my former love

[Apache]

Weren't they Mid engined? I always thought that was what the M in MR2 was for?

Yep.

[goodcat]

Weren't they Mid engined? I always thought that was what the M in MR2 was for?

yes technically they wer mid engined but arguably they were closer to the rear than they were to the middle.
what would i do with out you Albannach.

[Pine12]

i like my Jap cars and bikes. cant stand kids in their novas, xr3's etc etc. those cars are shit. spending ££££ on them WONT make them any nicer! infact they look even worse than before! lol

Kids have to start somewhere and we not all had the luxury of being able to afford high spec off the shelf jap motors. Don't get me wrong i like all cars and i have turned my nose up at many a Nova, etc. But then i remember my 2 mk4 cortinas!

I also had XR2 with gas flowed head high lift cam, twin 40 DCNF's with velocity stacks and K&N air filters, spax adjustable suspension and 140 BHP at the fly wheel! Then went on to have opel manta, XR3i and 2.8 sierra (built by me), Bay window VW camper, raft of sensible family cars and now 1 surf, 1 zafira, 325 BMW Convertible with SMG box and a ford galaxy!

[goodcat]

The Mk2 was a 'softer' hairdressers car.

er no it wasnt you cheeky git! only the early MK 2's were hairdressers cars! they had no power and looked shit from poor paint jobs. the rev 3 and newer ones are aswsoe cars. a lot more modern, faster and more reliable. apart from the latest revision MR2 of course. it went back to a hairdressers car then
the MR2 MK 2 did get a bad rep but ONLY from unclued people who know nothing about them. and it didnt help its reputation when 9/10 MK 2's were the older shitty ones. you only ever see the old shiiters rather than say a rev 4 or 5 on a 1999 plate. they really are VERY good cars. bullet proof!

[BUSHWHACKER]

Possible GT4 comeback?
http://www.caradvice.com.au/12114/su...eting-dilemma/

[goodcat]

Kids have to start somewhere and we not all had the luxury of being able to afford high spec off the shelf jap motors. Don't get me wrong i like all cars and i have turned my nose up at many a Nova, etc. But then i remember my 2 mk4 cortinas!

I also had XR2 with gas flowed head high lift cam, twin 40 DCNF's with velocity stacks and K&N air filters, spax adjustable suspension and 140 BHP at the fly wheel! Then went on to have opel manta, XR3i and 2.8 sierra (built by me), Bay window VW camper, raft of sensible family cars and now 1 surf, 1 zafira, 325 BMW Convertible with SMG box and a ford galaxy!

not sure what that was meant to mean? i spent 2 years SAVING up £6000 to buy the car when i was 21 and then took a £5000 LOAN to pay for the work and wheels etc etc.

and i have a dirty confession to make.................i also had an XR2. BUT it was the RS 1800 and i only bought it coz it was cheap but more importantly, Rare!

[goodcat]

also (this is just my opinion) one of the few exceptions id make to all those old "hot hatches" is for the Pug 205 GTi. awsome little car! i miss her dearly too. handled like she was on rails.

[Apache]

er no it wasnt you cheeky git! only the early MK 2's were hairdressers cars! they had no power and looked shit from poor paint jobs. the rev 3 and newer ones are aswsoe cars. a lot more modern, faster and more reliable. apart from the latest revision MR2 of course. it went back to a hairdressers car then
the MR2 MK 2 did get a bad rep but ONLY from unclued people who know nothing about them. and it didnt help its reputation when 9/10 MK 2's were the older shitty ones. you only ever see the old shiiters rather than say a rev 4 or 5 on a 1999 plate. they really are VERY good cars. bullet proof!

Funny that. People in the know (I know cars are a bit subjective) such as people who review cars for a living reckon the Mk2 was a bit of a blip. A fat, lard ass of a car to break in to the american market. Aimed squarely at middle aged women. The turbo was added to try to pull in Mk1 owners, but only really succeeded in Japan.

Never driven one, but said people reckon the Mk3 was a return to the smaller, lighter philosophy of the Mk1. Sadly, there'll never be one as 'pure' a driving machine as the Mk1 as everything has to have a squillion airbags, automatic anti-crash braking systems, computerised anti-fun suspension etc etc - like most jap shitboxes these days.

And to the other poster, yeah, I'd have a well sorted Mk1 Escort over a Microsoft Skyline XP any day!

[Apache]

also (this is just my opinion) one of the few exceptions id make to all those old "hot hatches" is for the Pug 205 GTi. awsome little car! i miss her dearly too. handled like she was on rails.

Now I agree with you there!

Pity so many w*nkers thought they could improve on what was PERFECT styling by lowering, sticking on plastic shite and 17" wheels, thus ruining one of the very few good French cars

[Pine12]

Surely another exception would have to be the Golf GTI? Worst 'hot hatch' i drove was the first Astra 16v. Torque steer was unbelievable!

I never saw the RS 1800 XR2, although i think there is currently one for sale on piston heads.

[goodcat]

Now I agree with you there!

Pity so many w*nkers thought they could improve on what was PERFECT styling by lowering, sticking on plastic shite and 17" wheels, thus ruining one of the very few good French cars

spot on mate! mine was bog standard and she was a beauty.
they are like gold dust now. only place you can buy a good one is from a company called "just gti's" their website i think is justgtis.co.uk ?
they fully refurb and rebuild them and they sell between £2000 and £4500!!!! lol but they are mint!

back to the MR2....this was probably because there was so much compition from other 4 door jap cars??
i suppose a lot of it is just my personall opinion but ive never knew anyone who drove my REV 3 MK 2 and didnt love it.
i cant see how people can argue with a car that had a proper eather interior and gorgeous dash/cockpit, bullet proof mechanics (bar the clutches), a T-BAR roof, an engine behind your head and rear wheel drive. i thought it was an aswome combo.
IMO

[goodcat]

Surely another exception would have to be the Golf GTI? Worst 'hot hatch' i drove was the first Astra 16v. Torque steer was unbelievable!

I never saw the RS 1800 XR2, although i think there is currently one for sale on piston heads.

i know what you mean about the torque steer! you could even see them twitching like mad when you saw someone rag it past you lol

[Apache]

i suppose a lot of it is just my personall opinion but ive never knew anyone who drove my REV 3 MK 2 and didnt love it.IMO

Not saying it was rubbish - my mate's was VERY fast, but didn't have the seat of the pants raw communication that the Mk1 did.

[Apache]

i know what you mean about the torque steer! you could even see them twitching like mad when you saw someone rag it past you lol

My CRX VTEC was like that. Two hands on the wheel when you booted it, or you'd be through a hedge! Great car though!

[Pine12]

The astra was actually my mates company car. He had it a couple of months before burying throttle one night whilst trying to negotiate a bend, car went straight on and ended up in a field!