Traveling on the interstates was less satisfying, but you need to remember that highway travel is not what this car is designed for. While it does provide a comfortable ride, the engine gets pretty loud above 75mph. Overall, Toyota did a great job with the car, but I did find some things that need to be fixed. For one thing, the car beeps whenever you engage reverse, making you feel like you're driving a UPS truck instead of a car. There seems to be no reasonable explanation for this feature and it's very annoying. Since it is a convertible, the windows should provide one-touch lowering on both sides and at least one-touch raising on the driver's side. Lastly, it would be nice to see paddles for shifting rather than the buttons on the steering wheel. Hitting the upshift button on the wheel requires an awkward twist of the hand that is unnatural.

Overall, I came away very impressed with that Toyota has done with the MR2 Spyder. In a time when most manufacturers look toward more power as a motivating force behind driving dynamics, it is refreshing to drive a car that uses light weight to provide a great driving experience. For MR2 buyers that want to give their cars more performance and a sportier look, Toyota Racing Development is now offering a full line of upgrade parts and accessories for the MR2 Spyder, including a suspension kit that includes upgraded front/rear sway bars, struts and springs. For more information on the MR2 Spyder or Toyota Racing Development, visit their websites at www.toyota.com and www.trdusa.com.