Toyota MR2
The
Toyota MR2 is a modern day classic. This is arguably the definitive small roadster, Vanessa Hinkley decides
Its not often that a car like this comes my way Toyotas MR2 Roadster is definitely not one for the mass market. Nor is it a purchase you would make with your head but if your choice of wheels has more to do with your love of driving than mere financial considerations, then thats not going to hold you back. I thought Mister Twos gorgeous bodyshell to be reminiscent of the kind of shape
Ferrari might create were they to produce an affordable little sports car. There are more affordable small roadsters on the market, but in terms of looks they lag behind this Toyota.
Furthermore, nestled underneath those perfect proportions is a 1.8-litre VVT-i engine which comprehensively outclasses the competition. But lets not talk about price premium just yet.
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Practical is not a word youd use in connection with the MR2. A tiny 78-litre space behind the two seats offers enough room for a couple of shoulder bags - and that's only available when the roof's up. There's not much room for people either, with head and legroom at a premium in the tiny cabin. On the other hand, I thought the roof was great. You can flip it up and down on your own without breaking sweat or even leaving your
seat (hence the lack of an electric option). Plus it incorporates a proper glass heated rear window, so you don't have to put up with permanently murky vision in your rear view mirror. The British importers expect many customers to opt for the optional hard-top - which is maybe one reason why air conditioning has been included in the standard specification. The interior itself is nothing fancy. In fact, you can make it more basic still by taking out the centre console, assuming you don't mind doing without a radio. Utilitarian dimpled plastic covers most surfaces, the only sporty concessions being the fake aluminium door pulls and a three-spoke steering wheel clad with stitched leather (that adjusts for rake but not reach).
The real secret of the MR2 is the fun it promises when you turn that key. Behind the wheel, you know that you're in a sports car that means business. On the road, the latest version sprints to sixty in about 8.0 seconds on the way to a maximum of around 129mph not that I put that to the test, I hasten to add. In production form, the MR2 tops the scales at just 975kg.
Which makes the
Toyota lighter by the weight of a passenger than rivals like the
Mazda MX-5 and a whole 260kg lighter than, say, a
BMW Z3. Also, being just 4335mm in length, it boasts a longer wheelbase than its predecessor, the ideal recipe for straightline stability and progressive handling. The steering's power assisted of course - driven via an electric motor rather than from the engine. The problem with this approach can be a rather remote feel (as is the case in an MGTF) - though not in this case. With the rack set at a quick 2.7 turns lock to lock and a short-throw five-speed close ratio gearbox, there's nothing to spoil what is a really pure driving experience. The seats are good, with excellent support and hold during tight cornering (yes, you have to let your hair down on the open road!). They offer so many adjustment options that you cant fail to get really comfortable.
Theres no entry-level MR2 only the 1.8-litre version. Which is why entry-level 1.6-litre versions of the
MG TF and Mazda MX-5 can undercut it on price.
Still, compare like with like and the £17,150 asking figure isnt too unreasonable.
If my heart was set on a car with character, the MR2 would be almost too tempting to resist. Is immediate contenders might be cheaper, but Mister Two has that extra je ne sais quoi. Dear Mr Bank Manager
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