So anyway, back to where I was up to, the Sunday before last we had a beautiful sunny day, so I waited for early evening before heading out to give the car a proper test drive over some of my favourite roads.
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This was my first opportunity to drive it properly with the new suspension and exhaust fitted.
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I am fortunate enough to live on the edge of the Peak District, so my playground is Snake and Woodhead Pass.
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As I set out onto Woodhead the sun was just starting to dip, so I turned off up the Holmfirth road to get some pictures at the top whilst still having some light to play with.
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The views at the top are nothing short of spectacular.
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I then theaded my way back down and cut across towards Glossop which is a lovely stretch of B road, with twists and turns, a gratifying haripin and occasional views of the reservoir below through breaks in the trees.
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I then skirted Glossop and arrived at Snake Pass as the sun was setting and the light was fading.
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I pulled in at the Ladybower reservoir as the moon was coming up over the water for a few more snaps, then blasted back along Snake Pass as the last of the light was fading.
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The car drives really well now and gives you the confidence to attack the road as it corners very flat, but with much better damping than before.
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You still have to manage things carefully; carry too little throttle into a bend and get hard on the power too soon on the way out and the nose runs wide, rear wheels scrabbling for purchase and tail wriggling a bit.
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However, leave a bit of boost dialled in and get back on the throttle smoothly once your past the apex and the car flows beautifully out of the bend.
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It then hurls you up the road pinning you in your seat as you surf the swell of torque along the next straight looking for the next bend in which to rinse and repeat.
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All the while the turbo hisses away about six inches behind your head as if it's about to suck your brain out of your ear, dump valve chattering away.
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A sensation all of your turbo drivers are no doubt well familiar with and one which I have really missed during my long hiatus from MR2 ownership!
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The new exhaust makes revving the car out much more enjoyable, though in reality the acceleration is savage enough that you often find yourself short shifting just for a milliseconds breather before the next wave of boost comes in.
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The car remains as talkative as ever, frequently rewarding you with a
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'pop' as you slot in the next gear.
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Even by modern standards this is a very fast car.
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It flings you up the road at an almost comical pace and at one point a four car overtake was dispatched with casual ease when I got caught behind some dawdlers.
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It's utterly beguiling to drive and exciting in a way that modern cars just can't match.
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The gear change is so sweet and I love the way you can really feel the weight of the car moving around.
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My 370Z feels lumpen and blunt by comparison and needs to be driven at higher speeds to feel anything like as rewarding.
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Everything on the MR2 feels so fresh and is a real credit to Dan the former owner, who refreshed just about everything on the car.
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I am so happy to be back in MR2 ownership.
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Here are a few pictures:
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