So, as the PSN seems to be down today, I thought I'd troll the UCD and see if I could find any of these MR2s. I found two (actually I found more, but anyway), first out of the bag is the
MR2 G Limited 97 (SC). As per the above, we only have Practise Mode to test in, so straight to it.
Regrettably, I neglected to take either of these cars out in their stock states. I did however compare them in their upgraded states, with stock and applied settings. Trial Mountain is our track for the day. The car has arrived, painted in a rather dashing Dark Purple Mica. Sitting high, I took it straight to the track, parts installed but default settings. I eased the car through the start/finish chicane, partly due to unfamiliarity with the car, partly habit. I spend a lot of time racing online, and you don't gun it through here on cold tyres..!! Anyway, crossing the line wide to the right, I get ready to haul on the anchors and turn in for the apex. The car lurches in a rather ungainly fashion, I can feel the rear wanting to step out. I lift slightly and head up the small rise looking for the next apex. Not quite flat out, the car dissects the apex nicely, crests the hill and dives heavily into the next corner. A dab on the brakes before entering and I can feel the rear starting to break again. The tiniest of lifts brings it all back under control. I'm still not pushing hard, as I know the car won't be at its best.
Through the tunnel, over the crest and into the next hard right, the car wallows about, but is reasonably controllable if you're easy with the loud pedal. As I found out on the sweeping right-hander up to the second tunnel. All of a sudden, thinking I'm through the worst of this first tricky section, I'm watching the rear of the car trying to overtake the front. I thought I had the line, my nose was tucked in, and Id eased past the apex and was on the way out. Now I'm trying to control an argument between the front and the rear of the car. An argument centred around whos the fastest and who's gonna lead the way. For the rest of the lap, and pretty much the rest of the time I drove this car like this, I felt like a parent stuck between squabbling children.
I expected the rear to dominate how this car felt, and boy does it with default settings. With some fine feathering of the throttle, I was able to enjoy a few laps eventually. If you're after a bit of waahey-tail-out action, this is you're car. Not particularly great for a fast lap though.
Time:
1:39.832
Trivial settings applied, lets get back to the track and try again. Immediately the difference is evident. The rear has been tamed, rather than being locked in a bitter dispute, its now reached an amicable agreement with the front of the car. Whereas before I'd struggle and fight all the way through a corner, now the car is able to pull me back onto the line. Sometimes from a long way off that line too. There's a broad plateau of leeway with this car, you can push it a good distance before it pushes back. Its still able to light the rears up if you go in too hot, or try to get on it unreasonably early. Carry too much speed and it'll also understeer out of fast corners. Just because this car will operate outside ideal parameters, doesn't mean you should. Treat it well and you'll be rewarded with respectable laptimes.
I hope the PSN gets sorted soon. I've half a mind to take this bad boy online and embarrass some of my mates. Mates that are running cars with a lot more power than this one. Overall, and without being able to test online, I'd rate this car highly. Stable, nimble and applies its power well.
Laptime:
1:36.413
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MR2 1600 G.
The same as before, I applied all the parts, but otherwise I left everything else as default. The fetching New Sherwood Toning coloured MR2 squawks on to the track with much glee and abandonment. Quite unlike the unhurried and unfussy way the '97 MR2 went about things, this '86 version is all crackle. As I turn into the start/finish chicane, I know I'm gong to prefer this pocket rocket.
Well, as listed in the original build doc for this car, it really does handle tremendously well with default settings. In fact it's only 1.5 sec off the '97's final time. Splendorous joy at this discovery to one side, I did begin to wonder quite what the chaps at Trivial were going to do about this.
Laptime:
1:37.918 (yep...)
Trivial settings applied, you know what's next. Heritage shows through, whilst these two cars have been built differently, and come from different decades, a broadly similar approach seems to have worked. Whilst the '86 was a fine ride with parts applied, now it's focused. Now it applies a little more effort on getting around the track, rather than shouting at everything it sees, like some demented terrier. It turns in very nicely, holds its line and pushes strongly out of corners. On some of the bumpier corners, it'll skate a tad, but it doesn't shred tyres and you'll grow to enjoy it very quickly.
Trivial have done a decent job with what was already a stonking little motor. Applying their methods, the car drives superbly.
Laptime:
1:36.459
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I could have taken both these cars faster. As I only have Practise Mode available to me at the moment, I was driving conservatively for the course. There's good time to be made up here, when you don't have to worry about clipping a curb by a fraction too much. On Race Night, I suspect both these motors will prove properly entertaining.
Whilst they are a little chalk & cheese, they've been dealt with in a similar fashion, and as the posted times reflect, they both do what I believe is a bloody good job. They'll keep pace with some 500+pp cars I have. Double thumbs up 👍👍
{Cy}
). I'm gonna hafta buy and try some of them. They were popular back in the day in the UK, but the miserable climate wasn't kind to them...
. In real life the most you can get out of the 2.2 5SFE is 170.... I had a chance to a GTS (known as a MR2 Turbo over here, no class at all) but it had been hit in the rear and needed a new back end.
