[dwdgsi03]

Can you guess which car is mine??


Okay, let me first start off with my initial impressions of the MR2...

WOW...that's the first thing that comes to mind. Seriously. I haen't had a car put a grin on my face like the MR2 did today ever since I boosted the Focus. I don't even know where to begin. Everything about this car is perfect.

Let's talk about the handling...

I've driven an SVTF, as well as my cousin's Miata. Both of those cars are top notch in their class. But as soon as I took the MR2 on the first cloverleaf on-ramp, my eyes got as big as saucers and I had a grin the size of Texas! The grip...it's almost endless! The posted speed was 25mph and I was doing almost 60...conservatively. It just wouldn't let go. It didn't understeer and there was no snap-oversteer like the MKII MR2. Just endless, balanced, confidence-inspiring grip. It give a whole new meaning to "handling on rails". A better comparison would be to say it handles like a go-cart. You have to actually drive one to believe that this kind of performance could come from a 25k car (25k when it was new...I got it for 12k used).

The power delivery...

The car is, like the name implies, is mid-engine/rwd. I've never drive this combo before so it was all new to me. At first, I had a FF mindset still lingering from the Focus. So I launched around 2k (It was kind of damp from rain). The car bogged a bit, then took off. Okay, good. So then I try switching to rwd thinking lauching a bit higher to try to break the grip of the rear tires...still nothing, the rear squatted a bit, and took off fairly quick. So at this point I'm like..."Damn". Finally I launched at 4500 still trying to break the rear loose. The car squatted again, only this time took off like it was pissed at the world. No tire spin at all. It snapped my neck back and pushed me further into the bucket seat. "Surely this car doesn't only have 140hp/125lb/tq." I thought to myself. The combination of the engine/drivetrain set-up, along with the tampon-like weight of the car allows you to launch like a bat out of hell. I like this very much...[] The car just felt faster than the engine specs portrayed on paper. Now I see why this car runs mid 15's stock. The close gear ratios keep it in the peak power range, too.

And speaking of the shifter, the damn thing is TIGHT! It makes my Steeda shifter feel like it came out of a Kia or something. The gates are close and the throw is short and solid. The leather-wrapped knob adds to the flavor. Toyota did a great job on this.

And the engine...the thing sits literally inches from your head, so you hear all of the mechanical noises, which sound beautiful. The exhaust note has a nice growl to it. If I had to compare it, I'd swear it sounded like the 350z stock exhaust, minus two cylinders.

The car sits very low. By low, I mean that if I really wanted to, I could probably drive under a semi-rig like they did in F&F...and this is at stock height! The car looks like it just swallows you up. My ears are about 4 inches above the door sill and I'm 5'10". It's crazy.

Now for the quirks...

The seats. They look firm and grippy, and they are. They lead you to believe they are some of the most comfortable seats you've ever been in.

1 hour later...

You can't help but notice the total lack of lumbar support in these things. It was a 4 hour drive back to Biloxi from Montgomery and after the first hour, I was ready to call it quits. I'm still sore. All of that aside though, the seats hold you really well in the twisty bits.

The storage space...

Or lack thereof...

There some space up in the "frunk" (front trunk) for you to store maybe a couple backsacks, but nothing else. You could probably gain an extra cubic foot or so of space by removing the spare tire, but I decided to leave it in to keep the car balanced. There is also a storage bin behind the seats that is enough room to house 3 semi-full backsacks and nothing more. I guess I wound be making any extended trips with my wife in this car. Oh well.

It was funny driving it around. Folks would speed up to me and then slow down as they passed me just to get a closer look at the car. At one of the rest stops in Alabama, this older gentleman walked up to me and said that he passed me on the interstate and kept trying to figure out what kind of car it was. I explained to him what it was and let him sit inside of it and rev the engine a bit. He kept raving about how great it looked. He thought it was some sort of Porshe at first.


Overall, I'm greatly pleased with my purchase. It was sad to see the Focus go, but I felt right at home in the MR2 as soon as I sat in it. I don't have any plans for FI on this car. I was leaning more towards a 2ZZ swap/6-speed (Celica GTS) swap and build that up for serious NA power. With the car only weighing 2195lbs, I doubt I'll really want/need more than 200whp. There are folks on the Spyder forums running mid-low 13's with just a 2ZZ swap and no internal work. But first and formost, I'm buying every bit of suspension goodies I can get. Then it's the $2000 hardtop, then I can start looking at the swap. It's going to be fun trying to learn the ins and outs of this car, as well as having a fresh slate to start with. I'm definitely going to be hanging around here still, especially since a lot of the folks on Spyderchat are dics.

