I'm bored. Let's bench race!

So there's a question that's been burning in my mind lately, but, it being the middle of winter and all, is a little hard to answer by experimentation. That question is this...

How would this:

Do against one of these?

Assuming you picked the supercharged version of the MR2 I reckon it'd be a pretty good match. My Elan has a slight horsepower advantage, but the weight distribution is pretty bad (64/36) and it likes to spin the inside front wheel a lot. The MR2 obviously has the traction and balance but it's a fair bit heavier and less powerful. Let's put them on the same tyres for fairness.

I like to think the Lotus would win on the quarter-mile and probably the road course, but it would have to fight for that. The MR2 would get it at the autocross. Of course I have no basis for this opinion at all.

I've never seen a red X racing before.

What are the power to weight ratios of both?

Both images changed; they should work now.

Some quick searching says:

The Elan weighs around 2250 lbs (turbo version) and has 162 HP. The MR2 weighs in at 2605 lbs (sc version) and makes 145 HP.

I don't know if I believe the weight on the MR2; that sounds high. Both were listed as "curb weights."

Wow, that MR2 really cleaned up since I last clicked on this thread 5 minutes ago, haha

The Elan would probably win, provided the MR2 doesn't have the common mods.

You still wouldn't find me driving the FWD Lotus though.

(Not a MR2, but close enough...)

VS

How's your body roll?

a friend of mine has a elan M100 (same one in gimps pics), ill put it this way, SCCA saw fit to class it straight to ASP.

he hasnt gotten decent tires on it yet, so we dont really know what its capable of. I personally doubt it can take modded vipers and C6 vettes.

now, if building it up... alot more trial and error has been performed on the MR2 then on the m100. BUT the m100 is lighter, then the mr2 is RWD while the m100 is FWD.

stock for stock i think the m100 has more HP (please correct me if im wrong) and ill bet the geometry of the M100 is better then the MR2.

Jay wrote: The MR2 weighs in at 2605 lbs (sc version) and makes 145 HP. I don't know if I believe the weight on the MR2; that sounds high. Both were listed as "curb weights."

I've questioned that figure myself a few times, but apparently it is true. Most of them had sunroofs (or T-bar roofs) and interiors packed with electric motors. Also, when you step out of a 4AGE engined AE86 Corolla, and into an AW11 with the same engine, the latter is noticeably slower, presumably due to the excess weight.

As arguably the best handling FWD car of all time, I'd like to think the Elan would win the shoot-out. But, it would probably end up being quite close.

Better than an ITR?

All the supercharged MR2s had t-bar roofs. IIRC.

honestly, 2250lbs may be an over estimate.

the body is all plastic, the doors are light, the whole car feels light.

weight is everything if your all about auto-x, bigger tracks, power/weight pays a bigger factor.

Gimp wrote: (Not a MR2, but close enough...)

Whoa! Hold on son. Your equating a supermodel to a Jenny Craig "before" model just because they are both women. The Fiero and the MR2 are not close at all. Of course, I could be a little biased. :)

Stock VS Stock, lets say the advantage of mid-engine and RWD is like giving the MR2 another 15 hp on track. That makes the two cars REALLY equal. When it comes to handling, the boys at Lotus wrote the book, so FWD is less of a concern. What size tires does the Lotus run in stock class? How's the 5-speed? The MR2 unit is pretty slick. Top-down versus T-roofs removed, both would lower their CG a bit.

pinchvalve wrote: What size tires does the Lotus run in stock class?

no stock class, go to ASP, do not pass go, do not collect $200

This has nothing to do with Miatas. I'm disappointed.

Having said that I've always had an unusual attraction to those Isuzu-powered Elans. Ah...GM. Is there no foreign automaker you can't screw up?

pinchvalve wrote:

Gimp wrote: (Not a MR2, but close enough...)

Whoa! Hold on son. Your equating a supermodel to a Jenny Craig "before" model just because they are both women.

As long as I'm gettin' laid, I'm down ;)

Just kidding, and I knew it would ruffle some feathers. I prefer the MR2 as well.

RWD > FWD

Game over

I'm not worried about classing the Elan, as I've never really cared anyway. I rate how well I've done by where I come in the FTD listing. I don't even know if there's anything like autocross in this area; have to look into it when the weather gets better.

Stock tyres are 205/50/15 and the wheels are 4x100. Lots of options there. The cable-operated gearbox really isn't the best; it's just too limp and a bit vague. But it gets the job done. I wish it had some kind of LSD. I haven't tracked it at all yet, but even just booting enthusiastically around town it likes to spin the inside wheel.

(I've never driven an MR2 SC so I can't really compare personal experience. I have driven one with a silvertop, but only once.)

sjd wrote: ...Having said that I've always had an unusual attraction to those Isuzu-powered Elans. Ah...GM. Is there no foreign automaker you can't screw up?

GM's involvement in this car basically consisted of "here's our parts bin, rummage around and take what you want. Oh, and here's some money." Not a bad deal for Lotus.

Gimp: so... who won?

You're right, I have put many a MR2 to shame with my Lowly fiero.

EricM wrote: RWD > FWD Game over

poopshovel wrote:

EricM wrote: RWD > FWD Game over

What ^^ HE said ;)

From Bug of Love and Bug Ugly, the eVil twin.

poopshovel wrote:

EricM wrote: RWD > FWD Game over

owned

Not owned.

From the two that were listed rwd > fwd.

Everyone who posted the link to the CRX, well they were not in this bench race....

Gosh....

EricM wrote: Not owned. From the two that were listed rwd > fwd. Everyone who posted the link to the CRX, well they were not in this bench race.... Gosh....

umm that car = GRM challenge winn4r.. Seemed like it beat a whole lot of rwd cars to win.

X1/9!!! Just kidding. Lets hand each to the Stig and his times will tell

ignorant wrote:

EricM wrote: Not owned. From the two that were listed rwd > fwd. Everyone who posted the link to the CRX, well they were not in this bench race.... Gosh....

umm that car = GRM challenge winn4r.. Seemed like it beat a whole lot of rwd cars to win.

that may be true, but it wasn't a choice in this bench race