COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW: TOYOTA MR-2 Spyder 2000-05

In this blog entry, I'm covering 2000 to 2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder (MR-S in some part of the World).  In Malaysia, Toyota MR2/MR-S is freaking RARE as it was NOT OFFICIALLY IMPORTED by UMW Toyota.  Hence, ALL MR2/MR-S you see on Malaysian roads were GREY or PERSONAL Imports.  There were less than 200 units of MR2/MR-S throughout Malaysia.

 

Above: JDM Toyota MR-S with TRD Bodykit stage 2.  

Below: with TRD Bodykit Stage 3 + Hardtop.

Here are the used prices of Toyota MR2/MR-S in Malaysia:

Year: 2000....2001......2002......2003......2004......2005 (Unreg)

RM:... 88k.....96k........105k.......115k........125k.........140k

It's HARD for me to find a unit to test drive and brag about it since this car is SO RARE in Malaysia.  ALL is NOT LOST, I dished out a COMPREHENSIVE review from GOAUTO Australia, MR2 MKIII Model history, List of Colour and trim choices,  and a whooping 11 OWNER'S Review from Carsurvey.org.  ENJOY:

SUPERTEST: Toyota MR2 Spyder / convertible

 SOURCE: http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/ D40A0C4C125ED651CA256A46008084E2 

Toyota MR2 Spyder / convertible

Overview

WITH the third generation MR2 Toyota has significantly changed the direction of its small sports car.

Yes, it remains a two-seater with mid-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive, but the MR2 Spyder is the company's first car designed from the outset as a convertible and the first Toyota with a sequential shift semi-manual transmission.

Significantly lighter and cheaper than its predecessor, the Spyder offers real competition to the iconic Mazda MX-5 drop-top.

Model release dates: October 2000 - March 2006

Previous model

Make: Toyota
Model: Toyota MR2 Coupe

Release date:March 1994

End date:December 1999

The second generation MR2 was a stunning looker, but let down by an entry price that had marched beyond $60,000 by the end of its life.  Three versions appeared - the coupe, the Bathurst and GT.

All were powered by a mid-mounted 2.0-litre engine that produced 125kW and 186Nm.

The Car

THE Spyder loses out to its predecessor in looks. The sleek coupe of yore is replaced by a cowl-forward design with extremely short overhangs at each corner. There's more than a touch of Porsche Boxster about the front-end, while the slab sides are only interrupted by large intake ducts for the mid-mounted engine - a traditional MR2 design element.

Did you know?

The first drawings of the MR2 Spyder were penned on a napkin at the Tindall RAAF base in the Northern territory by former chief engineer of Toyota's sports car projects, Tadashi Nakagawa. He was at Tindall for the launch of the Celica GT-Four Rallye

The Car - Seat Plan

THE Spyder is purely a two-seater with the engine mounted in behind the seats and ahead of the rear axle, ensuring quite a "cab forward" feeling. As is traditional for two-seaters, luggage and storage space is limited. Toyota claims the convertible roof can be manually opened and closed in less than 60 seconds - a claim we can back up. A neat touch is the that the rear window is glass rather than plastic, ensuring better quality visibility.

The Car - Seats

MR2's sports seats come standard with a two-tone cloth trim, although
a tan leather seat trim and roof cover is an option. The seats feature
Toyota's WIL (Whiplash Injury Lessening) design and are designed to
suit adults up to 190cm tall. The hip point has been lowered compared
with the superseded MR2 while seat cushion firmness and damping
have been increased. The passenger seat's leading edge has been
tilted upwards 1.5 degrees to maximise hold.

The Car - Dash

 

THE MR2's large and legible dials are placed within deep pods and
presented in true sports car-style, with the tachometer taking pride of
place in the centre. A digital gearshift indicator is incorporated into
the tacho housing. The stalks are standard Japanese fare with the
indicator mounted on the right and the windscreen wiper on the left.

Did you know?

Soft-top sports cars account for approximately 13 per cent of the
Australian sports and coupe segment.

The Car - Controls

TOYOTA describes the interior of the Spyder as "retro/sports", although
the controls design theme seems to be more mish-mash. Some items
are designed for application in the MR2, others sourced from that great
Toyota parts bin. But in typical Toyota fashion, it's usually logical and
easy to use - the indicator stalk is on the right and also controls the lights
for instance. The toughest challenge will be adjusting to the gearshift
action - either using the floor-mounted lever or the buttons on the
steering wheel.

