The MR within the identify of at the moment’s Good Value or No Cube MR2 Spyder stands for ‘Midship Runabout,’ denoting its engine placement and spry driving conduct. Let’s see if its vendor has named a superb 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 had been possible definitely worth the $8,000 requested for it. Most of you disagreed, nonetheless, sending the Ford packing in a 73 p.c No Cube loss.
I assume we’ll all must comply with disagree each every now and then, and we would have one other alternative to take action with at the moment’s 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder. We’ll must see the way it goes.
When Toyota launched the third era of its mid-engine runabout, the brand new automotive proved a radical departure from the mannequin’s two prior editions. Certain, it nonetheless rocked a mid-engine format and simply two seats, however it adopted a full convertible roof and wide-eyed anime styling in distinction to the earlier generations’ extra conventional sports activities automotive seems.
Additionally gone was the two.0-liter engine and the choice of turbocharging supplied by the Spyder’s instant predecessor. As an alternative, 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 achieve to both of these numbers.
As a first-year mannequin, this MR2 Spyder has a normal 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 lots of choices obtainable when new, and apart from 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 very best in California. It rolls on manufacturing facility alloys that look to be in good condition, and people are wrapped in rubber which are 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 reveals any important flaw within the footage. Of word, nonetheless, is that the headlamp and tail lamp lenses seem to have been coated in darkish movie of restricted attraction. That will most likely be only a morning’s work to take away.
The one notable flaw within the cabin is a big crack within the onerous 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 situation to think about in regards to the MR2 Spyder’s cabin is how tight it’s. This can be a Kewpie Doll-sized automotive, and two-up, it may well 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 beneath 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 selection, and I believe we will all agree that each have higher pedigrees than the Toyota. That stated, that is the much less possible selection and, therefore, good for the person who likes to dwell exterior the mainstream.
What do you assume? Is that this MR2 value that $11,495 asking and a sensible expenditure in mild of the competitors? Or is that this Spyder simply not too fly?
You determine!
Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
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