Who Does Mr 2 Work For? 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder

If you are in the market for a cheap ($5k-$7k) late model (MY 2000+) sports car (two seats...rag top...etc) there are a few obvious choices.  The Boxster makes a good case -- but potential maintenance issues will be huge.  The MX-5 Miata is ubiquitous and not special enough.  The Audi TT suffers the same potential pocket robbing action as the Boxster but with more understeer...so what car could offer a reliable platform with a focus on handling and fun.  Find this 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder offered for $6000 in Los Altos, CA via craigslist.

Poor Man's Elise: 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder 2ZZ Swap

The W30 generation MR2 Spyder (1999-2007) was the last of the line for Toyota's mid-engine runabout that had started life way back in 1984.  Unfortunately, this latest version was available without a fixed roof or any manner of forced induction like previous versions-- and stranger still was the fact that Toyota never put the more powerful Celica GTS engine under the rear deck.  Find this 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder 2ZZ Swap here on eBay bidding for $4,050 reserve-not-met with 2 days to go, located in Asheville, NC.

10k: Mintyship Runabout: 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder, Low MIles

The third generation Toyota MR2 debuted in 1999 with a  new lightweight chassis and Spyder name to highlight its drop-top design, a change from the past coupe/T-top only generations.  It is one of the few times that a new model actually dropped a few pounds between re-fresh and demonstrates that for all the appliance/boring/econobox hate that gets slung at Toyota, the engineers in the Aichi prefecture actually know how to build fun cars.  They just don't do it very often.  Find this 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder for sale in Fontana, CA currently bidding on ebay for $8,200 reserve-not-met with 3 days to go.  Big thanks to tipper Gore Rod S.