The Car - Wheels/tyres

THE Australian-specification Spyder is fitted with either Bridgestone Potenza RE0140 or Yokohama Advan A043 tyres. Considering how
tight space is, it's no surprise the MR2 employs a space saver spare tyre.

Did you know?

A Sportivo body kit is available for the Spyder as an official Toyota Accessory. The kit consists of a front spoiler, side skirts, rear skirt and rear wing

The Car - Luggage

TOTAL luggage capacity is a miniscule 140 litres, spread through four compartments, but it cannot fit a normal briefcase or golf bag in any of them. The Spyder's main luggage compartment is situated behind the seats.

Did you know?

Toyota claims the main luggage compartment behind the seats can accommodate a "slimline" 20cm circumference golf bag.

The Car - What's changed

A LOT has changed, that's what. Toyota went back to basics for the
third MR2, gave the car a hair-cut, lopped some weight off it and
gave it a squarer look and stance. The result may not be as pretty
inside or out, but it seems to be effective in its primary role - thrills
for the fan of open-top motoring on a budget. Not everything works
of course. The gearshift is gimmickky and the looks - from the front
in particular - are derivative.

Did you know?

Accessories for MR2 include a removeable hardtop, polycarbonate headlight covers, carpet floor mats and mudflaps.

The Car - Stand out features

SMILES per mile is what the MR2 is all about. Combining Toyota's
ability to build fuss-free motor cars and - when the mood takes it -
to put some sparkle into them as well. The mid-engine roadster is
a fun road-burner with a touch of schizophrenia about it: tough when
you want it to be, but also relaxed enough to cope with city traffic.

The Car - Climate control

THE major shock is that the air-conditioning - other than the type you get when you drop the roof - is not standard in the Spyder. Secondly, having forked over the extra cash, you don't even get a climate control system. That's right: it's a manual type, just like you'd get in a $16,000 Toyota Echo.

The Car - Sound system

THE Spyder comes standard with six-CD in-dash audio system, which also includes AM/FM radiuo cassette with four speakers. Features include door-mounted tweeters, auto reverse, seek, scan, key off pinch roller, radio played when tape in FF or rewind mode and Dolby B noise reduction. The CD player's features include scan, repeat and random play.

The Car - Security

SPYDER has an engine immobiliser, security alarm with panic mode and wireless door locks. The bonnet opener is concealed in the lockable glovebox. A combined engine hood opener and fuel lid opener valet lock is also provided.

Our opinion

We like: Back to basics, light-weight, sharp handling

Room for improvement: Fussy semi-automated gearbox, lack of luggage space,
slabby looks

By BRUCE NEWTON 15/05/2001

THIS might be the third generation MR2, but there's also a few firsts here.

The first Toyota designed from inception to be a convertible, the first Toyota with sequential-shift manual transmission and perhaps most importantly, a lot more in common with the first generation MR2 than the second.

That first MR2 was a small, mid-engined coupe which exploited light weight and dynamic ability to surprise and delight drivers with a sporting bent.

The second generation car was bigger, heavier, more powerful and more expensive, and its audience shrunk as the price blew out to around $60,000.

Now, minimalist is back in fashion. The engine has shrunk in size, the pricetag has dropped significantly and the car even appears truncated compared to its swooping predecessor. There's also been careful attention paid to equipment levels. For instance, air-conditioning is an option!

With peak power of 103kW, the Spyder's 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine is 10kW down on the latest Mazda MX-5, but at 975kg it's more than 100kg lighter and therefore right in the ballpark when it comes to power to weight.

And there's plenty of familiarity with the MX-5 experience when you drop the top and go for a burn down a winding country road in the Spyder.

The grip of the front-end and the feel communicated back through the steering wheel are excellent, as is the accuracy of the steering. The only thing that takes some time to get used to is the rear-end which can feel a little floaty, but you soon realise it's going to stick - unless you are really pushing very hard.

The package does deteriorate when the going gets bumpy and rutted, however. There's a tendency for tram-tracking and the front-end can struggle to retain controlled contact with the bitumen. Throw bumps in when you're braking heavily or jumping on and off the throttle and you can feel the Spyder getting a little confused.

