RE: PH Fleet: Mazda Eunos Roadster

RE: PH Fleet: Mazda Eunos Roadster

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Discussion

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

264 months

Thursday 12th July 2012
quotequote all
ge0rge said:
Some sort of stigma of driving one of these that would keep me a mile away. I think the girliest car i could be seen in is a boxster/s2k.
I thought MX5s were crap girls cars until I drove one (drifted actually at a track thingy).

I had to have one after that, nothing else combines the handling and reliability with tiny purchase and running costs. My mk1 was £1500 five years ago, and even with the £500 turbo conversion it's been really reliable (this year I've had to replace some clutch seals and that's it - on a 20 year old car).

The image is dreadful, but so what? It just keeps the prices low.

TameRacingDriver

18,048 posts

271 months

Thursday 12th July 2012
quotequote all
GravelBen said:
+1

And the funny thing is I think I miss the standard one more than the 250bhp turbo one.
Thats quite funny to me as I had half thought that if I got another I'd have a one with 200+ BHP. My old RS Limited was supercharged at first, but not quite running 100% so reckon it was kicking out maybe 160 - 170.... that was quite nippy although not super fast, I thought a one with big power would be an utter riot...

Jag-D said:
The amount of people that asked me to slow down when I was sticking to the speed limit was hilarious.
hehe My girlfriend used to do this all the time, got quite grating after a while....

Her: TRD, FFS will you slow down!!!??

Me: I'm only doing 30 dear rolleyes

Ved

3,825 posts

174 months

Thursday 12th July 2012
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Had a very well sorted MK1 S-Special not so long ago. Great car but I can't say I miss it.

threespires

4,289 posts

210 months

Thursday 12th July 2012
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GravelBen said:
And the funny thing is I think I miss the standard one more than the 250bhp turbo one.
I'm with you, I much prefer my standard MX to my 204bhp version.

HorneyMX5

5,308 posts

149 months

Thursday 12th July 2012
quotequote all
They're catching. Bought mine and 2 weeks later a chap at work "accidentally" bought one on ebay.

Here they are parked together a few moments ago:


IMAG0105 by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr


IMAG0106 by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr


IMAG0107 by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr

My wife also bought a MKII after having a drive in mine. They're like a really cool, fun to drive, cheap to run and enjoyable flu.

Nick

Limpet

6,293 posts

160 months

Thursday 12th July 2012
quotequote all
Buggles said:
ge0rge said:
Some sort of stigma of driving one of these that would keep me a mile away. I think the girliest car i could be seen in is a boxster/s2k.
Please don't deny yourself ownership of one of these cars because of what people think, life really is too short for that mate.
+1

jamespink

1,218 posts

203 months

Thursday 12th July 2012
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Bloitus said:
I was lucky enough to see the MX5-GT at Goodwood FoS this year. It did sound great flying up the hill thumbup
Sorry Guys but I just don'e see why all the hype on this GT upgrade. Looks to me like its the power output it should always have had from day one and a GT version should have about 250/275. That warrants a GT badge...

Bloitus

110 posts

162 months

Thursday 12th July 2012
quotequote all
jamespink said:
Sorry Guys but I just don'e see why all the hype on this GT upgrade. Looks to me like its the power output it should always have had from day one and a GT version should have about 250/275. That warrants a GT badge...
Yeh i know what you mean, there is alot of hype surrounding what is essentially a slightly power hiked version... The thing is though, I've never thought about owning an MX5 until i saw/heard and sat in the GT at Goodwood. Personally i think its pumped up bodywork and crackling exhaust note actually gives it something that is seriously lacking in the standard car. I'm not overly fussed on a powerful version of the car as it would likely make it too expensive to run day to day or even buy and if you want to the extra power i'm sure there are plenty of aftermarket solutions (BBR?).

Edited by Bloitus on Thursday 12th July 15:23

TameRacingDriver

18,048 posts

271 months

Thursday 12th July 2012
quotequote all
Limpet said:
+1
Exactly, who gives a toss.

MX5

MR2

Elise

Clio RS

All girly cars, all fantastic.

andy97

4,691 posts

221 months

Thursday 12th July 2012
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I'm seriously thinking of getting a race prepared version for CSCC "Future Classics" (rather that than the one make series TBH, but I am biased). It also helps that "PH Sportscars Ltd" is a mile away from me with about 80 in stock in various states or repair, for sale or for breaking so spares are easily available.

Tyrewrecker

6,419 posts

153 months

Thursday 12th July 2012
quotequote all
TameRacingDriver said:
Exactly, who gives a toss.

