chicagotribune.com's view

Toyota brought out its 2-seater Mr-2 complete with a high performance 16- valve, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine and slippery-smooth 5-speed manualtransmission in `85. It was a fun machine–quick, yet quiet, roomy, goodlooking and priced right at $10,999.

Mr-2 can propel you from 0 to 60 m.p.h. in less than 9 seconds, lets youplay in corners and turns, yet still get 26 m.p.g. in city driving. Until now,Mr-2 lacked an automatic transmission for those who frequent city streets orcrowded expressways and don`t want the repetition of shifting.

For `86, the automatic is available. We test drove one and although theautomatic is likable and quiet, it doesn`t match the 5-speed for getting allthe power out of the 16-valve engine.

The Fiero GT with automatic moves noticably more quickly from the light,into the passing lane or onto the expressway. The Mr-2 with 5-speed would keepthe Fiero GT with automatic at a distance, however.

Other than the automatic, new options include color-keyed rear wingspoiler, side skirts and a sun shade. Toyota still needs to find a handyposition for the power mirror controls, other than hidden ones behind thesteering wheel. And the driver`s side mirror still doesn`t move as close in assome would want.

After driving the Mr-2 and GT, we give the styling nod to the Fiero,though the decision was influenced by a red GT over a black Mr-2. Red is thepreferred choice in either car.

The Mr-2 started at $10,999 in `85, but moved up by $299 to $11,298 forthe 5-speed in `86. With automatic it starts at $11,898, excluding taxes,title, freight, options and any add-ons greedy dealers may pile on. Standardequipment includes tilt wheel, remote dual power mirrors, intermittent wipers,rear-window defroster, tinted glass, and AM-FM stereo radio.

Doug Smith, Toyota`s Chicago zone manager, said sales of the Mr-2 with 5- speed have slowed here, typical for sporty cars after the first snow. Smithsaid he expects sales to pick up considerably in late January or mid-February when more automatics become available.

“The automatics will sell faster than the 5-speeds,“ Smith said. “Thedemand among women for that car, but with automatic, is very strong,especially among the young professionals who use a car to commute to work. We wanted the automatic last year but couldn`t get it from Toyota.“