Ever hear some computer geek say "If cars were like computers they'd all go 1,000 mph; get 250mpg and cost $100?". The inferred point is that cars aren't technologically advancing as fast as computers. My first all-day drive in the new MR2 Spyder is proof that this assessment about car technology is wrong.

In 1989 I drove a MR2 and loved it. Last weekend I got to drive the all new 2001 MR2 Spyder and I loved it, but what a difference eleven years makes. The car handled as if on rails, with only a little body roll at high speed cornering (taking a recommended 30mph corner at 75). Road feel is outstanding, with no vibration coming through the steering wheel.

As is Toyota's forte, control layout is logical and well laid out. The entire car is centered around the driver, which makes sense since their is room for only one passenger. Wind noise was relatively low in this open-air machine and speaking to your passenger at highway speeds was not an exercise in shouting.

So I got to comparing the 1989 MR2 with todays MR2 and can say they are unequivocally worlds apart. In eleven years this car has stayed in about the same price range (a little over $20K), and if one takes inflation into account it may have gotten a bit cheaper. Yet it handles significantly better, the seats are better, it comes with a much better stereo system and is quieter. In fact I'd compare the MR2 Spyder, in terms of road feel and handling, more with a $65,000 1987 Porsche 911 than the original MR2. Now that's technological progress!

Two big weaknesses - one the 138 hp four cylinder engine. After driving a Mustang Cobra and a Pontiac Trans Am, both with huge V8 engines in the same price range as this MR2, don't expect to win any drag races. You might do better at the gas pump, but if you are going to get into a testosterone race at a red light, be prepared to let your ego deflate. In fact I'd stay clear of most cars, with 7.0 seconds as the fastest I could get this car to 60mph (OK, I'm no pro, but even Motor Trend couldn't do better than 6.8). The automatic transmission Grand AM SC/T, slated to go into production for 2001, can do 0-60 in 6.6, which means any fool driving it can do 6.6. It's always embarrassing to get beaten in a race by a four door, so if you have any ideas of racing I wouldn't buy the MR2.

Second big weakness is storage space. There is literally a glove compartment box, two map holders in the doors and room for about four college text books in the trunk. That's it! No weekend getaways for you and your significant other, unless you plan on buying all your clothes and other needs when you get to your hotel.

This last point got met thinking. Who exactly wants this car? It can't serve as a primary vehicle, and anyone who wants a secondary vehicle for $23,500, certainly can afford a Porshe Boxster or Corvette for about $45,000. Both the Porsche and Corvetter can handle your luggage needs (the Vette actually has 24 cubic feet of luggage capacity). So if this is going to be a primary vehicle, you'd have to look elsewhere, and elsewhere for most will be the Mazda Miata. Priced almost exactly as the MR2, it isn't as good through the turns, isn't as fast and isn't as refined. But it can hold a bag of groceries, looks great and its versatility makes up for its sports car shortcomings.

The Toyota is only a $23,000 toy, and if you have $23K for a toy I have to recommend saving a little longer and getting the Porsche.

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Addendum
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For whatever reason, a poster going by the alias Kendude, got very mad at the review above. He then made some unsubstantiated statements that the Boxster has had cracked engine blocks and that the Spyder was faster from 40 - 70 mph than the Boxster.

I decided to add this comparison review, using only credible websites as the basis for this comparison. First and foremost, the Boxster is rated in the top 20% of all vehicles in terms of reliablity by JDPower (http://www.jdpower.com). At this time they do not have a rating for the Toyota Spyder because it is so new.

I haven't driven a Boxster, but the experts at Car & Driver did, and I put together the following spec data:

Specification.......Boxster..........Spyder
Price...............$42,195............23,615
Horsepower..........217 hp............138
Torque................185 lbs.............125
Braking 70 – 0......159 ft...........167*
Cornering:...........91 g ............n/a
50 – 70..............7.0 sec **.........9.3
0-60..................6.5 sec ............7.0
¼ mile................15.0 sec...........16.1^
Top Speed.............147 mph...........n/a

* This is Toyota’s claim
**Porsche test is 7.0 sec from 50 – 75mph (this spec is from Porsche)
^ Source: http://www.carseverything.com/reviews/specs.html/Toyota_MR_Spyder.html

As one can see, in all performance criteria, especially the 50 - 70 acceleration, the Boxster performed better than the Spyder, which is what I would expect from a car costing $20,000 more.

It is also important to note that the Boxster is one of Car & Drivers 10 best cars, three - years running.

After a test of the Miata vs the Spyder, Car & Driver echoed my own sentiments by saying:
“Miata's larger trunk makes it more than a weekend toy.”

and

"Still, most roadster buyers don't race their vehicles. They're more likely used for weekend getaways to view the changing colors of fall at a leisurely pace. What you need for that activity is some trunk space, and here the MR2's score is rather dismal. Most of what there is of front trunk space is used to accommodate the spare tire, leaving a paltry two cubic feet. What about behind the roadster's two seats? There's a small compartment there that might accept a briefcase, perhaps an overnight change of skivvies and socks.”
http://www.caranddriver.com/FrameSet/0,1350,_sl_NewArticle_sl_0_cm_1633_cm_3926_1_17_cm_00,00.html

So if I may conclude, the Spyder is an excellent car, but in no way is it as good as the Boxster. Is the Boxster worth $20,000 more? That is up to you and your wallet. Certainly the Spyder is a great car for the price - good looks, good performance and actually competitive with a car costing nearly twice its price. Give the Spyder a trunk and Toyota would easily be able to increase yearly output from 5,000 vehicles annually to 25,000 (surpassing the Miata's 20,000).

However, if the purpose is purely driving pleasure, and performance being the #1 component of that pleasure, the Boxster wins. Eliminate the need for a convertible, and I wouldn't recommend either of these vehicles. The Corvette is about $39,500, crushes both of these cars in every performance category and adds 24 cubic feet of cargo space (more than a Toyota Corolla and Mazda Protege combined!).