[MR2] MR2 news from Top Gear

[William Brandt]

The article didn't say the MR2 out performed it - saying that in one respect 
it wasn't a straight comparison - but in driving pleasure, ergonomics etc 
they said it was a real competitor. The magazine under David E Davis was 
great - holding "no cows sacred". He drove each car about a week.

I have always felt about my MR2 that it is 90% as fun to drive as a car 
costing a lot more - like a 911 - at about 10% the operating cost.

I'll be glad to scan it if people want to read the article.

Bill
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Aaron Bunch" <nitrusmr2 at yahoo.com>
To: "William Brandt" <wbrandt1 at sbcglobal.net>
Cc: "MR2 List" <mr2 at mr2.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 6:57 AM
Subject: Re: [MR2] MR2 news from Top Gear


> 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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