IIRC, Toyota's "official" excuse on keeping the 2ZZ-GE (Celica GTS motor)
out of the MR2 Spyder is that it would raise insurance costs of the car.
Sounds pretty lame to me...
What I'd be concerned about, however, is the abrupt cam switchover on the
2ZZ. In a mid-engined car, going around a turn at 10/10ths, if you get a
sudden spike of power when the cam switches, it could send you off the road.
IMO Toyota needs to seriously re-think the 2ZZ's powerband. Drop the
switchover point a bit, and make it more seamless. I've seen Celica GT-Ss
autocrossing that get instant wheelspin when they come on the cam. It's
silly.
Toyota has made a couple Spyder-based concepts with more oomph. One with a
V6 stuffed in, and another with some 250 turbocharged horses in an
F1-inspired body (ugly, but boy would it move).
If ya ask me, Toyota should release a fixed roof MR2 with a re-engineered
2ZZ-GE, slightly firmer suspension, and sell it for just under $30k.
Bryan Heitkotter
87 MR2 - http://move.to/theMR2
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
----- Original Message -----
From: <Nandaholz@aol.com>
To: <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 1:54 PM
Subject: Re: So what IS going to happen to the Miata in 2003?
> In a message dated 4/11/02 7:24:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> roadsterboy@earthlink.net writes:
>
>
> > I think John K. is referring to a proposal to move Miatas from DP to EP.
I
> > don't know anything about any changes to their Stock or SP
classifications.
> >
> > But as I said yesterday, if Mazda does introduce a 170hp Miata at "just
over
> > a ton," it will probably wind up in BS. Using a weight of 2100lb, just
for
> > argument's sake, such a car would have a power-to-weight ratio pretty
close
> > to that of an S2K (yes, I know power-to-weight isn't everything, or even
> > much, in this sport).
> >
> > And once again, if Mazda actually builds this car, I will buy it in half
a
> > hearbeat!
> >
> > Scot
>
> I wonder why toyota didn't stuff the 180hp Celica GTS motor in the
> MRspyder...maybe they are just wait with the motor up their sleeve to see
> what else comes out ~Nanda
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