Hey all, i currently have a 1994 import WRX and 1990 MR2 turbo, both pushing around the same sort of power, about 250, the mr2 is running 1.1 bar and the scoob just under 1 bar.
I must say although the scoob is a great drive, you can throw it around with more confidence than the 2, esp in the wet, i have to say the mr2 is quicker, its power band is lower, ie boost comes in a bout 2.5k the scoob is closer to 4.5k.
I know the imports have a bigger turbo the td05, while the uk cars have the td04 and do spool about the same.
However, i found the MR2 to feel, if not be quicker than the scoob, you get a much bigger kick in the ar$e when you boot it.
I know that if you launch a scoob properly from standing then it is silly quick, but its quite hard to do time and again, and the gearboxes do have a habit of giving up while doing it, where as the mr2 doesnt suffer so much in that respect.
I reckon, from driving both cars, if you launch absolutely right the scoob will leap infront, but you will catch it quite quickly, if not before 60 defo after, i wasnt major impressed with the 60-100 in the scoob, it wasnt slow by an imagination, but the 2 was faster to 100, and well beyond!!! After driving the mr2 for a few months, i got into the scoob and used it for a few weeks, being used to the mr2 and when its likely to bite i usually take it easy round corners, but on this occasion i went into a corner way too fast, i cr*pped myself, but it did it, and i know full well the mr2 wouldnt have.
This is my OPINION, not fact, i only go on what i have personally experienced with both cars, and i have to say i am torn between the two, the are both great in their own way.
Bottom line though, i think you will get a quicker 0-100 than your mate, and you will spend less getting there!!!
mike
go on the MR2