AND THE WINNER IS…
Talk about David and Goliath. In this battle the little Samurai hacks away at the giant without pity, swinging a sharp, swift sword. The MR2 is so much faster that the Fiero just can't keep up, falling even farther behind on long grades. Despite the Formula's slightly better grip at the limit, the MR2 has such superior steering and road feel that the average driver can go much quicker, with confidence. Add its superiority in braking and fuel mileage, and the MR2 dominates in performance. In our ratings, the Fiero didn't win a single driving category.
The drivers were divided on the esthetics of the two coupes; half of them finding the Fiero's appeal greater, half preferring the MR2's practical look. The Fiero got the styling nod on points. But in assembly quality and finish, the MR2 was again a clear winner.
All four drivers preferred the MR2 overall, even with price as a factor. Considering the $4500 higher tag for the MR2, that's really saying something. What it says is; When you buy a driver's car with performance in mind, paying quite a bit less for a lot less is no bargain. But nobody was talking bargain; the MR2 at an astronomical $17,500 and the Fiero at $13,000 are high-performance cars that just happen to have two seats. Runabouts they're not.
