Yes. Must use only specify SMT gear oil, but not those ATF.

2003+ model comes with 6 speed SMT.

Common problem for the SMT MRS is the pump if didn't take care of it properly.

SMT is fun, but a manual ones is even more fun.

I used to be a MRS fans, i read and learn alot from spyderchat.com which introduce by koolspyda (dennis) from ZTH forum.

Love the MRs, especially the MR2 SW20

It is not AMT, it is SMT. AMT can shifts automatically but for SMT you need to shift manually but without the use of clutch pedal.

6 speed SMT is available for unreg 2003 model onwards but the asking price is high. Used unit is available too but most of them are modified either engine wise or exterior wise.

For maintenance, nothing specific because it uses the manual tranny gear oil. The SMT does has a life span on its pump which is costly to replace/repair. However there are owners that regularly maintain the car achieving over 100k km mileage without trouble.

An 2003+ model will cost around 115k ~ 130k..

Not really worth it eh?

Yes you heard it right, manual gear oil. Go to JDM car service specialists like GT Auto, Trial & etc will advice you the same. Consider the SMT as manual with actuator.

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Added on July 3, 2010, 5:01 pmJoin us in the club at ZTH

Hey, what's your ZTH nick?
Yes.. the MR2 Mostly because of the 3S-GTE ?? kekekeke
Yes, but i'll dig the manual ones be it 5 or 6 speed.

Drop in a 2zz and a 6sp, ohhh.. with a rotrex supercharger too.... 

Check out their MR2 club in ZTH for TT session !

Btw, koool ! how's your spyder already?? Any upgrades??? 

well, if you have been with any one of our touge drives, your opinion may change 
the mr-s or mr2 spyder is a lively machine. The MR-S is built with for a reason. The THRILL of the Drive.

the late nur-meister Hiromu Naruse
All the cars below bears some of his legacy. (note the toyota icons)
Toyota Sports 800
Toyota 7
Toyota 2000GT
1600GT
TA22 RA23, RA25 and RA28
AE86
Z20 Soarer
ST165 Celica
AW11 MR-2
JZA70 Supra
JZA80 Supra
Z30 Soarer
ST185
WRC Celica
IS200/300
ZZW30 MR-S
and the LFA
http://www.7tune.com/hiromu-naruse-cooking...he-nur-meister/

the list of cars speaks volumes , doesn't it?
his nick "nur-meister" is given by germans, he deserves his nick.
well some of us want to hang on with a wonderfull machine, Hiromu Naruse had a big hand on. 
FerrariST, if your wife is driving it & if its hardly driven on highways (long haul like plus) then the 6th gear is never used. the first 4 gears of the japan spec 5 speed & 6 speed MR-S is the same. Only the Euro spec MR-S has taller gears (euro chaps travel more on highways/autpbhans), which is why mr-s is specified in magazines as 0-100 in 8.7sec. (but they get to go 220kmh ++) unlike US & japan spec.

There are about 6-7 mr-s with 6 speed manual. 6 speed SMTs mr-s i'm not sure, maybe about the same or more.

if you are interested on a good cond mr-s, but they are likely above > rm110k. a few are below 90k but you gotta see cond

If you have already purchased a MRS, do come to c. highlands for a touge....you will change your opinion definitely....power is not everything....the car has minimal understeer and good handling is one of its strong points...

I'm based in KL.  this weekend we are likely to heading towards a convoy drive to malacca. (sunday day trip 11th july). & probabply hanging out with the mazda RX7 club malaysia @ equatorial Mlca. some of us might adjourn to town for lunch for those prefering Mlca local.

maybe you might be interested to join to catch up with some mr-s owners, i havent tally exacyly how many are turning up (well at least see the different cars stuffs) else, i'm have pm my mobile to you.

sidenote; before sounding overly one sided, have you considered others? new peugeot 207 cabrio, miata mx5, slk, z4. I would have like to include the s2k but its very very difficult to source given almost  obssessive fans boys of the car   
(elise i would count out given if its daily driven & its quite hard pressed to be driven by a fair lady on her outings  )

i usually would advise propective owners to have a go on others before narrowing down. my philosophy is simple, know your preferred driving take out "what tickles your drive fancy", budget can be adjusted. Myself, I could not really afford the spyder 10 years ago, tightening up my little excessive expenses, some sacrifice. (i've coverd this extensively in MTM then but i'll probaply migrate the info to my own blog (given the almost impossible nature to read/scroll the new mtm forum)
after blue valley, halfway towards gua musang, roads are errmm needs fixing. but dont let it take anything away from the lush greenery around.

I have written about my trip to kota baru on my blog  > http://koolspyda.blogspot.com/
sorry i havent been deligent in keeping up with the activities to date