In late March 2000, I spent 5 days and 2000 miles in a new, 2000 model year, Millennium edition, Porsche Carrera 4.   My brother-in-law (it's his new car) recently purchased this vehicle in Florida.  After considerable urging by me, he decided to pick it up in Florida (rather than having it shipped) and drive it home to Seattle.  Good thing he did, because I got to meet him half way and assist with the terrible chore of driving a new 911 back to California.

Needless to say, we stayed off the Interstate, and found many back roads to flog.  Our favorite were those in and around Death Valley.  Initially he only let me drive when the road disappeared into the horizon straight as laser beam.  But with time, his guard worn down, and I was finally permitted utilize the Porsche's full powerband on roadways that had curves.
 
 

We even encountered a little rain, and got to test out the Carrera's all wheel drive system.

While these specifications don't indicate the cars would be evenly matched, they are for a stock MR-2.  My MR-2 has had significant modifications, including:

• Manual boost controller, raising boost from 8 psi to16 psi
• Modified ECU to map fuel for higher boost pressures, advance timing, and lean fuel rate.
• Output has been raised to about 250 HP
• 0-60 mph times significantly improved

• Steamrollers: 225x40x18" front, 265x35x18" rear
• GPS navigation system, so you never have to compromise your manliness by stopping for directions.
• radar detector, identifies bogies AND their location (front or rear)
• leather everything

Features: Advantage Carrera 4
The Porsche had nice paint, changing colors from green to purple to black as the light fades into darkness. Headlights are projector beams which are self leveling, and brighten and rise with high beams on.  Radio volume raises and lowers automatically with the ambient noise. Car is very quiet at 80 mph: we could easily carry on a conversation without having to raise our voices. Very little wind turbulence or buffeting. GPS system talks you to your destination keyed in by drilling into a menu and selecting food, gas, etc.

Engine and Drivetrain: Advantage Carrera 4
Torque is abundant from 2500 rpm to over 5000 rpm in the Porsche. The car really goes once it hits 4000 rpm. The clutch effort is greater and the engine has a larger displacement, making it difficult to quickly shift very smoothly. While my MR2 is slightly faster once spooled up, the Porsche takes off running immediately. In a drag race, my MR2 would win, in an autocross event, the Porsche would win.

Suspension: Advantage MR-2
The Carrera4 was equipped with the standard suspension with 18" wheels. The "performance tuned" suspension was considered too hard by the buyer. The ride in the Carrera, with the standard suspension, is bone jarring on all but smooth roadbeds. (Was that a quarter we just ran over?)  We suffered on concrete highways with each expansion joint rattling our brains.

The Porsche's springs are not very progressive, and had a much higher rate than those of the MR2.  Personally, I'd give up some stiffness (and cornering), and go for a more progressive/softer spring.

Cornering: Advantage Carrera 4
While the "stiffness" in the Carrera4's springs caused us to wear on the freeways, it inspired confidence on the turns. The Porsche feels much more confident cornering at high speed.  Initial turn in results in no perceptible transfer of balance, and the car remains flat throughout the turn.

And then there is Porsche's Stability Management System which second guesses the drive and applies brakes to (inside rear?)  wheel to prevent the rear from swapping sides with the front.

Looks: Advantage MR-2
Subjective..... I won't even try to justify it :)

Just ask yourself, which side of the fence has greener grass?

Sound: Advantage Carrera 4
The Porsche boxer 6 engine sounds better than Issac Stern in Carnegie Hall, and is among the sweetest sounds in existence.

Further, the Porsche is MUCH quieter than the MR-2 at all speeds.  At 80 mph (on a racetrack of course) it is possible to have a conversation without raising your voice.

The bottom line: Advantage MR-2
(assuming were not dealing with Monopoly money)

MR2 Turbo: ~$10,000 in tuned condition with 114k miles.
Porsche Carrera4: $89,000 new (if you can find one, as there is a 10-16 month waiting list)
You know what they say.... the last 10 percent of performance costs 90 percent of the dollars!

With the money you save, buy yourself a house....
 

A final note:
While no single feature of the Porsche stands out as outstanding, relative to my MR2, it is the sum of all the little improvements that add up to a much better machine. The Porsche 911 is a race tuned performance car and is perfectly suited to driving very fast and aggressively, yet it maintains a level of creature comforts normally absent from performance cars.