Does the MX-5 feel underpowered?
Discussion
trackerjack said:
I am just loving the comments about the wives not liking the speedier types of car.
Thirty five years ago I had a TR4 and was courting Diane my better half and I drove it carefully so as not to frighten her, after two weeks of this she turned to me and said "Does this thing go?" at which point I accelerated and hung the tail on a few corners and asked "do you want me to slow down now?" to which she replied "no keep it up".
Ever since then she has sat alongside me for track days and mad days, plus she drives whatever I have on track days too.
She is now a driving instructor and our daughter races a Porsche and was the 2013 BRSCC production Boxster champion! So you see the females in my house know more about driving than I do..............but I can beat the missus on track easily but not my little girl.
funny thing is my Mrs drives an XKR, 370 bhp rwd etc etc, hooned her XJ-r round Goodwood and has done Bedford, Castle, and Abingdon in the standard 5, no problems, she has Witchy feelings about the Turbo'd 5..............Thirty five years ago I had a TR4 and was courting Diane my better half and I drove it carefully so as not to frighten her, after two weeks of this she turned to me and said "Does this thing go?" at which point I accelerated and hung the tail on a few corners and asked "do you want me to slow down now?" to which she replied "no keep it up".
Ever since then she has sat alongside me for track days and mad days, plus she drives whatever I have on track days too.
She is now a driving instructor and our daughter races a Porsche and was the 2013 BRSCC production Boxster champion! So you see the females in my house know more about driving than I do..............but I can beat the missus on track easily but not my little girl.
D
My misses drives a 2013 pdk'd 981S - eats the MX5 alive...and the boy racers in the RS/GTiwhatevers, the look on some of their faces is often priceless - and without even breaking sweet tbh.
But remember folks, it's still only a car, no matter how much you spend on it or how fast it goes.
But remember folks, it's still only a car, no matter how much you spend on it or how fast it goes.
This is an interesting subject, I like my performance cars and have had some interesting metal & fiberglass over the years and during this time my wife has had a Mk2 1.8 MX5 for 12.5years and 3mths ago changed it for a Mk3.5 Sport tech Soft top
Yes I can see why some folk think the MX5 is under-powered, personally I do,and I wish Mazda would make a 200-220hp version because I believe it would sell.
However I really enjoy driving my wife's MX5 as I appreciate the great steering feel, gear change and biddable chassis that invites you to play. These attributes count very highly on my agenda for driving enjoyment
So in my household, the MX5 may be the lowest powered but that in no way has ever detracted from it being being fun to drive nor feeling alive beneath you.
To me the MX5 is a great car and always will be
Yes I can see why some folk think the MX5 is under-powered, personally I do,and I wish Mazda would make a 200-220hp version because I believe it would sell.
However I really enjoy driving my wife's MX5 as I appreciate the great steering feel, gear change and biddable chassis that invites you to play. These attributes count very highly on my agenda for driving enjoyment
So in my household, the MX5 may be the lowest powered but that in no way has ever detracted from it being being fun to drive nor feeling alive beneath you.
To me the MX5 is a great car and always will be
Which backs up what most owners say, to be fair. Not fast but fun. A sentiment I would agree with. I do wish it had a bit more "oomph" - my 2.2 diesel Mazda 3 has far more power than my 2.0 Sport - but as a drive, its such great fun. 700 miles up to the Lake District last week and back over 4 days; loved every minute.
otolith said:
The Mrs eventually traded her MX-5 in for a 350Z because she wanted more performance...
I just stuck a supercharger on mine. I could have changed up to a 'better' car, but I actually quite like the sleeperish nature of my little '5 now The downside (if you could call it that) is that I don't see it stopping at it's current 190bhp, but equally I don't want to spoil how it drives by turning it into an unmanageable monster.
