Used Car of the Day: 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

We're going back to the convertible well today with this 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder.


Five grand will get you a manual-transmission Spyder with just under 100,000 miles on it. It is apparently in good running order and has recently passed inspection.

A Stage 2 clutch has been installed, and some notable parts have been replaced -- the water pump, spark plugs, springs, bushings, and shocks are all new. The shocks are adjustable and the car is slightly lowered.

The axles have also both been replaced within the past two years. The audio has some aftermarket upgrades, such as a touch-screen stereo, subwoofer, and amplifier.

The bad: The car has a rebuilt title after an accident and some holes in the top, though no water gets in. And there are some dents and dings.

Check out this Asheville, North Carolina-based car here.

[Images: Seller]

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Tim Healey
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.

More by Tim Healey

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  • Vvk Vvk on Oct 11, 2023

    I briefly considered one but found out they blow up their engines due to a design flaw. If you want one, get 2004+ where the issue has supposedly been resolved.

  • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Oct 11, 2023

    Nope.

  • Alan As the established auto manufacturers become better at producing EVs I think Tesla will lay off more workers.In 2019 Tesla held 81% of the US EV market. 2023 it has dwindled to 54% of the US market. If this trend continues Tesla will definitely downsize more.There is one thing that the established auto manufacturers do better than Tesla. That is generate new models. Tesla seems unable to refresh its lineup quick enough against competition. Sort of like why did Sears go broke? Sears was the mail order king, one would think it would of been easier to transition to online sales. Sears couldn't adapt to on line shopping competitively, so Amazon killed it.
  • Alan I wonder if China has Great Wall condos?
  • Alan This is one Toyota that I thought was attractive and stylish since I was a teenager. I don't like how the muffler is positioned.
  • ToolGuy The only way this makes sense to me (still looking) is if it is tied to the realization that they have a capital issue (cash crunch) which is getting in the way of their plans.
  • Jeff I do think this is a good thing. Teaching salespeople how to interact with the customer and teaching them some of the features and technical stuff of the vehicles is important.
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