Then there's the clutchless manual gearbox. The downshifts are simply superb, complete with a computer-generated blip on the throttle as you engage the gear. Upchanges, however, are too slow particularly if you choose to leave your foot flat on the accelerator.

You really need to lift just as you're pulling the higher gear and then it's noticeably smoother and quicker.

Several members of our test team have commented that the second and third gear ratios seem a little too wide for attacking driving on winding roads. Second will run out of puff just too soon, third seems just too tall. And the gearbox's computer management system will not let you shift down early and use some engine braking if it calculates you are going to over-rev the engine.

Instead, you have to rely on the disc brakes equipped with anti-lock - handy that they are strong on power and feel - to slow you for corners. Only when the revs have died away can you change down and boot the car through the corner.

Oh for a manual gearbox!

That's not such a cry around town where the lack of a clutch pedal is a help rather than a hinderance, although the ability to go full auto in town would probably be the best solution.

And forget about the E-shift buttons on the steering wheel, the gearlever is much easier to use.

All the while, growling away behind your left ear is an eager, hard-revving and smooth little engine - an obvious aural indication that the MR2's traditional mid-mounted engine layout has been retained.

It's an enthusiastic if reasonably noisy little twin cam 16-valve unit which employs variable valve timing technology (VVTi is what Toyota calls it) to deliver honest and flexible performance over a reasonably wide range.

Independent testing has shown that the MR2 Spyder accelerates to 100km/h in about 8.8 seconds and zips through the quarter mile in about 16.4 seconds. That's right in the ballpark for this category.

Moving inside the cockpit and the presentation is a curious mix of sports car theme and Toyota parts bin. There's chrome rings around the air-conditioning dials, black on silver instrument dials with the tacho centrally mounted, that silver knob of a gearshift lever and comfortable body-hugging sports seats.

Yet the audio system head unit is from the styling house that brought you Camry - nothing bespoke there. The presentation is dark, the plastics quite hard and the silver tubing mounted as door grabs could be from your grandmother's bathroom.

On the more practical side, storage space is extremely limited. The front "boot" is a joke, the sliding compartment behind the seats struggles to accommodate a briefcase such are the impracticalities of its shape and the door pockets are only good for a mobilephone.

On the flipside, the glovebox is commodious and you get three cupholders - in a two passenger car.

But the real test of a convertible is the roof. It's a manual system which is easy to use and earns more points for having a glass rear window. With the top down, windows up, the pop-up wind breaker in place and you nestled down into the low seating position this is a cosy environment in which to go for a blast.

It looks good too, a trait not all convertibles can boast when the top's lopped or added back on. In fact, as has been commented far and wide, there's more than a little Porsche Boxster to the styling.

And, happily, there's just a little Boxster in the drive experience too. 

Mechanical

Mechanical - Plan views

THE MR2 Spyder employs a similar, bespoke mechanical drivetrain as the Porsche Boxster, its transverse four-cylinder being mid-mounted for good weight distribution and driving the rear wheels.

Mechanical - Engine

THE MR2 Spyder is powered by an all-alloy 1794cc VVTi-equipped twin cam multi-valve engine which delivers 103kW of power at 6400rpm and 170Nm of torque at 4400rpm. VVTi means the engine offers computer-controlled variable valve timing across the engine revolution range with the aim of producing enhanced driveability.

Did you know?

The engine actually boasts less power than the old car, but that's compensated for by the 231kg lighter kerb weight.

Mechanical - Suspension

MR2's suspension has been redesigned and recalibrated. The MacPherson strut front suspension has a forged L-shaped lower arm, integrated with the lower ball joint, to optimize suspension rigidity and minimize unsprung weight. The rear MacPherson strut suspension has dual lower link arms and a lateral control rod. Stabiliser bars are fitted front and rear.

Mechanical - Electronic system

THE acclerator pedal and gearshift of the MR2 are "control-by-wire" type. Two separate electronic control units are networked to ensure smooth co-operation between the engine and transmission. The transmission ECU begins operation as soon as the the driver's door is opened, via a signal from the courtesy light switch.

Mechanical - Transmission

THE MR2 uses a sequential type manual transmission. The lever is pushed forward to change down and pulled back to change up. Gears can be shifted using either a short-throw gear lever or E-shift buttons on the steering wheel. Although there is no clutch pedal, the five-speed gearbox is a manual transmission. The clutch operation has simply been automated. Engine start is only permitted when the brake pedal is depressed and the shift lever is in neutral. The transmission ECU controls the clutch change, even closing the throttle momentarily during an up change if the driver's foot is flat to the floor. The ECU also blips the throttle on a downchange to match engine and road speed.

