The Toyota MR2 Spyder Is the Sports Car You Forgot About
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- Опубликовано: 18 июн 2024
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The Toyota MR2 Spyder is a cool, special sports car -- except that nobody remembers it. Today I'm reviewing the MR2 Spyder to show you why you should remember the unusual Toyota MR2 Spyder.
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DOUGSCORE CHART: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/... 
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When I was a kid a lady ran over my foot with an MR2 Spyder. I then went to school and nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Same thing happened to me , forgot what car though, after I got ran over I was like , it ain't too bad and move on my day lol
I tried it with an 89 Sentra when I was a kid. No big deal.
reminds me of the time one of my friends ran me over with a ten speed schwinn bicycle.. i helped him up off the ground and apologized lol i could see the same happening here..
Shit I remember I almost had my back broken with a Toyota Tacoma when I was 6 yrs old.
I remember when I was a kid my dad let me "drive". I sat on his lap and turned the steering wheel... then I ran into an electrical pole
This guy never fails to cut himself off at the end of each intro,, 😂😂
It's actually the worst
The production quality really doesn’t match the amount of subs he has
@@davidx.4323 I kinda like it lol, the low production makes it seem more accessible for non car people
He always records himself saying something he's written about on his autotrader column, you can hear him beginning to say "where" when he cuts himself off. He probably cuts the second half of the sentence out when he doesn't end up writing what he said he would.
Very observant you are. Good job
No, Toyota is the one who forgot us, we still remember and cherish our MR2
the aw11 mr2 is my dream car i want them to bring back the mr2 so badly
This. I have to confess though, I absolutely do not understand not offering it with the GTS motor. I mean, it so obvious. Nonetheless I LOVE my 2003 Spyder. If this car doesn't put a shit-eating grin on your face you don't understand driving as entertainment.
@@tinkerpearce Most likely a deal with Lotus
Toyota should've kept making roadsters
@@wyattgraff8306 they'd just make it expensive and for wealthy middle aged men.Glad this went out the way it came in-anonymously
Every day I regret selling my 2001 MR2 Spyder. It was simply fantastic fun. Still kicking myself. It was not "fast", but it was an absolute blast zipping around town. The handling was outstanding. Even running a quick errand at 40mph was a non-stop riot. Tail out flicking it into a right turn at 30 mph...hilarious fun every single day.
To get that amount of fun out of a supercar you'd have to be doing 90, in the MR2 you could do it legally day in, day out. I will miss it dearly.
I miss mine too.
I’m seriously considering one of these. There’s plenty of them for sale and they’re all reasonably priced. I have a sedan as a daily driver and I want something fun for weekends. Also considering an S2000 but one of those with decent mileage are quite a bit more than what you can get an MR2 Spyder for. Although I do like the styling of the S2K better
@@rogermoreno1152 I would buy another MR2 Spyder if I could. They are THAT good. I never had buyer's remorse, only seller's remorse.
You should consider purchasing another
@@rogermoreno1152 I have one. 2001 with 80k. I do DoorDash. It’s reliable and fun and great on gas! Go for it!
Doug the type of guy to bake animal shaped cookies and make the animal’s noise before eating it.
hahaha yes!
That's me
What if he bakes a jelly fish shape cookie?
Simon1 then he puts his glow in the dark life jacket on and silently flaps his arms around the kitchen.
LOL
Doug the type of guy that buys full version of Winrar
Lonely Driver and reviews it.
Hhahaha
@@Klyce all the quirks of Winrar
@@rad1ant and gives ut a doug score
jarjar_binks_with_ak47 starting with the weekend categories and styling, the WinRar is fiiiiine.... not classically beautiful, but certainly not ugly and it gets a 5 out of 10
Truly one of the most "UNDER-RATED" sports cars of all time. People that do NOT get this car never drove it for very long. I have owned 37 cars in my 59 years on this planet and many of them were a ton of fun to drive but none of them felt like you could just flick them around like hitting a fly and then snapping them back into perfect form like this car. The big surprise to me was the comfort. I picked up my MR-2 in Houston Texas and drove her home 1,726 miles in two days taking a few naps at local rest areas. There was plenty of power for a normally aspirated motor, the braking and handling were great and the looks were killer. What a fun car this is to play connect the dots with. Had a 911 Turbo trying to catch me in 65 - 70 MPH tight traffic and the car was just way to big to slip in between cars and semis in traffic. The guy was going out of his mind. Eventually we made it onto an open stretch and he caught me with ease. We both pulled off to fuel up and he came over laughing and told me that he was trying everything he could to catch me but he just could not do it. I told him that sometimes horse power and top speed are over rated but go-kart handling will always be in vogue. We had a good laugh and we wished each other safe travels. This is the true genius of this car. Its fun everywhere. You do not need to go 180 mph to enjoy it and this honestly is the thing that most car snobs will never understand. For what it is worth, here are some of my other cars that I compared it too, feel free to ask any questions if you like: 911 Carrera, STI LImited, ITR, S2000, S2000CR, R32, 850 T5-R. These are the fun toys I had for many years, even had a fun station car SMART Brabus. The MR-2 was the most fun of all of these cars. The only car that came close but was not comfortable at all was my brother's 1987 CRX SI. It was fully worked (thank you Oscar Jackson) but the ride was punishing and after an hour behind the wheel you needed a chiropractor to shoe horn you out of the car. Some other cars, no where as much fun but still fun; Taurus SHO - last of the 5-Speeds and a 1999 SVT Contour to round things out. I enjoyed every car, all had / have good and bad points but the one car that could always put a smile on my face was the MR-2. What an under rated car - it deserves a much higher Doug score - HEY DOUG you hear ME!!!!!!!!!!!!
