Maybe the Mk2 is benefitting from greater torsional rigidity of the body, being a coupe? It presumably gives a more stable base for the suspension to work effectively/consistently. (The pre 2004 Mk3s are also noticeably even less rigid than the post 2004 facelift version.)
Great video Dan. Feels like you enjoyed the mk2 more, like a more at home feel. I got a feeling we will be seeing a mk2 shell (or a complete car) appearing at the barn 😏👍👌
Remember you mentioned that your mr2 pre facelift has no chassis bracing on the front as opposed to FL... Not familiar with the rules but by sourcing FL front chassis. Brace will introduce more understeer as it will be stiffer... Front tower bar is night and day difference but don't know if that's allowed
Interesting to hear what you thought of the cars. When I did a test in both cars with Rogue I felt more comfortable in the mk3, but it was at a wet, slippery Rockingham. I ended up spinning the mk2 at one point. I did a few races as an arrive and drive with Rogue in the mk3, absolutely fantastic people and a great championship. Been away from (trying) racing for a good few years, was nowhere near as talented as yourself. Great videos, look forward to seeing what you do next.
Great video Dan….loving this content. You’ve made the mk3 look like a great ‘budget racer’!?!….but pleased to see the mk2 gets a good review from you, I always thought the ‘light front end’ comments regards the road car were a bit of an excessive critique….I filled a slot with a 2ltr 8v model (the worst of the bunch), ran it fit a bit and flogged it, engine was turd frankly, just felt asthmatic….but otherwise a nice feeling car, top build quality, predictable accurate handling and brakes etc….the turbo model did bring it on a bit sooner but then it was a fricking fast car an ultimately accelerating hard, as per the light steering…..nothing that’s not sorted with proper coilover suspension set up. 2.0 16v (If I recall correctly the rev3 engine is a yamaha built unit 👌🏻!)….Makes for an interesting prospect. Thanks again for the updates, keep it up, you’re inspiration for my petrol head nirvana 😂👊🏻
Excellent video mate, loved the side by side comparison at the end. All credit to you for building such a competitive car by yourself, you should be very proud of that.
I remember getting a lot of understeer to oversteer in my old aw11… didn’t help that I had shit tires. Would be interested to see you drive the mk1 and get your impressions. Surely it’s slower but would be fun to see where it all started with the mr2
Reckon the biggest differences in the way they handle will come from: Weight, engine placement (Mk3 is closer to the centre, Mk2 is further aft), OEM suspension design (pick up points, control arm design, basic/fixed geo), suspension set up, struts vs coilovers, tyre stagger.
Big fan of yourself and rogue so good to see this. Did not realise the gears where shorter on the jdm. I was going to swap a uk spec box i have with lsd into my mr-s but now I might just swap over the lsd!
@@tescolonggrain sorry but you've been misinformed, u can get a 2gr done for under 7k easily. And finding them isn't hard either, you just need to look in America and have one sent over. He ended up with a 3sgte using a hybrid turbo which he bought for about 3k with a turbo gearbox, then rouge charged over 7 to fit it.
How much further forward is this seat? Would you moving your mass forward in your own car help induce some understeer? Just thinking out loud here but if your 10% of the total weight moving that forward or back would change the cg, how much effect that would have who knows 🤔
I feel like doing some simple head work, just removing all the carbon, maybe smoothing the porting surfaces and gasket matching, relapping the valves and a thinner head gasket would give you a meaningful boost in a one make series. The engines are all pretty well run in now and they are only 10:1 compression so there's definitely space to improve things
Great video Dan, and great comparison, i know mk2 where called widow makers but i think they where the turbo editions correct me if I'm wrong and the one you test drove was a 2.0 na. Totally agree mk3 is softer and trickier due to shorter wheel base and different staggered set up. Love the racing you do and i think you should get a mk2 for next year. Also bring back the DC2
The reason for the "widow maker" nickname was due to the suspension on the early models. Also, the MK3 has a longer wheelbase than the MK2. I'm also hoping Dan gets a MK2 eventually - maybe one with a 2GR.
