RE: Chris Harris video: the MX-5
Discussion
crostonian said:
To me the MX5 has always been a classic substitute, ie why spend your time getting your fingers dirty with a Spridget when you can have an MX5 and buy parts from the Moss Catalogue. They are slow and the argument used to be that they don't rust, but now they are doing, so what's in their favour? I'd rather have a Z3 or an SLK at least they offer more grunt and are both RWD, if you want to stay classic then buy an old Alfa Spider. An MGF is arguably a better drive and a Barchetta looks better. Goodbye MX5.
Couldn't disagree with you more!Monster44 said:
Bought a MK1 as a fun car several years ago and initially enjoyed driving it but soon found that it wasn't a car that I could grab by the scruff neck and drive quickly. I found the suspension travel too limited and that it had alarming chassis flex. Convinced my scruffy UK MK1 might just be a bit too tired and rough I swapped in for a slightly fresher Eunos with some factory chassis bracing and a torsion diff. The Eunos was a better drive but still a difficult car to engage with fully so I sold it and gave up.
I have since found that a Toyota MK3 MR2 offers a much more focused drive (although I've not yet owned one!)
The last MR2 has been overlooked IMHO, an excellent car and I regret not going that route instead of the SLK.I have since found that a Toyota MK3 MR2 offers a much more focused drive (although I've not yet owned one!)
As the SLK is being mentioned a little, the only positives my 230K had over the MX-5 was the excellent folding hardtop and a bit more straight line grunt. A competent cruiser, nowt more than that.
Edited by v8will on Wednesday 5th September 21:30
I am a fan who still drives them regularly and used to own one, but Chris is pretty much correct in what he says. BUT he also raves about Boxter S's but I thought my mint 'S was a boring Germanic uninteresting pile of s
t. And it cost me 6 grand in depreciation and service / maintainance for the privelage of owning it for just 12 months, it got sold as the big plant pot seemed to leave my driveway just as often in the end. Horses for courses and all that!
But as he states it's a £2k car. The one I drive is almost identical to his test car ( albeit Green, the VR Limited came in burgandy or green... ) and VRL's really are the top of the tree for a std. MK1 MX5/Eunos with the LSD. Yes they are a bit slow, a bit wallowy, a bit scuttle-shakey my modern standards, but the MK1 was designed in the mid-80's so it does show. But what it does have in spades is "character" and the ability to drive it at 10/10ths on the public road occasionally, which is a joy in itself for me. A good one is joyous, but a ropey, rusty, leggy and baggy one is certainly not. Avoid.
A great review, honest and probobly correct, but I feel different to him.
Just like his Boxter review!
t. And it cost me 6 grand in depreciation and service / maintainance for the privelage of owning it for just 12 months, it got sold as the big plant pot seemed to leave my driveway just as often in the end. Horses for courses and all that!But as he states it's a £2k car. The one I drive is almost identical to his test car ( albeit Green, the VR Limited came in burgandy or green... ) and VRL's really are the top of the tree for a std. MK1 MX5/Eunos with the LSD. Yes they are a bit slow, a bit wallowy, a bit scuttle-shakey my modern standards, but the MK1 was designed in the mid-80's so it does show. But what it does have in spades is "character" and the ability to drive it at 10/10ths on the public road occasionally, which is a joy in itself for me. A good one is joyous, but a ropey, rusty, leggy and baggy one is certainly not. Avoid.
A great review, honest and probobly correct, but I feel different to him.
Just like his Boxter review!
Felix have you ever driven a Z3 or early SLK at 10/10ths? I suspect not, you would not want to do it again by choice I fear.....
Back in 2000 my two mates WON a spanking new burgundy SLK in a Texaco competition where they buried 5 of them in the UK. I got to drive that £30k prize with just 150 miles on the clock, it was st then and I doubt the last 12 years would have improved it.
Back in 2000 my two mates WON a spanking new burgundy SLK in a Texaco competition where they buried 5 of them in the UK. I got to drive that £30k prize with just 150 miles on the clock, it was s
t then and I doubt the last 12 years would have improved it. Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Wednesday 5th September 21:25
Furyblade_Lee said:
Felix have you ever driven a Z3 or early SLK at 10/10ths? I suspect not, you would not want to do it again by choice I fear.....
Back in 2000 my two mates WON a spanking new burgundy SLK in a Texaco competition where they buried 5 of them in the UK. I got to drive that £30k prize with just 150 miles on the clock, it was st then and I doubt the last 12 years would have improved it.
I agree with you! Not sure why you feel the need to make the point about the SLK?? I was disagreeing with the comment that the Z3 and the SLK were a better prospect than the mx5!Back in 2000 my two mates WON a spanking new burgundy SLK in a Texaco competition where they buried 5 of them in the UK. I got to drive that £30k prize with just 150 miles on the clock, it was s
t then and I doubt the last 12 years would have improved it. Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Wednesday 5th September 21:25
Anf for what it's worth, I agree with your first post.
