Talk me into (or out of) an MR2 Spyder

Hi all,

Ran across a really clean, low mileage 03 MR2 Spyder. I have had 0 plans to purchase a Miata alternative, but growing up in the 90s/2000s, I have a soft spot for clean examples around this time. 

Surprisingly, SWMBO likes it and supports the decision. I have yet to see the car, but it sounds like I'll fit (6' 230lb). Pre-cats have been taken care of. The only issue I can see with the pics is the top. Its 20 years old.. I'm not surprised.

I'm starting up a new job and grad school in January and would like something I can just hop in and drive. Fortunately, I do not have a commute or much of one when required of me. The e36 will be on the chopping block, and even though it has never left me stranded or given me any reason to doubt it, I'm thin on time for wrenching and giving it the attention it deserves. 

I'll throw up some pics because everything is better with them. 

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If you want someone to talk you out of it, I'm not your guy.

We have a buyer's guide if it helps: Saving the best for last? | Toyota MR2 Spyder buyer's guide

In reply to Colin Wood :

Thanks, friend. This is the first place I come to for research and opinions. 

I have an '02 Spyder that I bought last year. It's comfortable, has lots of headroom (I'm 6'3" and 240ishlbs), has been dead-nuts reliable and gets great fuel mileage. In my opinion, the Spyder is better than a Miata for sporty driving. It just has an unquantifiable "special" feeling, and it's light and zippy and playful. The Miata is a bit better for car stuff, since Spyder luggage space is, uh, negligible. 

My car did need a top. I bought a nice GAHH top for $1100 and then had it installed by an upholstery shop for another $1400. It is DIY-able, but it's time-consuming and fiddly and while I'm great with mechanical stuff, I'm not so good with that kind of stuff.

In reply to NickD :

That is what I like to hear.  I have another car for actually transporting stuff. Since it's been so reliable, I'm guessing that parts availability is fairly good, especially considering the engine is in other cars. The top isn't as good news, but it's a known factor. 

In reply to EchoTreeSix :

There's quite a bit of parts sharing. Engine is used in a bunch of stuff, transmission and axles are shared with FWD cars, the front control arms are reportedly the same as an early Echo, I believe the brakes are shared with some other cars. Front strut tops are the same as some FWD stuff, but the rear ones are bespoke to the Spyder. I think the hardest thing I've had to find was a rear caliper, but it was available, just a little bit of a wait.

I'm actually strongly considering sending the Manic Miata to a new home and replacing it with one of these.

It wouldn't be as rowdy, but at this point, that's what I'm looking for.

So if anybody is looking for a supercharged '96 Miata that's currently at 9.5 but could turned up to 11, let me know.

Boy, that's clean. Looks like it could be fun! 

Oh, while not super crucial, the OEM wheels are hefty for what they are, and the Spyder seems especially sensitive to wheel weights. Replacing with a lighter set of wheels (I went with 15x7 Advantis) improves ride quality noticeably.

 Nothing intelligent to add here. Just buy it because I like them.

Just DO IT

I've had mine on the road for going on seven years now and enjoyed every one of them. It's an '01 that I put a new motor and 6-speed in back in 2016-2017 or so. It's light, quick enough, handles great, and even gets appreciative comments still. The "cargo" space is essentially zero, and I wouldn't recommend driving it in the snow. But they're a ton of fun, reliable, and the looks have aged well.

Loved mine for the time I had it, makes a surprisingly good daily if you don't need to move anything for work. has that fun feeling a Miata will give you but with more grip, and you stand out a bit more. Working on them isn't super complicated, but not as straight forward as a miata. In the end I settled on having a NA miata and a AW11 since I could own both for what it would cost to find another nice spyder. I can take the hard top off the Miata if I want a convertible, and am building the aw11 to be the more track focused car. Obviously its subjective, because I like how the spyder looks, but the aw11 and na miata are just such better cars to look at. since I really don't daily drive either that's what they do the most, sit and look cool. 

Hey, I drove alongside one this afternoon while shuffling cars with JG. You forget that they’re basically Miata sized. This one was silver, too. 

Ok y'all thanks for the input. I drove it and LOVED it. This example was not for me due to various reasons. Not sure I loved the entrance in/out, but they are neat cars.