Did you know?

There is no automatic "D" mode, which means the driver must always change gears, except when stopped. Then the car automatically shifts into first gear.

Mechanical - Brakes

THE MR2 Spyder employs ventilated discs with single pistons and floating callipers front and rear. This is mated to four-sensor, four-channel anti-lock braking (ABS) system. Toyota claims the stopping distance has been reduced by 13 per cent compared to its predecessor.

Mechanical - Steering

THE steering system is rack and pinion, combined with Toyota's unique electro-hydraulic power steering. The power steering system is road-speed sensitive, designed to suit mid-ship engine installation and tuned to provide maximum assistance at parking speeds.

Safety

Dual SRS airbags and pre-tensioning seatbelts with force limiters are standard. Toyota claims the Spyder passes the European 40 per cent offset deformable barrier test and side impact test at much higher impact speeds than the regulations required. The Spyder makes extensive use of high-tensile steel sheet, including the front bonnet, engine hood and door skins, and for the full length of the chassis rails.

Did you know?

Impact absorbing structures at the front, side and rear of MR2 include protection beams in doors and reinforcements to the rear upper members and rear side members.

RIVALS:

TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER	MAZDA MX-5	MGF 1.8i
PRICE - RETAIL (Accurate at time of publishing)
$46,200	$43,485	$42,270
TRANSMISSION
5-speed sequential manual	5-speed manual	5-speed manual, 5-speed auto
DRIVING WHEELS
Rear	Rear	Rear
ENGINE
1.749 litres DOHC 16V, 4-cyl	1.839 litres DOHC 16V, 4-cyl	1.796 litres DOHC 16V, 4-cyl
MAX POWER
103kW	113kW	90kW
LENGTH
3885mm	3975mm	3910mm
WIDTH
1695mm	1680mm	1630mm
HEIGHT
1240mm	1225mm	1260mm
WEIGHT
975kg	1085kg	1075kg

Data

WARRANTY:

• Three years/100,000km
• Service intervals: 10,000km/12 months

ENGINE:

• 1.794-litre DOHC 16-valve transverse mid-mounted petrol four-cylinder with variable valve timing
• Induction: Electronic fuel-injection
• Bore/Stroke: 79.0mm x 91.5mm
• Compression ratio: 10.0:1
• Power: 103kW at 6400rpm
• Torque: 170Nm at 4400rpm

TRANSMISSION:

• Five-speed sequential manual

SUSPENSION:

• Front: Independent by MacPherson struts with lower L-arms, coil springs, gas shock absorbers and ball joint mounted stabiliser bar
• Rear: Independent by MacPherson struts, dual-link lower arms with control rod, coil springs, gas shock absorbers and ball joint mounted stabiliser bar

STEERING:

• Electro-hydraulic power assisted rack and pinion
• Turns lock to lock: 2.62
• Turning circle: 10.0 metres

DIMENSIONS:

• Length: 3885mm
• Width: 1695mm
• Height: 1240mm
• Wheelbase: 2450mm
• Track front: 1475mm
• Track rear: 1460mm
• Fuel tank: 48 litres
• Kerb weight: 975kg

ACCELERATION: 0-100km/h: 7.5 secs.
TOP SPEED: 180km/h limited - JDM Specs.  (215km/h Elsewhere)

END OF SOURCE 1: GOAUTO Australia. 

 Toyota MR2 MKIII History

SOURCE 2: http://mr2wiki.com/AllModels/History

2000

The all-new 2000 MR2 Spyder two-seat roadster was capable of
delivering a level of acceleration, braking and maneuverability that
came very close to vehicles pegged at nearly twice its price.
Weighing in at 2,195 pounds, the MR2 Spyder rode on a wide,
low-slung platform, supported by MacPherson struts at all four corners.
 It had a wheelbase of 96.5 inches and an overall length of 153 inches.

The Spyder was powered by a 1.8-liter twin-cam 16-valve four-cylinder
engine which featured VVT-i cylinder head technology. Rated at 138-hp
at 6,400 rpm and 125 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm, the Spyder's favorable
power-to-weight ratio contributed to a zero-to-60 acceleration time of
6.95 seconds. Power was applied to the rear wheels through a five-speed
manual transmission.

