Yahoo Autos Future Classic | 2000-2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder
Toyota is having something of a sports car renaissance right now. The Supra is back, and soon with a manual transmission again. The affordable, fling-able GR 86 is in its second and best generation yet. It's even marking 10 years on the market. Toyota has even created two rally-inspired all-wheel-drive hot hatches, the GR Yaris for most of the world, and the bigger, more powerful GR Corolla for the U.S. There is a famous Toyota sports car that has yet to see a revival, though: the Toyota MR2.
Yes, rumors have flown about for years now that Toyota's mid-engine, rear-drive Porsche-for-the-people would return, but none of them have come to fruition. That leaves the last MR2 we got the MR2 Spyder. It was a departure in many ways compared to its predecessors. It wasn't even called MR2 in its home market, where it was actually called MR-S (for Midship Runabout Sports, instead of Midship Runabout 2-Seater). Some other markets got the MR-S name, too. An apocraphal tale says Toyota dropped the MR2 name in France because it sounded like a word for "crap." It was the only model that was only offered as a soft-top convertible, and the only one to have a single, naturally aspirated engine. Still, the MR2 Spyder was a fun, light sports car of the truest sense that should remain on enthusiasts' radars for years to come.
Why is the Toyota MR2 Spyder a future classic?
There's a lot about the MR2 Spyder that makes it unique, fun and collectible. Affordable mid-engine cars have always been unusual. In part, it's not a very practical design that would work well for other cars, so they're almost always expensive to develop, and thus end up being more expensive cars to begin with. As such, something affordable like the MR2 Spyder is something special.
That same layout, though, is superb for sports cars. It can help keep weight distribution even. Under acceleration, there's more weight toward the back, providing better traction. The nose is light and feels extra responsive, and it can be low for excellent visibility. All this applies to the MR2 Spyder, and it's enhanced by the car's light weight (just under 2,200 pounds with a regular manual, and just over with the sequential transmission), and its convertible roof. This fun, open driving experience is the biggest appeal of the MR2 Spyder.
That convertible roof made it unique among MR2s, too. The first- and second-generation cars were offered from the factory as coupes with optional removable roof panels; either T-tops or full targa tops. But with the exception of a handful of special second-generation convertibles, the Spyder is the only model that was ever offered with a folding soft top, the only roof option.
Beyond that, it's also a distinctive-looking car, in part because of that engine layout, but also because of the styling. It has huge, happy headlights, and a low, aggressive grille. And the rear intakes and vents make the exotic powertrain layout obvious.