A very interesting read, I've had my ZZW30 for about 2 years now and love it. I was tossing up between it, a DC2R, a S2000 or an R32 GTST, but settled with the MR2 because I found a great deal on a 5 speed manual swapped one (Very rare in Australia as they only came with an SMT).
How was your experience in comparion between the S2000, ITR, R32 and the MR2?
@@absolutezero7344 Glad you are enjoying your MR-2, super fun toys. As for the other cars you mentioned let’s just say that all of them are considerably quicker than the MR-2 Spyder but no more fun. The S2000 probably has the best engine, transmission pairing of any car I ever drove and the gates were as tight as you will ever find making shifting pure joy and the car had an incredible battle cry during full VTEC but other than that, it could be pretty boring in non-VTEC daily driving around town. I really enjoyed my S2000 CR just because it had everything the standard S2000 had but was considerably stiffer and handled much better. It really felt like a proper track / racing car but again for normal driving around town it too could be boring. The ITR was a rip to drive and I always felt like I was doing trips down the track when running her through the gears. I actually liked the sound of the ITR over either of the S2000's but it was NOT as fast and after 100 MPH it just did not pull like those cars. The engine and shifter were an excellent pairing but was more boy racer and the gates were not as tight as the S2000's. The ITR was also the most dangerous car I ever drove because it was designed to pivot the rear end around under hard braking and a flick of the wheel followed by a jab of the accelerator would place you perfectly back on track but forget to hit the gas and just brake the car and you would be off road and into the woods before you ever knew what happened. Many people got killed in these cars as well as the young man who bought my car. His dad would not listen to me and I refused to sell them the car. After having a long conversation with his dad and showing him RUclips videos of bad accidents with the car I asked both he and his son to go back to Erie PA and reconsider the purchase. His dad told me that his son never raced cars and that he was very responsible. I told him that I thought he was making a mistake buying the car for his son and god forbid if anything ever happened; I did not want to know about it. The kid pulled the wool over all of our eyes unfortunately. The day he picked up the car with a buddy of his, I had a heart to heart talk with him. As a father of four myself, I told him that if anything ever happened to him, his dad would never forgive himself. The kid told me not to worry and that he would be very careful as he really loved this car and would baby her. An hour after leaving my house, he sent me a pick of he and his buddy doing 130mph giving me the finger. A few months later I pulled the VIN which I like to do with many of the cars I previously owned to see how the cars were doing, current mileage and status of the cars. This car showed total destruction with fatality in a Police report. I never heard from his dad again. I still think about what I might have done differently but am forced to realize that once the car left my possession that it was out of my hands. As for the R32, it was a different beast all together. If I had to pick just one car to live with for the rest of my life. the R32 would be that car hands down. The exhaust note was intoxicating and the car drove with a heft and quality that none of the other cars had. The shifter was not as precise, the gates were spaced farther apart so it shifted quite well but you could blow a shift if you were not 100% spot on. The car handled very well especially in wet weather, best handling car by far in those conditions. Put a set of performance snow tires on her and provided you had ground clearance, that car would go anywhere. The build quality is what I truly loved and outside of my Carrera, was the best built of all the cars. This is not to say that the Japanese cars were not well built, the fit and finish were excellent on all of them but the R32 was just a more substantial package that was more than just a one trick pony. The only negative thing I would say about the MR-2 is that I would not want to get hit in one. The weight savings comes at a cost and unlike the S2000's that were far more substantial, the MR-2 felt like a toy car and that is what I loved about it. The car actually shocked me as to how well it drove and how comfortable it was. I think Doug DeMuro found it to be uncomfortable because he is a big guy; I'm only 5'6 so I was smug as a bug in a rub while driving her. I’ve had my fun but now I’m much older, I’ve sold off the toys and I’m doing senior things now. Best of luck to you with your MR-2, they are great fun cars : )
@@911naimplate Thanks for the message, it means a lot that you took the time to answer so throroughly. I agree, I think the S2000 may have one of the best oem engines ever made, the insane hp/L and rpm limit for a factory spec car from the 2000's is astounding.
The lift off oversteer in the ITR is both a blessing and a curse. I've experienced the pointy end of lift-off oversteer 1st hand. About 6 years ago I test drove a highly modified EM1 Civic with extremely large rear sway bars in the rain. The car felt somewhat familiar to driving my almost stock EJ8 Civic and decided I would drive it as such. Due to my overconfidence I went into a corner that for my understeer biased EJ8 would have handled easily with a bit of trail braking and throttle control, but in this EM1 I suddenly found myself heading towards the curb as the tail end swung around unexpectedly, luckily for me I panic braked forcing the car to fully rotate and stay on the road without causing any damage.
Needless to say I had to clean my underwear, and received a hard dose of reality on how aggressive lift off oversteer in FWD's could be. It was a humbling experience that showed me how little I knew about car control, which then led me to start researching driver/driving theory.
As for your sale of the ITR to the boy, It was a tragedy. I hope you hold no guilt, as I believe you went above and beyond to try and hinder the process and warn all parties involved of the potential dangers. At the end of the day if you had refused to sell the car they would have no doubt bought another ITR off someone with no regard for the buyers well-being whatsoever.
Yes the RB engine has a truly glorious sound. My personal favorite is the 2L RB20, while it may not be the most powerful it can take a beating and is one of the best sounding cars ever made both with a turbo or NA (ITB's), there are only a few engine notes I prefer more; the R26B from the 787B, and the 1.5L BRM V16 (The greatest sound created by man and one of the most impressive and advanced engines ever made.)
