Toyota’s Spyder grows on you

Acorn Automotive Editor


 

 

It must be a man thing. Look in the glove box of most cars and you will find an owners manual, but my guess is that it’s still sealed in the plastic bag it came in when the car was bought. Why is it that we don’t like reading about how to use the car before getting in and driving?


I’m glad that I spent time with the MR2 Spyder’s manual before spending time driving because the sequential manual transmission (SMT) is unique in a car like this. The MR2 spyder is the first U.S. market Toyota model to feature this new, sophisticated transmission. The clutch pedal and gear selector have been replaced with a single shifter. The SMT clutch and gear selector operations are performed by computer controlled actuators and the engine is equipped with electronic throttle control to allow the electronics to reduce torque during shifts.


This is a manual transmission car without a clutch pedal. Changing gear is accomplished by paddle switches on the steering wheel or by a selector in the usual gear shifter position. What took me some time getting used to was lifting my foot off the throttle when changing up through the gear box.


However, aside from the quirky box the Toyota MR2 Spyder is all about affordable fun. It’s a two-seat, mid-engine, rear-wheel drive roadster designed for the sports car enthusiast on a budget.


Capable of performing with vehicles that cost nearly twice its price, the MR2 Spyder has had an enormous impact on the way consumers think about Toyota products. Developed to deliver true driver enjoyment, the lightweight MR2 Spyder features a wide, low-slung platform, a long wheelbase, and a mid-mounted engine for superior handling.


Power is supplied by the same 1.8-liter twin-cam 16-valve four-cylinder engine offered in the new Celica GT. The engine features VVT-i cylinder head technology, which is a variable-valve timing with an intelligence system similar to the design currently used in Lexus engines. Rated at 138 hp at 6,400 rpm and 125 lbs.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm, the MR2 Spyder’s favorable power-to-weight ratio has contributed to a zero-to-60 acceleration time of 6.95 seconds. In a small car with the top down, it feels very fast.


With the sequential manual transmission up shifts or downshifts are achieved by moving the selector to the + or – positions. SMT includes standard steering wheel mounted shift buttons and cruise control. The lack of a clutch pedal provides the convenience of an automatic transmission with the interaction of a manual transmission. But keep in mind, this is not an automatic. Leave the car in neutral with the parking brake not set and the car will start to roll. Come to a stop with the transmission still in forth or fifth and a groan from the transmission will remind you to shift to first.


The MR2 Spyder is a driver’s car but think before you take it for a long weekend. There is very little storage space for anything other than a small bag. There are storage compartments under the front hood and behind the seatbacks, but they are small. The owner’s manual talks about taking a set of golf clubs. I didn’t try, but I wouldn’t like to attempt it. I ended up putting an overnight bag on the passenger seat.


The product plan for MR2 Spyder was kept simple. The list of standard features is extensive for a car with a list price of under $26,000. It includes a CD audio system, air conditioning, ABS brakes, power windows and door locks, 15-inch alloy wheels, tilt steering wheel, wind deflector, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and a glass rear window with defroster.


The MR2 Spyder brings back memories of the great European sports cars of the 60s and 70s. There is also a distinct similarity to the Porsche Boxster. One difference: you can get two MR2 Spyders for a Boxster.


Toyota of Thousand Oaks has the MR2 available but they are in demand so check with them before visiting. If you can get your hands on one take it. I would.



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