Smile your in an MR2 updated 6/10/00 (Toyota MR2 (2000 on))

Member Name: lordpercy

Product:	Toyota MR2 (2000 on)
Date:	30/08/00 (557 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Performance, Handling, fuel economy, Grp 13 insurance

Disadvantages: Luggage Space, Sony CD system, UK weather

The first question you should ask yourself when considering the New MR2 roadster is how much do I need to transport?

If the answer is anything more than "a few bags of shopping" or "enough for a weekend away for one", then look in the listings under anything except "MR2". However if you can manage on such meagre rations the MR2 might be for you.

With that out of the way it’s all good news from here on!

The long awaited replacement for the MR2 hit our shores in April and if you look hard enough you might just see one on the roads; owners can be easily identified by a large smile!

Performance is excellent mainly due to its strict diet which has led to it weighing in at just 975kg and with 140bhp on tap this produces a 0 – 62mph time of 7.9 seconds, I can assure you this is a somewhat conservative estimate!

Handling is superb with yokohama tyres hugging the road and the mid engine layout providing the perfect balance between sharp responsive steering but without any wild sideways action. The MR2 is also surprisingly well behaved in the wet as long as you don’t wear your lead boots.

Being a soft top you’ll want to experience open air motoring whenever the UK climate allows, operation of the manual hood is simple and can be accomplished from the drivers seat without breaking into a sweat.

The lack of buffeting is surprising, indeed you would have to exceed the UK motorway speed limit by some margin (lets guess at 40%) to have anything to complain about, this combined with a ferocious heater should allow maximum top down time.

The interior is good by Japanese standards not too plasticy and nicely laid out, the steering wheel can slightly obscure the speedo but you’ll probably be watching the rev counter which is immediately in your line of sight. The seats are comfortable and supportive, although I would recommend the Leather option (£500) t
o give the cabin a touch of class.

Mr2 entertainment is supplied by the standard Sony single CD player, this is one of the few disappointments, its fine at low levels but when worked hard (which you need to with the roof down) it distorts badly.

With such an appealing car security is vital, the MR2 comes equipped with a Thatcham Category 1 immobiliser and alarm combination, which scored well in the recent What Car security tests. But don’t sleep too far from the MR2, as the gentleman who located the siren inside the front boot believes you have excellent hearing!

Finally the looks, from one angle it’s a Boxster, from another its MGF and inside there are echo’s of Audi TT. Yes the Toyota designers have saved us from another far east penned disaster and taken the best bits of the European designs, does it work? There’s only one way to find out, book a test drive.........

And remember to SMILE.


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Update 06.10.2000

6 weeks gone already and winter is closing in but the MR2 is having a devastating effect on me, I can't resist lowering the roof!

Tonight for example its bloody freezing but I drove 40 miles topless at 8pm, but it just has to be done.

The car is behaving superbly, handling like a dream and even the fuel economy is creeping up towards 37mpg.

Everywhere I go people stop me to ask about the car, I can't even buy petrol without a discussion with the attendant!

My only gripe is the stereo setup it’s useless and mines going in 2 weeks, the head unit is fine (so I'm told) but the speakers are woefully inadequate and require replacing and an amplifier.

Other than that its all good news, go and buy one you won't regret it, if you do I'll buy it off you...... then I'll have two!!!!!!!!!!!

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