Chris Harris becomes a modern-day Salman Rushdie
Discussion
Fittster said:
Selective quoting there. He lists and number of issues he has the the MX-5 and his conclusion is that it's a s
t car.
The venom the supporters of the MX-5 are displaying in their defence of their car is rather shocking.
Oh come on, it's all very Clarkson in the first paragraph, then the line before he even says why he does not like it. It may be his opinion but it is an arrogant one and poorly put across. Respected journalist you say?t car.The venom the supporters of the MX-5 are displaying in their defence of their car is rather shocking.
I don't care if he does not like them, I think I know what he does like so he may juist not get it, but come on , this is Top Gear/Nuts territory.
Edited by Harji on Thursday 10th February 06:12
heebeegeetee said:
But i am bemused, because MX5s aren't slow (they might not be fast but they doesn't mean they're slow)
Have to disagree on this because .. aside from my girlie friends who don't even know their little MX-5 is rear-wheel drive but "daddy tells me to put a bag of cat litter in the boot" and TBH aren't going to care if it has 100bhp or 200bhp .. when it comes to car comparisons between the MX-5 and any other car it's always "is a turbo'd MX-5 quicker than a {insert car}" .. it's almost a kind of small-pen5s syndrome.heebeegeetee said:
they're definitely not imprecise (although MX5s with incorrect geo definitely are - downright dangerous in fact), and far from having a poor driving position my Mk1 had one of the very best.
Agree, that CH needs to explain the impreciseness. Going back to the ol' MGF, i think a MR (engine/drive) layout offers a better driver sensation and weight distribution than an FR setup as per MX-5, 3-series et al .. though admitedly you never actually sat in the 'F more sat on it like a Rover 200 hatch!heebeegeetee said:
and was possibly more fun because it didn't have far too much grip. All of which i found very satisfying, I liked my 5 very much indeed. 
Bit of a weak argument, by the same logic a Ford Ka is a cracking hatch because you can use all the power and have fun!Edited by fido on Thursday 10th February 10:29
Everyone is entitled to their opinions
I for one always thought the MX5 was girly and never wanted or even thought about owning one, until someone offered a swap on my old S40
I approached with trepidation, it was raggy round the edges although not rusty which was a win, the roof had been attacked with a stanley knife, but the sun was shining so down it came...
I drove it and I was hooked!
When it comes to power I agree that 100-114hp (mine was 114 of course
) is never going to make a conventionally quick car unless it's sat in a car that with, with the driver, only weighs about 600kgs, but it's by no means "slow"
It's nippy, it's a bit swift and when they're set up well with half decent tyres and sporting a healthy engine, they're an absolute HOOT! Admittedly it's not the power, although the engine in my opinion is an absolute cracker, it's more down to the close ratio gearbox and the low ride height (mk1) as it really does put you right on the floor and in the midst of the action.
Mine was originally running on KYB shocks and springs, but sadly the ass-end was history so I changed for Konis, which is part of the reason why I had to get rid. The Konis transformed the little 5, it was even lower and really did hold the road nicely and oddly enough, the car is light enough that you could put Pirelli P6ks on it and they actually worked...although not so well in the wet, but I like that kind of thing.
I'd have another one in a shot
Oh and the drving position??? Im' 6'3" and a big fella and I loved the driving position!
I for one always thought the MX5 was girly and never wanted or even thought about owning one, until someone offered a swap on my old S40
I approached with trepidation, it was raggy round the edges although not rusty which was a win, the roof had been attacked with a stanley knife, but the sun was shining so down it came...
I drove it and I was hooked!
When it comes to power I agree that 100-114hp (mine was 114 of course
) is never going to make a conventionally quick car unless it's sat in a car that with, with the driver, only weighs about 600kgs, but it's by no means "slow"It's nippy, it's a bit swift and when they're set up well with half decent tyres and sporting a healthy engine, they're an absolute HOOT! Admittedly it's not the power, although the engine in my opinion is an absolute cracker, it's more down to the close ratio gearbox and the low ride height (mk1) as it really does put you right on the floor and in the midst of the action.
Mine was originally running on KYB shocks and springs, but sadly the ass-end was history so I changed for Konis, which is part of the reason why I had to get rid. The Konis transformed the little 5, it was even lower and really did hold the road nicely and oddly enough, the car is light enough that you could put Pirelli P6ks on it and they actually worked...although not so well in the wet, but I like that kind of thing.
I'd have another one in a shot
Oh and the drving position??? Im' 6'3" and a big fella and I loved the driving position!
fido said:
Bit of a weak argument, by the same logic a Ford Ka is a cracking hatch because you can use all the power and have fun!
