The reason I love old, raw, no electronic malarkey cars.

This past week I had experienced the unfortunate event of an alternator dying on my 1992 Toyota MR2 Turbo Rev 2, being left stranded on a very busy road, and on a blind corner. This marked the start of a new week where I would be borrowing my Dad’s RX8 for the week, that he so very kindly allowed me to borrow for the week so I could get to and from work. Thanks Dad.

Before jumping in the RX8 I was excited as usual to try something different. I like driving different cars and experiencing what they have to offer and to understand why people like them. Similarly to what people should do before talking rubbish about cars they’ve never driven, but we won’t get into that. Anyway, getting into the RX8 was nice. it’s 8 years old, with 30k miles, and it felt new, clean, and well.. safe. Not that exciting initially, but it was refreshing being in something a little more modern.

As the week passed I started to get used to the rotary, new car feel goodness and I have to say I was enjoying it. However, it was as the new car placebo started to wear off where I started to miss my ol’ tubby (MR2). The RX8 was nice in a sense where I could actually see at night, feel comfortable, and just generally relax a little more when driving. But it’s missing the excitement I enjoy from older cars with hydraulic steering, a cable throttle, a loud exhaust note, and that classic 90s turbo feel. There’s nothing like blasting down country lanes in a car that’s 20 years old, with 200+bhp, and plenty of grip feeling like you’re doing 200mph when you’re just doing an exact 66mph.

After I gave the keys of the rex back I was ready to pick up my tubby after a nice, comfortable week. After hassling my girlfriend to hurry up with her makeup, we arrived and I was ready to drive the car that makes me feel on edge all the time home. Immediately just sitting in the car the feel of a car that’s just 8 years old compared to 23 is huge. This is obvious, but it’s just amazing how much things change. Anyway, onto the road and the car had warmed up whilst sitting at the traffic lights. I had two options - 1. Follow my girlfriend home, have a normal drive home. Or 2. Take the first exit off the roundabout and go the long way round. I proceeded to peel off the first exit, as any petrolhead would do. As I was hitting full boost, changing gears, listening to those wastegate/exhaust sounds, I was in an awesome place. I could feel everything the car was doing, and everything it wanted to do. I was in control, not the car. There’s nothing like feeling like you’re in total control whilst feeling everything you do through your fingers, toes, ears, eyes, and nipples whilst being complemented with the awesome sound of the turbo.

The main difference between the RX8 and my MR2 turbo is feel. Don’t get me wrong, the RX8 was a really nice place to be and it doesn’t hang around. For just a price of £3000 for a tidy one, they can be a great daily that I’ll for sure remember in future. However, it does not compare to the raw, no electronics feel that the MR2 delivers. The responsive non-electronic throttle felt spectacular, the steering like nothing else, and the motion of being surged forward by 15psi of boost and a turbo-back exhaust was like being kicked in the back by Chuck Norris’s big toe. Pure bliss. The car is just utterly fantastic for accelerating, nipping around roundabouts, and raw speed. Having owned a MK1 MX5, it’s safe to say the MR2 is the big brother with a fat turbo and an engine placed in the middle of the car.

Overall, I enjoyed the comfort, but it made me realise who I am with cars and what makes me happy. Old school, basic, fast and nimble cars.