Hi roadster people i am waiting for my sable 2003 mr2 to come in 7 weeks time, i could not wait to drive it so the nice salesman at toyota gave me their demo car for the day. What fun i had it really is a great car, two questions i have:One the front end felt very loose and broke traction easily when whsn driven sportily round a roundabout:Two can the drivers side interior door handle be removed as at 6ft4" leg space is cramped and this would make a lot of difference. Thanks. s:?: :?: s:?:
Quote from: "petal_skipraider"One the front end felt very loose and broke traction easily when whsn driven sportily round a roundabout
I'd suspect that the front tyres must have been on the way out as front end grip is awesome on mine!
Quote from: "petal_skipraider"Two can the drivers side interior door handle be removed as at 6ft4" leg space is cramped and this would make a lot of difference.
It can be removed fairly easily, not sure what it's look like without it though, and closing the door might be tricky!
--H--
I think also tyre pressures can make a big difference to grip, particularly at the front. and if my dealer is anything to go by they rarely get the pressures right. Quality.
J
Do i have to remove the doorcard as that looks involved? I asked mr t if they do any blanking plates he is yot to come back to me.
door cards removed and then simply remove the metal bars ( which are palstic s:oops: :oops: s:oops: ). Removing the bars will be a bit fibbaly but im sure they will pop out somehow. As for cover paltes if Mr T dont do them then go and by a sheet of plastic the same colour and textrue as the surrounding plastic and cut out the shape you need easy to do and proboly cheaper than Mr T to s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Can you put the 16" rears up front this could make it stick? Or i guess it would rub?
Tyre pressure is probably to blame.
I kinda thought the same after I got my wheel replaced under warranty. The car didn't seem to want to go round corners that well and had a really stiff ride. I checked the pressures this weekend and Mr T had blown the rears AND the fronts to 36lb/in!!! Reduced the pressure down and now the front garbs like a dog at a bone!
How can the bloody dealer get it SOOOO wrong?........If it was a demo car, I wouldn't be suprised if this was the case with it. High pressures. They do that to stop flat spots whilst the car is standing and obviously forget to reduce them.
Be careful when you get your car. Fronts 26lb/in and rears 32lb/in. Check them there and then when you pick it up.
I agree with Hardcore and JimBob - take a look at the front tyresor check the pressure. My '2 will handle 'funny' if the pressures are off, plus the fronts on mine are wearing on the inside shoulder - so mine is starting to understeer quite badly now.
Also, it's worth remembering that any rear-drive car will understeer out of a corner if you get on the gas too early - you just end up pushing the front wheels across the tread, instead of allowing them to grip and turn the car. In fact that's probably another reason why the inside shoulders on mine are worn s:wink: :wink: s:wink: . The trick is to carry the speed into the corner/roundabout, then play with the throttle to find the grip. A **Slight** lift will load up the fronts and help them grip at the apex, or you can trail brake into the corner to keep the weight on the front tyres a bit more. Be aware that a big lift off the gas or stamping on the brake while turning in will also unload the rears, and that will make them overtake the front of the car - and you will go straight to the scene of the accident. Come to think of it, while writing this I've remembered that the best thing about the '2 is the level of communication from the car while driving - I've had mine comment on my drive at as little as 20mph! Listening to this feedback and djusting your driving to suit will help you get the best from it.
have fun
filcee
Think ill have to adjust my driving twek-nique i can feel some track days comin on!!
just be careful in the wet on crap roads or you will end up like me! s:oops: :oops: s:oops: s:cry: :cry: s:cry:
Quote from: "filcee"A **Slight** lift will load up the fronts and help them grip at the apex, or you can trail brake into the corner to keep the weight on the front tyres a bit more. Be aware that a big lift off the gas or stamping on the brake while turning in will also unload the rears, and that will make them overtake the front of the car - and you will go straight to the scene of the accident.
Did I say lift? DON'T - you will get a warning from the car - I tried it this lunchtime, and had to make a small correction. Thankfully it's a dry day where I am. I think it's more of a hesitation as you accelerate, as in you're pressing the pedal down gradually then pause slightly in the progression before picking up again. This allows the car to settle forwards, instead of leaning on the back wheels as the power goes down.