(Although I DO think a Maserati 4200 engine and drivetrain would be a nice, and so far unique engine swap)
With an SC it doesn't become an unmanageable monster at any power level. Mine has over 240bhp but I still have loads of traction & grip. Being an SC the power is available all the time so that means it's easy to feather the throttle mid corner, just like driving a stock engine but with more power.
I picked up a 1.8 NA a few years back and like has been said it felt nippy enough but pretty gutless at higher speeds.
This was then stripped down for an Exocet build. Once that was done it felt much quicker but still not as quick as i would have liked so i carried out a turbo conversion. It now has approx 240bhp and weighs 600kg and quite frankly scares me stless! I use, regularly, maybe 60% of the power as its quite a hand full.
My point? Sometimes more power doesnt necessarily mean more fun.
This was then stripped down for an Exocet build. Once that was done it felt much quicker but still not as quick as i would have liked so i carried out a turbo conversion. It now has approx 240bhp and weighs 600kg and quite frankly scares me stless! I use, regularly, maybe 60% of the power as its quite a hand full.
My point? Sometimes more power doesnt necessarily mean more fun.
MLH said:
I picked up a 1.8 NA a few years back and like has been said it felt nippy enough but pretty gutless at higher speeds.
This was then stripped down for an Exocet build. Once that was done it felt much quicker but still not as quick as i would have liked so i carried out a turbo conversion. It now has approx 240bhp and weighs 600kg and quite frankly scares me stless! I use, regularly, maybe 60% of the power as its quite a hand full.
My point? Sometimes more power doesnt necessarily mean more fun.
That last, is a good point.This was then stripped down for an Exocet build. Once that was done it felt much quicker but still not as quick as i would have liked so i carried out a turbo conversion. It now has approx 240bhp and weighs 600kg and quite frankly scares me stless! I use, regularly, maybe 60% of the power as its quite a hand full.
My point? Sometimes more power doesnt necessarily mean more fun.
our mk1 has JUST 90 bhp but It's not slow. It's under geared for motorways, reving it's nuts off at 70 mph, but that's were the fun starts in top, it has bags of acceleration to 100 in top. Not that I've taken it on the motorway much. It's great on a decent fast A road, or slow B road.
We bought a new 2.0 sport in 2008. Have had it since. Love the car, its quick enough, had it lowered and setup correctly, handles brilliantly. Not as quick as my Caterham (haven't got that anymore, binned it at Castle Combe) but love the 5, and it doesn't cost a fortune to insure and service. Thinking about the 2015 MX5 now, but will wait until they have been out a while before we try one
GravelBen said:
MLH said:
My point? Sometimes more power doesn't necessarily mean more fun.
Having had a fairly standard 1.6 Mk1 and a 250+bhp turbo Mk1, I'd have to agree - looking back I don't think I could honestly call either more fun than the other, just different types of fun.My old 1.8 mk1 never felt underpowered, more than quick enough!
My new mk2 1.6 did feel a little flat at first but I've just changed the HT leads and plugs after a it developed a small misfire and its transformed!? A lot more revvy and eager. Much more fun and like the 1.6 mx5 has always been described!
Happy me
My new mk2 1.6 did feel a little flat at first but I've just changed the HT leads and plugs after a it developed a small misfire and its transformed!? A lot more revvy and eager. Much more fun and like the 1.6 mx5 has always been described!
Happy me
Buff Mchugelarge said:
My old 1.8 mk1 never felt underpowered, more than quick enough!
My new mk2 1.6 did feel a little flat at first but I've just changed the HT leads and plugs after a it developed a small misfire and its transformed!? A lot more revvy and eager. Much more fun and like the 1.6 mx5 has always been described!
Happy me
Really, I find it gutless on overtakes, especially if you've driven something quick like supercharged exige/evo.My new mk2 1.6 did feel a little flat at first but I've just changed the HT leads and plugs after a it developed a small misfire and its transformed!? A lot more revvy and eager. Much more fun and like the 1.6 mx5 has always been described!
Happy me
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