Discuss: MR2 Spyder

"Jay Lauer" (thefaultinourcars) 01/18/2014 at 18:18 • Filed to: None

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I've been offering one as trade for my BMW. Looking in to it, they actually look like good cars. Toyota reliability, super crazy light. (Lighter than NA Miata) and very good MPG. Yes, there's no good trunk space, but I'm still young damnit.

The one being offered has a 6-speed SMG too, which is interesting, I suppose. Weirdly, there's no automatic mode.

Let me know you're opinions. If you own one, I'd definitely like to know.

GO!

Squid > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:21

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If it doesn't have 3 pedals don't bother. I honestly didn't know that these were offered with an SMG-esque tranny so I dunno. They are nice cars and getting harder to find a decent one now, so if you want a tiny roadster and learn how to pack minimally and not take more that one person with you it can be a fun car to have.

Bad Idea Hat > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:23

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I don't think this is a popular opinion here, but I'd take an MR2 over a Miata any day of the week.

Jay Lauer > Squid 01/18/2014 at 18:30

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Well the practicality is no worse than a Miata, and it's always the right answer.

But lack of pedals does bother me. For all the complications of SMG, I'd rather just have a manual.

Jay Lauer > Bad Idea Hat 01/18/2014 at 18:30

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Do explain, please.

Bad Idea Hat > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:32

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I think it's a prettier car, I'm a Toyota geek, and I just generally like it more. I've never driven one, and only briefly driven a Miata. Everything about it is beautiful to me.

midengineer > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:33

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You have good taste, haha. The only thing I really know about is that some of the cars had a pre-cat issue, at least I'm pretty sure that what the gen 3 owners say to prospective buyers on the forum. On another note if you're looking for the good mpg, i.e. above 25, then the MR2 turbo is definitely not for you. I average around 19 mpg with mixed highway city driving.

f86sabre > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:34

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MR2 is on my "would hoon" list. They are interesting cars for certain.

Jay Lauer > midengineer 01/18/2014 at 18:34

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Well shit, what is a fun car that gets above 25 average? That's not FWD

Leadbull > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:36

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I've driven one (manual). It was quite fun, and had a surprising amount of room inside. I'm 6'3", and I only felt a little cramped.

And did I mention it's fun?

Jay Lauer > Leadbull 01/18/2014 at 18:36

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What about trunk space, or lack thereof?

midengineer > Bad Idea Hat 01/18/2014 at 18:37

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I totally agree, of course I am pretty biased towards Toyota. Compared with similar cars from the time like the S2000 I would choose the spyder. I can only imagine that its lightness would be a fantastic attribute.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:39

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MR2 Spyder does not have a turbo, and should easily get 25+.

Unless that one is modded, then it won't.

midengineer > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:40

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True that, I guess its the price of RWD fun admission. I would think the miata has decent mpg but other than that I'm clueless.

Leadbull > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:41

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"Lack thereof..."

It was enough for a backpack or maybe two.

RotaryLover > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:45

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Just remove the pre-cats on them and you'll have a super reliable mid engined car. The pre-cats tend to fail and destroy the engine. A lot of engine replacements has been done by Toyota because of that. I'm not sure if the newer models had the issue fixed but I know the first variant of the 3rd gen did.

TinFoil Knight > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:47

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would hoon HARD! I'd pimp dis till the wheels fall off, then it's be all like PIMP IN DISTRESS!!

phenotyp > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:50

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I've DDed mine for 8+ years. Mine's an 01, and thankfully it didn't have the dreaded precat issue. With slightly wider (still staggered) tires than the original Yokos, it rode and handled a whole lot better. I put a full midship brace under it back in 2007, and that's the single biggest thing that improves the car, except maybe replacing the top with a canvas one. So much stiffer, better steering, less crashy. Other than a burned out evap return sensor that I never bothered to fix, and the window in the stock top (prone to tearing at the corners, I glued mine back up a few times before throwing in the towel and putting a canvas roof on it), it's been dead nuts reliable. I really can't say enough good things about the car. It gets a lot of shit for being a girly car around here, but what the hell? They never even offered an automatic!
Lemme know if you wanna know more.

midengineer > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/18/2014 at 18:52

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Just to clarify, I was referring to an earlier post of his where he was asking about a mk2 turbo.