On second thoughts - perhaps you're better off not taking any notice of me s:oops: :oops: s:oops: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Enjoy the car when you get it!
filcee
Quote from: "filcee"Did I say lift? DON'T - you will get a warning from the car - I tried it this lunchtime, and had to make a small correction. Thankfully it's a dry day where I am. I think it's more of a hesitation as you accelerate, as in you're pressing the pedal down gradually then pause slightly in the progression before picking up again. This allows the car to settle forwards, instead of leaning on the back wheels as the power goes down.
On second thoughts - perhaps you're better off not taking any notice of me s:oops: :oops: s:oops: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Enjoy the car when you get it!
filcee
Ive had power-off oversteer too in my manual - so no traction to sort it out for me... was in the wet though, but very unexpected when the back started to go! s:shock: :shock: s:shock:
Are you used to driving a rear wheel drive, I had the same thought when I test drove mine that the front end felt very light, it soon goes off!
Tyre pressures? When I picked my car up it handled terribly - all four tyres were set to.... 50psi s:shock: :shock: s:shock: s:shock: :shock: s:shock:
Dealers eh, don't you just love them! s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
The front will also push if you don't give it enough right foot at the apex!
Quote from: "krisclarkuk
Ive had power-off oversteer too in my manual - so no traction to sort it out for me... was in the wet though, but very unexpected when the back started to go! s:shock: :shock: s:shock: [/quoteNo traction in my 5sp SMT either - I've known it lock the rears on a downshift if I have got my foot over the brake pedal but forgotten to apply the brakes properly to get the speed down. Sudden, large, engine braking is engaged 'cos the throttle is effectively closed even though road and engine speed are being matched by the SMT 'box. s:shock: :shock: s:shock:
Managed to never achieve this whilst cornering (so far s:wink: :wink: s:wink: )
Im afraid to say that i have been a front wheel drive person of late, the last rwd car was a granada 2.8 a couple of years back and funny enugh i parked that into a brick wall in the wet s:shock: :shock: s:shock: ill take this one real careful and check my tyre pressures as it seems the dealer cant. Is anyone doing the top gear survey maybe this dealer over look should be brought up,name and shame(but dont say anything alse bad as 2nd hand values could drop?)
replying to an old post but hopefully someone will still pick it up :-) :-) :-)
having only had an MR2 for about a week or so I am still getting used to it but tend to find that on straights when decelerating say on a motorway from about 80 back down to 65-70 I tend to loose traction on the front and the car appears to sway from side to side requiring quite tight control of the steering wheel to bring it back in line.
I have also found that by accelerating slightly again it seems to pull it back straight.
It only seems to happen at about 65 - 70 decelerating but can be a bit nerving !
I checked the tyre pressures a week ago (just after picking up the car) and they were 26 front and 32 back.
Any ideas ?
Thanks
Léon
Well the pressures are OK, and I can't say I have ever experienced this with mine, so I really don't know what would be causing this. s:? :? s:?
Hmmm.. not much help from me, but I'm sure some of the others will have some bright ideas... and welcome to the group - enjoy the car s:D :D s:D
You're not the only ones to have noticed the high speed instability of the Spyder. I've had the same problem when decelerating down from about 80. You have to remember a couple of things.
1) The car is very light. At 976kg it's about 120kilos lighter than the nearest competitor.
2) It's a RWD Mid Engined car. Cars with this set up need RESPECT
3) It's got an endemic problem with high speed aero's.
I've been checking the issue out (Spyderchat and EVO mag), and it would appear that going to the TTE Coils (or Eibach if you prefer) really sorts this out quite nicely. However, lifting off in a corner, or at speed, is ALWAYS going to de-stabilise a mid ship car I'm afraid.
I've driven a few different mid engined cars, and it even happens in the 360 Modena!
I've only found this sort of thing when braking very hard from high speeds. The car tends to have a mind of it's own when I do that.
Phil, me too.
I didnt want to say anything in case I was driver error. s:oops: :oops: s:oops:
I know feel exonorated. My '2 seems to want to go from side to side under heavy braking at speed.
However just had £30k service and front tyres are still originals and drivers side was described as racing slick. Something about Mr T could not find enough inner edge tread to enter a reading on the sheet. This is NOT big or clever. Have arranged to put on a new set tomorrow.
