Beautiful Car That Exudes Sex Appeal

Smart, classy, sexy, thrilling, awe inspiring, beautiful, fast, safe, relatively inexpensive. What am I describing? I am describing the new Toyota MR2 Spyder. I recently took one for a test drive and found the car to be something different from anything Toyota has produced before.
The car is supposed to be Toyota's answer to the BMW and Mercedes Roadster's. I found that it was certainly an equal and in many ways better than the more established luxury sport car makers.

The first thing we all look for when considering a new car is the PRICE. Toyota comes through in a big way when it comes to price. The Spyder is priced for a little less than $24,000. Yes, that is expensive, but you will be paying more than $10,000 less than what you would pay for a BMW or Mercedes Roadster. A Miata is comparably priced, but the Miata does not have all that the Spyder has to offer.

The second thing we look for is what you get for the price. In other words, what are the standard OPTIONS? Here is a rundown of the various options that are standard (Not: I am not going to include the options that are standard on virtually every car. I will focus on those that are important, or different):

Dual power mirrors
ABS Brakes
Wind deflector
Glass rear window with a defroster
Dual airbags
Power windows/door locks
Storage compartments with locks
Day running lights
138 Horse power
16 valve/ four cylinder engine


Ok, nothing that really stands out here, right? I agree, but keep in mind that you are getting a lot of car for the money. Also, keep in mind that you are talking about a convertible and they are never cheap.

What about the COLOR package? The Spyder is offered in the following colors: White, red, yellow, silver, blue and black. In addition, your cloth package includes red, yellow and black. The one I drove was red and had a black interior. Yes, it got hot from the sun, but man was it ever good looking.

Another aspect to consider is the MILEAGE numbers. For the past month we have been paying $1.50 or more for a gallon of gas and mat be beginning to realize that gas is not cheap anymore. The Spyder does pretty good when it comes to miles per gallon numbers. For a sports car I think you will find that 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway is pretty good.

Finally, another aspect we all consider when buying is the SIZE. The only thing I did not like about the Spyder was the size. I expected it to be relatively smallish, but was surprised at how small it really is. The car is truly a two seater and the trunk is virtually useless. In fact, getting your golf clubs to the course would be difficult given the size of the trunk. However, the Spyder does provide decent head room and leg room from the passenger and driver's seats.

Before providing a summary of the Spyder I must rave about the PERFORMANCE and the LOOKS. I found the car handled very well and was rabbit fast when accelerating. In other words, turns were thrilling and merging onto the highway was a quick experience. Even better was the reaction of the other drivers. The Spyder is a brand new model and the looks were frequent and full of jealousy. A number of people asked me about the car when at stop lights. I would describe the Spyder as an understated Porsche Roadster. Yes, it is very sporty, but no, it is not over- done in any way.

In the misc. section of this epinion, I would add that the Spyder is relatively quiet for a convertible. Sure, when cruising at 60 MPH you will hear a buzz, but at lower speeds the sound is minimal. The car comes with a standard wind deflector that appears to do a good job. Another misc. topic is the service. I have found that Toyota has one of the best Service Departments and that is always reassuring when purchasing a car. Of course, the Spyder is a new car and is covered by the standard types of warranties.

In summary, I would highly recommend the Toyota Spyder convertible. I found the car to excellent in virtually every manner- especially price for the car you get. Now, I just wish I could make up mind and decide if this is the car I want to buy. Actually, it is a no brainer, except for the fact that I play a lot of golf and am not sure where I would put my clubs.