Toyota MR2

Review

Toyota MR2 Red (Motor Show 2002)

Rumour has it that both the MR2 and the firm's excellent Celica coupe could both be discontinued in the next year or two.  

This seems unlikely given the cars continued success, and the absence of any news about successors for either.  But reports say that the company had planned several years ago to axe the Supra, the MR2 and then the Celica in that order.  During the phase out new models would be added to the Lexus line up.  

No doubt some owners will be tempted to replace their MR2s and Celicas with a more upmarket Lexus equivalent, and Toyota would probably be able to make a higher margin on the prestige marque.  But we'd share the disappointment of the thousands of MR2 and Celica fans if these rumours turn out to be true.  Though we wonder whether there can be any truth in such stories given the Toyota commitment to formula 1. Toyota are investing heavily, and are progressing very well in motorsport at the highest level; surely they will want to keep these awesome sports cars in their line up.

Since its release in 2000 Toyota's mid engined convertible has been a huge success, and in many ways it remains very competitive against its increasing number of rivals.  It arrived on the scene in 2000 with a price tag of just under 2000 making it slightly more expensive than the popular Mazda MX5 and the MGTF, and slightly less cheaper than the Honda S2000 and the Lotus Elise.  But unlike these alternatives it features, of course, a mid-engine layout like the much more expensive Porsche Boxster.

Since the MR2s launch we've seen the arrival of a number of great new sports cars, in particular the BMW Z4, the new Mercedes SLK, the convertible version of the awesome Nissan 350Z and the lotus engineered Vauxhall VX to name but a few.   And more recently the Boxster 986 has been replaced by the new 987 model which has even more performance without any significant increase in price. 

But despite this, the little Toyota still occupies a unique position as a sub 20,000 mid engined sports car.   And although its 1.8 litre engine offers only 138bhp, the basic car weighs in at very close to 1000Kg, so the all important bhp per tonne figure is as high as that of many other larger and more expensive convertibles.  And the price still remains well under 20K - with today's prices starting at 17,150 you can add heated leather seats, a colour coded hard top plus air conditioning, and still be looking at a list price of only 20,000.

On the Road

Above all, the MR2 is a great driver's car.  The turn in is pin sharp - just point it at the corners and drive it through, to feel the beautiful balance of the chassis.  There's no understeer, and little oversteer providing you keep it to sensible limits.  Push it harder and you can feel that the weight of the engine is behind you - situated just in front of, and almost over, the rear wheels; this gives it great traction, but you always know that if you push it too hard the back end is going to step out big time.  And there's no stability control to save you if you should give it too much right foot on the exit of a sharp bend in unfavourable conditions.

The car's light weight and near perfect balance gives it a poise that most other steel bodied cars just don't have.  It may not quite have the agility of the Lotus Elise, nor the power of the Porsche Boxster, but in everyday driving it has very crisp handling and is an absolute delight to drive.

 Road and engine noise are acceptable for a sports car; though you can almost feel the high technology working away behind the bulkhead that is immediately behind your seat.  While it doesn't have the deep roar of the Boxster you still delight at the sounds of the 1.8 litre engine working away to propel the car from 0-60 in just 8 seconds.

Practicality

Featuring a fully retractable soft top with a heated glass rear screen, electric heated mirrors, electric windows and remote central locking, the MR2 certainly offers more practicality than many convertibles.   And with a powerful heater, a quality entertainment system complete with compact disc, and the option of air conditioning, it offers comforts that are way beyond the roadsters of yesteryear.  

However, where it really does fall down is a lack of storage space - a couple of cubby holes behind the seats, and a certain amount of space under the bonnet is all you get.   Compared to some of the competition, this is the weakest aspect of the car - most of its front engined rivals manage to provide a decent amount of boot space, and its mid engine rival, the Boxster, provides a decent boot at the rear, and an equally large storage space between its front wheels.

Apart from the lack of storage space, its a great car to live with though.  A comprehensive 3 year warranty, lengthy service intervals and a superb 38.2 combined mpg make it an economical car to own.  Reasonably strong residuals mean that depreciation costs are acceptable.  Reliability levels are high, even by Toyota's own exceptional standards so even owners of older MR2s shouldn't find the car too much of a drain on their pocket.  Insurance group 13 means that it won't cost you a small fortune to cover - Mazda's MX5 will attract a similar premium while more powerful sports cars such as the VX220 and Porsche Boxster S get a 19 rating.

Appearance 

Although 5 years old now, the MR2 still looks great - unlike your average saloon car, convertibles like the MR2 tend to be produced in small enough numbers to retain their uniqueness after many years of production.   The mid life face lift was so subtle that cars produced before and after the revisions look similar in most respects.   Sat side by side the revisions are more obvious, and the newer models seem to be more poised for action with their slightly larger rear wheels, but both variants look bang up to date. 

Interior

Inside, the car's a little plain for our liking, but the cabin's still a great place to be.  The option of leather seats, especially those in the MR2 Red special edition certainly lift the quality of the cabin enormously. The driving position is slightly more cramped than a car like the Boxster, but the MR2 more than holds its own against other sports cars in its price bracket.  All in all, it's hard to criticise the layout though; it's a comfortable car, even on long trips, and the controls are placed just where you want them.

Verdict

If you can live with its lack of storage space then you'll love this car.  At this price, only the soon to be updated Mazda MX5 can come close for value for money.  If there's any truth in the rumours that the MR2 may be discontinued then Toyota, or Lexus, are going to have a very tough job finding a suitable replacement for this great little car.  If the storage space is a problem, consider an aftermarket boot rack which can be obtained for under 200.

Pictures & Review - Courtesy of Pictures-Of-Cars.Com

More Toyota MR2 Information

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For more information about all models of Toyota MR2s check out 
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