I only had a MK3 for a couple of months (thanks to seeing yours vids Dan) but just never found it particularly engaging and/or fun to drive. Admittedly I didn't take it on track but did push it quite hard around some Cornish back roads. In the end went back to Compact Cup car instead. Anyway, thanks for video and hopefully see you in a MK2 next season?
Just a little thing i have noticed from watchin past races, including your stint with the jdm box, your car seems to drop off cam between gear changes!! Just listening to the engine note, the rogue car sounds like it stays on cam where as yours sounds like it drops off and you have a few seconds before the engine note comes back on song!
Love this and the mkII video. I was secretly hoping you liked the mkII only because it's probably a "newer" car vs your "less than ideal" build. kinda surprised the mkII is better then again it was more performance focused than the mkIII just being a production-ish car carrying the mr2 name forward. Also, nice info about rogue motorsports being a rent oa race car for the series. Pretty cool. Not something we'd ever get here in murika.
Understeer at 5;20, surely because you were breaking/lifting off so early to let mini pass, you were then accelerating well before entering the corner throwing the car off balance ...generally you'd break much later and be straight back on some sort of power?
Random question about the mk2’s in the championship; you said the Rogue car didn’t have an LSD, are you allowed to fit a mk2 with an LSD or do the rules prohibit it? If you could fit one how much of a difference do you think it would make to the mk2 - do you think the extra grip would be worth it vs the increased power-oversteer?
My understanding is that the MK3/roadster came from the factory with the option of a LSD, and if it's factory it permitted to use. The non turbo MK2 wasn't offered with an LSD and that's why there not allowed for the earlier chassis.
@@groeacht8525 Bit late on this but there were very very few NA cars in the last years of production that had the LSD as an option. Or at least the UK spec cars did, most of them don't have it though but there were people on the owners club who still had paperwork with lsd ticked as an option. This would make sense as the run out JDM cars with the 3sge beams had the option for LSD with the same gearbox. Also fun fact the stock lsd that goes into the MK3 box is a drop in upgrade for the MK2 S54 gearbox. I've always wondered if people have just done that in the mr2 championship and hope they don't get caught, but I don't know what the scrutineering is like.
I wonder about the ride height i can't tell how much lower it is but the lower the handling could get worse. It's just a thought, something in the back of my mind. I was really surprised when i got my mk3 how great it handled when i first drove it. Some cars handle like crap when lowered. Jw
Love the Ks, but engine isnt everything. Gearbox plays an important role as well. Get a balanced gearset and final drive. Not a gearbox that can achieve 400kph and makes u acelerate line a bus
From the onboard video mk3 looks faster/more fun to drive. Probably it is harder to drive but still... To me it looks like that's mostly due to strange tyre situation in your serie's rulebook.
A bit "blegh" sums up the 1ZZ perfectly.
Yeah. It does the job, but it's not a very special engine lol
Thats why im getting a K24...
"Now, it seems like I'm just a little bit slower than everyone else"
Story of my life right there lad.
Maybe the Mk2 is benefitting from greater torsional rigidity of the body, being a coupe? It presumably gives a more stable base for the suspension to work effectively/consistently. (The pre 2004 Mk3s are also noticeably even less rigid than the post 2004 facelift version.)
Remember these cars are fitted with full roll cages which will narrow the gap between the two.
Great video Dan. Feels like you enjoyed the mk2 more, like a more at home feel. I got a feeling we will be seeing a mk2 shell (or a complete car) appearing at the barn 😏👍👌
Remember you mentioned that your mr2 pre facelift has no chassis bracing on the front as opposed to FL... Not familiar with the rules but by sourcing FL front chassis. Brace will introduce more understeer as it will be stiffer...
Front tower bar is night and day difference but don't know if that's allowed
" I think I prefer the mark 2 ( long pause ) bugger. " reminds me of Unlucky Alf on the Fast Show. Great couple of videos. Keep em coming.
Very good back to back at the end with commentary 👌🏼
Interesting to hear what you thought of the cars. When I did a test in both cars with Rogue I felt more comfortable in the mk3, but it was at a wet, slippery Rockingham. I ended up spinning the mk2 at one point. I did a few races as an arrive and drive with Rogue in the mk3, absolutely fantastic people and a great championship. Been away from (trying) racing for a good few years, was nowhere near as talented as yourself. Great videos, look forward to seeing what you do next.
