![]() ![]() With the sequential manual shifter, the MR2 becomes a bit more unique in a marketplace full of me-too products. On the inside, the MR2’s instrument panel is redone with new graphics, and chrome trim is sprinkled about for a bit more sophisticated presentation. The rear lights have been updated, too, and the car now has a larger, chrome tailpipe. Toyota has given the MR2 Spyder an SMT as of this year, and we. ![]() New for 2003 are some minor exterior changes, including new-look, dual-bulb headlights, a new bumper and integrated fog lights. True sequential manual transmissions have been the province of the Rich and Famous: Aston Martin, Maserati, et al. It saves money, cuts weight and operates with about 2 ounces of common sense. The top here operates manually, which is a good thing in my book. The optional ($660) tan leather package added leather seats and a complementary tan convertible top. Our test car was painted a gorgeous shade of light blue, something that Toyota calls paradise blue metallic. Tight steering remains one of the MR2’s strongest selling points. New this year are larger (16-inch) rear tires that also improved the handling a bit. Nonetheless, the MR2’s high-tech engine is made of aluminum and carries Toyota’s variable valve timing with intelligence technology that results in better torque at all speeds.Īnd, at just more than 2,200 pounds, the MR2 is fairly nimble, and its midengine layout makes for a nice, balanced ride. And consider that Honda’s S2000 roadster, another two-seater from Japan, gets 240 horsepower from its 2.0-liter four, and you understand that the MR2 is sporty, but not a sports car. That’s good because the MR2’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine only generates 138 horsepower. Yep, Toyota now offers a five-speed manual in the MR2 Spyder that you shift using buttons on the steering wheel or by bumping the transmission selector on the center console, and without. Like a manual shifter, the SMT allowed me to get a bit more performance out of this car than any automatic would have. ![]()
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