2001ToyotaMR2 SpyderToyota MR2 Spyder2001 Toyota MR2 SpyderConvertibleConvertibleRWDJapanBrand new last year, the spunky but not spacious MR2 Spyder rolls into 2001 without changes.Well-balanced mid-engine design, scores high on the fun scale, awesome car to run hard on the track, affordability.Homely design, lack of cargo space, dated interior design, non-adjustable seats.Given the popularity of two-seat roadsters, it was only a matter of time before Toyota joined the fray. Last year, the company resurrected an old timer of the performance line, the MR2, in a new convertible incarnation called the Spyder. Although it has its work cut out for it with the plethora of roadster competitors on the market these days, its relatively low price is its selling point. The MR2 is one of three new vehicles (the others being the Echo and Celica) recently trotted out by Toyota to appeal to younger, first-time buyers. The Spyder rides on a low-slung, long-wheelbase platform with MacPherson struts supporting each corner. A five-speed manual transmission drives the rear wheels, and an amazingly sharp and responsive electric hydraulic power steering system makes this little droptop a blast when ripping along canyon roads. Sharing an engine with the Celica GT, MR2 Spyder's 1.8-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine produces 138 horses at 6,400 rpm and 127 foot-pounds of torque at 4,400 rpm, thanks in part to VVT-i variable valve timing technology. Weighing in at a diminutive 2,200 pounds, it provides plenty of vroom from the get-go, reaching 60 mph in about 7 seconds. Not to worry, however, because a wide track and sticky tires will keep you firmly planted to the asphalt. With the mid-engine design and its speedy recovery ability, acrobatics on curvy roads equal some good times. The kids will have fun with the exterior sheetmetal, which features steel panels bolted onto a rigid unit-body that allows for aftermarket customization. Considering the no-frills, form-over-function style of the dated-looking interior, this may be the only outlet to express your inner artiste. The MR2 Spyder comes one way and pretty much includes any features you might want. Air conditioning, ABS, power windows and door locks and a tilt steering wheel are all standard. Plus, it boasts something its higher-priced competitor, the Honda S2000, doesn't have: a glass rear window with defroster. However, the ragtop, though made by the same company that makes lids for the S2000 and the Miata, is a bit more cumbersome than those two models. It is necessary to get out of the car before putting it up or down. Plus, you can't get leather upholstery. Some might find contention with the chunky styling of the little machine, Danny DeVito-esque being one of the ways to describe the bulging headlights and rotund yet busy lines of the sheetmetal, especially when compared to the sleek and curvaceous Miata. But one sometimes feels more affection for the less comely child... Besides, once you get the MR2 Spyder revved up and onto the proper racing line at a track, you'll be smitten no matter what your opinion of the styling, inside or out. Thinking of autocrossing a small, inexpensive roadster? This Toyota is your car. Ah, to be young, beautiful, and racing around town in a convertible. You may not be the first two, but you could have the last for a lot less money than you might expect. Ford MustangMazda MX-5 MiataMitsubishi Eclipse SpyderVolkswagen Cabrio336,000560,0005UnlimitedNANANA41.8 litersInline138 hp @ 6400 rpm125 ft-lbs. @ 4400 rpm153 in.66.7 in.48.8 in.2195 lbs.96.5 in.37.3 in.NA51 in.NA49.8 in.NA42.2 in.NA1.9 cu.ft.StandardStandardNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableRating = Not TestedRating = Not TestedNot TestedNot TestedNot TestedNot Tested12.7 gal.25 mpg / 30 mpg318 mi. / 381 mi.Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not.$21,342$23,5857.35%$455N/A3% of the Base InvoiceBASE (5M): 1.8L I4 DOHC MPI 16-valve engine with variable valve timing; 5-speed OD manual transmission; 80 amp alternator; rear-wheel drive, 4.31 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust with tailpipe finisher; front independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, rear independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs; rack-and-pinion power steering; 4-wheel antilock disc brakes; 12.7 gal. capacity fuel tank; side impact bars; manual convertible roof with lining, glass rear window, manual wind blocker; front and rear body-colored bumpers; monotone paint; aero-composite halogen fully auto headlamps with daytime running lights; driver's and passenger's power remote body-colored folding outside mirrors; front 15" x 6" silver alloy wheels rear 15" x 6.5" silver alloy wheels; P185/55SR15 BSW A/S front tires; 205/50 rear tires; compact steel spare wheel; air conditioning; AM/FM stereo radio, seek-scan feature, cassette player, single-disc CD player, 4speakers, fixed antenna; power door locks, remote hatch/trunk release, remote fuel door release; 1 power accessory outlet, driver's foot rest, retained accessory power; instrumentation display includes tachometer, water temperature gauge, in-dash clock, trip odometer; warning indicators include oil pressure, battery, lights on, low fuel, door ajar; driver's front airbag, passenger's cancelable front airbag; ignition disable; tinted windows with driver's 1-touch down function; variable-speed intermittent front windshield wipers, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 2, front sports seats with fixed headrests, driver and passenger seat's include 4-way adjustment; height-adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners; cloth seats, cloth door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full carpet floor covering, leather-wrapped gearshift knob, aluminum interior accents; interior lights include dome light with delay, front reading lights; leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt adjustment;day/night rearview mirror; full floor console, glove box, front cupholder, instrument panel covered bin, locking interior concealed storage, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo light; black side window moldings, black front windshield molding and body-colored door handles.