So in fairness this could have something to do with it as well...
Do springs make a big difference?
I'm by no means an expert. I've only had the 2 for 4500 miles. But I've been doing some research and it looks as if I'm not the only one to experience a bit of high speed instability when cornering or braking.
The only way to describe it is that everything gets 'lose', and the car starts to jiggle and bump across transverse ridges or road imperfections. I know it's not big OR clever to take high speed corners and 70, but I'd expect the 2 to handle as well as my friends older MGF s:-( :-( s:-(
Anyway, according to EVO mag and SpyderChat, a good fix for this is the firmer, lower springs. Cuts the flow of air under the car at high speeds, make the car more surefooted through high speed corners, and stops the cars 'distracting' weigth transfer in high speed braking :-) :-) :-) So that'll be my second mod then...
Interesting. My tyres are fine (checked a few times), so it's not that, and it's only done 12K miles, and had it's service a few weeks ago.
I suspect it's a few things:
1) The placement of the engine adding a little pendulum/lift effect when the car sinks forward as you brake hard (in effect, as you brake the car front dips, the engine and rear lifts a little, and so the backend goes light... I guess high speed could exagerate this).
2) The car's extra responsive steering/chassis following the ridges in the road.
3) The steering reacting to me moving slightly as I brake hard.
That said I've found the braking sway effect is variable. I've not had to brake hard very often but most of the time it's very sure-footed. There's just the odd times where it's scared me, as it's started to sway.
Quote from: "ScouserDave"However just had £30k service and front tyres are still originals and drivers side was described as racing slick.
s:!: :!: s:!: Is that a record? I get through a full set in less than 10K miles!
Quote from: "mph"Quote from: "ScouserDave"However just had £30k service and front tyres are still originals and drivers side was described as racing slick.
s:!: :!: s:!: Is that a record? I get through a full set in less than 10K miles!
My front's lasted about 18,000, which I thought was well impressive!
Dave must drive like a bird!
s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
(No offence intended to our female contingent BTW! s:D :D s:D )
--H--
Hardcore(No offence intended to our female contingent BTW! s:D :D s:D )
I think I am the female contingent - and none taken...you men!! s:roll: :roll: s:roll:
Quote from: "Liz"Quote from: "Hardcore"(No offence intended to our female contingent BTW! s:D :D s:D )
--H--
I think I am the female contingent - and none taken!! s:roll: :roll: s:roll:
Well I thought you were, and I knew you wouldn't!
s:D :D s:D
--H--
Quote from: "mph"Quote from: "ScouserDave"However just had £30k service and front tyres are still originals and drivers side was described as racing slick.
s:!: :!: s:!: Is that a record? I get through a full set in less than 10K miles!
£30k for a service, I know MrT is expensive but s:shock: :shock: s:shock:
s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Simon
Oy! Hardcore less of the :
"Dave must drive like a bird! " comments..
Dont understand why the fronts went on so long 'cause my backs are certainly way down after 10k with replacement by 15k at the latest. Obviously its rear wheel drive and all that. I guess I do a lot of A14/Motorway driving so not as much action for the fronts given the mileage?
Anyway. New all round set of Toyo Proxes (on forum recommendation)on Thursday for £240 which has
(i) made my '2 feel like new again: surefooted cornering, braking on a dime etc..... I think my braking problems where down to low tread/over inflated fronts. Have dropped the new ones down from 30psi (from garage) to 25psi and the whole thing is magic.
(ii) contibuted to my sunburnt condition this evening!! This weekend was really what roadsters are made for!
Quote from: "mph"s:!: :!: s:!: Is that a record? I get through a full set in less than 10K miles!
4000 miles... s:oops: :oops: s:oops:
I am not going to say a think about "someones" front tread...or lack of who was present at the sunday meeting.
You know who you are, and you should be ashamed s:oops: :oops: s:oops:
i get fine front end grip IN THE DRY slicks are lovely LOL
In the wet its a different kettle of fish LOL s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
ScouserDave wrote:QuoteAnyway. New all round set of Toyo Proxes (on forum recommendation)on Thursday for £240
Dave!!!!!
