As a cheaper, economy n/a owner I just want to know what the big deal with tubby MR2's are?

My n/a just seems much quicker, not been on the open road, but round town it just seems to pull better (jimlad might want to confirm this if he isnt killing kids with his gun).

Is the tubby all about straight line times then?

Doesnt the 'pssssssssssst' get a bit boring?



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**JappyBeast lost in the world of his n/a**






Seriously... what are the pro's of having a tubby over an n/a? They seem to be very different cars.

**My n/a just seems much quicker, not been on the open road, but round town it just seems to pull better **

You must be racing Turbo look-a-likes. Or very poorly tubbies.

I have had many run ins with N/A's and I just blow them away. Round corners its faily equal. But from the line to 1/4 they dont come close. Even to about 50mph I am always still 1 sec infront.

If you were to put a tubby and an N/A round a track, my money would go on a tubby all the time, it would be close.

Now in a straight line drag, there is no competition, Tubby will always get to 1/4 3/4 secs quicker than an N/A (if both drivers get good starts that it.

Remember N/A 170 HP and 170 lbs or torque

REV 1/2 spec tubby 220 BHP 225 lbs of torque, just no competition!!!

and then theres the rev 3 tubby with at least 245bhp and 240(?) lbs of torque, many of which are more than that stock.

Agreed around bends or on a track there wouldnt be much in it, and maybe even a NA would be easier to control due to the lack of "boost kick" when your exiting a corner. In a straight line the tubby will eat the road up.

For me its not so much the pssstccch but its the sssssssssssfffffffssshhhhhhh of the turbo spooling up...its music to the ears. Follow that by a hard kick in the butt, and the grin on your face is reason enough to like a tubby more.

**My n/a just seems much quicker, not been on the open road, but round town it just seems to pull better **

understandable to about 2300rpm since the 3SGTE user lower compression pistons than the 3SGE and hence has less torque up to about that mark, even my dads Carina 1.6E feels like it pulls harder for the first couple of seconds...but once the turbo kicks in though theres no question of whos pulling more torque

Another thing that persuaded me to get a tubby instead of a NA is the value for money of mods. Tubbys are a lot easier to mod and you can get 300bhp just off stock internals. Most mods would give a higher hp benefit than they would on an NA (except for an air intake)

And goddammit owning a tubby at 21 when im still supposed to be a broke student just makes my day

i think i will wait for a couple more N/A comments to keeps things in the balence as i dont want to kill the argument off just yet...

OK... Jappy is getting this impression due to the fact that it was soon after I crashed my car and for that reason I was being very carefull.

Tubbys all the way baby !

Also Japp... my car is now putting out 275bhp and 275 ft/lb torque baby ! Yeah !

Well there is an obv difference, and after my first drive in a tubby last week, I know the difference felt when your foot hits the go pedal. However I disagree with the track comment, most people say that N/A's are better round the track and I agree, as I can see the tubby cornering issues.

I love my N/A, and thats enough power for day to day stuff, but I wouldnt say no to a bit more go, so I can really blast those posers at the lights!
I stick up for the N/A as a great car butn ot denying the power difference.

Erm .. I can actually beat a Focus RS .. something an NA can't do ..

I knew Bibbs would be around soon....

My reasons for taking an N/A:

1) I don't want to kill myself... I didn't think I had enough driving experience to be able to handle a tubby.
2) Insurance. Being 23 with 0NCB is a real . Just want to build up some no claims in a quality car.
3) Cost. Not only in petrol but also when the turbo goes wrong. Have heard loads of stories about the turbo going wrong and the cost of getting it sorted.

Having said all that, I know at some point I would love to own a tubby. I love the noises they make and the performance. Maybe in a few years when I have built up no claims and am a bit older.....

[quote name='TheKipster' date='May 13 2004, 10:27 AM'] My reasons for taking an N/A:

1) I don't want to kill myself... I didn't think I had enough driving experience to be able to handle a tubby.
2) Insurance. Being 23 with 0NCB is a real . Just want to build up some no claims in a quality car.
3) Cost. Not only in petrol but also when the turbo goes wrong. Have heard loads of stories about the turbo going wrong and the cost of getting it sorted.