MX5

MR2

Elise

Clio RS

All girly cars, all fantastic.
This. Not sure why folk give a toss what people think.

seany87

622 posts

169 months

Thursday 12th July 2012
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As above, I dont get why some people are scared of being called poofs or something for driving an MX5

By actually driving a perceived girls car, and not giving a shiny ste, that my son, is the mark of a true man.


scholesy

143 posts

161 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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I used to call the mx5 a hairdressers car. Then I won one on ebay by "accident", dreaded picking it up, and to my surprise it was a great drive. Now on my second, and honestly think I will always have one, they are the best value fun car about. Not so keen on the newer iterations of the mx5 (beyond mk 2.5) as you might as well have a honda s2000 since the weight of the 5 is heading closer, but this new GT will blur that line a bit. Maybe fun sportscars will hang on a bit longer.

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Friday 13th July 2012
quotequote all
TameRacingDriver said:
GravelBen said:
+1

And the funny thing is I think I miss the standard one more than the 250bhp turbo one.
Thats quite funny to me as I had half thought that if I got another I'd have a one with 200+ BHP. My old RS Limited was supercharged at first, but not quite running 100% so reckon it was kicking out maybe 160 - 170.... that was quite nippy although not super fast, I thought a one with big power would be an utter riot...
Oh it was fantastic fun, but in some ways almost too good - with big power, big brakes, decent suspension and sticky tyres any sort of playfulness on the road just ended up carrying far too much speed for common sense.

http://vimeo.com/15896697 (trying to restrain myself a little)

Plus that example was LOUD - earplugs on long trips - and a bit on the low side for bumpy roads. More at home on track really:



The standard one was just cheeky fun that you could thrash all day with no worries, and you could let practically anyone drive it without vetting their driving ability first. Trackdays on budget ditchfinders were a laugh and it was a great little gravel car too.

http://vimeo.com/8306432

I suspect a Mk2 RS with the 200bhp Mazda 2.5 V6 in it would be about perfect.

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 13th July 08:05

stew-S160

8,006 posts

237 months

Friday 13th July 2012
quotequote all
I definitely think the MK1 MX5 should be spoilerless, or at the most have a lip spoiler. I liked my old one without the spoiler for sure.

TameRacingDriver

18,048 posts

271 months

Friday 13th July 2012
quotequote all
GravelBen said:
Oh it was fantastic fun, but in some ways almost too good - with big power, big brakes, decent suspension and sticky tyres any sort of playfulness on the road just ended up carrying far too much speed for common sense.

Plus that example was LOUD - earplugs on long trips - and a bit on the low side for bumpy roads. More at home on track really:

The standard one was just cheeky fun that you could thrash all day with no worries, and you could let practically anyone drive it without vetting their driving ability first. Trackdays on budget ditchfinders were a laugh and it was a great little gravel car too.

I suspect a Mk2 RS with the 200bhp Mazda 2.5 V6 in it would be about perfect.
I see what you're saying...

If I had decided in future to go for a turbo'd one, I'd probably set it up more for the road as thats where I spend my time mainly - so quiet(ish) exhaust, not too hard on the suspension, you know, just a fast road car really.

A mk2 RS with the V6 would be great fun, although they look great fun anyway - I was following one on a nutz run in my mk1 1.8 UK model, and it was much faster, and it looked great with its white paint and white wheels.

Jag-D

19,633 posts

218 months

Friday 13th July 2012
quotequote all
seany87 said:
As above, I dont get why some people are scared of being called poofs or something for driving an MX5

By actually driving a perceived girls car, and not giving a shiny ste, that my son, is the mark of a true man.
I never give a rats arse in a storm about what people thought! It was scruffy, noisy and girly and I bloody well loved it

cjwrighty

5 posts

238 months

Friday 13th July 2012
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"What to report though? Well, the spoilerless bootlid kindly sourced for me by Classic & Sports Car compadre James Page - via MX5 Central in Wales - is now in place"

What is MX5 Central? i just tried googling and came up with lots about central locking?

heebeegeetee

28,591 posts

247 months

Sunday 15th July 2012
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ge0rge said:
Some sort of stigma of driving one of these that would keep me a mile away. I think the girliest car i could be seen in is a boxster/s2k.
Wow. Your insecurity means you'd struggle to want to drive some of the great cars.

You're clearly into image before anything else. Shame nobody is watching.


threespires said:
GravelBen said:
And the funny thing is I think I miss the standard one more than the 250bhp turbo one.
I'm with you, I much prefer my standard MX to my 204bhp version.
I went the supercharged route, and I'm not sure I'd bother again. It gave the car the ability to overtake, but really not much else and not really any more fun, imo.

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Sunday 15th July 2012
quotequote all
heebeegeetee said:
I went the supercharged route, and I'm not sure I'd bother again. It gave the car the ability to overtake, but really not much else and not really any more fun, imo.
yes

I think I'd describe it as a different kind of fun, but the same amount of it.