| TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER |
| Vehicle configuration | Mid-engine, rear drive, |
| 2-door, 2-pass. | |
| Engine type | Inline 4, DOHC, 4 valves/cyl. |
| Displacement, ci/cc | 109/1794 |
| Horsepower, hp @ rpm, SAE net | 138/6400 |
| Torque, lb-ft @ rpm, SAE net | 125/4400 |
| Transmission type | 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase, in./mm | 96.5/2451 |
| Base curb weight, lb | 2195 |
| 0-60 mph time, sec | 6.6 |
| Standing quarter mile, sec/mph | 15.2/87.9 |
| Braking, 60-0 mph, ft | 113 |
| Lateral acceleration, g | 0.88 |
| Speed through 600-ft slalom, mph | 66.8 |
| EPA fuel economy, mpg, city/hwy. | 25/30 |
| Base price | $23,098 |
| Price as tested | $23,553 |
| www.toyota.com | |
| TOP TEST RESULTS |
| Top material | Cloth |
| Top operation | Manual |
| Headliner | No |
| Rear window | Glass |
| Boot material | Cloth |
| Hardtop available | No |
| Time to lower/raise top (sec) | 5.0/8.0 |
| Ease of operation** | 6 |
| Rear visibility, top up** | 4 |
| Wind buffet at 60 mph, top down** | 7 |
| A/C / heater at 60 mph, top down** | 8 |
| Radio at 60 mph, top down** | 8 |
| Weather sealing at car wash** | 7 |
| Structural integrity** | 10 |
| Rated on a 1-10 scale, 10 being best |
{{{Pontiac Firebird}}} Trans AmThe musclebound, tire-smoking, lewd, and crude Firebird Trans Am convertible greets 2000 with only minor revisions (new paint, wheels, improved emissions, and throttle linkage). But what remains is still a mixed bag of adolescent pleasure and aggravating packaging.
For starters, our test car arrived with damp carpet due to an unusual Southern California rainstorm, and we quickly learned why. The rake of the windshield combined with the wipers' ability to deposit the vast majority of the accumulated rainwater an inch from the corner of the driver-side window (and single-seal weather stripping) made driving the T/A an amphibious experience. When the top is up, two enormous blind spots lurk to the rear, and the preferred (though small) glass rear window almost fills the rearview mirror, but not quite. We were lucky enough to have a day of sunshine amid the downpour and found the action of the cloth convertible top to be quick and easy-two latches, and one button and the top was down in 16 seconds, up in 13.
...
>>next page