How would you like a sleek, mid-engined roadster for the price of a used minivan stinking of spoiled milk and dirty dogs? The Toyota MR2 Spyder may be your answer. As an added feature, it’s built like a Toyota.
The MR2 was the Japanese giant’s most notable on-again, off-again niche sports car. Firs…
Good lord, are you guys reading my brain? I drove one of those last weekend at an autocross in E/Street (he had just wheels and some BFG Rivals on it, no sway bars or exhaust or brake work) and it was such a delightful car to drive. So, now I've been out looking for cheap ones so that I can retire my supercharged Miata from autocross and have my PAX work for me instead of against me.
Am I the only one who likes these?
In reply to sleepyhead the buffalo :
Good news!
In reply to Jordan Rimpela :
I also really like these. Of all the Mister2s, I want one of these. Also, forum member Carbon has a badass ~225whp, ~1800lb one that I've ridden in. It's a little rocket ship
This one's always puzzled me as to why it never left the factory with the 2ZZ-GE to begin with.
I have a E36 M3ty MR-S and a E36 M3ty pile of disassembled 2zz engine. Some assembly required. 
In reply to Vigo :
Still waiting for that 1980 T&C build thread...
I love these... sadly they are really expensive when I see them for sale.
I have a pair of them, a 1zz turbo one and a 2zz turbo one. Both are ridiculous fun. Both have been very reliable despite copius track use and hard street use. Both are ftd cars at most events.
I took another 6lbs out of the silver car, it weighs (with a 1zz turbo and a six speed/lsd swap) 1929lbs. Ready to drive, in street trim, with stock seats. A N/A one with a 5 speed would be even lighter.
CyberEric said:I love these... sadly they are really expensive when I see them for sale.
Wait..... what? Theyre all over the place for between 3k and 5k. Thats cheaper than any rust free miata I can find.
NickD said:In reply to Jordan Rimpela :
I also really like these. Of all the Mister2s, I want one of these. Also, forum member Carbon has a badass ~225whp, ~1800lb one that I've ridden in. It's a little rocket ship
The one you rode in was the heavy one (1929lbs) lol. It got a trd lsd/ and six speed, and a bigger turbo (tomei arms 7660) since you rode in it.
So, what are they like to work on? Would it be tough to do some stuff in the garage on jack stands? I have been eyeing these for awhile but mid engine maintenance has held me back.
Theyre not bad, its like working on a backwards carolla.
Who is the Flying Miata of the MR2 world?
Pretty sure there isn't one, per se.
In reply to MadScientistMatt :
So that people would have a reason to buy its platform mate the Elise
BlindPirate said:Who is the Flying Miata of the MR2 world?
At least for the MR-2 Spyder, I would say Monkeywrench Racing. They sell turbo kits, all sorts of 1ZZ internal upgrades, 2ZZ swap kits and Honda K-series swap kits.
I was discussing somewhere else that one of these (probably w/ the 2zz) would make an interesting GLTC car... since it's lighter/wider/lower-drag and mid-rear compared to the miata which has 'semi-dominated' GLTC so far
back in 1999 when I bought my one and only new car. It came down to the MR2 spider and a Hyundai Tiburon. The only reason I went with the Tib was because I needed the storage space the MR2 lacked. I was doing 20,000 miles a year as a video editor and I was often carrying equipment with me. If it had a rear trunk like the previous two MRs, it would have been all over it
NickD said:BlindPirate said:Who is the Flying Miata of the MR2 world?
At least for the MR-2 Spyder, I would say Monkeywrench Racing. They sell turbo kits, all sorts of 1ZZ internal upgrades, 2ZZ swap kits and Honda K-series swap kits.
They are definitely not on par with fm in terms of quality or service imho. But they’re ok, and they support the platform consistently for decades now.
In reply to Carbon :
Really?! That’s great to hear because in my area they are hardly ever for sale, and when they are, they’re Toyota-taxed like crazy. Miatas are half the price around here (SF Bay). I can pull up a half dozen nice-ish NBs for less than 4K. Not a single Spyder for sale. Last one I saw was $6k. Where do you see them so cheap?
I have been spoiled by the Miata aftermarket and the info out there. In my limited research today on a mostly street suspension what info I found was a bit confusing. Tire size, staggered set up or square, a good spring, shock or coilover seems to be you are more on your own to figure out.
I went from an NA to a spyder. The aftermarket is absolutely frustrating. Seems to be only low tier coil overs or custom crazy expensive stuff. Currently running BC coils which I really dislike and make the car a handful to drive. The car has been extremely reliable though.
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