In 1986, in the very first issue of Automobile Magazine, an 1986 Toyota MR2 was pitted against a Ferrari 308. The magazine declared the MR2 the winner. This little mid-engine Toyota took the automotive world by a storm when it was introduced in 1985. And was ranked 8th on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980’s by Sports Car International magazine.
I admit, MR2, chassis code AW11, was not my first choice of sports car when I was getting back to AutoX in early 2000’s. At the time, “Miata is the Answer” for all the automotive question, except that a used decent NA Miata cost about two thousand dollars more than an used AW11. I was cheap. Over the years, I own two 86 and one 89 hardtop and had some success in the local autoX club. AW11's are fun little car that is engaging and enjoyable on the streets and the twisties, and they are surprisingly practical. I am guilty of letting it collecting dust in the garage. But I do miss driving it.
It is a shame that Assetto Corsa did not come with this iconic 1st generation MR2. Mods of MR2 SC, i.e. Super Charger, can be found, with car model by KarinFuto GT and Physics by ToyoBart or P3nGu1n. This model probably came originally from Grand Tourismo and appears to be an AW11b, 1987~1989 model year. The SC also added humps on the engine cover. My personal preference is the original 1985 with hardtop, black bumpers, black air-dam, triangle, rear wing and no skirt. Oh, very important the original “triangle” wheels. If there is a 3D artist out there, please, please help make this body style.
Since few knows the car except from Grand Tourismo, even fewer knows the real .. deal, what does it drives like? So think street car, simple struts all around, softly sprung (relative to the stiff race cars), the torque is very usable even at 2000 rpm, but the engine really turns into a beast, or sound like one, from about 4500 rpm. The rock and pinion steering is deliciously direct uncontaminated by any artificial boost. The stock 14 inch steering wheel seems large in modern days. The car is supple, responsive and lively. Too much grip, high spring rate or damping kill the feel. The stock 185/60/14 is perfectly adequate for fun at a safe street speed. Cruising at PCH, with tires slightly over inflated, I can feel the car rotating when feeding in the steering, and want to continue rotate and the wheel then need to back out a little. When the limit is near, the car lets you know, the tires started to sing, and slip a bit more. Often the speed would be scrubbed off before getting serious out of shape.
On an AutoX course, with yellow Koni Sports shocks, ST front anti-sway bars and R-comp tires.. the AW11 is pretty effective in the right hands. But it is the street driving the I dream about.
My modification tries to duplicate the lively and responsive feel of the AW11 street configuration and not the race or drift spec. Because of my limited knowledge and skill, the mod is limited to suspension.ini and setup.ini. Oh, and I use the Kuno’s AE86 for the na engine in place of the SC.
I have pretty good luck with camber f/r -1.5 / -2.5. Zero toe, ride height about 151mm/154 mm. Testing on Usui pass, on the very first run, I was able to place the car so well because how connected I was and cut 2 seconds off previous BT.
Installation: Create a tune with AC Car Tuner. Extract and copy the suspension.ini and setup.ini to the AC’s car data directory.
Love to read your comments on this. Have fun.
I admit, MR2, chassis code AW11, was not my first choice of sports car when I was getting back to AutoX in early 2000’s. At the time, “Miata is the Answer” for all the automotive question, except that a used decent NA Miata cost about two thousand dollars more than an used AW11. I was cheap. Over the years, I own two 86 and one 89 hardtop and had some success in the local autoX club. AW11's are fun little car that is engaging and enjoyable on the streets and the twisties, and they are surprisingly practical. I am guilty of letting it collecting dust in the garage. But I do miss driving it.
It is a shame that Assetto Corsa did not come with this iconic 1st generation MR2. Mods of MR2 SC, i.e. Super Charger, can be found, with car model by KarinFuto GT and Physics by ToyoBart or P3nGu1n. This model probably came originally from Grand Tourismo and appears to be an AW11b, 1987~1989 model year. The SC also added humps on the engine cover. My personal preference is the original 1985 with hardtop, black bumpers, black air-dam, triangle, rear wing and no skirt. Oh, very important the original “triangle” wheels. If there is a 3D artist out there, please, please help make this body style.
Since few knows the car except from Grand Tourismo, even fewer knows the real .. deal, what does it drives like? So think street car, simple struts all around, softly sprung (relative to the stiff race cars), the torque is very usable even at 2000 rpm, but the engine really turns into a beast, or sound like one, from about 4500 rpm. The rock and pinion steering is deliciously direct uncontaminated by any artificial boost. The stock 14 inch steering wheel seems large in modern days. The car is supple, responsive and lively. Too much grip, high spring rate or damping kill the feel. The stock 185/60/14 is perfectly adequate for fun at a safe street speed. Cruising at PCH, with tires slightly over inflated, I can feel the car rotating when feeding in the steering, and want to continue rotate and the wheel then need to back out a little. When the limit is near, the car lets you know, the tires started to sing, and slip a bit more. Often the speed would be scrubbed off before getting serious out of shape.
On an AutoX course, with yellow Koni Sports shocks, ST front anti-sway bars and R-comp tires.. the AW11 is pretty effective in the right hands. But it is the street driving the I dream about.
My modification tries to duplicate the lively and responsive feel of the AW11 street configuration and not the race or drift spec. Because of my limited knowledge and skill, the mod is limited to suspension.ini and setup.ini. Oh, and I use the Kuno’s AE86 for the na engine in place of the SC.
I have pretty good luck with camber f/r -1.5 / -2.5. Zero toe, ride height about 151mm/154 mm. Testing on Usui pass, on the very first run, I was able to place the car so well because how connected I was and cut 2 seconds off previous BT.
Installation: Create a tune with AC Car Tuner. Extract and copy the suspension.ini and setup.ini to the AC’s car data directory.
Love to read your comments on this. Have fun.
