RE: PH Heroes: Mazda MX-5

[LotusAlfaV6bloke]

Thanks for the comments on my car! I thought I might get mocked for the boot rack I fitted, but it was a Lemans camping must! The boot was just that bit too small...

That car had 58k on it, full Mazda service history, UK SE spec with the leather, wood, alloys, and matching black hardtop, I was owner number 2 and it was yours for £5k.

I have tried an MR2 Mk2 (non turbo) and I thought it was a bit heavy and understeer-y. I think they look great and the noise of the engine behind your head is good. And of course you still get pop up lamps - which never gets dull. More pratical and comfortable but not as much fun in my view.

[Miguel]

sean19 said:

How do MGF/TF's MR2's compare to these?

I have never driven one but on paper they do appear to be down on power and the performance figures aren't spectacular!

Or am I missing the point?

Yes, you are missing the point entirely. The car is not about power figures and such. It's about great handling, balance, driving it like a sports car--high revs and using the box--and most of all, it's about feel. Since you've never driven one, that would be the first step. Once you do, either you'll fall in love with it, or if you're the type who needs big numbers, crazy acceleration, huge torque and power, etc., you'll never get it.

Miguel

[mgv8]

sean19 said:

How do MGF/TF's MR2's compare to these?

I have never driven one but on paper they do appear to be down on power and the performance figures aren't spectacular!

Or am I missing the point?

MGF is mid engine so fills a bit diffrent. The build on MGF is also not so good, but it dose handle quite well and is fun to drive. I was looking for a good F but could not fund many but there were a lot more good 5's about.
MR2 is mid engin again and a biger car so I think in a diffrent class.

[GravelBen]

Mk1 MR2 and Mk1 MX5 compare quite well - similar performance with MR2 having a slight edge IMO, different balance comparing mid-engine with front but both are a lot of fun to drive. MX5 is easier to arse about sideways and more forgiving, MR2 is pretty twitchy and swaps ends quickly when it does let go, but it does communicate nicely what its doing and gives plenty of warning that you're approaching the limit.

[Irish]

I bought my MK 1 on a whim for the Furball. 3K around Europe and loved every minute of it. Still miss that car. Miss the MX5 more that my 911 - it was a more interesting drive.

[durbster]

Timberwolf said:

Even out on a soul-destroying commute, you feel like you're the only person having a great time, playing with the gearbox and nipping round corners while everyone around you looks miserable - it's like being the kid mucking about at the back of the class while everyone else is hard at work.

Bingo.

There's rarely a day on the deathly-dull commute to work that I don't get a kick out of the car. It just inspires mischief.

The main problem with owning a car which can only do fast in a straight line is that after a while you simply get used to it. I've had my Roadster for four years now and I still, at the end of the working day, start thinking about the drive home and smile.

[chunkymonkey71]

sean19 said:

How do MGF/TF's MR2's compare to these?

I have never driven one but on paper they do appear to be down on power and the performance figures aren't spectacular!

Or am I missing the point?

Completely and utterly. You're not another non driver are you?

[Wigeon Incognito]

One of the things I love about my '5, is that whatever car community for whatever marque you come across when they find out you have a '5 you can guarantee a knowing smile will spread across a fair few faces.

It's one of the few cars that seems almost universally respected by real drivers.

[PolarExpress]

One of THE best cars ever.

I had 2 before - both Mk1s, an R-Limited and an RS-Limited. Handling is brilliant, repairs and parts cheap as chips, and a huge aftermarket providing everything form bling to some seriously well engineered go-faster bits. Long distance is not their forte - I found buzzing around at 4500rpm with little sound proofing and little 'go' at reasonable motorway speeds tiring. Not convinced Turbo/SC solutions demonstrably improve the car's overall balance, although the extra go is always entertaining.

I'm still a big fan of the MX5 and might pick another up for this summer... just for fun. Also, you don't feel guilty throwing 5k worth around track whereas throwing the GT3MR around is often not quite as much fun, although it is a tad quicker.

[threespires]

durbster said:

Timberwolf said:

Even out on a soul-destroying commute, you feel like you're the only person having a great time, playing with the gearbox and nipping round corners while everyone around you looks miserable - it's like being the kid mucking about at the back of the class while everyone else is hard at work.

Bingo.

There's rarely a day on the deathly-dull commute to work that I don't get a kick out of the car. It just inspires mischief.

The main problem with owning a car which can only do fast in a straight line is that after a while you simply get used to it. I've had my Roadster for four years now and I still, at the end of the working day, start thinking about the drive home and smile.

I'd agree with that. Most fun car I've ever had, inc Cobra, Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus etc. It doesn't have to be fast to be fun.

I have 2 MX-5's one standard and one 200bhp. The standard car is much more fun. I spend most of my time on the brakes in the fast one - where's the fun in that ?

Sadly, many are seduced by JC & media chums into thinking that it's all about 0-60 times. S'not.......

Poeple talk about image? Buying a car for it's image is for insecure people - I don't give a fig what the bloke in the car next to me at the lights thinks.