I have noticed that you are in the Cambridge area (I used to live there a couple of years ago and now in Newmarket......) and I too was thinking of getting the Toyo's for mine soon on the recommendation of Hardcore and a few other.......
BUT....
£240 is a good price!!! Where did you get them from and are they local (i.e. somewhere in the Camb/N'market area)? If so, can you let me know please cos I would like some too!
Cheers matey!
I used a small chain called Kingsway Tyres.
These are in St Andrews Road Cambridge (behind the new appartments/development at Queen Edith Way Bridge. Tel 01223 352002.
I think they have a number of branches in the East Anglia and the East Midlands area, but I think Cambridge is the nearest to Newmarket. A14/A10 would be they way I'd go. I ordered them one afternoon and they were there by lunchtime the next day. ps cost included fitting/balancing/new valve. Front £57.96 each and Back £58.65.
Not an advertisement, but hey if someone is prepared to do a good deal, we might as well all benefit! s:) :) s:)
Cheers Dave. I do know where you mean and I will check them out. Sounds like it IS a good deal. I will say I was recommended....... s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
I take it as you had to order them in, they don't stock them? Mind you, one day isn't a big deal is it?.......
Thanks mate. That could be a big help!
s:D :D s:D
Dave,
One more thing. It was the T1-S's you got and not the T1-Plus from the Performance/Premium range wasn't it? I have just had a look at the Toyo website and there is another range of Proxes, which is a bit comfusing really. There is the Ultra High Performace T1-S's and I couldn't remember which ones they were, so I thought I would have a look. Now I am a bit confused...... s:? :? s:?
Hope it WAS the T1-S's. Don't want to get TOO much more expensive..... s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
John,
Yep. They are the T1-S and look absolutely mean. Hasnt rained yet, but I reckon they are as good as the Yokos in the dry for road use (couldnt comment on track) and I've heard that they are much better in the wet.
I found that I was going to have to order from most places for '2 sized performance tyres but again its all done on 24 hour basis so you just phone up the day before.
Ok, nice one Dave. I just thought I would check, just in case and for my own piece of mind cos I am crap!!!
The Toyo's DO look mean (I like that they look a bit like a slightly chinkier Goodyear F1, which look wicked anyway), but you are on eof a load of people who reckon they are the dogs, so I will be more than willing to give them a try!!!
Cheers for the info Dave. Much appreciated!
s:D :D s:D
Just catching up but I thought my $0.02 might be of interest. My local fitter will do me 4 Toyo Proxes T1-S, fitted, including VAT for about £200 so shop about.
Toyos are great value for money.
--H--
Finally then.
So are we having a general agreement that the Toyo Proxes T1-S are probably the best all round tyres then?...and one of the better ones for the wet!.
...will they fit on the 03 rears?
Duplicate post...sorry
Quote from: "Hardcore"Just catching up but I thought my $0.02 might be of interest. My local fitter will do me 4 Toyo Proxes T1-S, fitted, including VAT for about £200 so shop about.
Toyos are great value for money.
--H--
I'd certainly agree with that... phone for a price at one place... knock a bit off when you ring the next and they ask for your best price so far... and repeat until you can't get any lower.
Even so, £200 for a full set sounds like a steal!
Quote from: "cstevens"Finally then.
...will they fit on the 03 rears?
No, already emailed toyo and they dont plan to make them in our rear wheel size.... looks like we will have to look for another make!
poo s:( :( s:(
03 owners look no further than Yokohama Advan Neova LTS. The daddy of road/track tyres. The more I use them the more I'm impressed. They're goon/grip/wear-tastic. I only wish they did them in 13" 185x60 for the Westie, they'd be perfect for it.
Road use only however you'd probably be better off with Bridgestones.
On Mytyres.net this is all they give us for the rears.....
Pirelli *** P 7000
215/45 ZR16 86W
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 95,20
Yokohama *** A043
215/45 R16 86ZR RPB
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 103,70
Pirelli P 7000
215/45 R16 ZR
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 103,90
Michelin *** Pilot SPORT
215/45 ZR16 86Y Rim-protection,
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 113,10
Yokohama *** A022
215/45 ZR16 ZR H0, right und left
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 162,60
Not the best selection is it! s:shock: :shock: s:shock: (and look at the prices!)
