Does the MX-5 feel underpowered?

[The Turbonator]

Is the MX5 easy to oversteer, should you want it to then? I've only ever had FF cars and I would like to learn about controlling oversteer.

[otolith]

Yes, and very forgiving.

[TheJimi]

^^ what he said

From a 1.0 Micra to a Caterham R500 - you can stack any car if you're daft enough.

However, I can't think of a better introduction to RWD dynamics than an MX5.

[MG CHRIS]

They are easy but can bite back if not prepared. Wheel alignment out ditchfinder tyres will make it even worse.

[jamieduff1981]

Not to criticise the car but I think it's safe to say that on Pistonheads there are plenty of us who find the MX-5 a bit gutless not because we're used to diesels but because we've had exposure to significantly more powerful cars. My Cerbera is a case in point. It weighs the same as an MX-5 and has 3 times the power.

It's a bit blinkered to say 0-60 in 7 or 8 seconds must be enough for anyone. I have that in my slowest family saloon and find it frustratingly slow. It's got nothing to do with being able to use the gearbox. You kinda need to thrash an MX-5 to manage a hill start. You'd barely accelerate at all if you weren't redlining it everywhere.

The MX-5 is just a slow car in the sports car world looking at it objectively. It's not even lukewarm nowadays. Its power to weight ratio is fairly mediocre.

It's still a sweet handling little car, but being honest with ourselves, it IS a slow car.

It's fine if you can drive in your own little world. It's less fun if anyone else shows up.

What it is (at least in NA and NB forms - I'm not keen on the NC, it seems to have lost something) is a great trainer for more focussed sports cars if budget allows. Can't actually think of a better can to set you up for TVRdom than an MX-5.

Edited by jamieduff1981 on Sunday 15th February 18:16

[TheJimi]

jamieduff1981 said:

You kinda need to thrash an MX-5 to manage a hill start. You'd barely accelerate at all if you weren't redlining it everywhere.

While I agree that the MX5, as standard at least, isn't going to be a straight line hero, the above two statements are unmitigated ste.

[T0MMY]

jamieduff1981 said:

It's fine if you can drive in your own little world. It's less fun if anyone else shows up.

That might be true if you're trying to race people down a motorway but in my experience a bog standard MX5 can be resolutely mid-pack on a trackday.

[clarki]

jamieduff1981 said:

Not to criticise the car but I think it's safe to say that on Pistonheads there are plenty of us who find the MX-5 a bit gutless not because we're used to diesels but because we've had exposure to significantly more powerful cars. My Cerbera is a case in point. It weighs the same as an MX-5 and has 3 times the power.

It's a bit blinkered to say 0-60 in 7 or 8 seconds must be enough for anyone. I have that in my slowest family saloon and find it frustratingly slow. It's got nothing to do with being able to use the gearbox. You kinda need to thrash an MX-5 to manage a hill start. You'd barely accelerate at all if you weren't redlining it everywhere.

The MX-5 is just a slow car in the sports car world looking at it objectively. It's not even lukewarm nowadays. Its power to weight ratio is fairly mediocre.

It's still a sweet handling little car, but being honest with ourselves, it IS a slow car.

It's fine if you can drive in your own little world. It's less fun if anyone else shows up.

What it is (at least in NA and NB forms - I'm not keen on the NC, it seems to have lost something) is a great trainer for more focussed sports cars if budget allows. Can't actually think of a better can to set you up for TVRdom than an MX-5.

Edited by jamieduff1981 on Sunday 15th February 18:16

Left many a TVR for dead in my evo - all noise and no go, like an impreza, lol

No, the mx5 isn't a quick car. However, I think you'll find us owners are quite happy in our own world. You lot crack on, i'm sure your just so fast and everyone is so impressed. Bit like the tt today in his focus rs who just had to overtake me nomatter what - he did and is now my hero...

[Sko77y]

Nothing really to add as everything has been said already, but blasting down a/b road with the roof down (aftermarket exhaust optional), nothing better. You soon forget about wanting more power.

[Rogue86]

jamieduff1981 said:

Its power to weight ratio is fairly mediocre.

Obviously I would expect a Cerbera to be faster. I would also expect it cost more to buy, break down more often, cost more to insure, to tax and to run. I would expect a McLaren P1 to be faster as well...why didn't you buy one of those?

You're right, 0-60 in 8 secs by todays standards isn't particularly brisk, so if you're playing top trumps or bragging on the internet then an MX5 probably isn't the car to go for. In drivable terms though, the chassis is easy to exploit for even an average driver, there's a considerable amount of grip and when it lets go it's very communicative and controllable. The engine (in both guises) is strong and responsive requiring relatively little maintenance. Modifications are cheap and effective, the aftermarket for these cars is huge meaning they're also easy to get hold of.

For £1500, you can buy a decently-fettled NA MX5 that will allow Joe Average to stay near enough on-track to much faster cars than it ought to have any business fighting against. With a little time behind the wheel and a little more money invested in power, these cars really are capable of punching quite massively above their weight. My FD has three times the power of my MX5 and is roughly the same weight. It also revs higher, sounds better, looks better, spits flames out at an often enough rate that it has melted my bumper and quite frankly gives me an alarming erection any time I'm within 3ft of it. It also does 9MPG, costs me twice the amount to insure, four times the amount to buy and I'm on first-name terms with most of the local AA lads. The MX5 gets me to work and back every day and I'm not sure that I'd physically be able to lap much faster around Cadwell in the FD if my life depended on it, even though it seems like a more 'grown-up' MX5 to drive. It would kill me in a fireball of awesome the first time I made a mistake or it would break before I had the chance, while I could lap my MX5 all day and come home £150 richer from the fuel I saved.

