[Mk2] [Generic] Scared of Mk2s -how to make them safer

[steve b]

jus so shocked of the number of people that have spun and how easy it is...ie 20mph!!!! oversteer absolutely crazy

Don't worry you have to be an absolute crap driver to spin an MR2 on the road if your driving at an appropriate speed for the conditions, these days the mr2 attracts a lot of crap drivers.

Only way my old 260+bhp MR2 would "oversteer crazy at 20mph" would be by flooring it with full lock on.

[acf8181]

I dont get it, I just dont, the only time I've had "issues" with an MR2 was driving to hard for the conditions. Even when i got the tubby I was scared stiff I'd have to nanny it round every corner in the wet, and you dont its just dandy!

As long as you have decent tyres, your car is set up properly and you drive normally ie dont go attacking corners or go mad with the loud pedal on slip roads etc I cant see why you would have a problem?

Indeed......i actually think my mr2 is safer than other cars as it simply has so much more grip.

If you really wanna make your rev1 more forgiving.....get a set of decent tyres all round (toyos are fine), and upgrade to rev2 on wheels (so you get wider wheels)

[mav]

I find posts like this hilarious

The original poster wanted to know how to make the car safer, and to answer his question;
1. Full 6 point roll cage with side impact protection and fully insulated with FIA standard padding
2. Strengthened floorpan and foot wells to prevent intrusion
3. Polycarbonate replacement for all glasses
4. strengthened seat
5. Reinforced seat belt mounts and conversion to 6 point system and additional attachment points for a HANS device
6. High visibility, bubble type crash helmet with HANS attachment points
7. Fire suppression system
8. Self sealing, rupture and explosion proof fuel cell
9. Master electrical isolation system
....


or drive like a man

Thats all well and good but if you make a car TOO strong where is the force of impact transfered to? The OCCUPANTS which is NOT a good idea, cars can be replaced, humans cant.

Cars are designed to crumple in a way to protect its occupants in the event of an accident. Ok the MR2 is getting on in years now but it still has its crumple or "soft" zones which are designed to lessen the effects.

[vishpish]

thanks for the comments really interesting to hear what people have to say...jus heard all those horror storys but i guess its like anything you learn gradually...jus dont want to learn the hard way tho think im going get myself a pair of lightweight alloys lighten the mk2 rev1 right down and make it a nippy na lol!but id better invest in decent tyres

[star_gazer]

Thats all well and good but if you make a car TOO strong where is the force of impact transfered to? The OCCUPANTS which is NOT a good idea, cars can be replaced, humans cant.

Cars are designed to crumple in a way to protect its occupants in the event of an accident. Ok the MR2 is getting on in years now but it still has its crumple or "soft" zones which are designed to lessen the effects.

These mods are only for the passenger cell, which should not deform, all crumple zones are left as is.

What happens in old cars like this is that on impact the passenger cell crumples and chassis components like suspension arms and wheels intrude the cell and this can result in loss of limbs or worse.

Hope it helps

[dan9]

Tyres must be a very important factor, because my NA fishtailed (almost span) at less than 10mph in Sainsburys car park last weekend! I was driving really slowly too (it was a busy car park after all...)

The tyres are Nexen N6000, with loads of tread left. NOT recommended!

[spannerman]

I think the main cause of MR2's letting go is people panicing once traction is broken.


Say your going around a bend in the wet, a little too much power and steering lock.

The backend snaps hard.

With a lot of people you get this reaction :-

(Their a2se falls out and they let off the gas or even worse tap the brakes) This makes everything 10 times worse and at this stage even the best driver in the world has no way to recover.


Its a mental fight to only let the gas off just enough to regain traction (NEVER tap the brakes) a little lock in the opposite direction feeding back to straight smoothly and all should then be well.

The car DOES NOT spin on its own, its a driver fault which causes a spin.

Now winter is on its way, be careful out there people

[Greddy-Matt]

but id better invest in decent tyres

Definately a good plan, also dull as it sounds if your still running original suspension bushes/balljoints etc it might be worth getting those looked at as and replaced if needed as they might be starting to get tired...

[TubbyTwo]

jus so shocked of the number of people that have spun and how easy it is...ie 20mph!!!! oversteer absolutely crazy

Don't worry you have to be an absolute crap driver to spin an MR2 on the road if your driving at an appropriate speed for the conditions, these days the mr2 attracts a lot of crap drivers.

Only way my old 260+bhp MR2 would "oversteer crazy at 20mph" would be by flooring it with full lock on.

totally agree with you there mate, you hit the nail on the head.