The Spyder's coachwork features steel panels that are bolted onto a 

high-rigidity unit-body, making repairs and customization easier and 

less expensive. There were storage compartments under the front 

hood and behind the seatbacks. The center cluster console was 

designed to accommodate audio equipment, or could be removed 

completely. The manually operated convertible soft-top folded completely 

out of sight, and needed no tonneau cover, unlike most convertibles. 

The MR2 offered six exterior color choices and three interior color

combinations. The list of standard features was extensive and the 

only options were dealer-installed accessories.

2001

For 2001, the MR2 Spyder carried over with no new changes.

2002

The 2002 MR2 Spyder is available with a clutchless sequential manual
transmission (SMT). The MR2 Spyder is the first U.S.-market Toyota
model to feature this new, sophisticated transmission. The clutch pedal
and gear selector have been replaced with a single shifter. The SMT
clutch and gear selector operations are performed by ECU computer
controlled actuators and the engine is also equipped with electronic
throttle control to allow the ECU to reduce torque during shifts. Spyders

equipped with this new transmission also come with cruise control.

2003

In 2003 the MR2 received several updates. The front and rear bumpers
were revised, in addition to new headlights, taillights, and side vents.
The chassis also received additional bracing and a limited-slip
differential was available as an option. Wheels and tires were also
slightly increased in size.

2005

The MR2 Spyder is discontinued in America (along with the Mk VII
Celica at the same time). No replacement is announced. It's sold for
another year in the UK, where it also gets a special limited edition
model.

NOTE: All chronology dates are model year, unless noted 

otherwise. CY refers to "Calendar Year."

END OF SOURCE 2. 

SOURCE 3: http://www.carsdirect.com/toyota/mr2_spyder/colors

Colour and trim choices.

Exterior Colors

Absolutely Red

Black

Electric Green Mica

Paradise Blue Metallic

Phantom Gray Pearl

Silver Streak Mica

Solar Yellow

Spectra Blue Metallic

Super White

Interior Colors

Black

Gray

Red

Tan

 Without further ado, let's proceed to SOURCE 4: 11 Owner's review.

Owner 1: 2000 Toyota MR2 Roadster review rom UK and Ireland

"A high performance comfortable gem"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

A hinge cover on the inside of the roof snapped off by accident. This
was caused my catching my finger on it while retracting the soft top.
First thoughts were that this would be easy to fix, but after visiting the
local Toyota dealer and many subsequent phone calls it turned out
that a whole new roof was required. A new roof was fitted, but since
the dealer had never completed such a job before the roof was
incorrectly installed. The mechanism jammed and bent. Another new
roof needed to be fitted (again on Toyota Warranty). This time the
dealer contracted the work to a local soft-top specialist. After a
couple of months the second roof was installed. So far it has

caused me no problems.

General comments?

Apart from the issues that I've experienced with the roof, I can
honestly say that the car is nothing short of fantastic.

Although the storage space is very limited, I often travel to London
by myself in it with a Laptop computer and manage to get by without
any problems.

Performance is great, 0-60mph in about 7.5 seconds. Also it's a perfect
city car as it's small and accelerates quickly so you can easily get
yourself out of difficulty. I can get 40 miles per gallon if the car is
driven efficiently.

The car handles well. The Bridge stone tyres that it comes with are
excellent although wear down quickly. The wheel alignment was
badly adjusted on mine from new and the front tyres wore down
after 12k miles. The rear tyres made 20k. The car now has Dunlop
tyres on it and the handling is not as good, though still more than
acceptable. The car is light and can be affected by high winds in
the winter.

Owner 2: 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder review from Australia and New Zealand

"The best car I have ever owned!"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Had to replace an instrument cluster bulb. Other than that...
absolutely nothing!

General comments?

The MR2 is a true sports car. Perfect handling and exciting performance matched with Toyota reliability makes the MR2 a true gem! Highly recommended for serious fun!

Owner 3: 2000 Toyota MR2 Roadster review from UK and Ireland

"Fun, exciting and stands out from the crowd!"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

OK so only had car 6 weeeks, and no problems to report yet (fingers crossed).

General comments?

