MR2 Spyder

[ledhedsymbols]

My mom has a 2001, bright yellow, she has owned since new. Great little car, decent tires make it stick like glue. The most fun I've ever had driving 8/10. Better than my 968 in every way except the smell.

[look 171]

I've a few sports cars, the one I missed the most is my lil' first gen MR2. I bought it for 5500 bucks with 51000 miles on it during my second to last year of college. The absolutely best car for the buck. it was driven pretty hard and never gave me any issues. I put on sticky tires and it handled well, very well. I think its a much better sports car compared to the NA miata. I had two trunks, so there were plenty of room for me. I know nothing about the later ones.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

This scared me a wee bit also... rumor has it I have been known to go into a corner a little too hot.
I have waged the tail in the Miata.

the tail on the Miata is easy to get back in line. its very easy to drive.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by nzporsche944s2

My friend had one for several years - it was the turbo model. It used to swap ends with alarming frequency mid corner.
I think this was a function of the mid-engine configuration and the on/off boost

Don't lift. Its not as easy as they way to get it to swap ends. I tried many times going into the corner really hot in an wide open streets. As long as you don't let up suddenly, it wouldn't bite you. Feather the gas pedal and they are tame and controllable like a good little dog.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by nzporsche944s2

My friend had one for several years - it was the turbo model. It used to swap ends with alarming frequency mid corner.
I think this was a function of the mid-engine configuration and the on/off boost

Anyone here coming to an MR2 from a 911 should have no problem then.

[sugarwood]

I know someone shopping for am MR2 Turbo.
2100 lbs with 200 hp sounds like a killer car.

[Tobra]

Lane, those things are all ate up with mid engine goodness. You can swap a Camry V-6 into one pretty easy and it weighs about the same as a forced induction 4 banger, just sayin'

[island911]

I drove a 98 MR2. I expected to like it. I didn't. It's no 911. Squishy... wet noodle. ... meh.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by island911

I drove a 98 MR2. I expected to like it. I didn't. It's no 911. Squishy... wet noodle. ... meh.

Maybe, but for $600 you could probably put new springs and sways on it, and it wouldn't.

[wildthing]

Can't say I ever drove one, but I did drive a Corona with a 3S-GE from a Celica. That was a blast!

[island911]

Originally Posted by masraum

Maybe, but for $600 you could probably put new springs and sways on it, and it wouldn't.

The spring were fine. It was a low mileage car. I think that I was picking up on the relatively low natural frequencies... you know, 911's are tight. Everything rings with a note of rigidity. Not so much for the MR2.

[masraum]

Ah, ok. I know that most miatas, especially the 1st gen, come with really soft springs. I hated the springs on my '97. THat car with just 128 or 133 or whatever hp had tons of squat on accel and dive on braking and wallowed through the corners (lots of grip, but also lots of roll). I was much happier when I put the springs and shocks on it. My mazdaspeed miata came with different springs, shocks and sways, and was much better. I never felt the need to modify it's suspension other than upgrading from the attractive boat-anchor 17" wheels to some lightweight 15" wheels.

[Tobra]

The stock mazdaspeed suspension sucked ass, but for about a grand and a half it was the cat's ass

[pwd72s]

Hard fit for my frame...but I was quite impressed after driving one back in the day.

What is it with Toyota anyway? They only come out with something sporty once in a while. But when they do, it's a pretty good car.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

A friend in Belgium has one. He owed me a favor and I put 2,600 miles on it last summer. Drove thru Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Czech, Austria, Switz and Italy.....Fun little car. Not a lot of room for luggage, but we managed.

Originally Posted by Rot 911

I bought one for my wife. Great little car to drive around in, but as you have discovered, really no room to carry luggage for even an overnight trip.

Winner, Miata!

[RSBob]

Have a friend who loves his Gen 1, Mister 2. For me, still enjoying my Porsche powered MR2.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by RSBob

Have a friend who loves his Gen 1, Mister 2. For me, still enjoying my Porsche powered MR2.

Great looking little car. I suspect it's got 10x the character of the Toyota.

I've never driven an MR2. I'm curious about the 1st gen, they were super small. I like the looks of the 2nd gen. I have absolutely no interest in the 3rd gen. They just don't do it for me even though I'm sure they are the best of the bunch.

[onewhippedpuppy]

First gen is a total go-kart, I've driven several and they are FUN. If I found a nice one with the supercharger I would be all over it. The second generation with the turbo is also a blast, and a beautiful design. Some lag but not 951 bad, really nice interior, and very tossable. Again, finding a nice one that hasn't been hacked up is the challenge.

[Kraftwerk]

In the middle-engine location, is the best place for it. I miss my '71 914, replaced it w/an '99 MX-5 but thinking a MR-2 might have been a better choice. Funny the 914 had way more storage space than the Miata.

[sugarwood]

My aforementioned friend just bought the MR2 Turbo.

This seems like a hidden diamond in the car landscape.
2100 lbs with a 200hp motor must be an absolute animal.

Forget Miata, this thing is in the class of a Lotus Elise, which is a legendary car.
At 1/4 the price, it's an insane value. Insane.

Yea, I can't wait to drive it.