downshift

http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo_li...ml?id=20040716

The Celica and MR2 are one of the more exciting cars from Toyota for the past few years. Both cars have the design features that are found in sports cars (lightweight, short front/rear overhangs, positioning of components between the front and rear axles). I like the Celica a lot and was hoping to see a new update from Toyota. Oh well... farewell to the Celica. Toyota has now devolved into a company making boring sedans and faux sporty cars.

zoom44

celica is now the scion tc i believe

cueball

That is the plan.

As for the MR2, it is a real shame to see such a great car die. On the other hand, Toyota can't make very much money off them. I hardley ever see those things on the road and I don't think they are exactly hot sellers.

m477

A cheap mid-engined roadster sounds great in concept, but Toyota really fumbled on the execution IMO. If they gave the car some pretty lines, and the 180hp engine/6-speed tranny from the GT-S Celica, and maybe a little bit more storage space, I think they would've had a hit.

shelleys_man_06

You would be suprised, my friend. In Houston, there are lots of MR-S's running around. I sometimes imagine what it would be like to own one of those 140-hp go-karts .

EatMyBanana

I traded my MR2 for my RX8. Wish i could have keep both. Love the MR2 . Yes it was a BIG go-cart.Blast to drive , just a little to small.So i traded it and my 626 for the 8 two months ago and havent looked back.

downshift

That would be the Lotus Elise .

downshift

That is a disappointment. They gave up the lightweight chassis and racy engine of the Celica for a heavier chassis and Camry engine fitted Tc. Can't argue with that though because it makes 160hp really affordable. But damn, the interior is worse than the Celica's.

RXDave

Had a Celica GTS with action package. Was a great car but traded it in for the 8. No regrets.

hoffa

i traded my mr2 for the rx8 too :D

JNUT8

Now toyota has nothing when refering to a pure sports car. Maybe they should bring back the supra.

m477

I wouldn't exactly describe the Elise as "cheap".

wakeech

man, this sucks. toyota used to have at least one or two cars that you could say really were sports cars. i love those Mk1 MR2's... buddy of mine in highschool had a little red one with a replacement front left quarter panel. it was a super car, that i barely fit in, but still a super car.

scorp76

Good riddens. They were both ugly, overpriced for what you got, and boring, like every other Toyota out there.

takahashi

It is always a company decision... eventually the Type R range in Honda dies, Honda dies, rotary..... stop Taka

shelleys_man_06

It seems like everyone traded in their Celica/MR-S for the RX-8...Don't feel bad, I did too. I still cry at night .

DreRX8

Well, I won't miss either of them. I don't like the design of the MR2 Spyder--I agree with an earlier poster that Toyota missed the target with this one. The Celica was too "soft" to compete with the other cars in the price bracket, eventhough it is a decent performer and design-wise its not a bad looking car. I think it also has alot to do with Toyota's lack of marketing around sporty cars. Toyota really has fallen off--they are making money on their SUVs and Camry's--but they won't be getting any of my dollars.

Feras

iTrader: (1)

the problem is the MR2 peaked in the last generation with its powerful super(turbo?)charged engine and excellent styling. styling that still looks good today. The previous generation celica came with optional AWD and turbo (essentially de tuned rally port think it was called GT-S Turbo). But they didnt keep the AWD or the turbo for this generation. Plus they got rid of the Supra. But hey since then they've added the Solara, so uh yay Toyota...BRING BACK GOOD CARS TOYOTA PLEAZE!!!!

Truss

Why wouldn't the MR-2 be missed? Name me one other mid-engined roadster for under $40,000. The MR-2 can be had for around $25k, which makes it a very unique proposition in the marketplace. As the Miata becomes heavier and more complicated, and as the Solstice weighs something like 2,700 lbs, the 2,150 lb MR-2 is the last of a wonderful breed of cars.

The styling isn't to everyone's taste, but saying that its demise is no great loss is just plain incorrect. It is a loss. Cars will continue to get bigger, heavier, and more complex, which further divorces the driver from the actual experience of driving. The MR-2 embodied the thinking that "adding lightness" to a car could be just as effective as adding power.

It will be missed.

T.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

toyoya dropped the ball as soon as they dropped the Supra. ever notice how TRD is one letter short of TURD?

babylou

I think the MR2 dying is good. My reason is that the sports car market is not large enough to profitably support all of the current models. I know competition is good for progress but only if there are profits to be had for reinvestment.

Mazda and GM, over the years, seems to be the most committed to sports cars. Miata sales are weak. Very weak. Hopefully the death of the MR2 can add a few thousand sales per year to the Miata.

shelleys_man_06

What does the death of the Supra have to do with Toyota in general? It's not like it slumped sales. Ever since the JZA80 died in 2002, Toyota has moved up to third-best in the world. I am still reeling from its death in 1998, even though I was still in middle school, but I moved on.

The MR-S and the Celica had a love-it-or-hate-it styling. Personally, I was, and am still in love with both cars. Tell me another FWD sports car that can compete with Honda's Integra/RSX. John Hotchkis made his Celica handle with the best of them. XS Engineering has the ZZT23# turbo kit. Blitz has its compressor. JDM tuner Brash Boy shows serious support for the Celica. Let's not forget the JGTC-versions of each car. The number 19 Wedsport Celica, though it has been converted to RWD, and sports a 3S-GTE, is the epitome of a Celica racecar. I guess they're not as appreciative in the United States than the rest of the world . I talked mostly about the Celica because I owned one prior to my RX-8 :D.

Toyota is not going to cater the sports car freaks with more sports cars. It's just not practical. Call them lame, but Toyota has to make money, first, then please people later. Toyota is heading in a new direction, and we should applaud them for getting to where they are. The Celica, MR-S, and Supra may be dead, but that doesn't mean Toyota has something new up their sleeves .

Feras

iTrader: (1)

...Volta...

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

my bad, guess I should have been more specific, they dropped the ball sports car wise, true their camrys and tacos and other bland boring vehicles did make them some money but in my opinion they have never had a decent sports car since the Sup'.

nchynk

Hell i still have my celica, somehow it doesn't seem the same after driving the 8. Good car. Lightweight and nimble.