[MR2] MR2 news from Top Gear

[Aaron Bunch]

It was 1985 I think. That would have been 308QV. There is no way the MKI could have out accelerated it. Or out handled it (at higher than autocross speeds). But the Mr2 was 90% as good in performance for 1/3 or 1/4 the price. 

The place the mr2 destroys the 308 was definately the interior. A/C. Power options. Etc. 

Aaron

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 25, 2010, at 10:03 PM, "William Brandt" <wbrandt1 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

That was the inaugural issue of Automobile Magazine, which I have. In the same article David E Davis said "If the Japanese ever decide to build a supercar, God help the Italians". 

I guess I could scan the article if someone wants to host it. 

They drove an 86 MR2 and a Ferrari 308 - the MR2 came out surprisingly well. Strange comparison I know but I remember the Toyota ergonomics came out way on top. 

I thought Davis had retired - I kept subscribing to Automobile - but it is a shadow of what it was - Davis meanwhile has a column in Car and Driver I think. 

Bill

***
I vaguely remember some car mag comparing the MR2 MkI and the Ferrari
308 and saying the only thing the Ferrari had going for it was the
brand name and the engine sound, that in every other way, the MR2 came
out ahead -- including acceleration and speed, which my memory says
doesn't make any sense.  Maybe it was the supercharged version.  Been
too long and I don't remember the details at all.  On the other hand,
I also remember that my 86 had a mfg spec of 0-60 in 8 seconds, which
was good for the time, but now you can get Camrys and Accrods that
will do that.
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