Originally posted by big A
Thanks to all the mr2 guys that are giving me advice. 
I'm laughing at all the MR2 guys that think a turbo Mk2 is a good idea for a first car.
He WILL lose control of it within the first 6 months he has it. With any luck he won't hurt anything or anyone, but it will happen, probably more than once. They have WAY to much power and not enough warning before they come around for a first-time driver. You're the only one who can accurately assess your son's driving ability and maturity (maybe - let's face it, most parents think their kids are really good at whatever they do whether they really are or not), but for the LARGE majority, but I propose you ask these questions before you get it: Will he try to peel out of a parking lot into traffic to show off? Does he like to go around corners quickly on the street? Will his friends try convince him to do something stupid that on his own he would recognize as such? Any of these are a recipe for disaster in a new driver in a high-performance car. Yes, that IS a high-performance car. It's in the same SCCA car class as the Porsche 911, BMW M3, Mercedes SLK, and Ferrari 308 and 328.
MR2s just aren't forgiving enough for a new driver. The thing that makes them so much fun is also the thing that makes them dangerous. They will hold a corner far better than many other vehicles and nearly all others in that price range. Thing is, when the tires DO let go there's almost no warning and because of the rearward weight bias, it takes considerable skill to save it if it's possible at all. A new driver almost never has the maturity or experience to know when that will be.
Now, I'm not saying not to get him an MR2. Just not a turbo(GT-S) one. The 30 HP and 50lb/ft difference calms the car down. If you ask me, the ideal car there would be an N/A mk1 form the late 80s with only about 100HP by now, but good luck finding one in nice condition that runs well. They're just too old.
If you decide to get it, do him a favour and get him into some sort of autocross. I don't know where it will happen now that Race City is closed, but with the space required for the track, I'm sure they (Calgary Sports Car Club, I think) will be able to find somewhere by spring. That will give him both the opportunity to get the crazy driving out of his system and to learn control in a safe environment, all for a minimal investment (a helmet).
Last edited by Silverfire9; 11-28-2011 at 06:14 PM.
The worst race live is better than the best race on TV.
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car and oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you take the wall with you."
"Oversteer is best because you don't see the tree that kills you."
-- Richard Hammond, Top Gear - S2, Ep.5
Quote
Originally Posted by Disoblige
not a single option missing including infrared night driving