I waited 20 years to own an MR2, was a teenage dream that finally materialised. And I have not been disappointed. OK so you can't fit more than two carrier bags in it (no boot - engine in there, and bonnet space houses spare tyre!) but hey I didn't buy it as a family car! Fast, nippy, easy to park (crucial for us females!) and OK on petrol. Holds the road like glue. Overall have been very pleased and have the 'grin factor' every time I get behind the wheel. Go buy one, don't think you'll be disappointed.

Owner 4: 2000 Toyota MR2 Roadster review from UK and Ireland

"What all sports cars desire to be"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Nothing has gone wrong with the car since new, not even any re-calls.
You just can't say fairer than that.

General comments?

This is one quick car, think 0-60 in less than 8 seconds. It's great fun to drive too. Thankfully, the speed and fun doesn't take too much away from the comfort.
Light power steering, supportive seats and decent fuel economy (38mpg!) make this a nice everyday car to use.
The roof is very easy and quick to take down, plus it has a heated screen built-in!
It can be awkward to get in and out of the car, especially in car parks, but what fun!
Don't ever expect to be able to carry any more than a sports bag though, there is no boot, only storage boxes behind the seats...

Owner 5:

2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder review from North America

"To sum it up, the MR2 can't be beat for the value, performance and overall Toyota quality."

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Driver side headlight seal began to leak while still under warranty (~5K miles) no cost to me.

General comments?

I'm on my third "Mister Two." I fell in love with the MR2 in 1985. Bought one of the first Twos brought into the US. Then traded for a 1988 MR2 supercharged BEAST when they became available. Talk about a kick in the pants!

You gotta love the mid engine, rear wheel drive, manual transmission advantage. I have always felt like I can reach out and touch all four corners of the MR2. The 1985, the 1988 SC AND the 2000). I definitely like being in total control. The car is an extension of me AND I'm a part of the car.

I regret that I never snagged an MKII during the 1990s. I would gladly donate an eye, kidney, etc. to have an MKII turbo that has been pampered by it's original owner, while, of course, simultaneously keeping my 2000 MKIII.

I NEVER want to be without a "Mister Two." You simply cannot find another mid engine car that is affordable, reliable and so much fun it's probably illegal in socialist countries.
Virtually no stowage space in the 2000 MKIII, but why should I care? That's where my old reliable 4x4 Toy' pickup comes in handy; for trips to the lumber yard and bad weather days.

I hope Toyota never scares us again by cutting us off from the MR2 like they did in the late 1990s here in the USA. Keep your Miatas, MGFs and such.
Zoom, Zoom my arse! Gimme a "Two" any day!!

Owner 6: 2001 Toyota MR2 review from UK and Ireland

"By far the best in it's class, most fun car under £30,000"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

There have been no faults with the car.

General comments?

The MR2 has the best handling car I've ever encountered, it just sticks. Corners can be taken at insane speeds and there is not even a hint of instability, unless you want to power slide around corners in which case the car will let you.

The MR2 can only be beaten by Porsche Boxters and Lotus Elise's on cornering.

This car offers the most enjoyable drive under £30,000. I reguarly find myself driving to the local shops even though it's quicker to walk, and then making huge detours down the country lanes.

The MR2 is a real drivers car, and you feel at one with it. It encourages you to push harder all the time and to get involved in the drive, not just sit back and drift along, however it is a comfortable car and drifting along is also a pleasure.

The roof is much better than competitors, as it has a glass rear window with de-misters, and it can be raised and lowered in seconds, without any zips, velcro or poppers.

The MR2 turns heads and is seen as a real drivers car not a hairdressers car as the MX-5 and the MG TF have the reputation for.

The MR2 has what seems like endless torque throughout the range and although it only has 140 bhp it is very quick and is faster than most cars encountered. A regular tractor has a 1000 bhp, and has little torque so the bhp for the MR2 is misleading, as the car is so light the torque is enormous.

The Brakes are incredible, and frequently scare passengers. The MR2 equals the Porsche Boxter in braking distance.

The Turning circle is very small making tricky manovering easy. Many 3 point turns in regular cars can be done in one in one, in the MR2.

Owner 7: 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder review from North America

"A great driver's car at any price."

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Rear trunk latch occasionally does not work.
Rattle from passenger airbag disable in glove compartment.

General comments?

