The main thing I have against the MR-S spyder is that there is no trunk. With a Miata or S2000, you get enough space in the boot for a weekend getaway, provided you pack a couple of small duffles and a six pack cooler. This with the top down.

Plus the MR-S is just such an ugly car IMO. I'd much rather own a 1986 MR2 vs the newer MR-S.

 

Incorrect, there is sufficient space if you ditch the spare in the front supplementing the rear storage bins. And ugly? I'm a fan of all MR2's, but I would say it has a much better profile than any Miata or even S2000 due to the wide track and low front overhangs.

 

I owned one of the first AP1 S2000s and test drove a MK2 Miata before settling in on the MR-S. Very different cars respectively. S2000s are great, especially if you rev them up otherwise they're pretty anemic down below. Miatas are slow and still look like chic cars imho (no offense to those who own one). I chose the MR-S because a) awesome handling due to the MR layout b) great unique look again due to MR layout) and 3) it still has good acceleration, yet very frugal on gas. Sure, it could stand to gain another 50hp (what car doesnt?) and the interior could be a little more refined, but its unique, fun, and most of all, simple and lightweight in its design (2200lbs).

 

I've always toyed around with the idea of an MR-S as a project car.

It's an amazing platform, and it could essentially be an Elise with a simple 2ZZ swap: 2200 lbs., mid engine, 180 hp 2ZZ Celica engine. A lot of people do this swap since it bolts in relatively easily (the 2ZZ is very much like the 1ZZ but with upgraded OEM internals), and it maintains the character of the car as well as OEM display, AC and power steering. And with this engine, the MR-S is competitive with an S2k or Miata, but with mid engine handling to boot.

The 2ZZ swap requires:

A bridge mount for the passenger side motor mount
A modification to the oil dipstick tube
A swap header
Rewiring the ECU plug and adding two wires for lift activation
Or buy a swap harness that does the same job
2000-2001 Celica ECU w/ 8250 redline.

That is all it takes to put a 180HP 2ZZ and a C60 six speed into a MR-S.

As far as appearance, I've always felt that the MR-S needed a bodykit and the hardtop. And although there are kits that make it look like a knock off Porsche like the ABFlug or Veilside, I prefer the APR widebody kit. It still looks like an MR-S, only tougher.

APR widebody:



vs. ABFlug from this thread: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...ebody-kit.html



or old school Veilside:

 

I don't know why, I just prefer the looks of the SW22.

I drove an MR-S a couple of years ago and from what I remember it was pretty gutless. Handled great, but it wasn't very fun unless you were hooning it through a corner.

 

MR-S is pretty slow but it is also easy to turbo or swap 2ZZ-GE and then it becomes very fast... my turbo would spin the wheels at 70mph, and i didnt boost it too much easier.

 

^ You can easily swap a V8 into a Miata if you want to be fast. Something like an aluminum Rover V8 or an LS1 out of a fbody won't throw your weight distribution and handling all out of whack either.

Budget it right and build it yourself(ie1st gen Miata with straight body/blown motor, wrecked fbody with a good drivertrain), and you can have a 400hp, 2400lb land missle for about $10,000.

 

Good comments from everyone. Thanks for the input.

I am very familiar with the S2k and the Miata.

We currently have an RX, LX, 2 Corvettes, and 3 motorcycles.

I'm thinking of getting rid of the motorcycles and Corvettes. Soon.

The MR-S just might be able to fit on dollies and slide sideways into our garage with the bikes gone and riding mower moved to the shed. I would take it out in the spring and fall or when needed to fill in for a primary car. For what I would like to drive, an SC430 would be perfect but it is physically too big.

So I'm not saying that a Corvette is the ultimate car or anything but it is ultimate enough that nearly 20 years of daily driving one has gotten the go fast sports car out of my system.

If an MG A were a reliable leak free car I'd own one. I am going to see if the MR-S is a fit. I just haven't ever seen one on a lot for a test drive and I've only seen a few on the road. If it is as sporty as the not sporty at all Ford Fiestas that are so common in the rental fleets then it will be fine for me.