Toyota MR2 Roadster 2000 - 2006

The third and final edition of the MR2 was a completely impractical and great fun little sports car. You can pick them up at bargain price nowadays if you've got room in your life for a little pocket rocket.

The MR2 was popular among teenagers and early twenty somethings during the 80s. as the model evolved it lost it's angular body shape and found more rounded sensibilities as it went through the 90s. as it did so it became a little anonymous and so the third edition came to pass with relatively little fuss. The performance offered by the 1.8 engine was in no was headline grabbing. With just 138 bhp on offer the power output is left in the shade by many modern cars, not sports cars either. But the MR2 offers decent performance is you are willing to work the engine. It also comes up light in the torque department with just 125 lb-ft, which is why drivers have to work for the 7.7 seconds 0 - 60 time and top speed of 131 mph. that graft is well rewarded though with a fun and engaging drive. And lets be fair they are decent figures especially for a car that you can pick up for less than five grand.

With the roof up the MR2 feels a little cheap and noisy but get the top off and the car feels like a million dollars. The mid engine layout and compact dimensions make the MR2 a delight to drive. It hugs the road and offers great grip and balance. The steering is simple and feedback levels are great. There is a limited-slip differential which offers traction control and keeps the power going to the right places.

The seats are comfortable and supportive and with the roof down the cockpit is a great place to be. The boot is laughably small so trips the the swimming pool will see your trunks in the boot and your towel on the passenger seat.

The mark three MR2 was on the downhill side of the small Japanese
Manufacturer's popularity and as a result there are not too many on the road. If you are looking for a bit of fun this summer you could do a lot worse than get your hands on one.

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