porsche 911 (993 chassis) non-turbo ('95-'98) Boxster S
AS Saleen Mustang (normally aspirated)
AS Shelby Cobra (all)
AS Toyota Supra Turbo ('93 1/2+)



B Stock
BS Audi TT (225hp, dual intercoolers) incl. ALMS Coupe
BS BMW 330i 4-door performance package M Coupe and Roadster ('96-'00) M3 (E30)
BS M3 (E36) Z3 6 cyl NOC Z4
BS Chevrolet Camaro SS ('96+) Corvette ('63-'82)
BS Chrysler Prowler
BS Ferrari 308, 328
BS Honda S2000
BS Infiniti G35 Coupe
BS Jaguar XKE (6- and 12-cyl)
BS Lotus Elan RWD Esprit Europa Twin Cam
BS Europa, Renault engine
BS Maserati Biturbo
BS Mazda RX-7 Turbo ('87-'91)
BS Mercedes SLK
BS Morgan Plus 8
BS Nissan 300ZX Turbo ('90+) 350Z
BS Plymouth Prowler
BS Pontiac Firebird WS6 ('96+)
BS Porsche 356, Carrera 4 cam 911, Club Sport 911, non-turbo, NOC
BS 914/6 928 (all) 944 (16V)
BS 944 Turbo (all) 968 Boxster
BS Carrera 2, Carrera 4 (964 chassis)
BS TVR 8 cyl and V6
BS Toyota MR-2 Turbo


Any Questions?

 

Even though its not stock, throw on a set of Tein Flexs or drive a RX-7 with the Tein setup and you will never want to take corners in another car again.

 

Well, I guess that kinda takes care of this discussion .

Maybe you should go post this in the kills thread for our little buddy 45 psi to take a gander at

 

I think he's hurtin' pretty bad right now. Should we kick him when he's down?

 

Are you sure you know what you're talking about? Not as much pulp as an FD but it can make 650-700whp??! First of all, show me a 3S-GTE puting down that kind of power. I know it's a stout motor but I highly doubt those numbers are possible in a streetable setup. Second of all, by saying an MR2 can produce that but doesn't have as much 'pulp' as an FD?! Show me an FD that makes more than that on a streetable setup.

 

PHOENIX POWER---3SGTE-- Around 700hp
TOPSECRET----------3SGTE-- Around 650hp if I remember correctly

SCOOT----------------FDS3--700hp

No one else really brags about it, since IMHO HP matters but not that much. I still think an MR2 is a good car. I never said it was better then the FD. Its a good car though.