No longer content to just zip in and out of traffic, it anxiously scampers from corner to corner. Outside of town, the MR2 exhibits another, more interesting side of its personality. The car hits 60 mph in just 7.3 seconds, only one-half second slower than the 180-bhp Celica GT-S. Driving around town can actually be accomplished without continuous downshifts, though should you choose to drop a gear the engine response proves rewarding. Acceleration from the 1.8-liter, 16-valve engine is strong without being peaky and the car’s low curb weight makes its 125lb.-ft. With 138 bhp powering just 2250 lb., the MR2 is an enthusiastic performer. Just as the original car benefited from an excellent power-to-weight ratio, so does the new one. What Do You Buy If You Don’t Want a Miata? they take a straighter, edgier, form-over-function path all their own. That said, its lines don't follow the same fluid Porsche curves. Sharing the same mid-engine configuration as the popular German roadster, the MR2 also shares a similar headlight and side intake treatment. Where the Miata is derived from, say, the Lotus Elan, the MR2 Spyder has a more Porsche Boxster-like slant to it. Styling, however, couldn’t be more disparate. So yes it’s small, but not abnormally so. Dimensionally, it's almost exactly the same size as a Mazda Miata, albeit marginally shorter and slightly wider. Short overhangs and a long wheelbase reinforce the impression that this car is quite diminutive. Offered only as a convertible (unlike previous fixed/targa top MR2s), the Spyder comes across as very compact at first glance. Adopting the same simple back-to-basics approach of its predecessor, this modem iteration cleverly blends low weight and compact dimensions to produce a lively performer worthy of the MR2 name. SIGN UP FOR THE TRACK CLUB BY R&T FOR MORE EXCLUSIVE STORIESįast forward to 2000 when the spirit of the original MR2 returns in the fresh form of the new MR2 Spyder. This story originally appeared in the 2001 Sports and GT Cars issue of Road & Track.
were discontinued following the 1995 model year. Even so, wavering interest in the early 1990s proved its undoing and sales of the MR2 in the U.S. With 0-60-mph times in the mid-sixes, the MR2 was no longer just a “cute little car.” It had become a real sports car contender. The addition of a 200-bhp turbocharged model suddenly moved the car from a strong performer to a genuine screamer. Better still, thanks to its mid-engine layout and excellent power-to-weight ratio, it delivered the performance to back up its racy looks.Ī 1991 redesign introduced a sleeker, sportier MR2 that grew both in size and power. Initially intended to offer exotic car looks at an everyday price, the original MR2 made it easy to feel like a racer for a fraction of the cost. Web Site: Note: Additional larger photos are available in the photo album.Since its introduction in 1985, the Toyota MR2 has been about low-cost, big-thrills driving fun.Direct Competitors: Mazda Miata, Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible, VW Beetle Convertible.Acceleration (0 - 100 km/h): 7.0 seconds.
#Toyota spyder manual#
Transmission: 5-spd manual (optional 6-spd auto).Engine: 138 hp, 125 lb-ft of torque, 1.8-L, DOHC, 16-valve 4 Cylinder.Rather it should be available here in the first place, don't you think? Specifications (U.S.
Who knows, maybe no one at Toyota would notice it was gone? Still, I shouldn't have to want to bring it back home. While it's compact and lacks storage space, I'm sure somehow I could squeeze in my suitcase. After my six days in the MR2 Spyder, I wanted to take it back home with me to Canada. Its thrifty nature was a good thing, as the less the car consumed the more I could! It was a symbiotic relationship. Estimated fuel economy for the Spyder is 26 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. I was also impressed with the fuel economy, now especially important. The MR2 Spyder handled very well, looked great, and included a long list of standard features. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)Īt the end of my test week I was impressed by more than one thing. While it's compact and lacks storage space, the Toyota Spyder is a great car I wish I could have taken home with me. Enhancing the exterior were color-keyed bumpers and door handles, dual color-keyed power outside mirrors, a rear wind deflector and chrome exhaust tips. The polished aluminum alloy wheels, 15s wrapped in 185/55R15 rubber up front and 16s inside 215/45R16s in the back added that extra touch of class. Like the inside, the MR2's exterior styling is also refined and elegant with a sporty flare.
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