I have been a long time reader of this forum but this is my first post. I know the answer is mostly "Miata" but I'm looking for opinions on the latest generation (2000 -2006) of the MR2. This would be a limited driver and used mostly for fun. How do they handle? Enough power? Is there much aftermarket stuff? Quality? etc. Thanks for the opinions.
Have you seen the trunk?
Other than that, I too would like to have one but the prices have not quite come down yet to where I would be attracted.
John
'90 Miata
'88 MR2 SC - sold
I would consider one. Like I need another car. I thought about it as a DD but I really wanted FWD for snow days. My uncle-in-law just bought one. Go to mr2oc.com and browse.
> How do they handle?
People like them. They ain't a Lotus, but nothing else is and they do very well.
>Enough power?
Is there ever enough? Enough for what you want to do. Get the Turbo and you can have as much power as your pocketbook will support. From what I've read, take it as you will, 300 with just cranking the boost and some alphabet soup add-ons. After that, it seems to start to get expensive. The 3SGTE (Turbo motor in the MR2) is considered to be the ultimate example of a 16 valve 4 cylinder motor.
>Is there much aftermarket stuff?
Plenty.
>Quality?
It's a Toyota.
Handling: It's lightweight and the engine is in the right place.
Power: Define "enough". It has roughly the same power and weight as a Miata.
Aftermarket: It's a small Toyota. I believe using the same engine as the Celica.
Quality: It's a small Toyota. I believe using the same engine as the Corolla.
I think the prices are a bit higher on them. I would prefer a Miata, since the prices on the Miata have dropped a lot more, and there are far more options for modification, plus a trunk.
I'm also not sure about being able to install a rollbar in an MR2, which you would need to do if you plan to take it to a track.
I've heard they're very similar to the first-gen MR2.
1st Gen MR2 = Baby Lotus
2nd Gen MR2 (turbo) = Baby Ferrari
3rd Gen MR2 = Baby Porsche
Dr. Hess wrote: I would consider one. Like I need another car. I thought about it as a DD but I really wanted FWD for snow days. My uncle-in-law just bought one. Go to mr2oc.com and browse. > How do they handle? People like them. They ain't a Lotus, but nothing else is and they do very well. >Enough power? Is there ever enough? Enough for what you want to do. Get the Turbo and you can have as much power as your pocketbook will support. From what I've read, take it as you will, 300 with just cranking the boost and some alphabet soup add-ons. After that, it seems to start to get expensive. The 3SGTE (Turbo motor in the MR2) is considered to be the ultimate example of a 16 valve 4 cylinder motor. >Is there much aftermarket stuff? Plenty. >Quality? It's a Toyota.
He's talking about the MR2 Spyder. ;)
SW20 is a good example of a budget "supercar" though.
pirate wrote: I have been a long time reader of this forum but this is my first post. I know the answer is mostly "Miata" but I'm looking for opinions on the latest generation (2000 -2006) of the MR2. This would be a limited driver and used mostly for fun. How do they handle? Enough power? Is there much aftermarket stuff? Quality? etc. Thanks for the opinions.
I love how they handle.... i personally consider them to handle better than a Miata. Of course, i haven't driven a brand new miata, so take that with a grain or two of salt.
Power... they have a 1zzfe from Celica GT. 140hp, and decent torque. The car only weighs 2200lbs (lighter than miata) and with that HP, it's not slow. It's not fast, but you'll be entertained.
There is plenty of aftermarket.
Quality is great.
If you need more power, turbo the 1zzfe (does ok on low boost, plenty good enough for 250whp or so) and that would be a seriously quick car.
Or.... i personally like the idea of the 2zzge in it. 180hp n/a 1.8 litre with VVTL-i! Nifty.
I drove one back to back with a Mazdaspeed Miata, and if they were the same price, i wouldn't be able to decide which to get. But.... considering that you can easily get the MR2 for half the price.... There's my choice.
Oh. And they look EVIL with a hardtop.
a question I have been asking is "will I fit?"
maybe I should ask with a threadjack...
Will I fit in a MR2 spyder? (6"2' 280 lbs) (yeah, I'm a big dude.)
Sport Compact Car had a project car MR2 Spyder. And by the time they were done it could beat a Lotus Elise.
maroon92 wrote: a question I have been asking is "will I fit?" maybe I should ask with a threadjack... Will I fit in a MR2 spyder? (6"2' 280 lbs) (yeah, I'm a big dude.)
I think you should.... Buddy who went with me was 5'11" and 260lbs, and he fit with no problems at all.
If you have a freakishly long torso, you MIGHT have an issue.
Wasn't there a couple of these that have been winning at Runoffs, too? The potential is DEFINITELY there.
