10k: Mintyship Runabout: 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder, Low MIles
The third generation Toyota MR2 debuted in 1999 with a new lightweight chassis and Spyder name to highlight its drop-top design, a change from the past coupe/T-top only generations. It is one of the few times that a new model actually dropped a few pounds between re-fresh and demonstrates that for all the appliance/boring/econobox hate that gets slung at Toyota, the engineers in the Aichi prefecture actually know how to build fun cars. They just don’t do it very often. Find this 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder for sale in Fontana, CA currently bidding on ebay for $8,200 reserve-not-met with 3 days to go. Big thanks to tipper Gore Rod S.
We’ve always recommended that anyone shopping for an MX-5, Boxster, S2000 or 914 should consider a test drive in an MR2 Spyder. It won’t wow you with acceleration, deafen you with 9,000 rpm howling or send shivers down your spine with a flat-6 crescendo, but it will happily give you miles of trouble free mid-engine motoring for a fair price.
The engine sitting behind the driver is the 1ZZ-FED, 1.8 liter all-alloy 16 valve engine good for 138 horsepower and 126 ft-lbs of torque. Performance in the 2100 lb lightweight is still decent, but it is a real shame Toyota never put the 2ZZ-GE from the Celica GTS/Lotus Elise as it puts out 180 horsepower from roughly the same envelope and weight. Luckily gear heads around the globe figured this out quickly and many 2ZZ swapped Spyders are driving around (like this 2000 Spyder 2ZZ that just sold for something less than $9800).
The MR2 Sypder has a cozy cockpit that isn’t too fancy and seems to survive the years well. This one has only 10k miles on the odometer and looks factory fresh on the inside.
The real issue is what do you do with an ultra low mile MR2 Spyder? It would be a great car to drive every day with its comfortable ride and easy ergonomics, but you’d hate to rack up the miles on something this well preserved. On the other hand do you really want a low mile garage queen that won’t appreciate for at least another decade? Hey, it’s your money, do what you want.
See a better runabout? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
Thanks DT, for going beyond the lemmings by including this interesting "new classic" car.
I have driven all three generation of MR2s. While the featured car is VERY clean, and looks well maintained (always a plus). There are some issues to consider:
1. Power, or rather, the lack of it. Gen I and II nonTurbo feels faster to my tush in real world driving. Turbo GenII much faster, especially once you add KN intake kit and get rid of power killing baffles from the factory air intake system (super cheap and easy upgrade!).
2. Cargo: GenI and II have cargo ability. You can take a weekender with your girl to Napa, buy wine and still have room for clothes. You have cargo area in the GenII "frunk", behind the seats, and in the "brunk." GenIII is a total cargo fail.
3. Body Flex: Light ragtops have flex. On the plus side of handling, I do not think GenIII suffers from lift throttle over-steer.
Final Thoughts: For rag-top lovers that want a reliable, fuel sipping. point and shoot car for low speed urban driving, it's a good option. Before you pull the trigger, take a spin in a GenI/II T-top, and make the choice that's best for you.
My first car was a Gen I… ah, the memories…
I drove it without license for a couple months. This was in another country, where a couple bucks get you out of trouble easily…
The sad thing is that it was stolen. The sadder thing is that I went TWICE through the feeling that it had been stolen!
I was at the cinema (where I had been also the day before). We went to the place where I had parked the day before, and my heart sank when I saw it wasn't there. Then I realized that I had parked in another spot, and then I my heart sank AGAIN! It had been stolen indeed!
There were not that many MR2s in my country, and to rub it even more, while waiting for the police and a friend to come pick us up, another one drives by…
The next day only the shell was found.
Never wrecked but felt the need to monkey with incorrect placement and incorrect decals on the rear?
Gen 3
Performance exhaust and filter and forget relying on reviews
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