Having said all that, I know at some point I would love to own a tubby. I love the noises they make and the performance. Maybe in a few years when I have built up no claims and am a bit older..... [/quote]
sensible ideas mate... I'm 24, 0ncb and my isurance is mad. Will get even madder near renewal time.

jappy,................................................................................

NO!

I was looking at getting a tubby until I realised that the insurance would be the same for a Supra then I decided that the insurance on either of them was too high (getting insured when you live in Bristol is expensive!). So when I move or my insurance goes down I'm selling the 2 and getting a supra (turbo of course)!

Insurance for a Tubby the Same as a Supra TT ??... where ????


Jappy... and as DJ_Davo said.... NO!

Well, not exactly the same, the Supra TT was about £150 more expensive then the MR2 tubby, either way it would have been about £1500, got a quote from a few places at around this price.

NA's are nice cars .. but it's a bit of a sheep in wolfs clothing ..
Where a Tubby is a wolf in wolf's clothing ..

When I went from my Rev1 NA to my Rev2 tubby I described the transition as :

[quote]sending the girlfriend away in her slob tracksuit, and getting her comming back a stone lighter, with a boob job and dressed as a school girl [/quote]

I just wanted the best mr2 I could get, so got a rev5 turbo.

I owned a Rev3 N/A and have driven a Rev3 tubby.

The cost differences (outlay, servicing and insurance) does not really justify the amount of performance increase in the tubby. But the next one I get will be a Rev3+ tubby nonetheless

Sorry to upset you all, But my N/A will beat everyone on here easlily.

Not because of the speed, but because im jsut such a god damnnnnnnnnn good driver

[quote name='Paul Govier' date='May 13 2004, 02:51 PM'] Sorry to upset you all, But my N/A will beat everyone on here easlily.

Not because of the speed, but because im jsut such a god damnnnnnnnnn good driver [/quote]
i look forward to a track day!

in the words of livin joy!

[quote name='System~G' date='May 13 2004, 02:48 PM'] I owned a Rev3 N/A and have driven a Rev3 tubby.

The cost differences (outlay, servicing and insurance) does not really justify the amount of performance increase in the tubby. But the next one I get will be a Rev3+ tubby nonetheless [/quote]
WTF ???

Yes it does... the amount of fun you have in a tubby is amazing !

Roll on my new clutch !.. wooohooo !

Also why a rev3 tubby ?? geeze. My baby is only a rev1 and it looks the nads and has got good performance figures. Fair enough, I've spent some money on it.... but don't rule out a rev1 ! My rev1 only had 30,000 miles on it when I imported it !!

Now for some more controvosy....he he...

A 125cc motorbike (say 33bhp max) can lap at the same pace as a superbike (190+bhp) its down to the rider....the superbike will kill the 125 on a straight, but corner speed and not having to worry about nailing the trottle around a corner help make the 125 overall the same speed. So, can this argument be applied to cars??? Yes.!

My experience with tubbies is that they are brilliant brilliant straight line bad ***** cars. I still love my N/A though, i love the 2 purley for looks!

[quote name='JappyBeast' date='May 13 2004, 04:01 AM']
Doesnt the 'pssssssssssst' get a bit boring?

[/quote]
The pssssst sound fo the Bov never gets boring... along with the spool up sound of the turbo.... it's heavenly !

[quote name='Titto' date='May 13 2004, 03:19 PM'] Now for some more controvosy....he he...

A 125cc motorbike (say 33bhp max) can lap at the same pace as a superbike (190+bhp) its down to the rider....the superbike will kill the 125 on a straight, but corner speed and not having to worry about nailing the trottle around a corner help make the 125 overall the same speed. So, can this argument be applied to cars??? Yes.!

My experience with tubbies is that they are brilliant brilliant straight line bad ***** cars. I still love my N/A though, i love the 2 purley for looks! [/quote]
fair enough....

but I myself am a modding freak. There's only so much you can do to a n/a, and you don't get the same gains as you would from a tubby.

TUBBY !!!!

..im secretly jealous. i need a tubby....

[quote name='Titto' date='May 13 2004, 03:25 PM'] ..im secretly jealous. i need a tubby.... [/quote]
everyone needs a tubby......