Thank you hairdressers for buying them new, it gives us a big secondhand market of cars to choose from.

MX-5 - fun fun fun.

[GravelBen]

Its great being able to thrash a car through the first 3 gears with it sounding/feeling reasonably quick, and then look at the speedo and realise your licence isn't in much danger at all.

I've also found mine to be remarkably tail-happy on the loose stuff, especially being used to Subaru traction!

[dern]

GravelBen said:

Its great being able to thrash a car through the first 3 gears with it sounding/feeling reasonably quick, and then look at the speedo and realise your licence isn't in much danger at all.

Get a 2cv and you can do it in 4 gears

[GravelBen]

dern said:

GravelBen said:

Its great being able to thrash a car through the first 3 gears with it sounding/feeling reasonably quick, and then look at the speedo and realise your licence isn't in much danger at all.

Get a 2cv and you can do it in 4 gears

I prefer something thats also fun to go around corners in.

[Chris71]

Miguel said:

Chris71 said:

I'd be intrigued to try a really good one some time - none of the MX5s I've driven had especially good steering feedback. They were ok, but nothing more than decent hot hatch territory in terms of feel. Genuinely don't know if its the examples I've tried or if they're a tad overrated.

I've driven MX5's of several different years. The early cars (1990-97) had steering that felt overassisted and lacking in feel, at least, to me. Not awful, mind you, but not as great as I'd like. The 98's fixed that. Mine is a 2001, and I think that its steering feel is fantastic.

Miguel

Interesting - maybe I should try one of the mk2s at some point.

I've driven two early-ish mk1 1.8s (I owned one - an RS LTD) and a new-shape (mk3?) 2.0 sport. They were all good fun, but not a revelation.

[sean19]

chunkymonkey71 said:

sean19 said:

How do MGF/TF's MR2's compare to these?

I have never driven one but on paper they do appear to be down on power and the performance figures aren't spectacular!

Or am I missing the point?

Completely and utterly. You're not another non driver are you?

Yes.
What is this a post only if you own? Must have missed that!

If that was the case for most posts then I think we would have pretty quite threads! Don't you?

[Munter]

sean19 said:

chunkymonkey71 said:

sean19 said:

How do MGF/TF's MR2's compare to these?

I have never driven one but on paper they do appear to be down on power and the performance figures aren't spectacular!

Or am I missing the point?

Completely and utterly. You're not another non driver are you?

Yes.
What is this a post only if you own? Must have missed that!

If that was the case for most posts then I think we would have pretty quite threads! Don't you?

Sean I think he wasn't asking if you have driven an MX5. Just if you have driven at all. Someone further back in the thread gave an opinion of "lame" without seeming to be a driver of anything at all.

[chunkymonkey71]

Munter said:

sean19 said:

chunkymonkey71 said:

sean19 said:

How do MGF/TF's MR2's compare to these?

I have never driven one but on paper they do appear to be down on power and the performance figures aren't spectacular!

Or am I missing the point?

Completely and utterly. You're not another non driver are you?

Yes.
What is this a post only if you own? Must have missed that!



If that was the case for most posts then I think we would have pretty quite threads! Don't you?

Sean I think he wasn't asking if you have driven an MX5. Just if you have driven at all. Someone further back in the thread gave an opinion of "lame" without seeming to be a driver of anything at all.

Thank you munter.

[GravelBen]

Looking at your list of previously owned cars though I can see how you may not have driven anything that would help you understand what a sportscar is about.

[sean19]

Munter said:

sean19 said:

chunkymonkey71 said:

sean19 said:

How do MGF/TF's MR2's compare to these?

I have never driven one but on paper they do appear to be down on power and the performance figures aren't spectacular!

Or am I missing the point?

Completely and utterly. You're not another non driver are you?

Yes.
What is this a post only if you own? Must have missed that!

If that was the case for most posts then I think we would have pretty quite threads! Don't you?

Sean I think he wasn't asking if you have driven an MX5. Just if you have driven at all. Someone further back in the thread gave an opinion of "lame" without seeming to be a driver of anything at all.

Oh right sorry.

Yes I took a 1.6 out for a test drive a few months back. I did enjoy the handling and it felt special being in a long slung 2 seater, but I did feel it lack a little get up and go!

I wasn't really in a position to give it the beans with the salesman next to me but as I said, it just felt as though it could have easily done with a bit more power.

[sean19]

chunkymonkey71 said:

Munter said:

sean19 said:

chunkymonkey71 said:

sean19 said:

How do MGF/TF's MR2's compare to these?

I have never driven one but on paper they do appear to be down on power and the performance figures aren't spectacular!

Or am I missing the point?

Completely and utterly. You're not another non driver are you?

Yes.
What is this a post only if you own? Must have missed that!



If that was the case for most posts then I think we would have pretty quite threads! Don't you?

Sean I think he wasn't asking if you have driven an MX5. Just if you have driven at all. Someone further back in the thread gave an opinion of "lame" without seeming to be a driver of anything at all.

Thank you munter.

Im sorry I just don't understand why you would assume I dont drive?
A quick look in my profile would have told you.