[vishpish]

yeah its that kinda fear factor with alot of people like myself that start driving rear wheel drive cars...and your first reaction when the cars backend comes out is sh$t BRAKEEE but from everyone ive spoken to its the last thing you do.....very difficult to keep calm...unless youve been to a very big open space and tried it which is where i plan to go

[raptor95GTS]

on a snow covered car park I was very surprised by the little amount of opposite lock required to crab my car along. I think the first mistake when the back end goes is to snap the throttle shut and the 2nd mistake is to give a huge turn of the wheel to get some opposite lock. Car then fishtails to destruction.

Soft gentle inputs will keep the car steady and if it does go pete tong then soft gentle inputs will bring it back. But yeah in the heat of the ohmygod moment it's difficult. Hence I drive like more like an old man than normal in poor conditions

[Tiamat]

Hence I drive like more like an old man than normal in poor conditions

As my old man says: it doesn't matter whether you are the first to the pub or the last to the pub. As long as you all get there that is the main thing.

[nakamura]

Main prob i find is stupid people use same size tyres all round!! Seen that more than once!

[JohnnyC]

Rev1s as standard almost are the same tyre size all round!!!

[HighwayStar]

Vishpish, there's been a lot of sense talked here but what toyota themselves did to 'limit' the rev1s trait of fishtailing after a rear end breakaway (oversteer) and make it 'safer' was...
1) Widen the rear tyres (on larger, 15" wheels) so the f/r difference went from 10mm to 30mm to give more rear end grip. 2) Alter the geometry.... a new 4 wheel alignment to check all are within tolerances is recommended at the least... I'm sure you'll find recommended settings here somewhere in a search. 3) Amend the rear subframe (you can buy rev3+ subframes and fit retrospectively).
That said I'm in agreement with other comments in the thread. I've only spun once... same size (and crap!) tyres all round and simply going way to fast. A standard well maintained rev1 is a doddle to drive if you drive it on the road. If your approaching the limits of grip on the road your going way way way too fast. Get it on a track and get used to recovering it from slides if your really worried.
The only thing 'dodgy' about the handling or roadholding of the '2 is the optional extra we call 'driver'.

R

[James Junior]

Tyres must be a very important factor, because my NA fishtailed (almost span) at less than 10mph in Sainsburys car park last weekend! I was driving really slowly too (it was a busy car park after all...)

The tyres are Nexen N6000, with loads of tread left. NOT recommended!

I had a 'moment' just now on my way to work - too much gas in second gear on a frosty roundabout met with some major ' twitching' from the rear. Was heart in mouth for a moment but corrected it without drama.

Only myself to blame - I should know by now that over-enthusiasm + frosty roundabouts = bad things!

Out of interest I have Nexens on - they are pretty poor on the whole, a budget tyre I think. They were on the car when I got it so will be investing in some Falkens once my current tyres are getting a bit worn...

The only time these cars ever bite is if you are driving like a spaz IMO...

[MartG]

I have Nexens on - they are pretty poor on the whole, a budget tyre I think.

Yep - well known as TDFs ( taiwanese ditch finders ) in the same class as Nankang

Cheap + hard rubber = not much grip, especially in the wet

If you must go for budget tyres, Champiro are reasonable - had a set on my Mk1 SC and they were OK ( only swapped them after picking up a couple of screws in them in the paddock at Anglesey )

[Tiamat]

If you must go for budget tyres, Champiro are reasonable - had a set on my Mk1 SC and they were OK ( only swapped them after picking up a couple of screws in them in the paddock at Anglesey )

Will depend on the size of the wheels he has on the car. What works well with one size of wheel works differently with others. The Pirellis I have on mine are ****ing awful in the wet, but fine on the Celcia one of the guys I know owns. They are exactly the same type of Pirellis as well.

[Lauren]

Roadcraft. Its not just for the cops. Its the textbook for both IAM and RoSPA advanced driving.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roadcraft-Great ... 0113408587

Its more important when your in a rear wheel drive car.

Only time I've had slight slips is when I haven't setup the car for the corner and driven it round. Without a little power to the rear wheels the rear of the car goes light and the rear tyres aren't getting pushed into the ground

Never back off or brake mid corner - always drive it round.

The problem is though 'roadcraft' ie the stuff IAM use doesn't teach you how to control slides etc.. its all about driving within the limits of the car. The problems happen when you go over those limits, thats where track based driving skills come to the fore.

In fact the best way to bring the rear back into line is to lift very slightly.

[Lauren]

Tyres must be a very important factor, because my NA fishtailed (almost span) at less than 10mph in Sainsburys car park last weekend! I was driving really slowly too (it was a busy car park after all...)

The tyres are Nexen N6000, with loads of tread left. NOT recommended!

If you 'fishtail' then you are putting on too much steering opposite lock, too late.