When the third-generation MR2 Spyder was released in 2000, there was a strategic plan to reinvigorate interest among a demographic of buyers who had long given up on Toyota, which remained a dominant force in the compact car market but had only a modest influence among younger consumers.
To grab the attention of a savvy modifier like Ryan Lee, the car had to make an unequivocal statement. And the MR2 looked promising. With an aerodynamic exterior appearance, the Spyder could easily be confused with a higher-end exotic car. And at just over 2,000 pounds and given the right setup, its performance could also be confused with those in more expensive sports cars.
Lee found an edge almost immediately. After attending an autocross event and getting in the passenger seat of a Mitsubishi Evolution 8, Honda S2000, BMW E36 and BMW 325i, he learned firsthand the performance potential of the MR2 Spyder, and the choice became an easy one.
Lee found inspiration to modify the Spyder from a healthy diet of tuner magazines, which fueled his creative impulses. Lee picked up a 2000 Spyder. Wasting little time, he added an intake, header, downpipe, exhaust, performance chip, sway bars and bracing. The project was going smoothly until he was involved in an accident with an E-Class Mercedes that made an illegal U-turn. Lee’s car was totaled, but he wasn’t about to give up, and after a search he found a 2001 Spyder in Tennessee. The car was compatible with his old one, so Lee was able to swap most of the parts he had purchased into the 2000 model.
But Lee’s woes weren’t in the rearview mirror yet. After pushing his car too hard, he blew the engine and had to swap out a new one and replace the transmission as well. This became an excuse to add more performance enhancements, including a limited-slip differential and upgraded clutch and flywheel. The Spyder now packed a 2003 1ZZ-FE engine out of a GT Celica with stainless steel headers, downpipe and exhaust, and a Dasek Unichip piggyback engine control unit to ensure optimal output.
Once his performance goals had been met, Lee turned attention to the car’s appearance. A Seibon carbon fiber hood helped reduce weight while APR carbon fiber mirrors helped complete the color scheme. Lee added Toyota OEM tow hooks to the front and rear bumpers and a Robbins canvas convertible top as well.
Lee has no immediate plans for the Spyder. He is now focused on adding the legendary Acura NSX to his car collection, which also includes a 1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport.
What do you drive? A 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder
Why do you drive it? Its mid-engine layout makes it unique and allows me to hang with tuners or exotics. It’s also quite the street fighter when it comes to battling traffic in D.C.
What makes this car so special? I’m a neck-breaker. It turns heads every time I drive down the street. It’s almost always the only modified MR2 Spyder at the car shows and meets where I go.
What is your most memorable driving experience in this car? I was stuck in traffic on I-95 one day, so I dropped the convertible top, pulled out some plastic oars and started paddling and doing the “moto-surf.” Think “Surf Ninjas.”
What was the first car you owned? A 1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. It’s got a brush guard, Apexi intake, Flowmaster exhaust, tinted windows, Sony head unit, Infiniti speakers, and Bazooka subwoofer.
What music are you currently listening to in your car? Lil Wayne, Bobby Brackins, Far East Movement, Cali Swag District, Pitbull, Yo Gotti, and HWood
And your first ticket? What was it for? The first ticket I got in my Spyder was driving through a yellow light in D.C. Apparently, it’s illegal to go through yellow lights in D.C. I went to court with documentation of my Spyder’s braking distance along with the braking distance of three types of police cruisers and was able to prove that if I had slammed on my brakes and the officer had slammed his brakes, he would have collided with my car. Unfortunately, the officer didn’t show.
