Used Car of the Day: 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder

by Tim Healey

Published: September 19th, 2023

used car of the day 2003 toyota mr2 spyder

Today's UCOTD is a highly modified convertible runabout.

This 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder was purchased by our seller in 2010, and it received the 2z engine and a six-speed transmission in a swap in 2014.

The front end has been repainted because of rock chips, and this 109,000-mile car has been garaged and not driven in the snow.

Other mods include upgraded headers, exhaust, flywheel, clutch, a cat-less downpipe, midship and front and rear bracing, carbon-fiber strut-tower bars, modified springs and shocks, performance brake rotors, steel-braided brake lines, and an MR2 luggage set.

There are some minor problems -- a couple of rips in the top that don't cause leaks, wear in the driver's seat, a constant presence of the check engine light due to the lack of a catalytic converter, a paint chip in the rear bumper, and no doors for the rear storage compartment.

Click here to check it out.

[Images: Seller]

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Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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Comments

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2 of 21 comments

FreedMike on Sep 20, 2023

I'd love to have a car like this, but if this one's missing the catalytic converter, it probably won't pass emissions. No thanks.

Like Reply
CoastieLenn on Sep 20, 2023

MR-Spyder with a 2ZZ and 6 speed? Yes please!

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Recent Comments

Laflamcs My wife had a 2014 Fiat 500 Turbo with the 5 speed manual. Black with red leather interior. That car was just simply a blast to drive and own. SO much character. And it help a surprising amount of cargo. We eventually had to trade it in for a larger vehicle (Renegade Latitude 6 speed manual) when our child came along. We often reminisce about that car, even 7 years after we traded it.
Funky D I had a Versa Note for a rental that I survived a week of driving in NJ and NYC. Felt like a sitting duck most of the week! However, I can drive like a homicidal cabbie when the need arises, so I made it.Mirage is the Dollar General of cars, it is just barely adequate for the task.
Funky D If at all possible, I will not own what my youngest son called a "grayscale" (black, white, silver or gray) vehicle for the rest of my driving career!Ford Race Red (or something close) for me, please.I might even consider something like Toyota Blue Flame, but no grayscales, please!
1995 SC It's fine except for the price
JK I think it is two things. First, one often has to pay more for unique colors (especially in Europe). Second, there is a worry about resale. We settled on a conservative blue because we were afraid of having problems selling something that popped.