I took-on a 2nd (or 3rd of 4th - I can't remember which) job teaching at the University to put my wife through her Master's so she could make enough money to put me in a good rest home in a few years. It's just too much of a pain to have to keep dragging equipment out and putting it away each time I want to get some work done. When I make stuff, I have to do it in spurts and try to get it all done at one time. Then I have to put everything away and clean the place up to get the vehicles back in the garage and try to keep from tracking crap into the house. I hate leaving the cars out in the elements for days at a time, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do to get some work done. band saw, chop saw, sanders, grinders, vacuum, drill press, soldering iron, heat shrink gun, hot glue gun, vacuum forming equipment, pipe bender and sometimes a table saw) that are all stored away in different cubby holes throughout the garage just so I can get some work done. When I'm making products for Dev (hint: click on the product names in light blue type below this post to see them), I've got to move two cars out of the garage (the Spyder stays in the garage, covered and well protected), set-up 2-3 work tables, move out the power tools (i.e. As with most cars, the later model years are the most desirable option.:lol: :lol: :lol: I've got so much stuff in there, I've got to keep it organized to find anything or get any work done. If you can find a good condition W30 for under $10k, that is a good buy. Naturally-aspirated manual SW20s go for about $12k. It was "the other one", remember?įor comparison, the rare SW20 Turbo averages prices above $20,000 in today's market. A couple of years ago, you could find them a dime a dozen for under $10k. Now, the average price of an MR2 Spyder is $13,929 over the last five years. These numbers lead to the quick death of the MR2, marking the end of U.S. It was unfortunate that it did not sell well. Mazda sold three times as many NB Miatas in the same time.īy the 2005 model year, sales of the Spyder had dwindled below 1,000 units. Here is a big distinction between the two, Toyota made way fewer W30s than you think. The same year NB Mazda Miata sold for $21,280. When new, a 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder sold for $24,645. It's safe to say there will never be a car designed quite like the Spyder again. With a hit of nostalgia, we dare to say we like it now. The MR2 Spyder is a quirky car in just about all aspects of design. It looks like a weird Porsche Boxster, but it is evident that this is no Porsche. Still one of the largest headlights placed on any production vehicle. The massive frog-eye headlights are a complete departure from the pop-ups found in previous models. The Spyder doesn't look exactly like a typical Toyota. Most people aren't even sure what type of car it is. With a few exterior upgrades, you may find on-lookers confused. Very few cars allow you to take the quarter-panel completely off. Because the Spyder has bolt-on panels across the car, both replacement and modifications are easy. It may not be the most beautiful roadster but has its niche. We will admit that over time, the aesthetic of the Frog has grown on us. Its proportions are very square and you either love or hate it. The AW11 was definitive of 80's boxy styling. As with most mid-engine cars, it has a short hood and longer rear end. Why was the W30 always the odd one? A contentious aspect of the MR2 Spyder was its looks. MR2 aficionados tend to refer to the MR2 line-up like this: the AW11, the SW20, and the other one. Certainly more character than a Miata with the same size and appeal. It is a sensitive chassis that is a joy to connect to. It will be happy to hum around at 70 mph. As far as two-seat sports cars go, the Spyder is very easy to drive. They feel strong thanks to the low weight of the Frog. The brakes are capable of handling sporty drives of any kind. By far, the W30 is the most balanced of all available MR2s. Yet, gone is the snap oversteer tendency made notorious by the previous two models. The Spyder retains the great mid-engine handling character of the previous generations. While the MR2 Spyder's power output is not its strong suit, the chassis is glorious. Yet, because of the W30's impressive low weight, it could still manage a 6.8-second 0-to-60 time. The SW20 Turbo would smoke the W30 in a straight line, almost a second faster in the sprint to 60 mph. You always expect the newest model to be the fastest, but this was not the case with the Frog. As a result, this left a sour taste for many MR2 enthusiasts. The 1ZZ was a better all-around engine than the non-turbo 5S-FE option found in the SW20, but it was the only choice. This was an aggressive decrease from the SW20 Turbo.
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