I once knew a girl that ran real fast and stopped quick. However...she was uuuuugly to look at. Much like the MR2.

Anyhoo,the top speed of the absolutely dated looking and yellow mr2 the op posted along with its spec sheet posted 143 and change as the WOT top speed.My 06' bone stock is governed at 150.So there. But who's counting.......

 

<--waiting for another great one-liner!

 

[QUOTE=Digitronical,Sep 11 2010, 07:52 PM] I'm soo sorry I didn't come from a chevy cavalier and did a little research before buying my last car.

 

maybe he'll need help on dinner tomorrow too.

 

I vote for B, L, T, bacon cheeseburgers with roast beef on top

 

yea but a grilled cheese sandwich is cheaper to make, better for you, less fat and will fill you up just as good.

 

now merged.....

 

Did OP make a decision yet?

 

As is recommended in every thread like this:

Test drive, test drive, test drive

You can spec sheet race all you want but that won't give you the whole picture. It's the experience in the driver's seat that matters most.

 

OP - here's some selective quotes from an MR2 forum from a turbo MR2 owner (I deleted the less important points to save space):

"Having driven/been around both:

Advantage MR2 Turbo:
-Turbo setup makes it easier to add significant, reliable power (if done properly)
-More interior room
-Easier (IMO) to drive (less shifting with usable torque).

Advantage S2K:
-Chassis rigidity
-Steering feel
-better handling (stock vs. stock)

Neutral:
-Both have solid aftermarket support
-Both handle VERY well with light modification
-Both look alright
-Both have rather comfortable seats if you're not fat (just being honest).

I've had my MR2 Turbo on a track with a bunch of S2Ks. I was running race tires and could just barely reel in an S2K on aggressive street tires. I think the S2K is probably dynamically superior to the MR2 stock-for-stock in absolute terms, but I'd say the MR2 is actually more day-to-day usable."
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Another quote (bolded by me):

It's tough for me to admit, but the S2000 is a great replacement for the SW20, very worthy of that esteemed spot. Drive one and cozy up to it for a few days and you'll agree with me, there's creature comfort and a racing background too. Lots of superchargers and bolt-on mods for the cheap make it a fun car to mod as well.
I don't like ragtops any more than most haters of that style, but whatchagonna do? (except pop for a Spoon hardtop when the funds become available )

And it's mid-engine too (the engine is 100% mounted behind the front axle, so technically it qualifies)."
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As others have mentioned, you need to quit bench racing and go try the car. There's no other way to know if you're going to enjoy driving it. If you're looking for a car to impress others with by saying "this is faster than X in the 1/4 mile or brakes in a shorter distance than Y from 60 MPH", maybe the S2000 isn't for you. It's a definite drivers car that plenty of people have never even heard of. You won't get brownie points with anyone for driving a Honda either.

The main upside of the S2000 is the fact that as a driver, you are completely engaged and informed throughout the driving process. There's a high amount of feedback and feel in everything you touch - the steering, shifter, seat, throttle & brake, etc. The entire car is laid out around the driver. It's not for bench racing. It's not for drag racing. It's not for reading online "kill" stories and watching youtube videos imagining all the cars you could be beating on the track. It's for driving, pure and simple.

You sound like you're primarily into drag racing and you very rarely mention anything besides straight line acceleration. Like others mentioned, I'd look into either a domestic V8 or an AWD turbocharged Evo/STi (which would probably give you the best combination of acceleration, handling, and easy power that you're looking for).