Interestingly I'm actually 6'4, my legs just squeeze under the stock steering wheel even with the factory seat. If I bought an aftermarket version of either of the seat or smaller wheel I would fit perfectly.
But on the whole I still find it comfortable to drive (even with coilovers) on longer road trips 2+ hours, the main soreness I get is in my foot due to the lack of cruise control, but do a couple of stretches periodically and you are all set.
Fun fact I actually had to teach myself a new heel-toe downshift technique because of how close the steering wheel is to my knee, I currently use a less conventional side of the foot roll, however it gets the job done. I've met other shorter MR-2 Spyder drivers who claim they can't heel toe because of the lack of space, I just laugh and say they aren't trying hard enough.
Thanks, also If you will allow me, I just want to pick your brain a bit more. Have you ever had any close dealings/opinions on the NSX (NA1/NA2), Lotus (Elise/Exige), Datsun (240Z/260Z/280Z) as these are my less affordable dream cars.
Yep, I have plans for the MR-2, I just got a hardtop and have been focusing primarily on suspension/chassis mods with supplementary driver training.
I will probably look at engine swapping/forced induction in the future (250hp max), as anything more would be overkill in the chassis, however I just currently haven't found many cars (or motorbikes) that I can't keep up with in the mountains twisties with just the ~140hp (Intake + Exhaust) I currently have, so I don't particularly have the need for more power yet, but at some point the 1zz will pop and force my hand.
Also good luck with your "senior things", and thanks for sharing your wisdom.
@@absolutezero7344 Hello, always happy to share and compare notes with fellow car buffs. As for the Z cars, I find it amazing how the first Gens have exploded in value. They are fun to drive if you are around 5'10 or taller, I found it hard to see over the instrument cowling and the car(s) just were not for me so I never bought one. I am a big fan of the early NSX's. They are true race inspired cars, superb balance and build quality and it is no surprise that they have increased in value the way they have. My buddy was an A-Tech at Smithtown Acura on Long Island, NY at the time the first Gen NSX's came out. He was one of only a handful of A-Tech's in the entire US at that time qualified to work on that car, so he did the new car prep for the customers and explained pretty much everything to the sales guys that they needed to know about the inner workings of the car because the people buying those cars knew cars while most of the sales guys selling them were clueless. I never drove the Elise or Exige so I have no intel on either car other than what I have read. I did almost purchase the limited Edition 2009 Lotus Elise Jim Clark Type 25 but College costs were a priority and there you have it : )
@@911naimplate Yep the the S30 generation of the Z is basically unobtainable for the common man, I think a large portion of its current popularity has to due with the show "Wangan Midnight" that centred around the "Devil Z" as a lot of the more valuable S30's end up having very similar modifications to the one from the show.
Another interesting phenomena that cars like this display is, that a lot of younger enthusiasts (myself included ~ 25 y/o) have a nostalgia for cars and culture that we were not present to actually experience, I believe the phenomena it called Saudade. For me this occurs in the form of cars/culture from the 80's and 90's (I was too young in the 90's to truly understand it). But now when I can reflect on what cars/culture have followed this "Golden Era" time period, I resonate far more with a time that has long since passed then the present. For me cars from this period are a small portal through time, where everything feels sincere, passionate, engaging and just plain fun, a stark contrast to the current times.
Sorry for the mini rant, got a bit carried away, back on topic.....
Wow, you really do have many connections and stories, I am very envious.
Hopefully one day I can achieve even half of your experiences.
All the best.
“Both cubic feet of cargo space” 😭😭 Doug is so petty 😂
Doug warm water and baking Soda is great for battery maintenance because the corrosion on your battery terminals is considered and acid. When the baking Soda/ water solution is poured onto it it will have a fizzing effect neutralizing all the corrosion. Leaving corrosion on your battery terminals long term can cause so much build up that the electricity can’t make a circuit and your car won’t start😉
Charlie Dietz that's what happened to my car
The point was that it is not a good idea to advise any vehicle owner to do maintenance on their battery. People can be both very dumb, and very smart, from a legal standpoint, it is better to assume the former.
I have worked on my cars for over 10 years, but just the other day I was having a hard time with a nut on the battery terminal clamp, and instead of getting a socket, I used the speed wrench i had. I fumbled a bit, and dropped it and it landed perfectly in between the pos and neg terminals, nice little spark show ensued. I got it out with a chunk of wood, but damn did I feel dumb.
Yea but its a really fun car to upgrade. The handling is amazing, and with some mods its insane. Like nothing I've ever driven. And because its so light any performance mods have a major impact. I recently did an ECU tune to add 15whp, doesn't sound like much but thats 10% for this car.
What year was it? All I’ve read is that the ECU in a 2001 can't be tuned.
@@Wickedsight 01 and has piggyback ecu. Although the main computer seems to be learning to restore stock values so I have a full replacement ecu npow
Just bought one with a blown motor and ordered a 6 speed and a 2zz
This video along with other reviews made me look for an Mr2 as a project during the pandemic lockdown. Found one in an online junkyard and it is now fully restored. Learned so much fixing it and I now look for excuses to drive. My kid and I love it. Thanks!
Those locks for the engine and gas tank arent for valet, just think about it with a little common sense. The car is a convertible. They are to lock out thieves if you decide to leave the car parked with the convertible top down. If it was for valet, my celica, camrys and corollas would have this. Which they dont? What does? Solara convertibles. Toyota provided a valet key that only worked for the doors and engine with every new car for those valet security measures.
That’s what I thought. If I give the valet the key to park it, I have also given him the key to get into all of the compartments.
