Bad handling car or a scared driver...Im not sure!

[almitch1]

Hi Everyone,

I have an issue, when im out driving my MR2 i struggle to keep up with everyday cars round corners etc etc. I have only had the car a short time and have read loads of posts about ending up in ditches and snap back over steer situations so i dont know if im being to scared to drive it normally or if the car has issues at the front which makes it handle badly.

Every corner i go round im worried i will loose the back, probably just me not knowing the cars characteristics and it will come with time but i'm not sure.

What are you r thoughts etc.

Thanks

[Gaz mr-s]

Maybe a little background might help;- how old are you, how long since you passed your test, & what cars have you had before the 2?

[m1tch]

I haven't really pushed my car into corners as of yet, but I would suggest making sure that all the tyres are good and the tyre pressures are also correctly set.

Snap oversteer was mainly an issue on the mk2, although due to our cars still being mid engined its still an issue but I believe Toyota dialled the handling out to be more likely to understeer.

I am planning on booking my car into a local track day (my local track is Bedford which has HUGE run off areas) - there are also wet handling days as well - might be worth looking at those at some point so you can find the limits of the car.

I am basically taking things the same as a previous, more powerful RWD car - brake in a straight line coming up to the corner, smooth steering, don't lift throttle mid corner and only accelerate when you know you won't need to lift anymore.

How does your car handle - does it not feel planted, does it feel light or 'wobbly' - might just need some alignment done or a refresh of suspension.

[Snelbaard]

I think yours is a very sensible approach. The roads are not for racing, race tracks are. Those are also where you should seek the limits of your car and your bravery.

[1979scotte]

These cars under steer before anything else.

Tyre pressures?
Age of tyres?
Make model and size of tyres across all 4 wheels?
Date of last 4 wheel alignment?

That will do for starters.
Before we start to question the suspension or your driving ability.
They're very easy to drive tbh.

[Petrus]

Hi Everyone,

I have an issue, when im out driving my MR2 i struggle to keep up with everyday cars round corners etc etc. I have only had the car a short time and have read loads of posts about ending up in ditches and snap back over steer situations so i dont know if im being to scared to drive it normally or if the car has issues at the front which makes it handle badly.

Every corner i go round im worried i will loose the back, probably just me not knowing the cars characteristics and it will come with time but i'm not sure.

What are you r thoughts etc.

Thanks

The horror stories are basically all echos from the Mk2 by poor journalism. Even the Mk.2 was not bad btw. The only ´issue´ was that it was a mid engined car available at hot hatch price.

Any potential handling/roadholding limits of a well sorted Spyder are way, WAY beyond the level of everyday cars round corners.

After checking what Schott mentionend I suggest you find an experienced owner close to you to try if your example has an issue or whether it is simply a matter of getting accustomed to it.

[JB21]

The MR2's forte is going faster around corners than every day cars, so sounds like something maybe a miss. If the car is mechanically sound, has OE alignment specs with decent tyres it should inspire confidence to push on, even in the hands of a novice.

[almitch1]

Maybe a little background might help;- how old are you, how long since you passed your test, & what cars have you had before the 2?

I am 40, been drving for 21 years and had;
Golf gti
Audi TT
Merc cla
etc

[1979scotte]

Maybe a little background might help;- how old are you, how long since you passed your test, & what cars have you had before the 2?

I am 40, been drving for 21 years and had;
Golf gti
Audi TT
Merc cla
etc

Where in East Sussex?

Mercedes and Audis are usually pretty heavy the mr2 is pretty different to most cars.
Unless you've been driving Lotus .

[Petrus]

Where in East Sussex?

The best approach indeed.

[Dev]

The first thing I would do is get your car assessed by a local member so you can bring it to a baseline of what should be normal but in the mean time take some of the advise of air pressure adjustment and get an aligment. Diagnosing without knowing the current condition of the car is difficult to pin point the problem as its probably not you, its the car. I have assessed many owners cars in various conditions and found all kinds of significant issues the owner was not aware of and they also told me that they feared the car. 

After a baseline is established and you still feel this way just know it takes time to adjust to the handling of any car regardless of the layout but a car with a rear weight bias can be a handful at the limits.

What kind of tires are on the car now? condition?
are they a matched set? 
Check the date codes to see how old they are.

[Joesson]

@almitch1
Sorry but I checked your posts and notice that you didn't come in via the Newcomers Route. That means you weren't bombarded with the list of the most important things to check on your car.
Right up there at number 1 is tyres and pressures.
Simplest check assuming you have the OE size tyres, with a reasonable same brand on each axle / all around ( currently a point of discussion) is to check the pressures are OE as can be checked iirc on a sticker in the glove box.

[almitch1]

Maybe a little background might help;- how old are you, how long since you passed your test, & what cars have you had before the 2?

I am 40, been drving for 21 years and had;
Golf gti
Audi TT
Merc cla
etc

Where in East Sussex?

Mercedes and Audis are usually pretty heavy the mr2 is pretty different to most cars.
Unless you've been driving Lotus .

Im in Crowborough.

[Petrus]

can be a handful at the limits.

With the in this case paramount fear reducing caveat that with a well sorted OEM Spyder these limits are WAY beyond ´every day cars´.

[Topdownman]

Dont rush it. It takes time to learn what the car can do and gain confidence in it. You are right to drive to the limit of your current confidence.

As you havent had it long then there could be issues with it that you havent found yet.
These are all old cars now and say 20 years ago, cars of this age would have mostly been scrapped, not kept on the road and expected to drive as new!

Have a look on the forum for posts about poor handling to get an idea of what has come up before.

