Does the MX-5 feel underpowered?
Discussion
caraddict said:
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.
Sounds like a very difficult decision to make, would be very interested to find out what you decide?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.
Not quite sure what I'd choose if it were me.
I've got a mk2.5 import which revs to 7500rpm and honestly can't say it feels slow. In fact I am often in my friends SLK350 and I can't actually say that 'feels' much faster because of the lack of drama in the delivery. No doubt the mx5 doesn't feel fast, but nippy if kept above 4500 revs.
Also as has been touched upon already, it really does depend on which roads your on. B roads it feels spot on, A roads adequate, motorways slow! But then again if you did a lot of motorway driving you wouldn't have bought an mx5 anyway.
Also as has been touched upon already, it really does depend on which roads your on. B roads it feels spot on, A roads adequate, motorways slow! But then again if you did a lot of motorway driving you wouldn't have bought an mx5 anyway.
I arrange many a mx5 runs with a varied bunch of cars supercharged/ turbo'd etc with me being the leader in my n/a vr ltd I can often lose them on parts of the road I know well I can be flat out more than them as they cant use all the power.
Now on track it makes a difference and you often see forced induction mx5 up with the quick cars that they have no right being with. Also they can last all day and are usually the last cars running.
Now put a mx5 and remove the body stick a exo frame on it like the exocet and even with the standard engine 130 bhp they are 5-6s a lap quicker than a normal mx5.
Put forced induction on a exocet and the only things that are quicker are the likes of radicals etc which are 3-4 times the price.
Now on track it makes a difference and you often see forced induction mx5 up with the quick cars that they have no right being with. Also they can last all day and are usually the last cars running.
Now put a mx5 and remove the body stick a exo frame on it like the exocet and even with the standard engine 130 bhp they are 5-6s a lap quicker than a normal mx5.
Put forced induction on a exocet and the only things that are quicker are the likes of radicals etc which are 3-4 times the price.
MX-5 Lazza said:
Kawasicki said:
They are just fast enough to get you in serious trouble with the law. Just.
What do you mean "just"? Even the fastest speed limit in UK is 70mph and any MX5 will get there within 10 seconds. Over 100mph down a B-road will though, and that speed is possible to regularly achieve with an MX-5
Ive had my Mk1 1.6 Eunos for over two years now and on the roads i have never really found it wanting. The joy id anticipating the overtaking and dropping a gear accordingly. Likewise on roundabouts or give way junctions its forward planning and handling that gets you through the other side first.
This awesome little machine, (red one), has had a holiday to the Cote D'Azur and loved every minute, even the autoroutes at a steady 80-90 didnt faze it. After about 15 trackdays however i felt the need for more power as i was getting fed up with murdering the corners but getting left behind on the straights.so i went and got this turbo charged 1.8,
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/GxOSw8x8.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/ve1O6Mgd" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/ve1O6Mgd.jpg)
last dyno'd at 220bhp makes all the difference on track, i can now "compete" with a lot more machinery making the days much more interesting.
On the road it is fair to say that the available power is worth having if not used. but when you are on a DC and the car in front eventually pulls in, its nice to have the urgency to just dispatch. Saying that, on a day to day i prefer the na as its not so frantic and twitchy, specially in the wet/damp conditions of late.
I wouldnt say "underpowered", just not enough power for some.
just a tought but some people want to take their Nissan GT-R to 1000bhp, does this mean in standard form, 480/550bhp, whatever it is, is underpowered??
D
D
This awesome little machine, (red one), has had a holiday to the Cote D'Azur and loved every minute, even the autoroutes at a steady 80-90 didnt faze it. After about 15 trackdays however i felt the need for more power as i was getting fed up with murdering the corners but getting left behind on the straights.so i went and got this turbo charged 1.8,
last dyno'd at 220bhp makes all the difference on track, i can now "compete" with a lot more machinery making the days much more interesting.