This was half the reason I wasn't too depressed when I got a 2002, rather an a 2003 '2. 'cause the rear tyres are about half the price.
Quote from: "phil4"This was half the reason I wasn't too depressed when I got a 2002, rather an a 2003 '2. 'cause the rear tyres are about half the price.
Yet another thing they dont tell you when you buy the car! s:evil: :evil: s:evil:
Yeah, but we have got a fisher price radio...how jealous are you guys s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Quote from: "krisclarkuk"Yet another thing they dont tell you when you buy the car! s:evil: :evil: s:evil:
Since when have you ever known a car salesman to be honest about the problems of a car? s:? :? s:?
Quote from: "phil4"Since when have you ever known a car salesman to be honest about the problems of a car? s:? :? s:?
good point! s:o :o s:o
YokoNovas are £400 for a full set currently from BookaTrack (just ask Jonny for YokoNovas in Elise sizes, the same as those quoted below IIRC).
In 195x55 15" front 225x45 16" rear (cheaper than 185/215's), the ultra pikey among us can fit Firestone Firehawks which really aren't that bad for £326 for a set.
A set of Yoko A539's is £395 which when you consider the offer price of £400 on the YokoNovas, kinda rules them out straight away as the Novas are far superior.
FWIW the wheel tyre sizes on the 03 works incredibly well. Very balanced and a doddle to catch when you push too hard. Wheels/tyres (now)/suspension/brakes are all areas that I am more than happy with as standard on the car.
One thing to note about tyres on the 2 is that the stock Bridgestone RE040s are very light in comparison to many other tyres that could be fitted. The MR2 chassis setup is tuned specifically to take advantage of this particular tyre's lighter weight so when replacing tyres just remeber that if you're not going for the same again, the handling may suffer.
I have the Toyo Proxes T1-S since the car was new. They were fitted onto my 16" alloys by the dealer. Now after 2 years (summer only use) I need new tyres and here they are hard to find.
My MRT can get them but Ive not found anywhere else.
I find the Toyo Proxes T1-S are super in the dry, but Im not so sure about the wet. I dont push the car so hard, but I have had the back fishtail in the wet especially when coming out of junctions.
With this in mind, what are the other options?
I dont like the Yoko A539 (I think it was Yoko) as all reports have said they are bad in the wet. Local dealers are pushing Dunlop at me as well as Fulda, Continental and Avon. My Winter tyres are Pirrelli.
Not an easy task tyres!
Suggestions welcome.
(http://www.mr2-roadster.de/images/Smile/girlbum.gif)
Quote from: "krisclarkuk"On Mytyres.net this is all they give us for the rears.....
Pirelli *** P 7000
215/45 ZR16 86W
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 95,20
Yokohama *** A043
215/45 R16 86ZR RPB
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 103,70
Pirelli P 7000
215/45 R16 ZR
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 103,90
Michelin *** Pilot SPORT
215/45 ZR16 86Y Rim-protection,
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 113,10
Yokohama *** A022
215/45 ZR16 ZR H0, right und left
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 162,60
Not the best selection is it! s:shock: :shock: s:shock: (and look at the prices!)
Mytyres.net just added the Michelin Pilot Sport for £113,70 to suit the '03 rears.
Quote from: "stevej"Quote from: "krisclarkuk"On Mytyres.net this is all they give us for the rears.....
Pirelli *** P 7000
215/45 ZR16 86W
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 95,20
Yokohama *** A043
215/45 R16 86ZR RPB
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 103,70
Pirelli P 7000
215/45 R16 ZR
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 103,90
Michelin *** Pilot SPORT
215/45 ZR16 86Y Rim-protection,
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 113,10
Yokohama *** A022
215/45 ZR16 ZR H0, right und left
Summer tyres
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 162,60
Not the best selection is it! s:shock: :shock: s:shock: (and look at the prices!)
Mytyres.net just added the Michelin Pilot Sport for £113,70 to suit the '03 rears.
Steve, they were already on my list you quoted... god, this 'no roadster' time for you is hitting you harder than i thought! s:wink: :wink: s:wink: s:wink: :wink: s:wink: