Reintroduced a few years ago, the Toyota MR2 Spyder is an affordable sports
car that¹s lots of fun to drive, but exerts unusual demands on its owner in
terms of utility. There is almost no storage space in the little roadster,
which can be a problem even for the most committed enthusiast.

New for 2002 is what¹s called a clutchless sequential manual transmission.
The system does away with the clutch and allows the driver to change gears
simply by moving the shift lever up and down. To this point the new
technology has been confined to racecars and high-end sports cars.

It took a few days to get used to the new transmission, but when my mind and
body had adapted to the technology I found it quite useful. The new
transmission offers all of the advantages of a manual transmission without
bothering with the clutch. The engine even has an electronic throttle
control to reduce torque during shifts. So for really fast starts you can
plant your foot on accelerator pedal, move the shift lever back and forth
and let the electronics do the rest.

The MR2 deploys a mid-engine configuration. Putting the engine behind the
driver is an unusual layout that¹s been largely reserved for high-priced
exotics like the Acura NSX. But at $25,000 the MR2 carries anything but a
stratospheric price. The MR2's mid-engine architecture theoretically offers
superior handling by moving the car¹s weight from the front end. While I
would not rate its agility and sticking power on twisty roads in quite the
same league as the Porsche Boxster or Honda S2000, it isn't far behind.

The MR2 Spyder proved a worthy ride under any and all conditions. It is a
good high-speed cruiser with only a minimum of wind buffeting in the
passenger compartment. One could carry on a conversation with a passenger
without too much trouble. The MR2 Spyder is also relatively quiet with the
top in the raised position. Given a surprisingly good ride quality, the car
could be driven for several hours at a clip without any real pain. And the
sport seats, while quite supportive, are relatively comfortable for a sports
car. 

One thing that really bugs me about a lot of convertibles and roadsters is
the problem of stowing the top. The usual method is to simply fold the top
back where it essentially flops on top of the back deck. There the top sits
and looks quite ugly unless you take the time to snap on a special canvas
cover, which is a real pain when you want to get on the road.

The MR2 has developed a top that folds down and into a special compartment
and with a little push, actually snaps into place. What's so neat is that
the top is now flush with the rear deck and out of sight. And I should also
mention that the Spyder has a glass rear window with a defroster, just like
the expensive roadsters.

Now before you drop your work, grab your checkbook and head for the Toyota
dealer, here's the downside‹storage. The mid-engine layout confines cargo
volume to a mere 1.9-cubic feet of space in a suitcase-like receptacle under
the front hood. Remember, as a mid-engine vehicle the MR2's storage is in
front and the engine is accessed from the rear.

Getting at the engine presents another problem. The small four-cylinder
engine is tightly packed into the vehicle's back section and accessed by a
rear-deck lid. Even adding a quart of oil is not as easy to perform as on a
conventional car. On the upside, few people even attempt to fix their cars
anymore and no manufacturer has a better reputation for stone-ax reliability
than Toyota.

While it would be impossible to issue a blanket recommendation for the MR2
Spyder, if you can get through life without carrying many of your worldly
possessions, in the current market the MR2 is gobs of fun a very reasonable
price. The MR2 Spyder may be the automotive way to simplify your life. If
you buy one, you really won't have much choice.
 

Vehicle: MR2 Spyder
Price as tested: $25,726
Engine:
    Type: 1.8-liter inline 4
    Horsepower: 138 @ 6,400 rpm
    Torque: 125-ft. lbs. @ 4,400 rpm
Fuel economy, sequential manual transmission
    City - 25 mpg
    Highway - 30 mpg
Curb Weight: 2,215 lbs.