Why People HATE the Toyota MR2 Spyder

Its not a fair critique, in that the sw20 base had a 5sfe. The spyder is lighter and makes the same power, so would be faster than the sw20 base. It just never got a souped up model. They should have came with a turbocharged 1zz option, or a 2zz/ supercharged 2zz option. I dount it would even need the supercharged 2zz. Just maybe a 2zz tuned for the extra 20 hrsprs that the sports m celica got.

It’s a rare car over here in the UK now, hardly see any around, glad I own a stock one 🤘

foolish article, the MR2 spyder is a great car and goes for a super low price. Easy to hot rod up enigne, scharger,etc. great handling great steering and an interesting look.
OK so I watched now.....and you found out the truth....lowball elise....

If anyone wants to get rid of theirs because of this vid I'll take it off your hands.

Wait, so it wasn't praised at all? I thought people would praise it since it looks like a Porsche, or the comet from gta 4

The Spyder was a very weak attempt after the SW20. The Spyder got no love because Toyota showed it none on their end. The MR2 was getting its doors blown off at stoplights by the Corolla S....seriously who at Toyota thought that would sell MR2's? They neglected too much as they claimed they were readjusting their focus on the Miata market. Biggest problem was the Miata was going up in power and the MR2 took a massive dive in it. They went from 205bhp (USDM) 245bhp (JDM) down to 140bhp.

The looks were well below the "Poor Mans Ferrari" lineage that the SW20 left behind. And the interior literally looked like it was mostly pulled from 93 Paseo.

There was no practicality (literally no trunk space). You couldn't even go grocery shopping in the Spyder for more than a bag or 2. Why did the MR2 go from 2 trunks to none?

The 1ZZFE from 2000-2002 had cat converter issues that prematurely destroyed the engine so it wasn't something that could be kept long term. (So much for the reliability factor).

It had no TRD love from Toyota, and no engine upgrade. Yet the Corolla and Matrix got the engine upgrades and TRD love. The SMG transmission was a slow shifting, unreliable piece of garbage (to put it delicately).

Seriously the MR2 Spyder, handled well and thats about it. My SW20 was leaps and bounds better, plus it felt more solid on the road. The Spyder felt too much like a cheap toy.

To matters worse Toyota is going to relaunch an MR2 with a 3 cylinder hybrid engine? They think that will sell? Whoever's making these decisions there needs to be fired and bared from the automotive industry. The MR2 needs 2GRFE V6 280bhp, a 6 gear standard H, SW20 restomod looks/practicality, and thats it. Simple recipe for success.

It's not loved because it's butt ugly. If it looked like an updated sw20 everyone would have loved it regardless of the engine.

The pros are that it handles a TON better than the SW20 and better than the AW11. But only marginally better than an AW11 stock vs. stock. Nothing can change the cheezy fake Porsche Boxster look other than huge body kit and wider/bigger wheels which defeat the purpose of this car's chassis. At least in the SW20 and AW11 they took queues from other great cars and actually made them look good to those comparisons (subjective). And the Spyders are cheap.

No hardtop option in North America, headlights are corny and it was underpowered. Oh and it resembles a very cheap/cheezy Porsche Boxster. Underpowered engine was probably the least problematic b/c engine swaps can be done fairly easily with the body panels being removable.

If it had a different name it would have been revered.

I find that with a new intake and exhaust system, 1zz's are so responsive and lovely - they're still slow, don't get me wrong.

No it's fucking awful. Why would anyone want one - urgh.
Now if anyone wants to sell me one, just drop me a ine because I'm only here because I'm trying to buy one for cheap.
Also, my opinion may change after I've bought it.

hated cause u cant drift it rofl

Most MRS haters have never driven one and anyone who complains about “snap oversteer” should probably stick to 4 wheel drive SUVs… or LEARN TO DRIVE.

Miss my aw11 but love my mr-s

A year later and I still hear people talking crap about mr-s and RX8’s… NC Miata’s…
Let them all think that way.
It’ll be better for us who know better 😂

American car scene is obsessed with HP numbers tbh. good suspension, breaks and weight distribution is way more important for track times, mr2 is great and competes with the Miata

I own the 2004 and i dont care what people say

The sw20 will kill you with a quickness.

I see the potential in autocross race
most of the top drivers owned this car
to me the main reason why people hate it it's its look
the SW20 looked more like an european sportscar yeah I would say a Ferrari
this one is like they decided to make it ugly just to piss off fans

No hp...

do you know what suspension upgrades this owner has done?