Also... what's the point in having a flashy car that doesn't perform ? ( n/a ).

Tubby got the looks and the performance.

Jappy.... say ...

"Tubbys are better than n/a's" ... or your not getting the centre panel for the lights..... lol

Say it... say it now... say my name bi*ch.... Sorry.. got excited

[quote name='jimlad' date='May 13 2004, 03:31 PM'] Jappy.... say ...

"Tubbys are better than n/a's" ... or your not getting the centre panel for the lights..... lol

Say it... say it now... say my name bi*ch.... Sorry.. got excited [/quote]
that statement says it all right there!...

Tubby Fever....once it hits... there aint no going back....

[quote]sending the girlfriend away in her slob tracksuit, and getting her comming back a stone lighter, with a boob job and dressed as a school girl [/quote]

says it best really tbh lol

Cat amongst pigions:

Ill agree Tubby MR2's are better than NA ones, bound to be, same car but loads faster........BUT, if i could afford the insurance on a tubby MR2, id get something else (supra/200sx/nova )

Reason i bought my 2, Jap (all other cars boring), Rear Wheels drive - not a fan of scrabble, quicker than a 306 diesel..... t-bar was novel, but the other options were a 306 diesel or a mini

*cat now causing serious greif *

[quote name='jimlad' date='May 13 2004, 02:31 PM'] Jappy.... say ...

"Tubbys are better than n/a's" ... or your not getting the centre panel for the lights..... lol

Say it... say it now... say my name bi*ch.... Sorry.. got excited [/quote]
All I can say is Jappy be a man and DON'T SAY IT !!!
( Jim Lad don't say owt to Jappy I will have your c/panel )
and I see you have the voices again

bit late in the thread but i can insure a supra twin turbo for £400 less than my rev 1 turbo - under £600 fully comp!!!

if the drivers are equally skilled then the turbo will win round the track, there was a test done a while back and the turbo was quicker

Face it - The best thing about N/As is you get better fuel economy and reliability.

That is it! I bought an N/A MR2 because I wasn't exactly sure I wanted to deal with mid-engine + rear wheel drive + snap oversteer as a result of boost straight away, after previously having owned a Golf.

I crave something much faster now that I understand the behvaiour of my G Limited (5 times out of 10 I can even catch it before it spins)!

RX7 next, I think. They're just soooooo gorgeous.

[quote name='jimlad' date='May 13 2004, 02:27 PM'] Also... what's the point in having a flashy car that doesn't perform ? ( n/a ). [/quote]
You saying that the n/a doesnt perform? lol.. my MR2 isnt slow at all.

I bet you still cant keep up with me round town Jimlad!





LOL@this thread.. I posted this really late last night not knowing what the response would be.. Had my n/a for ages now living in the shadow of the tubby and I dont think its such a big deal!


Is someone gonna smack me at JAE?

the cars are different, thats it.

End of the day round a cuircuit its down to driver any way. Only thing a turbo will automatically make you 'win' at is a blast off the lights.

Screech, you drove drove straight past me on the straight in your tubby, if we were on a twisty ***** b road, would you have kept up ??

if i could insure it i would buy a turbo, but i cant being only 20. So the n/a mr2 is a good introduction to rwd cars at a reasonable price with decent enough performance.... nuff said.

So do most people on here who own n/a's want to eventually own a tubby?

i'll eventually have best of both, my rev2 with tamed but not dulled handling with a rev 3 turbo lump, setup for 250 bhp but to emulate n/a power delivery none of this wack of boost lots of power stuff, nice no lag bb turbo, little boost. Thats the way for 'fastest useable' power.

Naaa, i wouldnt want a tubby, nothing against them but i seriously prefer N/A engines. I just like the basic thing pulling rather than having additional devices kicking in to help out...just how i am. I didnt buy the 2 for power anyway, its the looks i love. But now i would like more power...so im slowly modding it! Gonna get some reasonable power improvements out of this 12 year old baby!

[quote name='jimlad' date='May 13 2004, 02:27 PM'] [quote name='Titto' date='May 13 2004, 03:25 PM'] ..im secretly jealous. i need a tubby.... [/quote]
everyone needs a tubby......