1fishers exactly why dougs valet theory is wrong, maybe this time he didnt spend as much time as usual looking through the owners manual.
The Camry at least came with these locks too but you got a valet key with it that only started the car.
10:05 "Easy as just pushing the top back and" *15 minutes of trying edited out* "There we go!"
UndeadFleshgod... AND it didn't even go down appropriately! Love it
UndeadFleshgod underrated comment
My old MG had an ez top... do did my ex girlfriend around the same time lol
The fact that he didn't put it down properly bothered me so much. lol
*You can't lower the top and latch it from inside the car unless it's a really hot day* . If the temperature is anything other than summertime hot, the top gets stiff (resists folding) and you have to get out and push down on the top to get it to latch properly.
Been there. Done that. I own the car. :)
Thank you so much for the review of the MR2. I really enjoyed all the features that you pointed out. That being said, the scores you gave it seemed a little harsh. When you factor in the cost of the car, the dependability, how well it handles, and how much fun it is to drive, I think it rates much higher. I have had a 2002 MR2 with SMT for almost 16 years, and it has over 175,000 miles on it. It still has the original engine, transmission, and can get up to 32 miles a gallon. It is extremely fun to drive, and is the best car that I have ever owned. Comparing it to a Boxster which was twice the price or a S2000 that cost 10k more does not seem like a reasonable comparison in my opinion. I think that the initial cost has to be more of a factor.
Agreed! Had an '01 and it was one of the best cars I ever had. Wish I never got rid of it. So many of the petty callouts in this video are so old (we've heard it all before.. low storage, it's not a Miata). But you can't fix stupid.
That is too bad you got rid of that '01. I wish that you still had it. I still have my 2002, and it has over 191,000 miles on it. This July I will have had it for 20 years. It is extremely reliable, and still fun to drive. It is not my main driver anymore, but I still try to take it out once a week. I still see several of them driving around in my area of Florida. Have a great day. @@redwinmedia
The locking gas, trunk, and hood releases were made that way so you can leave the top down when you park.. works for valets too but not why it was designed. Love ya Doug
Fun fact: Doug was standing in this exact garage when he reviewed the first-gen Mitsubishi Eclipse.
This looks like someone's basement
I knew he had reviewed another car there, i just couldn’t remember what car it was
Hello fellow CTzen here
It might be his own garage idk
alejandro gonzalez same
"You can't build a car without cupholders" - Fun fact, the Mercedes E-class (W211 series) had a recall, where you had to take the car into the dealership, to have the cupholders removed!
People kept spilling drinks into the gear shifter, which was where the ECU for the gearbox was located, and it didn't like getting wet.
arcadeuk That's as stupid as removing the oil dipstick.
A cupholder and a dipstick are compeletely different things. And removing a cupholder is not as stupid as removing the dipstick.
WankelGT That was metaphorically.
Europeans love to put electronics where it will get wet.... That's part of their logic....
Lol They really couldn’t just have made the ecu water protected
Don't you EVER call my innovative, quite sturdy, great for saving space cup holders flimsy again!
This is one compassionate owner right there.
getting ethan becker vibes from this
Not ur car bud
This person is extremely passionate about their precious MR2 Spyder cup holders, woudln't blame them though
its true, also, these have been in some toyotas since at least 1990 ... and they worked pretty well.
I bought a 2000 MR2 Spyder in 2005 and still drive it every day. Most fun car I ever bought. I use it as a commuter car to go to work, and it has 195,000 miles on it now. It has a 5 speed manual transmission, not a lot of power, but it handles curves like a champ. Great of gas too. So much fun on mountain roads with the top down, or trips to the beach. The car is tiny and there is no trunk, and the engine and road noises are loud on the freeway, but I still love it.
is it reliable? because i have heard and read some issues, is this true?
@@commendatore2516 If you get rid of the pre-cat then there is no issues
fun fact: toyota didn't put the 2zz in the MR-S because of a contract that they had with Lotus. If they gave the MR2 the same engine there would be no market for the Elise as they'd be almost identical on paper (the Elise was 200 lbs lighter, but that's not much at all by today's standards)
Aiden is all Knowing actually, it could’ve been better than the Elise. The MR2 has a much lower Cd, which should give it a boost in top speed.
Much cheaper too, but much heavier than the Lotus.
As a daily the Lotus would be toast but the Toyota still wouldn't take it on track.
I knew they shared the same engine and transmission family, but not that tidbit. It makes sense.
+thedog556 The MR2 and Elise are 200 lbs apart lmao
I drove an MR2 for 12 years, first one 2001 and last one 2007 and oh how I miss it. It was certainly a 10 out of 10 for me.
I miss mine too
There is almost no reason to ever sell manual transmission toyota from the 90s or early 2000s.
I love the MR2 Spyder.
I get compliments all the time.
This car is getting rarer day by day, especially stock ones.
I own one of these and love it! Same year and same color. It handles like a dream, and is a reliable, fun, and affordable car. What surprises me the most is how often people ask me what it is, and then they're really surprised to hear it's a Toyota. It would be great if they'd make a new MR2 now that they've got a new Supra.
How are street reactions? Is it a head turner? Are you planning to modify it or will you keep it stock?
@@Nickoboss29 I'm definitely keeping it stock at this point. It does get a fair bit of attention. People sometimes wave as I drive by, ask about it in parking lots, or even send a short compliment about it at red lights.
@@JamieMakinthat's good to know that people can still recognize real cars!
Doug is the type of guy to film a Toyota MR2 Spyder and a Mitsubishi Eclipse in the same garage.