[heebeegeetee]

Fwiw, I could go on an MG/Lotus track day and play with the Elises. The lap times I was doing was enough to put me mid-pack with the Loti. Maybe it's because it is so easy to drive, I don't know. But does it matter?

[Gandahar]

jamieduff1981 said:

.

It's fine if you can drive in your own little world. It's less fun if anyone else shows up.

This comment made me laugh as a long time back I went on a Kent Car club Sunday blast which invited PH along. I was in a 68bhp Aygo which had the benefit of Dunlop dz03g tyres on and due to the twisty nature of the roads around Dymchurch marshes I more than kept up.

We were all slowed down though when one driver ended up in a ditch. Guess what make of car he was driving?

Some cars might be fast, but if you cannot drive them anywhere near 8 or 9 tenths apart from in a straight line how quick actually are they? The MX5 gives you enough confidence to eek out as much as you can without the fear of being punished. Which means it is the fun side of scary.

I agree though that the mx5 will not push you into you seat with right foot

Edited by Gandahar on Monday 16th February 13:04

[Emley]

Does it feel underpowered?

Only if you have an unrealistic expectation of what a NA 2.0 petrol engine should feel like in an 1100kg car.

I have had TVR's, an XKR and a Porsche 911 Turbo, now quite happy in a lightly fettled MX5 NC.
At a comfortable level of commitment on a B road, I have more fun and cover ground quicker now than either TVR or XKR

The Porsche Turbo was epic, it had 450 bhp. But it was only fun at twice the legal limit (and beyond...)
On track it would eat tyres and brakes at an eye watering rate, quick yes, but not massive fun.
On the road at legal pace, it was no more fun than my daily drive, and a whole lot less fun than the MX5.

I did eleven track days last year in the MX5, it will happily run mid pace all day long, and cost relative peanuts.
Then settle back for a comfortable, efficient, but fun drive home with the top down in the sunshine.
Erm hello ?

It is a usable blend of power and handling that makes me smile, without the risk of putting me in jail.

Don't give a s t if some folk look down there nose at my MX5, it does what I want, with not a lot of bhp

[RT Phil]

Sko77y said:

Nothing really to add as everything has been said already, but blasting down a/b road with the roof down (aftermarket exhaust optional), nothing better. You soon forget about wanting more power.

I agree with this apart from the last bit, If you have an empty road all is good until you come up behind a couple of cars and the poor little 5 just can't get past them, we have all been there and all wished for an extra 50 horses

[Sko77y]

RT Phil said:

I agree with this apart from the last bit, If you have an empty road all is good until you come up behind a couple of cars and the poor little 5 just can't get past them, we have all been there and all wished for an extra 50 horses

Indeed, but I was trying to end on a positive, I had written more about vxr's and roundabouts haha! from what I've read the nc only needs another 20 to feel like a different car. Shame I've no money!

[MX-5 Lazza]

Overtaking is no problem. Just make sure you are in the right gear at the right revs and there is plenty of go. Drive it like a diesel and expect the torque to do the work and you'll be the wrong side of the road for ages. Drop it a couple of gears so you are in the 5-7k window and you have plenty of acceleration power. What's more is, if you don't change up until 7k the revs will only drop to around 6k in 3rd & 4th so you stay at peak power.

[caraddict]

Adding additional 2 cents:

Well I replied my opinion on the Mk1 that I had almost 7 years ago, on page 2. Now I'm considering buying my old car back after reading this thread (it was my first sportscar so it's special to me, and its black/red colour combo is my favorite for sportscars). If the owner wants to part with it of course - money talks and I could make the current owner talk.

Yesterday I saw an advertisement in Evo Magazine for the BBR Super 200 conversion package for the NC generation. It had 200 hp naturally aspirated engine and that intrigued me. It certainly didn't help that Evo Magazine gave it a 5/5 rating, which is quite rare for a tuned car.

Question is, which would be more fun? First year NC with a BBR Super 200 conversion or restoring my old Mk1 1.6 and adding a Flyin' Miata turbo conversion to it? I am a naturally aspirated man and love the idea of a newer car (= fewer problems and additional safety), but at the same I loved the spartan Mk1 because of its relative minimalism.

Finally: I agree with other owners. These cars are definitely best enjoyed when you don't look at the speed at all.

My old lady...

Edited by caraddict on Monday 16th February 22:38

[The Turbonator]

caraddict said:

My old lady...

Edited by caraddict on Monday 16th February 22:38

That's nice.

[MX-5 Lazza]

caraddict said:

Question is, which would be more fun? First year NC with a BBR Super 200 conversion or restoring my old Mk1 1.6 and adding a Flyin' Miata turbo conversion to it?

That is a completely different and a very good question. Ideally we need someone who has owned both to chip in with some real world experience to help with an answer. It will be 90% down to personal preference though.

[TheJimi]

caraddict said:

Question is, which would be more fun? First year NC with a BBR Super 200 conversion or restoring my old Mk1 1.6 and adding a Flyin' Miata turbo conversion to it? I am a naturally aspirated man and love the idea of a newer car (= fewer problems and additional safety), but at the same I loved the spartan Mk1 because of its relative minimalism.

I know a chap who owns a Mk3 turbo from BBR - with circa 250hp and the corresponding BBR chassis mods to go with it. By all accounts, it's a very well sorted car.

The same guy has previously owned an E46 M3, a 993 C2, and an Exige (or poss an Elise, I can't remember) and he says that the BBR '5 is his favourite out of the lot.