You can't evaluate a car like the TR with a modern mindset.  As someone else pointed out, any current Camry with the V6 will smoke an 80's 308.
It still a fun car to drive, and it turns heads like it always did.

And, at least for MY old man, it was never a mid-life crisis car, and he certainly wasn't fat or middle aged. He's had awesome cars since he brought me home from the hospital held in my mom's lap in a 1966 C2.

My childhood years were spent in a long series of cars that still make me giggle when I think about them. Except the 1974 C3 that I wrecked 3 separate times before he got rid of it

His TR was purchased after he was outperforming the capabilities of his 308GTB on the track.  He got the 308 hardtop because the GTS version wasn't stiff enough.
The TR was a logical next step at that time in the early 90's.  Eventually, the TR was outgrown and spends most of it's time now un-driven, and he moved onto a series of Z06's for the track.

He finally hung up his helmet 2 years ago after having a bad day at Watkins Glen, and that's when he got his (late) midlife crisis car, lol.  He loves his 355 spider.



 







 


EDIT: By the way, that my MV in the driveway to the right of the 355.
And you know what, , I love that car.  My kids love it, it's convenient, drives nicely, decent mileage, and I NEVER get pulled over.