Does the MX-5 feel underpowered?
Discussion
Coming from an e36 328i, I thought my MK1 1.8 MX5 would be the slowest thing ever, but point to point (excluding motorways) I get places a lot quicker in the 5. Whilst the e36 had decent handling, my (fully coilovered) MX5 can go round twisty B-roads at a much smoother pace, not as much braking needed for corners etc, never feels like it's being pushed!
It depends if you mean underpowered for motorway commutes (I could see it being so, yes) or underpowered for having fun (no, definitely not.)
Whilst I'd like 180-200bhp, the 130 it supposedly had when it left the factory, is more than enough to put huge smiles on my face, nipping down a B road, with the roof down.
I could fit a lot more s
te in the beemer tho...
It depends if you mean underpowered for motorway commutes (I could see it being so, yes) or underpowered for having fun (no, definitely not.)
Whilst I'd like 180-200bhp, the 130 it supposedly had when it left the factory, is more than enough to put huge smiles on my face, nipping down a B road, with the roof down.
I could fit a lot more s
te in the beemer tho...
Many years ago my wife fancied an MX5, right up to the point we drove it. It just felt like it wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. We went and test drove a Suzuki Cappuccino with a roaring 69bhp and it felt so much more fun that we bought that instead. Still miss that car, keep looking in the classifieds.
jamieduff1981 said:
I've had 2 MX-5s and did really enjoy them.
If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.
I'd agree with this - mine is a lovely car, and for its age it's a brilliant piece of design, but the engine is a bit duff imo. It never feels anywhere near its quoted power, and lacks any zing at the top end or much low-down grunt, it only has a ton to lug around after all.If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.
Krikkit said:
jamieduff1981 said:
I've had 2 MX-5s and did really enjoy them.
If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.
I'd agree with this - mine is a lovely car, and for its age it's a brilliant piece of design, but the engine is a bit duff imo. It never feels anywhere near its quoted power, and lacks any zing at the top end or much low-down grunt, it only has a ton to lug around after all.If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.
feef said:
Krikkit said:
jamieduff1981 said:
I've had 2 MX-5s and did really enjoy them.
If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.
I'd agree with this - mine is a lovely car, and for its age it's a brilliant piece of design, but the engine is a bit duff imo. It never feels anywhere near its quoted power, and lacks any zing at the top end or much low-down grunt, it only has a ton to lug around after all.If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.
It surprises me how little tuning is done on the standard engines, it seems to be supercharge/turbocharge or standard.
I had a 93 1.6 and felt that it was underpowered because the car was so good (minus the brakes) it could handle at least twice power. But I loved it still because it's the only sportscar I've owned that I could drive all out (to the best of my courage) and not endanger others or myself while having the time of my life. It needs rev, so it IS slow off the line.
Also, I have sat in a stock 1.6 through the forest roads with a really aggressive driver. These cars are more than fast enough on public roads if you are really flogging it. It will never win any duels though.
Also, I have sat in a stock 1.6 through the forest roads with a really aggressive driver. These cars are more than fast enough on public roads if you are really flogging it. It will never win any duels though.
caraddict said:
I had a 93 1.6 and felt that it was underpowered because the car was so good (minus the brakes) it could handle at least twice power. But I loved it still because it's the only sportscar I've owned that I could drive all out (to the best of my courage) and not endanger others or myself while having the time of my life. It needs rev, so it IS slow off the line.
Also, I have sat in a stock 1.6 through the forest roads with a really aggressive driver. These cars are more than fast enough on public roads if you are really flogging it. It will never win any duels though.
Anyone who has done a passenger lap in a racing MX5 will also vouch for how quick an NA 1.6 car can be! I know that's not a fair comparison to stock, but still not much done to them except weight reduction and a bit of extra aspiration.Also, I have sat in a stock 1.6 through the forest roads with a really aggressive driver. These cars are more than fast enough on public roads if you are really flogging it. It will never win any duels though.
Krikkit said:
feef said:
Krikkit said:
jamieduff1981 said:
I've had 2 MX-5s and did really enjoy them.
If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.
I'd agree with this - mine is a lovely car, and for its age it's a brilliant piece of design, but the engine is a bit duff imo. It never feels anywhere near its quoted power, and lacks any zing at the top end or much low-down grunt, it only has a ton to lug around after all.If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.
