I drove a MK1 today

[Lewis Jay]

Dont know if this is big news but hey it was great fun.

[Speedy]

Hah - you knows it. There does seem to be a lot of interest in mk1s from mk2 owners at the moment. Must be something in the water.

Harry will be buying one next

[steven.whiteside]

I recently got introduced to the MR2 by my housemate. Having been looking at both mk1 and mk2 and taken a ride in his own mk2 i made a risky descion, as i didn't know much about the car, and went for a completely standard 1989sky blue MK1 T-BAR. Having driven it for a few weeks i thought it was only fair that i let my housemate have ago. After a quick blast down the local A road (southmead to filton section of Bristol ring road) commented on the speed and feel of the car to which i got an agreement swiftly followed by at least 4 excuses as to why his car didn't feel the same ie exhaust needs fine tuning new tires etc etc ha ha ha i was very proud!

Oh and his car is a non-turbo rev 2 i think!

[Lewis Jay]

Funny you should say that but the MK1b I drove had just had a service and was running very well.


Well enough I almost managed to doughnut it round the private road I was on.

[Igor]

i've owned a mk1a, mk1b and currently own a mk2 na. i've got to say the mk1's could outhandle a mk2 anyday.
i had so much more confidence in my old mk1. i've almost made a few of my mates soil themselfs, were as now they soil themselfs thinking 'are we about to spin and crash'.
i found the mk1 a lot more fun car to drive

but hey, the chicks dig the mk2

[rhamps]

sorry but the mk2 rules. Power and handling wize if you want a car that you have to learn to drive get a mk2 if you want something for a bit of fun then have mk1 (No offence ment to mk1 owners just my honest opinion)

[jeffry-]

I'd rather have a mk1.5 but anything else in the mk1 range NO THANKYOU!

[Rogue]

i've got to say the mk1's could outhandle a mk2 anyday.

I'll take that challenge. Pick your circuit.



Patrick

[Igor]

i've got to say the mk1's could outhandle a mk2 anyday.

I'll take that challenge. Pick your circuit.



Patrick

a twisty country road

[mattcambs]

i've got to say the mk1's could outhandle a mk2 anyday.


but hey, the chicks dig the mk2

There are many cars that handle (meaning how they progress from grip to slip) better than a mk2, but that doesn't make them faster. In the dry a properly set up mk2 has so much grip that it would paste a mk1, surely?

But, yes, chicks certainly do dig the mk2

[Lauren]

There are many cars that handle (meaning how they progress from grip to slip) better than a mk2, but that doesn't make them faster. In the dry a properly set up mk2 has so much grip that it would paste a mk1, surely?

But, yes, chicks certainly do dig the mk2

The mk2 will always be quicker quite simply down to its mechanical grip advantage over the mk1. Does that mean a mk2 handles better? Of course not. Depends entirely how you define better though.

[mattcambs]

There are many cars that handle (meaning how they progress from grip to slip) better than a mk2, but that doesn't make them faster. In the dry a properly set up mk2 has so much grip that it would paste a mk1, surely?

But, yes, chicks certainly do dig the mk2

The mk2 will always be quicker quite simply down to its mechanical grip advantage over the mk1. Does that mean a mk2 handles better? Of course not. Depends entirely how you define better though.

I think you are agreeing with me Lauren How you define better is an interesting point also. Better handling for a road car (and race cars?) is surely about how much information the driver gets from the car about it exact state of grip/slip.

Lauren, have you seen the threads regarding Luthor1's steering universal joint mod for the mk2? Very, very interesting.

[excalibur1814]

Owned both:

Mk1 - Lowered, new bushes, new KYB suspension, new springs, new tyres:
The mk1, for me, is simply so light that flying around a roundabout seemed like childsplay. The only problem was that the car felt like it could 'hop' off of the road.

Mk2 Tubby - Lowered, new suspension, Tein springs, yellow billies, new rears:
The Mk2 simply feels safer, heavier, does go around corners well. But, I know that if the back end goes the thing will shoot off the road like a missile.

Overall I feel a bit safer in the Mk2 but the Mk1 simply held the road (when dry) much better. My Mk2 rolls a bit wheras the Mk1 was rock solid.

Mk1 every single time.

Then again if I ever get the money for the Mk2 Tubby Tein setup... You have to have owned a Mk1 and Mk2 for a long time to appreciate the differences. (Lotus 111r, Integra Type r, fantastic cars that hold the road so very well)

[cartledge_uk]

i've got to say the mk1's could outhandle a mk2 anyday.

I'll take that challenge. Pick your circuit.



Patrick

lol, ok/

Buckmore park, I'd like to see a mk2 beat a mk1 round there.



doesnt really show the gradient there.

I'd be up for that challenge.

(and yes patrick before you ask, I have blown an engine there )

[Rogue]

Here you go, I've found an even tighter circuit:



But seriously, you organise Buckmore Park and I'll be there.



Patrick

[ENSMR2]

i had so much more confidence in my old mk1.

Misplaced confidence.

The MK1 doesn't have enough power to get you into trouble

Que the onslaught

My MK2 tubby was more capable then my MK1 thats for sure. Ya need better driving stiles(heeeheeeheee) to drive a mk2 fast.

[steve b]

Owned mk2 n/a, turbo and mk1b. Mk2 in n/a and turbo guise are quicker but mk1 is no question far far more fun to drive.

[Tiamat]

My MK2 tubby was more capable then my MK1 thats for sure. Ya need better driving stiles(heeeheeeheee) to drive a mk2 fast.

Come to Sussex and I'll take you down some of the country roads round here in the MK1. You'll be glad you not in a MK2 as its all down to handling, the power advantage of the MK2 is negated very quickly - I know as I have left MK2 Turbo's behind, BMW M3s and all manner of cars due to the twisty nature of the roads.

[ENSMR2]

My MK2 tubby was more capable then my MK1 thats for sure. Ya need better driving stiles(heeeheeeheee) to drive a mk2 fast.

Come to Sussex and I'll take you down some of the country roads round here in the MK1. You'll be glad you not in a MK2 as its all down to handling, the power advantage of the MK2 is negated very quickly - I know as I have left MK2 Turbo's behind, BMW M3s and all manner of cars due to the twisty nature of the roads.

Yeah ok, but I was talking about MY mk2 lol.

Also I believe Patrick has proven how capable MK2's really are.

Not saying the MK1's are lame. They aren't. They provide good feedback

[CosmosblueMR2]

I have left MK2 Turbo's behind, BMW M3s and all manner of cars .

Those AA flatbed trucks are fun aren't they