The latest Unique Cars has an article in it about the Fiat X19 (Model Name: Moving Rust) which basically says that although "the AW11 is admired by just some members of the car community, the Fiat X19 is seen as the real deal." The article goes on to bag the MR2 for its handling when compared with the X19, plus noting that the while MR2 1.6 litre needed a pretty big rev to deliver (wasn't this the whole idea of the 4AGE?) the "meat" of the 1.3 litre in the X19 made the car's "urge" available more of the time.
 
We all know that journalists try to be controversial or don't know what they are talking about (in this case probably both) but as El Presidente I could not sit idly by while such dribble is fed to the public about the MR2. As custodians of the MR2 legend I felt we needed to refute what this journalist has said, so I have written to the new Editor of the magazine as follows:
 
UNIQUE CARS
FOR ATTENTION: GREG LEECH
 
Greg,
 
a warm welcome to the Editor's position at Unique Cars and may you enjoy many successes.
 
As one of your first actions it would be greatly appreciated if you could correct the less-than-positive wrap that the magazine has given the Toyota MR2 AW11 over the past few years.
 
The latest article by your cadet journalist JJ David Morley where he rates the Fiat X19 much more highly than the MR2 must have been either intended as controversial, or David has no personal experience of the MR2 AW11 at all.
 
David's comment in the piece about the other acid test for ownership, namely "Would you still make room in your shed for the first MR2? Some would, others, er, nope. But the X19? Oh yeah. You know it makes sense.", in my view confirms that it was possibly a bit of both.
 
As the very satisfied owner of a factory-supercharged pristine 1989 MR2 AW11 I would have to make the observation that the main reason for keeping a Fiat X19 in your shed would probably be that it has rusted in place and can't be moved.
 
To be fair to him David does make mention of all those things that make the MR2 AW11 great, such as the car's incredible reliability, high quality of finish, body strength and comfort through design excellence, and the use of the fantastic bullet-proof 4AGE or 4AGZE engines.
 
However, to strongly argue in the article that the X19 was a better car than the AW11, particularly on the road, is just silly. The same has to be said for David's statement that although the MR2 is admired "by some sections of the car buying community, the Fiat X19 is still seen as the real deal".
 
If David wanted to taste the delights of an MR2 to better his education then I would be more than happy to let my AW11 be the subject of a comparison by him.
 
I am sure that if David actually did this then his opinions would change, and he would see the MR2 as the incredible game-changing mid-engined Japanese sports car that it was.
 
Sincerely,
 
Walter Williams
President
MR2 Owner's Club of Australia
Queensland Branch
 

Good response yes I cant understand that description as I have a AW HT SC that I love, especially the handling.
 
However cant say Ive driven the Fiat but they look great and are only 800ish kg, from what I can find similar to worse stats to an aw. 0-100 round 7s, quarters 17s

Read that article the other day myself. Lets see what they say when they get back to you? I didnt think the article was that bad as it was about the X-19 not the Aw but I suppose the comparison could have been a bit more favorable.
If they are in Sydney and want a car to compare my stock 89 SC is available also. They may want an NA to compare though.
 

You tell them Walter.......that'll learn them......:)

On the whole most Italian cars look really good, but when you get down to what the primary function of a car is, i.e. reliably and safely transporting humans in all conditions, then in my view Italian cars just don't make the grade.
Top Gear always claims that to be a "real" car enthusiast you must have owned an Alfa Romeo, but after a close friend's experiences with them I believe that this is just so you can understand what real pain feels like.
Have a look at the attached photos of an immaculate Fiat X19 I took at the last "real" Mclean's Bridge get-together. With the exception of the horrible front bumpers it is a credit to it's owner, but look closely at what he has powering it.
Whether NA, SC or Turbo, you don't need to re-engine MR2's to get reliability with performance and handling. The defence rests.
 
 

I had to read the initial post on this thread a couple of times, just to make sure that it wasn't another fine example of Walters sense of humour.
 
I haven't seen the article, and probably don't want to - blood pressure and gorge problems, you know.  What is this guy David on??  After taking a deep breath, and ignoring my evil twin's suggestions ( tho some did have considerable merit)  I see the only reasonable course of action is what has been proposed - let the cars speak for themselves, and give the cub reporter a chance to actually enjoy a day with an AW.
 
(This post edited after review . . . the author had to be taken away and have a lie down.)

Good ideas there. Maybe also get him out on a club run to also get opinions of people who own them and deive them every day.. I hope you get some kind of response back. Even if it says we will do nothing but would be nice to know if they actually read your email. . Well done for the effort walter

EDIT: would they call you biest towards the aw11 been a club member??

Fix
It
Again
Tony.

Get into it Walter.  While I do agree with your comments, I wonder how often they get this sort of mail from people lol. 

Nice response Walter can't wait to hear a response..
I have a friend who's owned a X19 for bout 20yrs now in thy time it's prob spent most of it in the garage getting rebuilt/ rust cut out resprayed and working on the engine keeping it running.. But when ever its running well n heading out for a sprited drive sure has handled well but have to agree toyota have build a much beter quality car in all aspects thumbs upto toyota engineering 👍
Im not bias to only 1 manufacture as have owned and enjoyed a verity of cars over the years an amazing all being jap :) had a moment thort would try a European so brought a Aprilla bike an yep had issue so now even have a Jap bike parked next to my SDUB :)