It surprises me how little tuning is done on the standard engines, it seems to be supercharge/turbocharge or standard.
Admittedly, my supercharger has cost a bit more time and money than most, but I've done some stuff that most others haven't
Krikkit said:
feef said:
Krikkit said:
jamieduff1981 said:
I've had 2 MX-5s and did really enjoy them.
If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.
I'd agree with this - mine is a lovely car, and for its age it's a brilliant piece of design, but the engine is a bit duff imo. It never feels anywhere near its quoted power, and lacks any zing at the top end or much low-down grunt, it only has a ton to lug around after all.If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.
It surprises me how little tuning is done on the standard engines, it seems to be supercharge/turbocharge or standard.
The engine is based on the 323f turbo so the internals were designed to suit high power 250bhp is about the limit before things go weak so that is why the fI is the way to go.
The best way to get a mx5 to feel even more alive apart from going fI is building a kit car out of one my exocet even standard power to my mk1 vr ltd is 4-5s a lap quicker around llandow in south wales the track is only a mile long.
MG CHRIS said:
The best way to get a mx5 to feel even more alive apart from going fI is building a kit car out of one my exocet even standard power to my mk1 vr ltd is 4-5s a lap quicker around llandow in south wales the track is only a mile long.
That's my long-term fall-back plan if/when the chassis/body turns orange and crusty. The running gear and power train is spot on, so it'd be an ideal solution to just throw it into a kit of some sort.I'd rather go down the route of fully restoring the chassis and body I've got tho.
My 2.0lt could do with a bit more straight line acceleration but apart from that I find it quick enough. Mines used mostly as a b road car which is where it comes into its own. The trick with these cars is not to be afraid to keep them in the higher rev range to get the best from the engine.
I have taken it on a couple of long motorway trips and you can easily keep pace with the traffic but it can be a bit tiring so im not sure if could live with it as a daily driver. That said, after the 25th anniversary event last october my 9yr old daughter and I went from Warwickshire back to Devon with the roof down all the way and into the night and that was an very enjoyable drive.
Occasionally think about getting something quicker, s2000, boxster S, but so far owning an mx5 has been a painless experience.
I have taken it on a couple of long motorway trips and you can easily keep pace with the traffic but it can be a bit tiring so im not sure if could live with it as a daily driver. That said, after the 25th anniversary event last october my 9yr old daughter and I went from Warwickshire back to Devon with the roof down all the way and into the night and that was an very enjoyable drive.
Occasionally think about getting something quicker, s2000, boxster S, but so far owning an mx5 has been a painless experience.
I've been on a few PH Hoons with a variety of other cars. As mine is supercharged with 245bhp it keeps up with everything easily enough. On one join however I was half way through changing the ECU so was running without the sc. I still found that a lot of bigger "faster" cars were holding me up and I had to overtake a DB9 and an M3. While they were obviously quicker on straight roads they couldn't get near me on the bends.
On another day during a trip around Scotland with a group of MX5s, a Scooby overtook us all but passed the last 2 of us on a bend. We took exception to that and went after him. It was a very twisty road and there was no way he could get away from us. By the time we got to the end if the road we could smell his brakes overheating! We let him go at that point and pulled over to wait for the others but it just goes to show, its not all about power or traction.
On another day during a trip around Scotland with a group of MX5s, a Scooby overtook us all but passed the last 2 of us on a bend. We took exception to that and went after him. It was a very twisty road and there was no way he could get away from us. By the time we got to the end if the road we could smell his brakes overheating! We let him go at that point and pulled over to wait for the others but it just goes to show, its not all about power or traction.
Krikkit said:
feef said:
Krikkit said:
jamieduff1981 said:
I've had 2 MX-5s and did really enjoy them.
If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.
I'd agree with this - mine is a lovely car, and for its age it's a brilliant piece of design, but the engine is a bit duff imo. It never feels anywhere near its quoted power, and lacks any zing at the top end or much low-down grunt, it only has a ton to lug around after all.If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.
It surprises me how little tuning is done on the standard engines, it seems to be supercharge/turbocharge or standard.
Fairly fun, and for the money they were good. For the money of buying one plus extra money to add the punch I was looking for, my money went elsewhere.
Good little cars for what they are though.
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