I think you could argue the point that as the car is so cheap, you can modify it and it will still be far cheaper to upgrade and run (especially so when you look at insurance) compared to a mk1 Elise.
Also I think Monkey needs to drive one of these next time... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=935...
Also I think Monkey needs to drive one of these next time... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=935...
Edited by Jont999 on Wednesday 5th September 22:02
Thanks to Chris for an objective video. As an avid MX-5 owner I was somewhat surprised by Chris' original article but having driven a couple of Mk3 / NC's I can agree with him.
I have a very well setup Mk1 Eunos Roadster and I absolutely love it. For what it cost (£400 for the original car) you cannot beat it on a smiles for pounds ratio. There are plenty of sports cars that are better, the Lotus Elise for one, but as Chris said, there is nothing much that gets close for the money. I really want an Elise and about 12 months ago I did come close to buying one. But with the average MX5 at the time costing lets say for arguments sake £1k, I did not think the average Elise at £7k for at the lower end of the scale varient was 7x better than the MX-5.
I've spent around about £2,000 on my car since I've had it with the addition of GAZ coilovers, SuperPro bushes and different wheels and tyres and I've pretty much got it sorted. I can categorically say that the factory standard MX-5 is a bit wet and floppy. But it really doesn't take much to make them something really special.
Power wise my car is standard. Infact it's got a few little tweeks and it's 3bhp above the factory so I beleive it's lost a few ponies over the years. It's still enough to embarass Chav's in Impreza's around anything that resembles a corner and chase down bike engined kit cars at Llandow. Although I must confess at Llandow I was on 888's.
So yea, in my honest opinion, Chris is right. The factory standard MX-5 is not an amazing sports car. But for the price of a ratty old Mondeo diesel you can have something pretty special.
Put it this way, I've owned loads of weird and wonderful cars in my time, everything from a Skyline GT-R to a Clio Sport and the MX-5 is the only car I've ever bought twice.
I have a very well setup Mk1 Eunos Roadster and I absolutely love it. For what it cost (£400 for the original car) you cannot beat it on a smiles for pounds ratio. There are plenty of sports cars that are better, the Lotus Elise for one, but as Chris said, there is nothing much that gets close for the money. I really want an Elise and about 12 months ago I did come close to buying one. But with the average MX5 at the time costing lets say for arguments sake £1k, I did not think the average Elise at £7k for at the lower end of the scale varient was 7x better than the MX-5.
I've spent around about £2,000 on my car since I've had it with the addition of GAZ coilovers, SuperPro bushes and different wheels and tyres and I've pretty much got it sorted. I can categorically say that the factory standard MX-5 is a bit wet and floppy. But it really doesn't take much to make them something really special.
Power wise my car is standard. Infact it's got a few little tweeks and it's 3bhp above the factory so I beleive it's lost a few ponies over the years. It's still enough to embarass Chav's in Impreza's around anything that resembles a corner and chase down bike engined kit cars at Llandow. Although I must confess at Llandow I was on 888's.
So yea, in my honest opinion, Chris is right. The factory standard MX-5 is not an amazing sports car. But for the price of a ratty old Mondeo diesel you can have something pretty special.
Put it this way, I've owned loads of weird and wonderful cars in my time, everything from a Skyline GT-R to a Clio Sport and the MX-5 is the only car I've ever bought twice.
I still adore my Mk1 to bits! Managed 35k in 1 year (Including an Alpine tour) with it & have since had it stood for the past 12 months watching the interior go mouldy 
This video only inspires me to get it back on the road because I could say with complete conviction, I LOVE driving my Mk1 MX5 more than I do my Z4, just for the sheer smile factor alone, far more enjoyable drive where you can be on the limit with it & not actually going all that quick in the grand scheme of things.
The comments on the stock car are correct though...I wouldnt of been happy with a stock one, but a well setup enthusiast owned one with the right suspension modifications was what mattered to me & that's what made it brilliant in my view.
Either way, I could never sell it after it did this-> http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It just needs a supercharger then I'll have it set aside a track toy...Complete hoot
This video only inspires me to get it back on the road because I could say with complete conviction, I LOVE driving my Mk1 MX5 more than I do my Z4, just for the sheer smile factor alone, far more enjoyable drive where you can be on the limit with it & not actually going all that quick in the grand scheme of things.
The comments on the stock car are correct though...I wouldnt of been happy with a stock one, but a well setup enthusiast owned one with the right suspension modifications was what mattered to me & that's what made it brilliant in my view.
Either way, I could never sell it after it did this-> http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It just needs a supercharger then I'll have it set aside a track toy...Complete hoot
As Mr Harris touched on towards the end; for £2k you'll struggle to have more fun on the road. You could add reliable to that too, or care free (to a point). What I mean by that last comment is that when driving enthusiastically in my MX5 I am only concerned with my (and others) safety rather than the car. My other car is considerably more valuable, more powerful and RWD but I don't have the talent nor the pocket money to push it to fun levels.