Also... what's the point in having a flashy car that doesn't perform ? ( n/a ).

Tubby got the looks and the performance. [/quote]
I don't think there's any doubt that the Tubby is faster than the N/A...

BUT, the N/A is still faster than a lot of other cars out there, so saying it doesn't perform isn't really true. You need to compare it to other cars and not just the "superior" version of itself...

I'm a torque junkie .. and unless you get a V8 in there .. the old 4pot aint got much of that ..

(and even if I had a V8 MR2 .. I'd supercharge it )

My n/a is perfect for what I bought it for.

I wanted a small economical car, that looked good, was fun to drive and above all was NOT front wheel drive..

I can get 300+ miles to a tank. so it suits me perfectly

Should I need a quick blast theres a supra TT with nitrous in the garage

[quote name='midmotorsteve' date='May 14 2004, 02:01 AM'] i'll eventually have best of both, my rev2 with tamed but not dulled handling with a rev 3 turbo lump, setup for 250 bhp but to emulate n/a power delivery none of this wack of boost lots of power stuff, nice no lag bb turbo, little boost.  Thats the way for 'fastest useable' power. [/quote]
The instant agressive kick of the boost is what makes it fun... ( unless you're cornering in the wet.... doh... smash! )

[quote name='jimlad' date='May 14 2004, 11:32 AM'] [quote name='midmotorsteve' date='May 14 2004, 02:01 AM'] i'll eventually have best of both, my rev2 with tamed but not dulled handling with a rev 3 turbo lump, setup for 250 bhp but to emulate n/a power delivery none of this wack of boost lots of power stuff, nice no lag bb turbo, little boost.  Thats the way for 'fastest useable' power. [/quote]
The instant agressive kick of the boost is what makes it fun... ( unless you're cornering in the wet.... doh... smash! ) [/quote]
Thats all it is for me... Your head being pinned back into the head rest!.. cant beat the feeling of when the turbo kicks in.. its like you have awoken a monster...

Mine is n/a and is a quick car but if i had the spare cash i would much rather
have a tubby as i ive got so used to the power it just doesnt feel that quick
anymore.

Still not used to driving it in the wet though!!

today i had a little bit of a nice experience, now normally i just like to boot it in 1st or 2nd and watch the passenger scream but then i usually run out of road and its hit the brakes time. Today for the first time i got into 3rd on an empty road....floored it, full boost and then into 4th, full boost and the car just FLEW. Up till now I was beginning to think i had become used to the cars power but damn i hadnt experienced that before. Full boost + 3rd and 4th gear is bloody amazing, im still high from it lol

I actually experienced 'torque Steer' today when setting off in 1st. I was amazed.

But yeah, I'm not that impressed with the n/as power. However, [i]love[/i] the handling.

i have to agree with the points that i just got a n/a for the pure looks and that its economical.

i admit i was at first looking at a tubby, but insurance was a bit too much for me at the moment, as iv just sold my 1.2 corsa. lol
so, the n/a is fine and well for me for the moment, while i build upon my 2yrs no claims, and pay of my loan, - then its tubby time.

Torque steer? in a rwd car??????? huh??

I love the handling of my '2.. but it admitedly lacks power

Lets be honest... how often are you gonna take a MR2 to the track>?... for the average Jo.. it aint gonna happen all that often if at all...

So what you want is something to put a smile on ya face and to look good at the same time...

all of the above = Tubby!

[quote name='DeusMR2' date='May 14 2004, 03:08 PM'] today i had a little bit of a nice experience, now normally i just like to boot it in 1st or 2nd and watch the passenger scream but then i usually run out of road and its hit the brakes time. Today for the first time i got into 3rd on an empty road....floored it, full boost and then into 4th, full boost and the car just FLEW. Up till now I was beginning to think i had become used to the cars power but damn i hadnt experienced that before. Full boost + 3rd and 4th gear is bloody amazing, im still high from it lol [/quote]
I can't wait till I get my clutch fitted.... oh... the monster will awake once more ! Wooohoo.

I'll have a smile on my face all week.

It's seriously so bad I can only drive with 0.2bar boost, at the most ! Anymore and the clutch slips. DOH !