RE: Mazda Eunos Roadster - too cheap not to?
Discussion
TdM-GTV said:
Killer2005 said:
TdM-GTV said:
*Heads off to the classifieds...
I've been looking for some time, there's some quite nice ones about. I can't bring myself to selling my Alfa though at the moment Howevere there is the possibility of keeping the Alfa for winter, MX5 for summer
I paid £900 for mine in July so I could 'see what all the fuss is about'. Absolute image of the OP's car. The bodywork is pretty dire but mechanically it seemed A-ok.
I honestly expected it to last a month, either before I got bored or a big bill arrived. Neither has happened.
I've now treated it to a hard top (used far too often to put up with the rivers from the softtop) and changed every fluid and filter.
It really is the most involving car to drive, it's telepathic in the way it reacts to you. Can't wait to get it up to the lake district in summer.
A friend drove it down a local lane near me and 'overcooked it' into a corner. He was very impressed with the way the MX5 stuck to the road and declared that his BMW would have really struggled. That surprised me as I'd have been perfectly happy if he'd been going 20mph faster. The '5 was nowhere near its limits.
Great car, cheap as chips to own. I have no idea how I'll replace it.
I honestly expected it to last a month, either before I got bored or a big bill arrived. Neither has happened.
I've now treated it to a hard top (used far too often to put up with the rivers from the softtop) and changed every fluid and filter.
It really is the most involving car to drive, it's telepathic in the way it reacts to you. Can't wait to get it up to the lake district in summer.
A friend drove it down a local lane near me and 'overcooked it' into a corner. He was very impressed with the way the MX5 stuck to the road and declared that his BMW would have really struggled. That surprised me as I'd have been perfectly happy if he'd been going 20mph faster. The '5 was nowhere near its limits.
Great car, cheap as chips to own. I have no idea how I'll replace it.
matt-ITR said:
I owned a Mk1 Eunos for a year and thought it was the most over-rated car I have ever had.
It wasn't rubbish, but it was no where near as great as everyone makes out.
Give me back the ITR any day over any form of MX5, new or old.
But whenever I see a post like this i always think 'didn't get the geo done'.It wasn't rubbish, but it was no where near as great as everyone makes out.
Give me back the ITR any day over any form of MX5, new or old.
Am I right?
heebeegeetee said:
But whenever I see a post like this i always think 'didn't get the geo done'.
Am I right?
Some people just don't 'get' this type of car. I know a lot of guys who aren't really 'driving enthusiasts' more 'car enthusiasts'.Am I right?
In my experience people in the second category tend to go for;
1) Looks/styling
2) Straight line performance
3) Comfort/quality
4) Bragging rights (e.g massive bhp, loony rpm, clever traction systems)
MX5 fan though I am, I can't claim it scores remarkably well on any of those criteria..
matt-ITR said:
I owned a Mk1 Eunos for a year and thought it was the most over-rated car I have ever had.
It wasn't rubbish, but it was no where near as great as everyone makes out.
Give me back the ITR any day over any form of MX5, new or old.
Interesting. I've had a DC2 and the teg was undoubtedly more of an event to drive, much faster but there's a certain charm with a '5 that the teg just didn't have. I'd have both again in a heartbeat (if I sold my 5..) but for the money it's the 5 every time.It wasn't rubbish, but it was no where near as great as everyone makes out.
Give me back the ITR any day over any form of MX5, new or old.
Besides, over steer is fun.
Xenocide said:
Interesting. I've had a DC2 and the teg was undoubtedly more of an event to drive, much faster but there's a certain charm with a '5 that the teg just didn't have. I'd have both again in a heartbeat (if I sold my 5..) but for the money it's the 5 every time.
Besides, over steer is fun.
I guess everyone is different! Personally I didn't think it had much charm at all. I didn't get any sort of buzz from driving it, despite having some of the best driving roads in the UK on my doorstep.Besides, over steer is fun.
It was enjoyable to drive at times, but I never really connected with the car in the same way I did in the DC2.
I think the car is over-hyped and I bought it expecting it to be the best car I'd driven, so it was a little bit of a let down. Perhaps if I had lower expectations to start with...
matt-ITR said:
I think the car is over-hyped and I bought it expecting it to be the best car I'd driven, so it was a little bit of a let down. Perhaps if I had lower expectations to start with...
I guess I'm starting to sound like an evangelist about this but... It's not that the car is over-rated or that everyone who raves about these cars is wrong, it's that you didn't get your geometry done. The car has wishbone suspension all round and nigh on fully adjustable suspension (except for ride height and castor on the rear IIRC), but if the geo is out it becomes just another ordinary car to drive.
IMO its a very practical sportscar, with a torsen it will push itself through most snow up to the level of the headlights.
