Claustrophobia?

[Rocketman105]

Anyone else ever get this feeling?

Roof down for days at a time in the 5, with no rides/drives in any other cars

Then you get into a normal car and instantly feel like you need to open all the windows?

[Gizmo!]

Yep.

And that really unsettling feeling when you get in a modern car and feel like you're three feet off the ground. And the steering's not attached. And the gearbox isn't really "there".

[Evangelion]

And you give the steering wheel half a turn and the car goes "give me a minute, can I come back to you on that?"

Whereas in a '5 the car goes round the corner if you just think about moving the wheel!

[JonnyFive]

Gizmo! said:

Yep.

And that really unsettling feeling when you get in a modern car and feel like you're three feet off the ground. And the steering's not attached. And the gearbox isn't really "there".

This is the thing that gets me the most.. At work when I do parts deliveries and stuff I'll either use the van, or a normal Mazda2..

They're not bad and quite fun to chuck around, but when you've been in one of those for a few hours and get back into the MX5, the MX5 feels like a full slag, tight gearbox, incredibly responsive steering, noise, sitting on the ground.. Excellent.

[Rocketman105]

Agree with all of that

I've got a Jimny, and use a 500 very rarely and they are unbelievably slow witted, tall and boat like.

[Pints]

All I've done while reading this thread is grin like an idiot and nod furiously.



I often get out of the 5 thinking, "damn, I love this car!"

[MX-5 Lazza]

I must be the odd one out here then as I actually enjoy driving my 99 1.8 Focus Zetec! It turns in sharply, grips well handles way better than an old family hatch should and rides very nicely. I always get out of that car amazed at how good it is for such an innocuous car! I'm not trying to say it's as good as my MX5, just that I do enjoy driving it and don't feel short-changed when I have to.

[Rocketman105]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I must be the odd one out here then as I actually enjoy driving my 99 1.8 Focus Zetec! It turns in sharply, grips well handles way better than an old family hatch should and rides very nicely. I always get out of that car amazed at how good it is for such an innocuous car! I'm not trying to say it's as good as my MX5, just that I do enjoy driving it and don't feel short-changed when I have to.

I've regurlarly hired focii (?) through work for a few years and they deserve their reputation, even the lowly 1.6 'style'!

[alephnull]

I hate the feeling of normal cars where you seem to sit so high and upright. The bad part is, the reclined position in the '5 rips up the heel on my trainers when I drive...

Also, I remember when I first got this car, i found it a bit weird going past big lorries as all i could see was the nuts on the wheels Ive got used to that now, but I always careful when I pass them because I imagine a low car could be fairly hard to see.

[towelie]

agree with all of the above! let my brother dirve my car spiritedly along B road yesterday an got a text an hour after he left saying he missed the steering feel in the 5 compared to his rs clio 200 lol.. hes looking at getting one next year now

[Gizmo!]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I must be the odd one out here then as I actually enjoy driving my 99 1.8 Focus Zetec! It turns in sharply, grips well handles way better than an old family hatch should and rides very nicely. I always get out of that car amazed at how good it is for such an innocuous car! I'm not trying to say it's as good as my MX5, just that I do enjoy driving it and don't feel short-changed when I have to.

Don't get me wrong I enjoy driving the OH's Mito... but I do have to remember to have all the wheels pointing forwards before I hoof it. Front tyres get expensive otherwise

[MX-5 Lazza]

Gizmo! said:

Don't get me wrong I enjoy driving the OH's Mito... but I do have to remember to have all the wheels pointing forwards before I hoof it. Front tyres get expensive otherwise

But rears last forever

[Gizmo!]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Gizmo! said:

Don't get me wrong I enjoy driving the OH's Mito... but I do have to remember to have all the wheels pointing forwards before I hoof it. Front tyres get expensive otherwise

But rears last forever

You're not kidding. 15,000 miles so far and the rears still look like new

[JonnyFive]

Gizmo! said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

Gizmo! said:

Don't get me wrong I enjoy driving the OH's Mito... but I do have to remember to have all the wheels pointing forwards before I hoof it. Front tyres get expensive otherwise

But rears last forever

You're not kidding. 15,000 miles so far and the rears still look like new

10,000 miles and mine still look new too.. Parada Spec 2s.

My brother said they're terrible for wear rate..