At the end of the day, it’s a beater lol

It’s a good car. Best handling out of the three. I don’t think the real killer is the engine. The real killer is lack of storage space. The AW11 AND the SW20 both have trunks and real frunk space.
ZZW30 chassis just has a small storage space behind the seats.
SW20 is a better touring car in a MR2 and makes more power making it tons of fun with a reliable 3sgte setup. However that being said even a AW11 will out track a SW20 in the handling department just because Spyder and AW11 are very very nimble chassis’s.

Great analysis of the Spyder! You summed it up in a nutshell.

They should have put the 2000 celica gts motor

I like but hate these videos 😅 raises the price on sleepers that people over look .

When I was shopping cheap sports cars, this video put the MR2 Spyder on my radar. I test drove cars with twice the HP or more and they were all cool, but I became a true believer when I drove the Spyder. The car is so unbelievably planted and due to how low you are, 0-60 in 7 seconds feels closer to 5 seconds due to that increased sensation of speed. Because of the price, rarity, and just how insanely fun these are to drive, I bought the spyder and have been in love with it ever since. There are few videos where I see TDIB this excited and happy to be driving something. I 100% get it now.

I'm not so sure on the cheap part, I had 1 given to me recently for free but I looked at them on marketplace for fun and all the 1s near me are $10k-$15k (then again it is 2023 and the used car market is thru the roof)

Tengo un 01 Celica GT y quiero que suene asi

I learned about this car in 2 fast 2 furious that's where I first saw it

I would love to have an MRS

Mr2 spyder is like a poor man's Porsche or Lotus. A friend of mine has a MR2 Spyder, he engine swapped it with 500hp turbocharged K20. That thing is absolutely light weight monster. But, just needs to be careful while on the corner, otherwise it will snaps oversteer.

I am a owner for 22 years so biased. the MR2 spyder is a great car though in stock form lacks some power. I have installed a turbo (some 19 years ago) on it and its exactly whats it need now with a little suspension upgrade as well nothing wild its realy fun an usable ;-) and I have driven it !!!!!! it has 275.000 km on the clock

I always felt th SW20 was the pig of the MR2s. It's the one that feels out of place to me. AW11 and the ZZW30 are very similarly focused

I have a aw11 hence the name and im planning on getting a zzw30 as a daily/build because stock is boring 😂

If you want a budget sports car and budget platform this is your car .
If its a little tourer a boot rack can be fitted spare tyre taken out you have more than enough room to carry your stuff.
If it's a little more speed and handling engine swaps are a plenty , coil over shocks and chassis bracing you have a pocket rocket.
One step further and a totally race prep track car or just track day.
This little care brings a proper smile to your face and your wallet is smiling too.

the mr2 was an engineering triumph for toyota. they designed a great light weight mid enginned sports car. but, its not great, going straight in urban traffic

I had a 2000 and it was under powered, could of used 20 to 30 extra hp

Its still just slow

So what are the specs on that MR2? I'm also interested in the work he did to it.

NOTE take this steering rack gear and place into your sw20 VOILA good steering!

i did a 2ZZ swap in a friends many moons ago. it really came alive with that setup, exhaust and a good standalone w tune. it was actually fun after that. Revved high and smooth power. I would def build one up for myself. A good platform in MHO. But im also a sw22, Prelude,3000gtvr4,JagSC,ford ranger,and CRXsi jdm kinda weirdo. lol

I think it's worse than the previous generations before it but with "tuner" cars being way overpriced (I'm not paying $15,000 for an SW20 with 190k miles on the motor that I probably wanna swap/fuck with anyways) I think it holds more value now. The Tuner Tax is Gen X's version of the Boomer's Classic Muscle tax, and just as insulting as most tuners are only really interesting BECAUSE you can tune them up to be fast, CHEAPLY. At least classic muscle cars could work as comfortable grand tourers.

1zz the worst engine toyota made thats why. but if you swap with 2zz its very nice car.

I’d like to see you drive a stock one and re evaluate it. It’s definitely a purist car but in comparison to what else you could get at the time would you still consider it?

Toyota can only blame themselves for it not being successful. It’s like a slower uglier lotus. And you could atleast get a supercharger on a lotus.

It would’ve been successful if they came with a turbo and about 220hp. The purist Toyota designers killed its market. The only reason why people continue to buy the Miata is because Mazda never gave up on it nor did they drastically change its look.

How are the parts availability on these?

it's because it's ugly