The MR within the identify of right now’s Good Worth or No Cube MR2 Spyder stands for ‘Midship Runabout,’ denoting its engine placement and spry driving habits. Let’s see if its vendor has named a very good worth for it.
To say I used to be shocked by the response to yesterday’s 1968 Ford Nation Sedan wagon could be an understatement. I believed the automotive’s rebuilt engine, heavy-duty transmission, and fairly full and driveable situation have been doubtless well worth the $8,000 requested for it. Most of you disagreed, nevertheless, sending the Ford packing in a 73 p.c No Cube loss.
I suppose we’ll all must conform to disagree each once in a while, and we would have one other alternative to take action with right now’s 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder. We’ll must see the way it goes.
When Toyota launched the third technology of its mid-engine runabout, the brand new automotive proved a radical departure from the mannequin’s two prior editions. Positive, it nonetheless rocked a mid-engine structure and simply two seats, but it surely adopted a full convertible roof and wide-eyed anime styling in distinction to the earlier generations’ extra conventional sports activities automotive appears.
Additionally gone was the two.0-liter engine and the choice of turbocharging supplied by the Spyder’s quick predecessor. As a substitute, the one engine choice was the 1.8-liter all-ally 1ZZ-FE DOHC naturally-aspirated 4. That provides 138 horsepower and 126 lb-ft of torque, however drivers must go looking up the revs to succeed in to both of these numbers.
As a first-year mannequin, this MR2 Spyder has a regular five-speed guide, not the bizarre SMT auto-manual launched as an choice the next 12 months. Which means all of the ponies can be found on the driver’s whim. These vehicles didn’t have numerous choices accessible when new, and except for a big-screen double DIN stereo, this one doesn’t seem to have been contaminated by aftermarket-itis both.
This Toyota is dealer-offered, promoted by the vendor as a two-owner automotive that’s been well-kept and maybe the most effective in California. It rolls on manufacturing facility alloys that look to be in good condition, and people are wrapped in rubber which might be stated to have about 75 p.c tread left.
Complementing that may be a silver metallic coat of paint and black vinyl convertible with a flowery glass again window. None of that exhibits any important flaw within the photos. Of be aware, nevertheless, is that the headlamp and tail lamp lenses seem to have been coated in darkish movie of restricted enchantment. That may in all probability be only a morning’s work to take away.
The one notable flaw within the cabin is a big crack within the arduous plastic prime of the middle console. Was that owed to an errant elbow or too many aggressive yanks on the e-brake deal with? There’s no CSI for such issues, so we’ll by no means know.
One other concern to contemplate concerning the MR2 Spyder’s cabin is how tight it’s. This can be a Kewpie Doll-sized automotive, and two-up, it could actually make for an uncomfortable house for individuals with private boundary points.
One other tight house is the engine compartment. That’s anticipated of a mid-engine convertible, and to be honest, Toyota’s packaging is among the many better of the breed. Actually, it seems that this automotive’s bay has been accessed no less than as soon as, as there are lacking fasteners on the engine’s magnificence cowl.
That apart, there actually don’t appear to be any gotchas with this MR2. Per the vendor, it has a reasonable-for-a-Toyota 133,414 miles below its belt and has a clear title. The asking worth is $11,495.
Now, right here’s the place it will get tough. You see, that sort of money will purchase a decently sorted Porsche Boxster of the identical period or any variety of Mazda Miatas. Both of these is a stable alternative, and I believe we are able to all agree that each have higher pedigrees than the Toyota. That stated, that is the much less doubtless alternative and, therefore, excellent for the person who likes to stay exterior the mainstream.
What do you suppose? Is that this MR2 value that $11,495 asking and a wise expenditure in mild of the competitors? Or is that this Spyder simply not too fly?
You determine!
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