I'm just comparing the MX5 that i had to my Boxster S. I don't know much about Ford Kas, I just know my Boxster isn't a huge amount of fun because it is overtyred and overgripped like pretty much any other modern car today. dr.pepper said:
I'm in agreement with Chris.
The MX5 is an ugly, underwhelming and underpowered car that doesn't seem to live up to the "hype".
I don't think they come with any hype. People just express their views after driving one.The MX5 is an ugly, underwhelming and underpowered car that doesn't seem to live up to the "hype".
First time i drove one i thought it was amazing. I went and bought one.
Mr. Potato Head said:
edo said:
Chris, join the debate!!
Let's hear more towering intellectual insights like "an Elise is better than an MX5"
Despite the claim, I'm unsure the criticism is not to a degree motivated by a subconscious, knee jerk petulance against the de facto feting of this ve-hickle as some form of blue collar icon.
We see something similar, from time to time, when the occasional dribble of wilful, contrary short arsedness rears its tiresome noggin above the parapet of righteous conformity to naysay against the Holy Roman E39 M5.
Ime, having driven 3 MX5s, 2 of which were orientally sourced 'Eunuch' variants from the early 90s, I can only say there is a reason for their ubiquity.
They are, basically, 'total' sports cars. A tweaked facsimile of what was happening in the 30 years post WWII, yes but, er, that could be classical.
Moreover, whether intended or no, this piece constitutes an ill conceived swipe at an audience for whom such motors represent a bona fide indulgence of a passion that cannot (nor may ever) find conveyance in something more traditionally exotic and the custodian(s) of such sparkly, swanky metal should wear their fortune with a good dose of humility and modesty.
We see something similar, from time to time, when the occasional dribble of wilful, contrary short arsedness rears its tiresome noggin above the parapet of righteous conformity to naysay against the Holy Roman E39 M5.
Ime, having driven 3 MX5s, 2 of which were orientally sourced 'Eunuch' variants from the early 90s, I can only say there is a reason for their ubiquity.
They are, basically, 'total' sports cars. A tweaked facsimile of what was happening in the 30 years post WWII, yes but, er, that could be classical.
Moreover, whether intended or no, this piece constitutes an ill conceived swipe at an audience for whom such motors represent a bona fide indulgence of a passion that cannot (nor may ever) find conveyance in something more traditionally exotic and the custodian(s) of such sparkly, swanky metal should wear their fortune with a good dose of humility and modesty.
I get the MX-5 but would not want one, In my opinion like most films the first was best. Quite simply Mazda created a simple car that people wanted. At a point where no one else offered it. Luckily its good to drive and the competition never really chose to make a direct competitor.(RWD, front engine, 2 seats, basic, reasonably cheap in RHD, everyday usable)
Mazda have shifted 900,000 most of which have found enthusiastic 2nd, 3rd, 4th owners who are supposedly over the moon with them too.
I like Chris Harris, think he is generally spot on too. I like Porsches just like him, and even though Porsche make a 911 with a PDK gearbox that the motoring press tend to hate you just see how many customers are choosing it on new cars. Irrespective of whether it's any good people just want it.
Car manufacturers want to make money thats all.
Well done Mazda.
Mazda have shifted 900,000 most of which have found enthusiastic 2nd, 3rd, 4th owners who are supposedly over the moon with them too.
I like Chris Harris, think he is generally spot on too. I like Porsches just like him, and even though Porsche make a 911 with a PDK gearbox that the motoring press tend to hate you just see how many customers are choosing it on new cars. Irrespective of whether it's any good people just want it.
Car manufacturers want to make money thats all.
Well done Mazda.
Mazda is good, chris says mazda is bad, I think mazda is great, I think mazda is pretty good etc etc etc etc
Evo and PH are lost in aimless useless debate. Theres gotta be something better than this state of auto journalism. Otherwise its just a quick jaunt to the internet, hit a little porn, check facebook, check evo and AU and be ready for my day. Theres little left, most arguing over scraps.
All of it is a bit of fun for five minutes nothing more. Times have changed. Now bring on the lot who say things could not be better! come on now.... j
Evo and PH are lost in aimless useless debate. Theres gotta be something better than this state of auto journalism. Otherwise its just a quick jaunt to the internet, hit a little porn, check facebook, check evo and AU and be ready for my day. Theres little left, most arguing over scraps.
All of it is a bit of fun for five minutes nothing more. Times have changed. Now bring on the lot who say things could not be better! come on now.... j
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