In short, it's more accessible for those of us with lesser skill and smaller wallets. Chris also has experience of a vast number of performance cars so his view, while I am sure is genuinely accurate and objective, is still from a different standing point than me, for example.
In short, it's more accessible for those of us with lesser skill and smaller wallets. Chris also has experience of a vast number of performance cars so his view, while I am sure is genuinely accurate and objective, is still from a different standing point than me, for example.
JamesHayward said:
Thanks to Chris for an objective video. As an avid MX-5 owner I was somewhat surprised by Chris' original article but having driven a couple of Mk3 / NC's I can agree with him.
I have a very well setup Mk1 Eunos Roadster and I absolutely love it. For what it cost (£400 for the original car) you cannot beat it on a smiles for pounds ratio. There are plenty of sports cars that are better, the Lotus Elise for one, but as Chris said, there is nothing much that gets close for the money. I really want an Elise and about 12 months ago I did come close to buying one. But with the average MX5 at the time costing lets say for arguments sake £1k, I did not think the average Elise at £7k for at the lower end of the scale varient was 7x better than the MX-5.
I've spent around about £2,000 on my car since I've had it with the addition of GAZ coilovers, SuperPro bushes and different wheels and tyres and I've pretty much got it sorted. I can categorically say that the factory standard MX-5 is a bit wet and floppy. But it really doesn't take much to make them something really special.
Power wise my car is standard. Infact it's got a few little tweeks and it's 3bhp above the factory so I beleive it's lost a few ponies over the years. It's still enough to embarass Chav's in Impreza's around anything that resembles a corner and chase down bike engined kit cars at Llandow. Although I must confess at Llandow I was on 888's.
So yea, in my honest opinion, Chris is right. The factory standard MX-5 is not an amazing sports car. But for the price of a ratty old Mondeo diesel you can have something pretty special.
Put it this way, I've owned loads of weird and wonderful cars in my time, everything from a Skyline GT-R to a Clio Sport and the MX-5 is the only car I've ever bought twice.
You've hit the nail right on the head. I would also love an elise, and can afford one, but compared to my mx5, can't justify the difference in price! (Not to mention bullet proof Mazda reliability v's a fragile k series engine....)I have a very well setup Mk1 Eunos Roadster and I absolutely love it. For what it cost (£400 for the original car) you cannot beat it on a smiles for pounds ratio. There are plenty of sports cars that are better, the Lotus Elise for one, but as Chris said, there is nothing much that gets close for the money. I really want an Elise and about 12 months ago I did come close to buying one. But with the average MX5 at the time costing lets say for arguments sake £1k, I did not think the average Elise at £7k for at the lower end of the scale varient was 7x better than the MX-5.
I've spent around about £2,000 on my car since I've had it with the addition of GAZ coilovers, SuperPro bushes and different wheels and tyres and I've pretty much got it sorted. I can categorically say that the factory standard MX-5 is a bit wet and floppy. But it really doesn't take much to make them something really special.
Power wise my car is standard. Infact it's got a few little tweeks and it's 3bhp above the factory so I beleive it's lost a few ponies over the years. It's still enough to embarass Chav's in Impreza's around anything that resembles a corner and chase down bike engined kit cars at Llandow. Although I must confess at Llandow I was on 888's.
So yea, in my honest opinion, Chris is right. The factory standard MX-5 is not an amazing sports car. But for the price of a ratty old Mondeo diesel you can have something pretty special.
Put it this way, I've owned loads of weird and wonderful cars in my time, everything from a Skyline GT-R to a Clio Sport and the MX-5 is the only car I've ever bought twice.
A couple of points why the review is well... st, despite the few fair comments he has
- It is very wrong to compare it with an Elise which is worth double, triple or much more. It is like comparing a 318i to an M3.
- For this reason he was fundamentally in an other dimension and felt that everything was a bit st, instead of experiencing a LOT for that 1500 quid.
- When testing a 20 year old entry level sports car, he deliberately ignores the huge aftermarket and tuning potential behind the mx5.
- He implied that one should be ashamed in an mx5.. wel im not, and proud to own one as a student. On the other hand, I WOULD very much feel ashamed in a 599 ferrari, as I would look like prat.
t, despite the few fair comments he has- It is very wrong to compare it with an Elise which is worth double, triple or much more. It is like comparing a 318i to an M3.
- For this reason he was fundamentally in an other dimension and felt that everything was a bit s
t, instead of experiencing a LOT for that 1500 quid. - When testing a 20 year old entry level sports car, he deliberately ignores the huge aftermarket and tuning potential behind the mx5.
- He implied that one should be ashamed in an mx5.. wel im not, and proud to own one as a student. On the other hand, I WOULD very much feel ashamed in a 599 ferrari, as I would look like prat.
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