Great video Dan….loving this content. You’ve made the mk3 look like a great ‘budget racer’!?!….but pleased to see the mk2 gets a good review from you, I always thought the ‘light front end’ comments regards the road car were a bit of an excessive critique….I filled a slot with a 2ltr 8v model (the worst of the bunch), ran it fit a bit and flogged it, engine was turd frankly, just felt asthmatic….but otherwise a nice feeling car, top build quality, predictable accurate handling and brakes etc….the turbo model did bring it on a bit sooner but then it was a fricking fast car an ultimately accelerating hard, as per the light steering…..nothing that’s not sorted with proper coilover suspension set up. 2.0 16v (If I recall correctly the rev3 engine is a yamaha built unit 👌🏻!)….Makes for an interesting prospect.
Thanks again for the updates, keep it up, you’re inspiration for my petrol head nirvana 😂👊🏻
Excellent video mate, loved the side by side comparison at the end. All credit to you for building such a competitive car by yourself, you should be very proud of that.
Brilliant stuff, all the more impressive your driving in the race, considering your bent damper. The MKIII MR2 is a fascinating little car.
furst
Congrats
I bet you like the 2zz spyder the most 😉
I remember getting a lot of understeer to oversteer in my old aw11… didn’t help that I had shit tires. Would be interested to see you drive the mk1 and get your impressions. Surely it’s slower but would be fun to see where it all started with the mr2
Reckon the biggest differences in the way they handle will come from: Weight, engine placement (Mk3 is closer to the centre, Mk2 is further aft), OEM suspension design (pick up points, control arm design, basic/fixed geo), suspension set up, struts vs coilovers, tyre stagger.
That gran turismo count down at the beginning of the vid really got me hyped up, ngl!
Big fan of yourself and rogue so good to see this. Did not realise the gears where shorter on the jdm. I was going to swap a uk spec box i have with lsd into my mr-s but now I might just swap over the lsd!
I was a fan of rouge until they tried to con my mate for 7 grand to swap a 3sgte (which he provided) into an NA sw20
@@Will_M600 How is that a con? lol, have you broken down the timeframe required and each process?
@@tescolonggrain 7k for an engine swap is mega money. Can get a v6 put in for less.
@@Will_M600 What V6? a 1MZ or 3MZ maybe? 2GR 10x as much, 3SGTE > 1MZ/3MZ
:l What did your pal end up with?
@@tescolonggrain sorry but you've been misinformed, u can get a 2gr done for under 7k easily. And finding them isn't hard either, you just need to look in America and have one sent over.
He ended up with a 3sgte using a hybrid turbo which he bought for about 3k with a turbo gearbox, then rouge charged over 7 to fit it.
How much further forward is this seat? Would you moving your mass forward in your own car help induce some understeer? Just thinking out loud here but if your 10% of the total weight moving that forward or back would change the cg, how much effect that would have who knows 🤔
I feel like doing some simple head work, just removing all the carbon, maybe smoothing the porting surfaces and gasket matching, relapping the valves and a thinner head gasket would give you a meaningful boost in a one make series. The engines are all pretty well run in now and they are only 10:1 compression so there's definitely space to improve things
Great video Dan, and great comparison, i know mk2 where called widow makers but i think they where the turbo editions correct me if I'm wrong and the one you test drove was a 2.0 na.
Totally agree mk3 is softer and trickier due to shorter wheel base and different staggered set up.
Love the racing you do and i think you should get a mk2 for next year.
Also bring back the DC2
The reason for the "widow maker" nickname was due to the suspension on the early models. Also, the MK3 has a longer wheelbase than the MK2. I'm also hoping Dan gets a MK2 eventually - maybe one with a 2GR.
Mk 2 incoming.
Mk 2 race build/parts swap
Dc2 race build
You know you want to.
And we do too. 😈
Good review fella. Shows with the work you put in you could be on for the champ next year regardless of which model.
I would love to know the tire and wheel setup for this car?
Great comparison video in the end.
I only had a MK3 for a couple of months (thanks to seeing yours vids Dan) but just never found it particularly engaging and/or fun to drive. Admittedly I didn't take it on track but did push it quite hard around some Cornish back roads. In the end went back to Compact Cup car instead. Anyway, thanks for video and hopefully see you in a MK2 next season?
