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Toyota MR2

ZZW30 · Spyder (final)1999–2007

Mid-engine on a Corolla budget. Three takes, all worth it.

13 reviewers · 17 videos

Generations
AW111984–1989SW201989–1999ZZW301999–2007
// 00 the verdict

Reviewers strongly agree on its performance and handling, but split on daily drivability.

across 13 reviewers

// where reviewers split
Daily drivability
3 say · liveable

"The damping is fantastic because I can go over real New England roads that are not curated for sports cars and I'm really not bothered."

Tedward · ▶ 12:45
7 say · critical

"the zzw30 is useless notice how i don't even fit in a driver's seat because an aftermarket subwoofer prevents the seat from moving back that last crucial inch"

Regular Car Reviews · ▶ 4:53
// the categories
// 01

Performance

3.5/513 of 13 reviewersstrong consensus

It really livens up the whole chassis of the car. Everything feels happier. Everything feels more lively.

positive · ShootingCars · ▶ 6:59

138 horsepower may not sound like much because it isn't, but it's only having to pull the 2200 lb of this car

Tedward · ▶ 12:06

The power delivery insane.

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 7:02
// 02

Handling

4.5/513 of 13 reviewersstrong consensus

It's so light and nimble. Oh, it's so lovely and it feels balanced as well. Snap oversteer isn't really a concern in this generation.

positive · ShootingCars · ▶ 3:23

It's just that how quick it can rotate and how balanced it is, how fast it just reacts. Wow.

positive · Realistick · ▶ 13:53

Just feel the balance of this car. It pivots around the corner.

positive · Driven+ · ▶ 2:09
// 03

Fun to drive

5.0/513 of 13 reviewersstrong consensus

This car just kind of frolics along and it's so joyous. It's so nimble and light.

positive · ShootingCars · ▶ 5:37

I have not had fun like this in a long time. I have class coming up soon and I'm pretty much just missing it for this. This is so much better than class.

positive · Realistick · ▶ 14:27

out of the eight or nine cars I drove that day... this was the most fun car I drove that day.

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 0:39
// 04

Daily drivability

2.5/513 of 13 reviewerssplit

the zzw30 is useless notice how i don't even fit in a driver's seat because an aftermarket subwoofer prevents the seat from moving back that last crucial inch

critical · Regular Car Reviews · ▶ 4:53

The downside of this is that it actually has no trunk. They gave you like a compartment for your spare tire. Uh, but this one literally it it looks like somebody just yanked the engine out.

critical · Realistick · ▶ 1:24

Space is Limited in that mid set

critical · Dutch_Fake_Ferrari · ▶ 3:17
// 05

Value

4.5/513 of 13 reviewersconsensus

You can pick up, I think, an MR2 Spider nowadays, clean condition, for around $8 to $10,000.

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 3:55

If you've got £5,000 to spend on a sports car, this is your buy.

positive · Driven+ · ▶ 11:56

It is also the cheapest of the three, isn't it? You can get into one of these for as little as a grand.

positive · Car Throttle · ▶ 20:51

Hear it in the reviewer’s words

ShootingCars
Posted May 28, 2026Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
Driven+
Posted Jun 20, 2025Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
Tedward
Posted Apr 30, 2024Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
More Toyota MR2 reviews
▶ play all (10)
Head to head
▶ play all (4)
From the press · 0 articles

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