And the boot has enough space for: 3 crates of beer, 2 ford crossflow long blocks, or a couple of medium sized suit cases which means you can use it as your daily driver pretty much all year round. When correctly set up, its pretty good fun on track or when you give it the beans on your favorite back road.
I bought my Eunos about 6 years ago for 1500GBP, i've done over 150000km since then, i check the oil occasionally, and service it when required, its had a few faults, but parts are cheap, and smiles for $$ spent, I don't think i'd be able to get anything better.
Currently debating what to do with mine, always fancied a Tuscan, but will that stand up to 30,000km a year and pretty much nonstop abuse?
And the boot has enough space for: 3 crates of beer, 2 ford crossflow long blocks, or a couple of medium sized suit cases which means you can use it as your daily driver pretty much all year round. When correctly set up, its pretty good fun on track or when you give it the beans on your favorite back road.
I bought my Eunos about 6 years ago for 1500GBP, i've done over 150000km since then, i check the oil occasionally, and service it when required, its had a few faults, but parts are cheap, and smiles for $$ spent, I don't think i'd be able to get anything better.
Currently debating what to do with mine, always fancied a Tuscan, but will that stand up to 30,000km a year and pretty much nonstop abuse?
chris7676 said:
I found the MR2 being more entertaining and special
Both very good sports cars.
I loved my (mildly modified) MRT with a passion, but now I've owned an MX5 I do think I'd find the '2 to be a bit of an understeer monster.Both very good sports cars.
The MRT had Koni adjustable suspension, GAB strut braces front & rear and an LSD but still wasn't in the same handling league as my bog standard 5.
As drivers cars they're very good, just for different reasons.
heebeegeetee said:
I guess I'm starting to sound like an evangelist about this but... It's not that the car is over-rated or that everyone who raves about these cars is wrong, it's that you didn't get your geometry done.
The car has wishbone suspension all round and nigh on fully adjustable suspension (except for ride height and castor on the rear IIRC), but if the geo is out it becomes just another ordinary car to drive.
Or he simply had a doggy one? Mine borders on the fun levels my Westfield offered and it sat with far more expensive and quicker machines on a run a while back.If you can't fall in love with a decent MX-5, you may aswell give up driving and take the bus! The car has wishbone suspension all round and nigh on fully adjustable suspension (except for ride height and castor on the rear IIRC), but if the geo is out it becomes just another ordinary car to drive.
There are plenty of people who have had things like Caterhams and atoms and will still agree they are a massive hoot!
I would like more straight line performance I must admit, but it doesn't take anything away from the car and if the roads are right, it's bonkers fast at covering ground.
Digby said:
heebeegeetee said:
I guess I'm starting to sound like an evangelist about this but... It's not that the car is over-rated or that everyone who raves about these cars is wrong, it's that you didn't get your geometry done.
The car has wishbone suspension all round and nigh on fully adjustable suspension (except for ride height and castor on the rear IIRC), but if the geo is out it becomes just another ordinary car to drive.
Or he simply had a doggy one? Mine borders on the fun levels my Westfield offered and it sat with far more expensive and quicker machines on a run a while back.If you can't fall in love with a decent MX-5, you may aswell give up driving and take the bus! The car has wishbone suspension all round and nigh on fully adjustable suspension (except for ride height and castor on the rear IIRC), but if the geo is out it becomes just another ordinary car to drive.
There are plenty of people who have had things like Caterhams and atoms and will still agree they are a massive hoot!
I would like more straight line performance I must admit, but it doesn't take anything away from the car and if the roads are right, it's bonkers fast at covering ground.
So there's seven years of ownership experience by people who had not enjoyed anything at all of what makes a 5 special, but they will of course, still to this day, offer their view of MX5 ownership based on their experience.
Which is why i don't necessarily think it's a good thing that cars like the MX5 have adjustable suspension, i would rather they didn't and that the cars were set right from when they leave the factory.
This especially applies to the UK where it can be very difficult to have things done properly.
heebeegeetee said:
Which is why i don't necessarily think it's a good thing that cars like the MX5 have adjustable suspension, i would rather they didn't and that the cars were set right from when they leave the factory.
The thing is that every time it takes a good bump from a pothole things can get knocked a bit out of kilter regardless, but having the adjustability lets you return it to the way it should be.I love the adjustability personally, for the cost of an alignment you can significantly change the feel and behaviour of the car to suit your driving style and intended use - being set from the factory they would have to go for a more conservative, understeery setup than many of us like.
I came from a Honda powered Elise which had every box ticked. Massively fast, extremely capable... But needs meant it had to go. Bought a "cheap" mk2 mx5, threw some coilovers on, with a decent geo... And Im really enjoy it. I'm not really missing the speed/power of the Elise at the moment. I've even started on the slippy slope of modifying it too.
Very enjoyable car, and for me, right now, perfect.
Very enjoyable car, and for me, right now, perfect.
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