The handling is simply amazing. Few cars can compare.
It's an extremely fun to drive. Quite possibly one of the most enjoyable cars under $50,0000.
The brakes are incredible. Literally brakes as well as most Ferrari's.
Very smooth and comfortable ride for such a small car.
The stock Bridgestone Potenza tires are excellent.
The engine is strong at any speed or rpm.
Throttle response is lightning quick and the engine and transmission are unbelievably smooth.
Convertible top is very easy to operate and well sealed.
There is a very large blind spot with the top up that makes merging very difficult. The hard top remedies this, but is expensive.
Interior is bland, but high quality.
Oak colored leather interior is not very appealing.
The engine could use 10-20 more horsepower.
Front trunk space is virtually non-existent.
It could use a limited slip differential.

Owner 8: 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder review from Australia and New Zealand

"Great fun, great reliability"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Nothing - unless a tail bulb counts...!

General comments?

Handles like nothing on earth - point it at a corner and it tucks in and goes - no oversteer, no understeer and heaps of feeling.
Toyota quality is as usual rock solid.
Some say that it could do with more oomph - I disagree, it's all about the drive, the handling and the fun.
Less common than an MX5, the MR2 is the poor man's Boxster.

		Above: TRD Stage 3 Bodykit.

Owner 9: 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder review from North America

"Nimble handling, fun to drive"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Nothing so far.

General comments?

Bought as part of my mid-life crisis. Wanted an Asian mistress and ended up with a Toyota Spyder (Should be cheaper in the end). I'm 6'2" and weigh 225. I tried to fit into a Honda S2000, Saturn Sky and Mazda Miata (both new and old) and found the Spyder had more room for my legs and headroom. Due to garage size, I was limited to the size of car that I could purchase. So far, its fun with the convertible. Wish the rpm's were lower when traveling in 5th.

Owner 10: 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder review from North America

"Economy/Performance"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Nothing at this point. I just noticed that the front window defrost isn't functioning and I'm taking it in to get that checked out.
I have noticed that the leather tops tend to pick up black smudges from the weather stripping during raising/lowering.

General comments?

Comfort: Leather seats are comfortable, but I have a tendency to slide on them during heavy cornering. The lumbar support is a nice touch.
Economy: I've been averaging 29-30 MPG in combined Highway/City driving using regular unleaded.
Acceleration: Decent acceleration from a stop, but much better during highway acceleration. Lugs at times in first gear at lower RPM, but will light up the tires at 4-5K RPM.
Cornering: Absolutely superb!! I can't give it justice so I won't explain, just drive one.
Braking: Sometimes when I hit the brakes I end up further back than where I started, it's that quick.
Interior: I love it, simple, relatively bare. Would prefer the center of the dash come inward a bit, not quite the feel of a cockpit. Very little room for the legs of the driver, I wouldn't even try to drive one with a shoe size of 12 (US) or more. Right leg rests against the center console, a bit uncomfortable at times.
Storage: Limited. I can fit my racquetball gear behind the seats and very little else. There is no trunk so I generally use the passenger seat for everything.
Trans: This is my biggest complaint! I drove the sequential trans model (which I didn't like as much). That model actually has 6 forward gears, hence the est 34 MPG highway rather than 33. RPM stays much lower than with the 5 spd manual which runs at just under 4k RPM during extended Interstate driving. Why not drop a 6 in both? That being said, the gearshift operation is short, quick, crisp, and a true pleasure to operate. I've been sighted throwing through the shifting pattern while stuck at stoplights.

Overall: I love this car and I'll keep it forever, and since it's a Toyota it will probably last forever. I may have to increase the hp by a bit and personalize it in other ways, but it's really an outstanding car for only about 25K. I gave up my Mitsu Eclipse Spyder GS for this and I'd never even consider going back.

Owner 11: 2005 Toyota MR2 Roadster VVTI review from UK and Ireland

"Oustanding"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

The seals around the lights are poor as water gets in them and they then fog up.
It has an annoying reverse alarm.
It has an even more annoying seatbealt alarm.
The motorized antenna comes up wether you are using the radio or not.
The stereo is of a poor quality and is very ugly.

General comments?

This car is an excellent drive and handles like it is on rails. it corners perfectly.
The transmission is a six speed sport gearbox which is ultra smooth and it is impossible to put the car into the wrong gear.
The 1.8 VVTI dual overhead cam gives this little car more than enough power and it looks awesome driving down the road with the roof down as a convertible or with the hard top on (Coupe)

 END OF OWNER'S REVIEW:

Source 4:
http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/toyota/mr2/

That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry of mine...