And to get something different than anyone else would be grassroots. Don't get me wrong.... i LOVE me some Miata. (Still looking for a 1st gen 1.8....) but there isn't much i wouldn't do to have the cash to drop on an MR-S.
I fell in love with the MR-S when it came out, I still want one. IIRC, MT said that you could fit one grocery bag behind each seat. And if you don't have a passenger, use that seat too
93celicaGT2 wrote: He's talking about the MR2 Spyder. ;) SW20 is a good example of a budget "supercar" though.
Oh, THAT one. My bad. Still a Toyota, still hard to go wrong. Oh, and I want a drive train from one of those to put in my Europa.
^I think i have your avatar as a sticker somewhere.....
Needs to go on the Celica asap!
I ripped it from someone's post on here a couple weeks ago. It appears the board no longer supports animated avatars, plus I got up-status-ed to PowerDork so I had to change the last one.
maroon92 wrote: a question I have been asking is "will I fit?" maybe I should ask with a threadjack... Will I fit in a MR2 spyder? (6"2' 280 lbs) (yeah, I'm a big dude.)
I had issues with legroom and I'm a tic over 6'2". Funny my 1st gen MR2 had plenty of legroom, but the one spyder I sat in was really tight in the legroom dept, which killed it for me.
maroon92 wrote: a question I have been asking is "will I fit?" maybe I should ask with a threadjack... Will I fit in a MR2 spyder? (6"2' 280 lbs) (yeah, I'm a big dude.)
I can tell you that the last time I went to the doctors office, I measured in at 5'10". My inseam is a bit less than 29". So, short legs, long torso. My head makes full contact with the convertible top on the MR-Spyder. Enough so that it looks like it has a gurney bump. If not for that (or, if it was truly a second car that was mainly for the track, and I could put a Kirkey seat in it), I would own one now.
i guess I will just have to sit in one...(not that I have the money to buy one anyway)
MIght help: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/new-cars/2000-toyota-mr2-spyder/
and: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/new-cars/2002-toyota-mr2-spyder-smt/
I wanted one when I got my Miata, but around here Miatas are both easier to find and much cheaper.
For some reason in this area MR2s cost about as much as a Boxster of the same year.
93celicaGT2 wrote: ... Or.... i personally like the idea of the 2zzge in it. 180hp n/a 1.8 litre with VVTL-i! Nifty. ....
The 2zzge is a drop in, bolts in easily with just the required computer swap as the complication. The engine is from a celica gts or the earlier matrix gt. Very easy as far as engine swaps go. You could even get that engine with an auto if you don't have enough legs and want a true auto mr2. (the optional semi-auto had mixed reviews)
And the SCC articles were awesome. It was "build a lotus for less $$" which they did all the while making the car scary to drive. 
I want one. With the 2zz+blower+hardtop. 
daytonaer wrote:93celicaGT2 wrote: ... Or.... i personally like the idea of the 2zzge in it. 180hp n/a 1.8 litre with VVTL-i! Nifty. ....The 2zzge is a drop in, bolts in easily with just the required computer swap as the complication. The engine is from a celica gts or the earlier matrix gt. Very easy as far as engine swaps go. You could even get that engine with an auto if you don't have enough legs and want a true auto mr2. (the optional semi-auto had mixed reviews) And the SCC articles were awesome. It was "build a lotus for less $$" which they did all the while making the car scary to drive.
Matrix XRS, Celica GTS, Corolla XRS. The Corolla XRS had 10 less hp for some reason, not sure why they decided to do that.
It's a little faster than an NB Miata - a tiny bit slower than the NC Miata.
Around here (central Ohio), I've seen 2000 MR2s go for $6000 - $7000 on bargains, $10k more frequently. Later ones are more. That's actually pretty comparable, price-wise, to a Miata of the same year.
Practicality is way down versus a Miata, but they definitely have a more distinctive look.
BTW, go to http://spyderchat.com not MR2OC.com .
I owned one of the first when they first came out - 2000. It could hold it's own on the handling and it had a little more forward grunt than a Miata. Mine, since it was early, didn't have a diff.
mistanfo wrote:maroon92 wrote: a question I have been asking is "will I fit?" maybe I should ask with a threadjack... Will I fit in a MR2 spyder? (6"2' 280 lbs) (yeah, I'm a big dude.)I can tell you that the last time I went to the doctors office, I measured in at 5'10". My inseam is a bit less than 29". So, short legs, long torso. My head makes full contact with the convertible top on the MR-Spyder. Enough so that it looks like it has a gurney bump. If not for that (or, if it was truly a second car that was mainly for the track, and I could put a Kirkey seat in it), I would own one now.
You sound the same body type as me... I'm about 5'10-5'11 depending on which convenience store I'm leaving, with an inseam a tick more than 29". Can you fit in a miata with the original seats?
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