Opinions or comments are welcome[8D]

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[scorpio1118_2000]

who cares this is a focus sit e go post on the toyota site and go on with your life [hatchet]

 

[Ripped_06_ST]

I am so sorry... BUT I cannot beliebe you got rid of a boosted focus for a stock MR-2. Nice car tho but i prefer your other car for sure.

 

[magicleo2120]

how many miles and what year is it? cool price u paid if it all comes with good #'s

 

[dwdgsi03]

My decision was actually based more off of the fact that I needed something with a little more reliability, plus I've have my eye on the MR2 since forever. So I had the chance and I jumped on it. I do miss the boost, but you can only go so fast on public roads. Boost is nice, but not for a daily driver. I need something dependable so I don't have to worry about being stranded on the side of the road somewhere because I snapped a rod trying to flex my muscles at some SRT driver.

Also, I'm trying to get into autocross when I get to SA, so this will prevent me from being placed in a higher class.

I really can't explain all of my motives to you. I just really wanted an MR2, and I got one. If I still want boost, I can just drive the wife's soon to be boosted 2006 SI...

 

[gump1114]

ive always like these cars after seeing this one...

i think the hardtop does wonders for the look.

 

[dwdgsi03]

how many miles and what year is it? cool price u paid if it all comes with good #'s

The car is a 2000 and has 81k miles. Not bad if you ask me. The car is great condition, and from the looks of it, it was owned by an older driver previously.

 

[dwdgsi03]

ive always like these cars after seeing this one...

i think the hardtop does wonders for the look.

Yeah, I'm definitely getting a hardtop. They're $2k from japanparts.com, but I have to talk the wife into letting me spend that much on it[|)]


Also, there is an abundance of widebosy kit for this car. The body panels are all secured with bolts for easy removal (and amazingly enough, lower insurance premiums). Toyota really wanted this car to be modded.

 

[gump1114]

i have the magazine that car was featured in if you want it.

 

[azdamay]

He kept raving about how great it looked. He thought it was some sort of Porshe at first.

No surprise there, the MR2 Spyder was an obvious ripoff of the Porsche Boxster. Honestly (and I say this as a former Mk. I MR2 owner) I'd rather buy myself one of the last nice unmolested Mk. II MR2s or even a really nice Mk. I and save a lot of money over the Spyder.

But hey, I ain't buyin' - you are. And it sounds like you are happy with your purchase, so enjoy.

 

[dwdgsi03]

Re: Re: Finally trade the Fofo in...LOTSA Pics of the new whip!!!! 56k may be okay

No surprise there, the MR2 Spyder was an obvious ripoff of the Porsche Boxster. Honestly (and I say this as a former Mk. I MR2 owner) I'd rather buy myself one of the last nice unmolested Mk. II MR2s or even a really nice Mk. I and save a lot of money over the Spyder.

But hey, I ain't buyin' - you are. And it sounds like you are happy with your purchase, so enjoy.

Yeah, but I was in a position where I need to change cars quick. Believe me, I found 2 great candidates for the MKII model, but the wanted more than I was willing to spend. All of the others were in far off places like Cali and Pennsylvania.

Granted the MKI was the essense of all MR2's, that's a bit to much work for me at the moment. I already told the wife that once we get our business of the ground, I'm buying an MKII. End of story.

 

[PlutoJared22]

Those always looked like fun cars, and from your review it sounds like it is. Hope you are happy, good luck modding it!

 

[azdamay]

The Spyder is a nice car, don't get me wrong - it just never spoke to me on emotional level like the earlier MR2s did. I would have liked it a lot more if they had either made more of an "evolutionary" upgrade of the traditional MR2 styling, or done something more original than copy the Boxster look.

On the flip side, though, by buying a newer model you get one that hasn't been used and abused. Most of the older MR2s are just toast at this point, with 200,000 miles, faded paint, and shredded interiors. And the ones that aren't wasted are going for a lot of money. So I see what you're saying.

 

[SVT_BMXer]

I say congrats. I like it alot. Must have been hard to get rid of the fofo but it looks like it was replaced well.

 

[babyface]

I like them, I like them a lot. I just can't fit into one. [?|] [?|] [?|]

 

[Duffman355]

I hate toyota sooo much but I like the MR2 so much. I want one of them old MR2 GTS with the turbo on em. I think they were a removable hardtop too.

 

[thefrush]

Turbo 2ZZ swap? []

 

[dwdgsi03]

Turbo 2ZZ swap? []

I don't know dude. That's a lot of maintenance. High compression engine plus turbos don't do too well as far as longevity goes...

But I'm definitely doing a 2ZZ swap within the next year or so.

 

[svtguy21]

i personally love those cars and if there was one in the area i would have jumped on it before i bought the svt.

 

[Shadowrunner]

i love the older ones, they look so damn good if you ask me. the newer ones are cool, too, but those mk1's... whenever i get out of school and get a good job i'm gonna buy one. park it right next to the focus.