my friend just bought a blue Toyota MR-2 Spyder and he wanted to put his car to a test by running a little drag race...
the MR-2 Spyder only comes with 5 speed(well, at least that's what i told him..) and the car has the 1ZZ-FE that pumps out 140hp to the flywheel(125.5hp to the wheels)*, weighs only 2,200lbs and runs 1/4 in 15.3sec. Only mod he had done to his car so far is a TRD panel filter and a short shifter.
anywayz, that against me, 5 speed Maxima, VG30DE motors with some engine mods and probably good for 205-210hp to the wheels weighs around 3,300lbs with my 17s and best 1/4 so far of 15.1sec..

hp/weight ratio for both cars:
the MR-2 Spyder: 1 hp needs to haul 17.52lbs
the Maxima(Me) : 1 hp needs to haul 15.71lbs

we both start off at a stop sign but i didn't launch my car hard at all...just a little faster than a normal start. i don't know how he launched his car, but i did hear some wheel screech. anyway, we were almost even throughout the 1st and 2nd gear(maybe i was little bit ahead by a bumper lenght..) and in 3rd i pulled away little bit more....

15.3sec quarter mile is dead tie with a stock Integra Type-R...that's pretty damn impressive with 140 horses...


*Turbo Magazine, April 2001

 

I think the mid-egine and RWD make this car shine....pretty good setting for low end.