Yei finally i will get see your review on a 2zz one 😊
Just a little thing i have noticed from watchin past races, including your stint with the jdm box, your car seems to drop off cam between gear changes!! Just listening to the engine note, the rogue car sounds like it stays on cam where as yours sounds like it drops off and you have a few seconds before the engine note comes back on song!
Love this and the mkII video. I was secretly hoping you liked the mkII only because it's probably a "newer" car vs your "less than ideal" build. kinda surprised the mkII is better then again it was more performance focused than the mkIII just being a production-ish car carrying the mr2 name forward. Also, nice info about rogue motorsports being a rent oa race car for the series. Pretty cool. Not something we'd ever get here in murika.
best youtube kanal ever
Between the two I would pick the k swapped ek hatch lol
Everything is borrowed, liking the hat.
Has the mk2 put you off doing the mr2 series a bit now or spurred you into dc2 time?
Understeer at 5;20, surely because you were breaking/lifting off so early to let mini pass, you were then accelerating well before entering the corner throwing the car off balance ...generally you'd break much later and be straight back on some sort of power?
"hanging when changing gear" aka clutch slip or?
Now I understand the reason of the DC2 race car build, fallen a bit out of love from the MR2 Mk3
Great video Dan!
Can u do a split screen comparison between ur car and then when u drive the mk2
Just need a go in a mk1 to complete the set!
Now then UA-cam…
Cool car, like it, useful to look over too.
Do a comparison of MK2 v MK3 side by side
Random question about the mk2’s in the championship; you said the Rogue car didn’t have an LSD, are you allowed to fit a mk2 with an LSD or do the rules prohibit it?
If you could fit one how much of a difference do you think it would make to the mk2 - do you think the extra grip would be worth it vs the increased power-oversteer?
My understanding is that the MK3/roadster came from the factory with the option of a LSD, and if it's factory it permitted to use.
The non turbo MK2 wasn't offered with an LSD and that's why there not allowed for the earlier chassis.
@@groeacht8525 Bit late on this but there were very very few NA cars in the last years of production that had the LSD as an option. Or at least the UK spec cars did, most of them don't have it though but there were people on the owners club who still had paperwork with lsd ticked as an option. This would make sense as the run out JDM cars with the 3sge beams had the option for LSD with the same gearbox.
Also fun fact the stock lsd that goes into the MK3 box is a drop in upgrade for the MK2 S54 gearbox. I've always wondered if people have just done that in the mr2 championship and hope they don't get caught, but I don't know what the scrutineering is like.
What can be the root of issue with brake feel? Over assistance or mismatched rotor/pad size?
Good interesting vid cheers Dan.
Do the boys at rouge set the seat up if you were going to rent it for a whole race?
The little "pulse" as you change gear is probably your engine mounts not being as stiff...
Good idea, we have the same though. Mine are pretty new too
Yes Dan
I wonder about the ride height i can't tell how much lower it is but the lower the handling could get worse. It's just a thought, something in the back of my mind. I was really surprised when i got my mk3 how great it handled when i first drove it. Some cars handle like crap when lowered. Jw
But i do also really want an mk2 as well. I love them both
It ain’t much, but it’s honest work.
Old video but I was hoping to see the set up of the car.
What brakes do they use
First
go get breakfast
Cheers Dan, from a selfish point of view the Mk3 makes for more entertaining viewing. :)
I do hope you say the 2zz isn’t as good as the k swap as I’m just about to fit a k24 in mine after trash talking the 2zz as an option for months!
Love the Ks, but engine isnt everything. Gearbox plays an important role as well. Get a balanced gearset and final drive. Not a gearbox that can achieve 400kph and makes u acelerate line a bus
** danny , would you by chance know the alignment specs on this car ?? **
one of these with a 2zz must be pretty nippy
From the onboard video mk3 looks faster/more fun to drive. Probably it is harder to drive but still... To me it looks like that's mostly due to strange tyre situation in your serie's rulebook.
Me thinks Dan needs a mk2 😁
MR-Deux
Guy in the pink mini was ex btcc driver Jeff Smith
Drive a mk1 now
Last