Nick Kritikakos I noticed that too
I knew I recognized that garage from an earlier video!!
I remember it as well
Sadly he didn't drive the Hummer H3 that was also pictured on the wall. What an odd collection to have memorialized....
Nick Kritikakos DOUG do a review on the SATURN SKY everyday people ask me about it and how beautiful the car is. My sky redline is so fast it does 0 to 60 in 4.3 seconds and it's freaking a blast to drive. So yes that is a legendary car to review. I am really serious people drop their jaw when they see the sexy Saturn sky yet they have no clue that it's frozen in time like a true gem. It's sad that they stopped making them yet mine will keep going up in value due to it's rarity.
as an MR2 Spyder owner ive waited for and feared this video for so long
Aiden is all Knowing Nice! I want one so bad. They are difficult to find
Aiden is all Knowing as an mk1 owner, i am happy hes bringing more people to the mr2 scene, wish he did my gen tho.... the quirks are off the charts lol
Here in Bulgaria in my neighbourhood there are the same MR 2 Spyder in the same color.
Draven God къде? 😀
It's not exactly a Ferari Enzo, you can see them anywhere...
For casual track driving is one of the best handling car you can buy
Have one with 2zz in it and its absolutely great
No Doubt. Touge time has one as well, and the spirit Mrs from best motoring rivaled the j s2k as well as the fd.
It's just a shame it didn't come with the 6sp and 2zz from factory here in the us.
Absolutely agree. Good center of mass, short shape and good aerodynamics. My dad have a red edition (a bit modified)
We work so hard, so much engineering to "keep out the valet from the trunk". Didn't realise it was such a big problem.
Doug's sounding more and more like Jay Leno.
killerskillet so he's sounding more and more like he doesn't know what he's talking about huehuehuehuehue
Haha Doug was on Leno's TV show on the "To stump a car nerd" part.
killerskillet Doug looks like he is lost son of Jay Leno tho and has some similar mannerisms to him aswell....
Please don't insult Leno
killerskillet oh my god you're right. Give it another 10 years and he'll be tripping over his own jowls.
Doug has been wanting to say “then I’ll show you both cubic feet of cargo space” for like year you can just tell. Lol
You need more corners to appreciate the MR2!
The fuel door and engine cover lockout is for when you park somewhere and have the top down.... but I like Dougs explanation
@@dc03211017 i don't think people driving Toyotas use valet parking
Oh we remember the MR2 Douglas, we remember it well...
Too well - like a bad joke in a bad show. ''I'm the sportscar. I have no sport"
No one forgot the 3rd gen...we choose to forget this thing that put a MR2 badge on.
My girlfriends (now wife's) dad bought her one of these when they came out. Fun car and she knows how to drive a standard transmission now.
Also she still has it and it runs perfectly
Seth people laugh at this car. They stop laughing when they can't keep up on a twisty road.
Doug is the type of purchase a bumper-to-bumper warranty for a bicycle.
They had a deal with Lotus that they wouldn't put the 2ZZ engine in it - and yeah, it was a mistake, and no the handling is better then the S2000 - and its actually quite a head turner (mostly because its a forgotten car and people dont know/remember what it is) I had it down in the Croatian riviera for a few weeks. Amazing on the twisty coastal roads, so much fun kicking the tail out around 70-80 km
Is it possible to get a 2ZZ installed in one?
@@xenech Yes, its quite common nowadays. Most MR2s that are project cars are probably 2zz or k20 swaps
@@xenech Yea that's a very popular thing to do if you just want it as a weekend warrior
@@xenech very easily
This is not a forgotten car to me... I owned one for four years. Sure you had to work the revs and gears to get the acceleration, but cruising over the black mountains in Wales with the top down and seeing a hawk keeping pace with me alongside automatically rates a 10 for awesome memories...
I owned it several cars ago, and the memory still raises a smile.
Awesome story man. I've just picked one up and live close to Wales so I'll be making a new home for myself on the black mountain roads in the awesome MR2
I never forgot.
Nobody would remember it
I did.
My reflexes are too fast
We all did.
Did not forgot i mean
No!!!! Now the Prices will skyrocket !!! I was looking into getting one soon and swap in a 2zz or k20 !! Why Doug whyyyyyy!!! 🗣️
Always wanted to do that too, swap in the 2zz or K20, upgrade to sport suspension a bit. Have a cone-eating little monster.
They’re really cheap in Aus, you can get something like what’s seen in the video for about $3000 AUD
They've been getting way overpriced for a few months now. You can get a decent SW20 turbo for the same price
Same! ARG! Curse you Doug!
Try 2GR, you get Evora
My son just bought a bright yellow version of this car and he LOVES IT!!
I love the Spyder. Even though Toyota didn't gave it enough power it's capable of handling lots of power. And it's super fun to drive on corners, specially with small steering wheel.
WE WANT THE MR2 BACK!!!
The Driftin AE86 and The GT86 don’t tell Toyota that! They’ll screw it up like they did the Supra
Seth Riggle the Supra was a success
Juan R how was it a success? It's a BMW
@@sethriggle1462 iT's A bMw
Mocha - if it sells well they might make a better supra
Doug, lock unlock window buttons mean no blank switches! They did this specifically for your hatred of blank switches. Thanks for the videos, cheers!
They sure love them today 😂
I have a 2005 mr2 sequential in red, with 52000 miles, clean as can be. I’m in love ❤️
Love my 2002 MR2 she grips the road and handles amazingly, Toyota balanced the car so well for that! It’s just a fun car to drive! 😊
Doug the type of guy to drive a mr2 to an exotic car meet.