On the road it is fair to say that the available power is worth having if not used. but when you are on a DC and the car in front eventually pulls in, its nice to have the urgency to just dispatch. Saying that, on a day to day i prefer the na as its not so frantic and twitchy, specially in the wet/damp conditions of late.
I wouldnt say "underpowered", just not enough power for some.
just a tought but some people want to take their Nissan GT-R to 1000bhp, does this mean in standard form, 480/550bhp, whatever it is, is underpowered??
D
D
Edited by HaylingJag on Tuesday 24th February 13:13
Edited by HaylingJag on Tuesday 24th February 13:17
may oui, Pete,
Lez absolutely hates the charged one, she sits there petrified whenever i insist we go out in it. the upside is she's so wound up by it that she just keeps quiet and wont talk to me till we reach our destination, bliss
good thing is tho' she wont let me sell the red one either,
everyones a winner
D
Lez absolutely hates the charged one, she sits there petrified whenever i insist we go out in it. the upside is she's so wound up by it that she just keeps quiet and wont talk to me till we reach our destination, bliss
good thing is tho' she wont let me sell the red one either,
everyones a winner
D
pewe said:
The other thing to bear in mind when adding extra power is whether your better half will be comfortable with it.
Sometimes they aren't - sometimes they are.....
Seriously if you are running it as a day-to-day car it's worth consideration.
Cheers, Pewe.
My wife hated my old V8 Camaro for that very reason. It looked powerful (and was). At least with the MX-5 it doesn't really look powerful. So if you upgrade the power...perhaps don't tell? Sometimes they aren't - sometimes they are.....
Seriously if you are running it as a day-to-day car it's worth consideration.
Cheers, Pewe.
Flip Martian said:
pewe said:
The other thing to bear in mind when adding extra power is whether your better half will be comfortable with it.
Sometimes they aren't - sometimes they are.....
Seriously if you are running it as a day-to-day car it's worth consideration.
Cheers, Pewe.
My wife hated my old V8 Camaro for that very reason. It looked powerful (and was). At least with the MX-5 it doesn't really look powerful. So if you upgrade the power...perhaps don't tell? Sometimes they aren't - sometimes they are.....
Seriously if you are running it as a day-to-day car it's worth consideration.
Cheers, Pewe.
It's all been said already but hey ho!
My 1.6 mk2.5 (bought for what was available at a garage that had my two car combo I wanted) feels slow with the roof up and as others say on the motorway.
On a stretch of A road where my S-Type R would have been in licence losing territory I had a massive grin on my face in the MX at legal speeds (was surprised to see the speed was so low when I looked down).
And on another stretch of A road I kept up with a BMW 530i, he pulled away on the straights, I considerably caught him in the corners. If I'd been infront on a twisty section I don't think I'd have seen him again.
Still find myself looking at options for making it quicker but I'm also really looking forward to getting it out the garage and on the first proper run out this year.
My 1.6 mk2.5 (bought for what was available at a garage that had my two car combo I wanted) feels slow with the roof up and as others say on the motorway.
On a stretch of A road where my S-Type R would have been in licence losing territory I had a massive grin on my face in the MX at legal speeds (was surprised to see the speed was so low when I looked down).
And on another stretch of A road I kept up with a BMW 530i, he pulled away on the straights, I considerably caught him in the corners. If I'd been infront on a twisty section I don't think I'd have seen him again.
Still find myself looking at options for making it quicker but I'm also really looking forward to getting it out the garage and on the first proper run out this year.
I sold my lovely mk1. 1.8 s special two weeks ago because it felt a bit gutless on long straight roads . I've just bought a jag xjr. I've already decided the jags too fast for me as a weekend toy because I'm sure I'll end up getting points,
So Im back looking for another mk1 because I like the way you feel like your doing 80 when your doing half that
So Im back looking for another mk1 because I like the way you feel like your doing 80 when your doing half that
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.
Sold my 06 plate 2.0l after a year. Just seemed a bit dull tbh. That and massively over-hyped.
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.
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.
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