I seriously doubt Toyota can be putting in true sequential gearboxes in MR2 without significantly raising the price. True sequential gearboxes are far, far more complicated than a manual tranmission (or any automatic transmission) which explains why BMW wants an extra $5k for it on their M3.

Do you have any links or other info about the sequential gearbox in the (non-US) MR2??

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by STL:
[B] I seriously doubt Toyota can be putting in true sequential gearboxes in MR2 without significantly raising the price.

 

wow, 2kturkey you are right. I was skeptical at first. It looks like Toyota brought actuators that shift the gears and hydrolics for clutch engagement. I am suspecting that is the same setup as the Spoon TwinModelClutch for our cars. The price is almost the same. $1500 for MR2, while around $1700 for Spoon.

Now, the inside info. a power tran division in Eaton has been developing these actuator technologies on trucks awhile ago. I remember they are using it on Semi Trailer started last year. This beast has 10 to 11 gears. Everything is computerized. Pretty cool and fun to play with.

As you can see, the idea has been bouncing around in these automaker's R&D. I am sure when time is right, the manual tranny car will make a come back in US when everything is clutchless and none automatic. Oh My God, there will be too many Michael Schumacher wannabe on the road.

 

My pleasure Stealthy. Note the aditional cost for the sequential manual in the MR2 is $A1,500 which equates to around $US800 at current exchnage rates - pretty cheap huh!

I also have a concern regarding the budding Schumachers but I wouldn't mind being one of them.

Ovr here in Oz we get a lot of strange vehicles and different features - I think the manufactureres like to try out their ideas first in a relatively small out of the way market where they can judge consumer reaction without having an adverse effect on what could be a volume market. Having said this, however, GNX has already said it is available in Europe too.

We got Stooks before the US too - I had mine delivered in August '99 - and we also have the hardtop option which the US doesn't get, so it may well be that Australia could be one of the 1st countries with a sequential gearbox.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 2kturkey:
[B]
You may well doubt it but I can assure you it is true. Here in Australia the MR2 comes with sequential manual transmission - the following link is to Toyota Australia (sorry this may not come up as a hyperlink but it it the correct address) and then click on the photo of the MR2 in the bottom left.

http://www.toyota.com.au/

Price of the car in Australia is $44,990 which translates to around $US23k. The reviews below states that the cost of the sequential transmission added only $A1500 to the price.

http...


For a further review and comparo against the new MX5 (Miata) see the following link

http...

 

I think I found the other article. What it says about Toyota's SMT:

[QUOTE]
"But perhaps the most significant decision Toyota Australia made was to opt for the Formula

 

Sounds like you got them both STL - sorry about the URL glitches.

I haven't driven one of these beasties yet but I think I'll now go down to my local Toyota dealer and check it out and give you my driving impressions.

I expect the key difference will be just getting used to the thing. It will obviously require some mental adjustment. I also expect to be a litle disappointed because frankly here in Oz Toyota does anything it can to take any form of sportiness out of its vehicles. Locally Toyotas are all blancmanges