JohnStax the type of guy to like his own comments
With a smug smile
Von Bergerfurth, the type of guy to miss spell his own last name on a job application
Itz Godwin why is that tho
i would
Nice Yakuza Stinger.
Apex the yakuza was based on this in GTA3
iBeer420noscope lol gta 3
Just download gta 3 on the app store. That’s what I did with San andreas and bully
Latest was 2013, I want a new one so soon lol :p GTA is an awesome series and I rather they take their time than don't.
@@daarupappe The Yakuza Stinger in GTA 3 sounded WAY better than this though. It actually sounded like a sports car.
I had a 350Z roadster. Then I got a drive in an MR2 Spyder. Sold the 350Z and bought an MR2. It's the closest thing I've driven to a Porsche 356 I owned 50 years ago. I installed a set of XYZ coil-overs last week which really sorted it out. I love it.
why were your scores so low? acceleration 1/10 seems rough. 7 seconds 0-60 isn't really that slow I think it deserved at least a 3 out of 10
Agreed. Especially for the time. Back then a Jetta did 0-60 in about 10 seconds and was considered ok.
@All_RoadsI think the acceleraton score would be more meaningful if the car were compared to other cars in it's segment.
Doug's acceration scores are a pet peeve with me.
Like many have said, the acceleration rating is completely objective. For example, 10 is reserved for anything up to 3 seconds, 3.1 to 3.5 or so is 8, and 7 seconds and above is a 1.
Yeah, he's kind of a jackass. I tried to get youtube to stop suggesting his videos, he just has some of the weirdest irrelevant things to say. Like he just makes up scenarios that either were never the intention of the manufacturer or anyone else for that matter and then will use his weird scenario to make complaints about cars. Like, I'm sure he's a great guy in real life, but good god I can not stand his reviews. So why did I click it? I didn't, youtube is so determined to make him relevant that it autoplayed after another video. I stuck around to see if he's still saying dumb things... yup.
Michael Converse his scoring system sucks. Immediately end the video when that pops up.
I really didn't like this car for a long time, and it's still my least favourite mr2. However I saw one in person recently and man they look so much better in person than in pictures and videos
it's true. I just bought a blue one 2 days ago and someone already left a "how much for the car?" note. it isn't even in great shape lol!
It doesn’t compare well for an MR2 but that wasn’t Toyota’s point. It absolutely thrashes the (non turbo) NC Miata which was its competition
yeah its one of those cars. i wonder why that is with some cars. i have the same with the 300zx it looks kinda derpy on pictures and like the lights were mounted way too high, but irl it looks so cool.
Yeah look beautiful on the road although I prefer sw20 and have 2 of them
Dang it, Doug. Why do you have to drive up the price on these mr2/mrs.
ossumopossum good thing I got my Spyder couple of months ago :)
Yep. Got mine last year for $3,200. Absolutely zero buyer's remorse. It is a BLAST.
Power suck! Get Lexus sc460
It's a toy compared to an s2000.
That was my firts tought, damn this is what I hate about youtubers
I definitely didn't forget about this car. It was one of the first cars I noticed when I first started driving. I'll probably never own one but I can always dream.
It’s mid engined...I guess you could say it has the horses in the back
Get out
GET
*Slaps knee*
Eww
We DIDNT ASK
Doug the type of guy to compare a mr2 to a ferrari.
me too
the mr2 and a ferrari?
same thing
JohnStax Not saying they are correct to do so, but some people have been doing that since at least the SW20, if not the AW11 as well. Same goes for the Fiero... I am more surprised this third generation MR-2 Spyder or MR-S was not referred to as a baby Boxster.
Actually, I saw one with ferrari badges a few years ago... tons of people looked at it, even a brave one pointet with the finger and said a FERRARI
Google MR2 Ferrari body kit. They're hilarious.
Ehh I was trying to forget this car and I was almost there, thanks Doug
"Well, this is the third generation that everybody forgot about." Doug, I was the one who wasn't just remember the car before you reviewed the car, it's also one of my favourite sports car.(Although it's practically wasn't all that practical for the front 'trunk'). Still, it's design was beautiful.
S2000 Is my fave.
@@Sitnubs . Well, same as yours (although not my most favourite JDM cars), still I like it because stylish, driver-focused, had a foldable soft-top (though it may crushed by roll over accident) and of course, it was popular and everyone loves it.😘
Got one in my driveway. 2000 MR2 S Black on red. Love that little car.
At one point, the MR2 was faster than the Toyota Supra. Great review of "the poor man's Ferrari" :)
Canadian Plane Spotter *poor man's boxter
Corey Rogers nope, the mk2 (the turbo was the one faster than supras) was known as poor mans ferrari. People put dodgy kits to make them look like 355s. But always looked shit
This poor man's ferrari was faster than most ferraris of the time!
Poor man's ferrari was mark 2 mr2
Canadian Plane Spotter It doesnt aplly to 3rd gen. What you are thinking of is SW20 MR2 one from 90s with popups.
So what Doug should really be saying is, if you want a real 1990 to 2000 range mid engine Toyota, buy a Previa.
nice
And the Previa is big if you want a big mid-engine minivan. You can turn the 2nd-row seats everywhere so you can have a conference!
My MR2 Spyder got more attention than my corvette. I drove the Spyder for 12 years and it never gave me any trouble.
Really? What kind of comments?