Meeting other owners is a good idea when this is possible again.

If your car is all good then I would expect it to corner better than typical cars in the dry but be slower in the wet!

[almitch1]

These cars under steer before anything else.

Tyre pressures?
Age of tyres?
Make model and size of tyres across all 4 wheels?
Date of last 4 wheel alignment?

That will do for starters.
Before we start to question the suspension or your driving ability.
They're very easy to drive tbh.

Hi my tyre pressure are 26psi front and 32 psi rears.

The tyres aren't the best i think they are cheapo's but i will get them changed soon i also have a set of the 2003 onwards alloys that i may fit to it.

I cant tell you when it las had an alignment done as the last owner didn't tell me and i have only had the car for 6 weeks.

I guess i am worries that i spend £400 on new rubber and 80 on an alignment to then find out i need to spend another large amount on suspension etc.

[shnazzle]

I've had similar situations. One thing to remember is that the Roadster's capability comes largely from its balance and the driver's ability to harness that. It's not exactly the most powerful car in the world so all of its prowess sits in its handling.
It's very "connected" to the driver.
To enable that, certain things have to be spot on. There are no electronics to help you, not at all. ABS is the only technology at your disposal. This is what a lot of people struggle with, coming from cars with ESP, TRC, etc etc. Platforms like the Golf and TT are very very electronically aided. They even have corner balancing using the brakes. A lot of people don't know this (it's called XDS). You now have your right foot and hands, and likely an limited slip differential to help keep you in line.

Tyres have to be spot on, right pressure, stick with stock sizes and a single make across all 4 tyres. Once you're comfortable you can play around a bit with that.

Suspension will be getting tired. Not sure how many miles your car has done but suspension will start to be past its best (but still absolutely driveable and safe) after 65k.
Once you get to 100k, it's definitely a case of handling being negatively impacted by the state of the shocks.

Then there's the obvious fact that it's rear wheel driven, mid-engine.
Your feeling of discomfort is likely the odd feeling of being pushed as opposed to being pulled. It feels very different on a corner.
You're doing the right thing. Get used to it slowly and slowly crank it up.

Respect the car and yourself. It won't save you, but it'll do exactly what you tell it to.

Also remember that if you're having fun with other cars on the road, they've got computers making thousands of calculations per second to keep them on the road. They are likely to be faster, as they're more powerful. The drivers can get away with murder, the car will correct it.

Once you get the hang of the 2 though... I've definitely given a Porsche Boxter a run for its money.

[Petrus]

but be slower in the wet!

Why?

[Petrus]

The tyres aren't the best i think they are cheapo's but i will get them changed soon i also have a set of the 2003 onwards alloys that i may fit to it.

Best leave the OEM sizes on for the time being.

Good premium tyres are paramont. For the most predictable/conform OEM best 4 the same all round.

[Petrus]

Once you get the hang of the 2 though... I've definitely given a Porsche Boxter a run for its money.

Oh dear, proper driving does not include such Patrick :-)

This itsybitsy spyder is as you say very connected with the driver and the feed back together with the balance means it cán be driven like preciously few other cars.

Again as you write this can be a challenge in these days of a plethora of driver correcting electronics.

This car should imo be seen as a wonderful classic car.

Back to the OP though, as was pointed out it is a 20 y.o. car and may have ánything worn out leading to indeed weird behavior.

[almitch1]

Ok, I really appreciate your help and advice on this.

I have just had a look at the wheels and tyres in more detail and it seems that mine are all over the shop. I have 195/55.15 on all 4 corners and the alloys are after market so from what i can see there rear alloys are that same width as the fronts.

From what i understand the fronts should be 6 and the rears 6.5? Would i be better off putting the 2004 mr2 mk3 alloys on it and getting new tyres for them?

Looks like i might ,e getting somewhere... Thanks again and more advice is greatly received.

Alan

[1979scotte]

Ok, I really appreciate your help and advice on this.

I have just had a look at the wheels and tyres in more detail and it seems that mine are all over the shop. I have 195/55.15 on all 4 corners and the alloys are after market so from what i can see there rear alloys are that same width as the fronts.

From what i understand the fronts should be 6 and the rears 6.5? Would i be better off putting the 2004 mr2 mk3 alloys on it and getting new tyres for them?

Looks like i might ,e getting somewhere... Thanks again and more advice is greatly received.

Alan

A square setup of all 195 could make it twitchy.
Use the set of FL ( face lift 2003 on ) alloys you have and get something half decent on them.
Aftermarket wheels on these cars are imho for the most part rubbish especially if over 16".

Crowborough is 45 mins from me.

[Petrus]

On a side note:

Being 40 means at max having a drivers license for 22.
That is neither young nor inexperienced yet this was when the Spyder´s design was already finalised.

The MR2 mk3 is an even for 20th C. specs. pretty basic sports cabrio.

If you´d prepare one for the unpaved you could enter an early one in the Dakar Classis class...

By Jóve how time flies :-O

[Petrus]

From what i understand the fronts should be 6 and the rears 6.5? Would i be better off putting the 2004 mr2 mk3 alloys on it and getting new tyres for them?

Yes, a whole LOT!
OEM spec rubber.

[1979scotte]

On a side note:

Being 40 means at max having a drivers license for 22.
That is neither young nor inexperienced yet this was when the Spyder´s design was already finalised.

The MR2 mk3 is an even for 20th C. specs. pretty basic sports cabrio.

If you´d prepare one for the unpaved you could enter an early one in the Dakar Classis class...

By Jóve how time flies :-O

Do they allow supercharged V6s?