Squid > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 18:57

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Just read a review of the MR2 with that tranny, doesn't seem to be so bad. Take it for a spin and see if you could live with it. The MR2 is a very good roadster along with the Miata so it is kinda hard to go wrong, it is just the automated manual that is a little bit of a concern but it actually doesn't seem like it is a teribad option to have, it really is just an automated manual box that rows its self, I just wonder how it is in low speed situations like parking lots and the like where the clutch is constantly used. Take it for a spin I say.

phenotyp > RotaryLover 01/18/2014 at 18:57

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By the time they offered the SMG, Toyota had fixed the precat issue. The 2000-01 cars were the ones with the problems, and although people were (rightly) vocal about it, not that many of them had the issue. Mine thankfully didn't.

phenotyp > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 19:00

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The practicality is definitely not the same as the Miata, though. No trunk whatsoever. The frunk will maybe hold a backpack, if you keep the spare and toolkit in it, and there's a cubby behind the seats, but that's it. You gotta do your grocery shopping alone.

phenotyp > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 19:02

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Also, is that a photo of the actual car? If so, it looks like he's missing a strap in the roof that tucks the corners down and in when it's folded. The corner "ears" shouldn't be hanging out like that.

phenotyp > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 19:02

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Also, is that a photo of the actual car? If so, it looks like he's missing a strap in the roof that tucks the corners down and in when it's folded. The corner "ears" shouldn't be hanging out like that.

phenotyp > Bad Idea Hat 01/18/2014 at 19:03

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Absofuckinlutely.

Jay Lauer > phenotyp 01/18/2014 at 19:08

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This is the photo from Wiki, but the car is a dead ringer.

Jay Lauer > Squid 01/18/2014 at 19:09

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I thought the cubby could hold a suitcase or duffel behind the seats?

Jay Lauer > phenotyp 01/18/2014 at 19:11

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What kind of MPG do you get?

Also, how much legitimate space do you have to put things? behind the seats and all.

phenotyp > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 19:11

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Right on. If you end up with it, just check the Spyderchat forum and see if the dude who sells replacement straps is still around, if the original one isn't just unsnapped and inside the pocket in the headliner (mine was). The roof should sit nice and tight inside the rubber.

phenotyp > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 19:16

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Around 30, average. It's great. Luggage space is the biggest drawback to the car, IMO. If you pick someone up from the airport, they'd better not have much more than a backpack. If they have a wheelie bag, it better fit on their lap, because that's the only place it'll go. You can probably fit about 3 grocery bags in the cubby behind the seat. The frunk is laughable. It's not much better than a bike, in that regard.

But there's no other car out there hits the trifecta of affordable, reliable, and mid-engined.

Squid > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 19:22

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Looks like there is some space there. I've only been in one once and my friend had one for a few months before some lady totaled it out.

phenotyp > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 19:24

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Oh, and I don't know much about the SMGs, but the manuals are geared for acceleration, and not cruising. There's a reason the R stands for runabout; it's a buzzy little fucker on the freeway. Like 3600 rpm at 70 mph.

Jay Lauer > phenotyp 01/18/2014 at 19:25

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Is that highway MPG or average?

Well I can always borrow my father's pickup for the big stuff, but I'd like to DD and have enough room for me to go out of town for the weekend

Jay Lauer > phenotyp 01/18/2014 at 19:26

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I always thought the R stood for RWD.

So, it's no better on the highway than a Miata.

phenotyp > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 19:31

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Midship Runabout 2-seater. It's definitely not quiet on the freeway.

phenotyp > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 19:32

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Average.

Jay Lauer > phenotyp 01/18/2014 at 19:49

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Bummer. I do about 80% highway.

It would've been great in my pizza delivering days.

awe46m3zcp > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 20:15

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I wouldn't trade a BMW for that... Lets hear about your BMW.

phenotyp > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 20:23

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The amount of fun off-freeway really makes up for it, though. There's nothing that comes close, for the price.

sdsfsgaerWF > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 22:16

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A steel-body lotus elise, roughly. Buy it. Although you'll think everything else from then on steers like a slug...

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 23:30

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I like these cars, although I do think the third gen is a bit ugly compared to the second, but it's lighter so we'll give it points there. The lack of a current MR-2 is one of the many reasons why I think Toyota is a company that makes beige crap. Toyota really needs to look back on the 80's and reflect on what they have become. It's like Toyota has aged with it's customers.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > Jay Lauer 01/18/2014 at 23:59

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I've wanted one for a long time as a project car. I haven't seen one that isn't trashed or completely molested nearby, however.

Good luck in your search. I think you'd like it.

m2m, apex detective > Jay Lauer 01/19/2014 at 05:59

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Drive it.