You should totally review an AW11 or a SW20
I agree a supercharged 1st gen or turboed 2nd gen have always been 1 of my favorite old school Toyotas. Of course Mk4 turbo 6 spd Supra=dreams, 2nd would be a 2nd gen Mr2 turbo 5spd, 3rd would be mk3 turbo 5 spd Supra as I've seen some nasty ones back on the 90s. No where near the looks or performance of a 4th gen but I still like them when modded right. Next would be a supercharged 1st gen Mr2 5spd. I've always liked them too. Well actually 3rd or 4th would be a All-Trac Celica turbo 5spd, but their like super rare and not worth the money they bring. Just my 2 cents. Oh yea and a supercharged Previa ftw lol.
The ultimate quirk would have been if Toyota made 6 different keys for the 6 different locks. Maximum quirk.
Michael Montefusco 😂😂😂
The locks on my first gen turn in different directions
Michael Montefusco Italian style!
Love my spyder. It was built to be a miata killer and that's what it is.
Shorter than a miata, with a wider wheel base, better hp/weight ratio, and an engine put in the right place... Heck, it's even less practical than a miata!
The only reason you wouldn't get one as an enthusiast is if you're worried about what other people will think.
It's hard for new enthusiasts especially when everyone gives you a hard time for not driving a car that has 1000whp or an automatic/paddle shift transmission
A lot more comfortable for taller or bigger people too, compared to miata.
Nice miata killer if the miata is still being made and recognized, meanwhile the mr2 spyder killed the whole brand and most people forgot about it lol. Good job toyota. If anything it's just a nice reminder that numbers means shit when it comes to cars. And no, the engine isn't in the right place. A classic FR configuration feels better to drive, and that's all these cars are about, because let's not kid ourselves - these cars are slow as fuck. Hell, even doug had a blast in a miata, meanwhile mr2 felt like a wasted potential to him.
Miata is always the answer
@Stevie Wonder
Miata killer on the track, not in the market place.
I've race them both about every weekend and I promise you the MR-S is faster.
Also, a FR only "feels better" because that's what you're used to... If you race them, what feels better is what produces the best, smoothest, fastest lap.
And no... the cars aren't slow as hell. They don't have any mid-range acceleration, and they don't have a good stop speed, but they don't need to slow down in the corners... On short, technical tracks, they're some of the best cars around. 2 weekends ago, I out-ran every 911 boxster there. Because the MR-S is a damn good car. Not because I'm any good.
I didn't forget about the Spyder. It was my dream car when I was in middle school and I owned a poster of one. I finally got a good deal on one when I turned 29 and have been driving mine ever since. Turns more heads than most anything else on the road in my area, and the guilt-free fun of a car that is rock solid mechanically, good on gas, and simple to find parts for (except for that hardtop option)- makes it a working man's dream turned reality. Hearing that buzzsaw engine noise behind my head never gets old.
Buzz saw engine noise is pretty accurate to describe it!.. 😂 my little red one goes tickity tackity all the way to school and back. And it's a healthy engine, but the nature of the 1zz is such that of a noisy buzz saw sound lol
I owned one of these from 2002 for 4 years and loved it. When I was told it was a hairdressers car I would point out the lack of vanity mirrors and proper boot. Not as many top down days as I’d like living in the UK, but when I could it was great. He heater was powerful enough to keep you warm during winter drives with the top down. Although not the quickest, it embarrassed my mates Z3 1.9 during an impromptu traffic light GP 🚦🏁😄. Handling was impressive as was day to day economy. I want another one! Or a modern day equivalent with the new Toyobaru 2.4 flat 4...🤔😎
Pretty sure that literally everyone who knows anything about cars remembers this car.
Patrick94GSR Ive tried to forget
You’d be surprised; some people aren’t that smart.
remember it being shit compared to the mk1 and mk2 mr2
Yah because everyone hated it
gotta admit that going from ~200 hp turbocharged to ~140hp N/A was sort of a buzz-kill. Styling wasn't great either. Although the N/A MK1 and MK2 MR-2's weren't much to write home about, either. The N/A MK2 had the 5S-FE 2.2L Camry engine. At least the MK1 had the 4A-GE which was kind of cool.
Doug is the type of guy that locks his car doors to prevent a valet from stealing it
Quite right too.
Doug's never been to a restaurant before much less a fancy one.
Wow I really wanted that car when I was a teen I totally forgot and how much good memories of that time good video
Just bought a 2000 MR-2 Spyder, yellow and black with custom black rims. SO fun to drive.
Doug's the type of guy who kidnaps strangers, and force them to let him use their car in a review video
Him and Kevin Spacey ... without the car review tho lol
Mobile Gamer Stop with this stupid meme already....
Because he always wastes money on car rentals?
I feel like his girlfriend might have just bought this car. Maybe because he's reviewing it in a garage and went to the trouble of removing the license plates. Could be totally wrong, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit.
I must admit, I am totally in love with this car ❤️❤️❤️
Same. I always go for underdogs and no one liked this one so
I had one for 13 years and loved it. My boyfriend totaled it last year, sadly. It was raining and he took a curve too fast and slid off the road. He's okay though. Car was toast.
I had one in high school. They’re great
@@ninomarinkovic1904 if only insurance in the UK was as forgiving as yours. Here anything above 1.25 litres is unreachable. And yes the MR2 only has a small engine but they see it has two doors and is a sports car and are like 'oh shit that thing must be a goddamn rocket'. K I'm done ranting at insurance
Lisa Murphy ugh, I feel for you. That really sucks.
My dad had this car back in the 00’s great car to star driving manual, great memories on it
These MR2's are always at the top of the time sheets when I autocross. Handling is fantastic.
I would love to hear your thoughts about the Fiat Multipla
Flipperman.TheTruth oh no..
