Article: 18535 of rec.autos.driving
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: gt@ican.net (TSOUTSAS GREGORY)
Subject: Re: SuperCHARGED Toyota MR2
Organization: Scarborough Campus, U. of Toronto
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 00:14:30 GMT
Lines: 63


Someone wrote asking about opinions on the Toyota MR2.  Here are mine.

I love them.  I've been fascinated by the MR2 ever since its
introduction in 1985.  I remember that was the car I wanted when I was
to turn 16.  In fact, just recently, I had a chance to test drive a few
MR2s, since I was really interested in buying one.  I was able to test
drive a new 1993 Turbocharged version, and also a 1989 Supercharged
version.  Here's a summary of my findings:

+ 1989 Toyota MR2 SC

Wow.  This car was white with a flawless exterior, a black leather
interior, T-tops, air, cruise, and even a stereo cassette.  As soon as I
started the car, I felt like a little kid (well, I still am :) about to
get a ride in a really fast car.  At idle, it purrs, but while driving,
it gets a little bit noisier.  I guess it's Toyota's way of
reminding you it's not your father's Oldsmobile.  Stomp the accelerator,
and you're greeted with a beautiful growl right from behind your head.
You're pushed back into the seat, and a seemingly endless supply of
power charges you down the road, right up until the 7500 rpm redline.
It sounds as though you still have another 5000rpm of tach to go.  It's
musical.  At a stoplight drag against a Honda Civic Si, I did a subtle
drop-clutch start, and gave the other driver a pleasing view of my
backside.  Response is immediate, and when the supercharger kicks in,
all you can do is hold on.  This car is surprisingly quick and nimble
through traffic, and is a hoopla of fun on the highway entrance/exit
ramps.  It gets a bit noisy in the cockpit at about 75 mph.  For the
price, I don't think you can beat the entertainment and reliablity
value.  I don't own one, so I can't comment on problems (if any).

+ 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo

*gasp* Don't drive this one first.  You won't want the 1989 SC model,
and you certainly won't want any other car.  Open the door and the
cockpit treats you to leather, a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering
wheel, T-tops, and a home entertainment center.  Start the engine.  At
idle, it's dead silent.  Blip the throttle, and you'll know that you've
got loads of power from beneath your right foot.  As soon as I got into
second gear and the turbo spooled up, the car was flying (as in F16 :)
down the road, you're pinned in the seat, and you've got an endless
surge of power that will get you in trouble faster than you can run out
of gas.  While driving it, I was always anxiously waiting for the
redline before I shifted into the next gear, and by the time I shifted
into 4th, I was already cruising along at about 185 kph.  I decided to
slow down at this point to avoid any jail term that might soon be
following me in the form of a big white sedan, decorated with disco
lights.  This is THE car.  The styling is still ahead of its time.  It's
got gobs of power, it's built remarkably well, it's made by Toyota, it
has leather, shifts are crips and solid, the factory sound system sounds
amazing, it has t-tops for summer fun, its blindingly fast... you just
won't need another car for a LONG TIME.  It's just too much fun for a
lifetime.   I'm hooked.  If I could have afforded it, I'd still be
driving it now, and wouldn't have time to comment on it. :)

I hope this helps.

Greg

Greg Tsoutsas               I'm so cool.
University of Toronto
computerSCIENCE             gt@ican.net