"Just about the tightest I've been in"
Tim Post it is japanese 😉
18:38 - i came to the comments to see if anyone else found that funny😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👍
Is Doug Married
I'm taller than Doung and I never had a problem in mine. It was one of the most comfortable cars I ever owned.
The car in this video has big armchair seats though, I wonder if that's making the difference.
( I don't think Toyota even offered leather seats for this car)
I had one - a PERFECT ride in every way! I want to pick up a used one as a replacement very soon! Happy Motoring!
Another great video, Doug! I'd love to see you do a video on the 7th Gen Toyota Celica GTS. Interested to see what the Doug score would be. Happy holidays!
You do realize a 7 second 0-60 back in the year 2000 was very respectable. Can't believe you gave it a score of 1.
doug is the type of guy thats my type of guy
Wat
But couldn’t the valet just use the key you gave them to park your car to unlock your trunk or glovebox 🤔
Valet key. Works on ignition only.
The locking storage is mainly for protecting your stuff when parking with the top down, not for thieving valets.
Yeah he completely missed the point it's so you can park it with the roof down and nobody can steal your stuff/battery.
shhhhh
When you bought this car new they gave you a valet key.
I LOVE how you actually had the wind guard up in the back! lmao
Doug the type of guy to make $30k a month but record with an iphone.
JohnStax well his iPhone X has a really good camera tho.
JohnStax Doug is the type of guy who created an amazing formula
And he dosent even record in samsung 960 fps super slo mo, disgusting
he actually makes $6.8k-$108.4 a month
How does he make -101.6 a month?
Doug the type of guy to have pictures of his own car hung up next to the car in the garage like at 9:34.
I had one for 7yrs, loved it, it was like a motorcycle with 4 wheels.....Amazing little car.
Mine had a TRD Factory Bodykit, with big rims and was bright yellow !
One quirk you missed is the rear tyres are slightly bigger then the front.
only on the facelift models
I saw one back in England around 2002
Couldn’t believe how cool it was !
9:27
wait, hold up....
this dude has a framed picture of his own car in his garage
Actually, that's original art. I commissioned a local artist who does water color paintings of cars. :)
Dont you?
I think that may have been a 911. Even if it is his car, I think that's awesome. I lot of bikers have little models of their rides
This is the redheaded stepchild of mr2s
Yeah, the OG mr2 was a favorite of mine growing up. Loved the super white one with black leather.
I never understood it, really. While it can't compare to the much more powerful (and heavier) Mk2, it manages to be even lighter than the Mk1, with more power. That's quite an achievement, given the ever-increasing bloat of modern cars.
thats hot
+ThetaReactor It is pretty easy to understand when you compare it against the Miata. They had near identical performance stats, but the Miata had more predictable oversteer and a usable trunk. Additionally, the Miata had far more aftermarket and racing support. Aside from the coolness of midship power (which contributed to its twitchier handling), there was no reason to choose the MR2 over the Miata.
Midship runabout 2-seater. Poor man's Boxster with Toyota dependability, best fun-for-the-buck ever and consistently 30 mpg. Oh, and best fun-for-the-buck ever!
I've had two of these. Fabulous little cars.
I was shopping around for this car and it was near impossible to find one in good condition. Oh well. Still love it for what it is. 👍🏽
Spends 20 minutes making fun of it and ripping on it. Finishes off with “what’s not to love!?”
Living in Japan the speed rarely goes over 60MPH legally. But all the twists and turns, handling is where it’s at, and acceleration is key.
I love this car, my late grandma had gifted me a model of the Toyota Mr2 Spyder, thanks to your video, I recognized the model
The warm water and baking soda is to clean the battery if there is any corrosion on it.
Exactly, this is basic car maintenance with basic household materials that is so often overlooked by car buyers today.
Thank you. I’ve been scrolling through the comments to look for someone to explain the hot water and baking soda, and make Doug look like a fool
you have been driving too many million dollar super cars
Yeah, hes gone from supercars, hypercars, and still has love for little backroad warriors like the MR2 and Miata.
You havnt driven enough
I had this car, a subwoofer fits in that rear storage, it was pretty quick, keep an eye on your oil levels after 100k, get a driver seat cover. Good car, way more comfy than the Elise I got after it and less attention.
ah, the 2000s...
I miss those times.
Motoworld was best in 1990-2000
Ight, move on
I literally drove one of these for the first time yesterday and was wondering why Doug hasn’t reviewed one. Then I got this notification. Thanks Doug you complete me.
WAZAM939 drive a supra
Literally? Damn yo!
You sure you didn't drive it figuratively?
Wind in his what, Doug? WIND IN HIS WHAT?!
Undies.
Nice to find you here ADVChina
he wanted to say hair, but the dude didn't hair
Lol!!!
Love to see Matthew aka Laowhy86 over on Doug's channel.
Wonderful profile, Doug. The junior Jay Leno chin with that nose, what a look! Great job with all the cars too. Lots of fun watching you and your videos.
I've got a 2001 Cape green MR2 which is arguably one of the best colours available. Apart from having to replace 50% of the parts it's certainly a fun car! Stuck a hard top on the car to remedy the leading roof which transformed the way the car handled. If you get a good one you'll have a blast!
I had one back in the day, it was pretty clean. Replaced all the badges with the chicken, lowered the suspension,TRD shirt shifter kit with brass fittings, HID headlights w/ projectors, GPS radio. The 1zz engine had a massive flaw with it's catback system so one of the first things you did was replace the exhaust system. Was going to do the popular 2zz swap but ended up trading it for a Supercharged Mini Cooper. Was an awesome car, the RWD was fun and because it's mid engine it literally handled like a go kart on the twisties.