Does the MX-5 feel underpowered?

Does the MX-5 feel underpowered?

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The Turbonator

Original Poster:

2,792 posts

150 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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If any of you have been keeping track of my recent posts, you'll be well aware that I've been toying with the idea of replacing the family wagon with a hot hatch or getting a second car for myself. There's no real reason to get rid of the Grand Picasso, it's been a great family car and still has plenty of life in it, so have decided that getting a car for myself is the way to go.

In true PH fashion, I've started to lean towards getting an MX-5 but the lack of power concerns me.

Now I've never had anything which could be considered fast but I've always wanted a fast and powerful car. So most cars I've been thinking of getting have been around 200bhp+.

I've been in a few quick cars and I love the pushed back into your seat feeling and I was wanting something with a sub 7 second 0-60 time.

So I've looked at TVR Chimaeras, Honda S2000s, Mitsubishi GTOs, Jaguar XK8s, Mazda RX8s and pretty much anything else you can think of with a V8 or turbo for under £10,000.

However, you read so much about the MX5 being so fun and from a sensibility point of few, it would be a very sensible choice. They're cheap to buy, it doesn't have a fuel guzzling engine, so it gets reasonable MPG and is fairly inexpensive on insurance and tax. Plus, if anything did go wrong, it's only a small capacity Mazda engine, so would be cheap enough to repair.

I've been looking at all the variants from the MK1 to the MK3 but am leaning towards the MK3 for the extra comfort and reliability. Although I want a fun, sporty car, it's still going to be used as a daily driver for work.

Would I regret not getting a more powerful car though and regret not getting something with a sub 7 second 0-60 time, like I initially thought I wanted?

underphil

1,245 posts

209 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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very subjective, but I drove a 2012 MX5 2.0 recently and found it quicker than I expected

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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Speaking from a Mk.1 point of view (a 1.8), it feels like plenty on tighter roads, but starts feeling a little slow on more open A-roads/motorways where you want good 50-80mph performance. That said, it isn't the car for fast open road work imo, it's more of a B-road weapon, and it's brilliant for that.

Conscript

1,378 posts

120 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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Krikkit said:
Speaking from a Mk.1 point of view (a 1.8), it feels like plenty on tighter roads, but starts feeling a little slow on more open A-roads/motorways where you want good 50-80mph performance. That said, it isn't the car for fast open road work imo, it's more of a B-road weapon, and it's brilliant for that.
I had a MK3 (2.0l, 160bhp) and I'd say the same thing. Only started to feel like it could do with a bit more puff on more open roads, but as you say, not really designed for that sort of work.

Sinatra21

125 posts

157 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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They certainly won't set your hair on fire in any variant. 0-60 ranges between 8 and 10 secs depending on model but they are about handling not straight line speed. It's also nice to have a car that you can give it full throttle and still take time to get over the speed limit. Oh course you can always mod them with turbo or supercharger bits or buy one that's been done already. mines is a 91 and is currently running 235bhp. It's fun and I use it daily.

Roadster25

272 posts

161 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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I've had, or had use of, 3 Mk 1s (a 1.6 84 bhp and two 1.8s) and a Mk 3.5 2.0 Sport Tech. The 1.6 was pretty slow, but the others were all fine.

The only issue really was sometimes not having as much grunt as you'd like to overtake. On an open B road the lower power cars were possibly more fun, because you can thrash them without doing silly speeds. 2.0 was a good compromise, and more than fast enough in modern traffic.

Fun isn't always directly linked to power - the favourite car in my garage only has 38 bhp, but lots of feel.

Edit: think it may have been 90 bhp. Either way, it was pretty slow.

Edited by Roadster25 on Thursday 12th February 17:31

CrispyMK

199 posts

139 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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I loved my MK1 and as soon as I have a garage I'll be buying one with a view to stripping it down and getting it in good condition to use as a weekend car.

They're not about straight line speed in any way, they're all about maintaining speed and working the gearbox. Mine was a tired example and used to handle very well, the steering feel was fantastic too. You'll find yourself thrashing it about and loving every second, but more than likely still being under the speed limit.

vinnie01

863 posts

118 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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isn't that missing their point somewhat?

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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I've had 2 MX-5s and did really enjoy them.

If I'm honest though, they did lack any thrill factor. Part of it is just the basic lack of power. The other part is the way the engine delivers its modest power. It seems to blend a complete lack of low end grunt with a lack of any top end frenzy.

I set about planning a supercharged MX-5, or a Ford/Jag 3.0 V6 conversion but realised I'd end up building a TVR replica but without the badge appeal, and bought a TVR.

feef

5,206 posts

182 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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It depends how you drive it. On twisty roads, it certainly doesn't feel under powered when you get used to it, as you'll find yourself carrying more speed in and through the corners than you might expect. If you're looking for poke for overtakes, that's where it needs a little more, and the reason I supercharged mine.

luckystrike

536 posts

180 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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I can only really echo what's been stated above. They seem lovely to drive (my first and current mk1 1.8 were/are, and a friend's 2.0 mk3 seems to be from the passenger seat and his comments) but they're wasted on any situation requiring out-and-out drag ability. The mk3's better, but only marginally, and still brisk rather than fast.

I'd argue if you're wanting something which can blat its way between roundabouts on A roads at a fair lick rather than carve up a B road you might end up a little disappointed in the MX5, and unless having the roof down saves the sensation for you it might be a little underwhelming for what you're after.

Similar(ish) types of car which would give you better outright shove without losing all of the sporty car theatre would be a Honda S2000, BMW Z4 3.0, Mk2. Toyota MR2 turbo, TVR Chimera or Porsche Boxter. They're significantly more to buy but all under £10k to varying extents.

In answer to the original question, I'd still not say underpowered. Everything on offer from grip level, gearbox, physical car size, noise and performance are incredibly well matched, at least to my tastes. 'underpowered' implies it could take much more (a la GT86)*, whereas I reckon it just might not be fast enough all round in your case. smile



  • I know boosted MX5s are capable and good etc. but I understand this changes the character of the car away from the balance of a 'standard', which is what I'm getting at.

MDMetal

2,775 posts

147 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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The Turbonator said:
So I've looked at TVR Chimaeras, Honda S2000s, Mitsubishi GTOs, Jaguar XK8s, Mazda RX8s and pretty much anything else you can think of with a V8 or turbo for under £10,000.
Don't need a turbo or a v8 to hit what your after! Plenty of V6's around, 350Z, Brera etc etc

feef

5,206 posts

182 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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luckystrike said:
  • I know boosted MX5s are capable and good etc. but I understand this changes the character of the car away from the balance of a 'standard', which is what I'm getting at.
With mine 'midly' blown at only 190bhp, I don't feel it's taken anything away from it at all nor changes it's original balance, it's exactly the same as before, just with a bit more poke. That being said, it's a mk2.5, 1.8 Sport so the 6 spd box and LSD lend themselves nicely to the power delivery

luckystrike

536 posts

180 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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Just to add, as far as economy is concerned - in 'normal' driving they're a little disappointing, and you'll do well to get anything above the very low 30s (mk1s at least). This can smart a bit in a small, light, 'slow' car. However, even when bouncing the valves off it all over the countryside it shouldn't drop below the mid-20s, which I'd say for the fun you have is brilliant economy. Again, your usage will dictate.

luckystrike

536 posts

180 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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feef said:
With mine 'midly' blown at only 190bhp, I don't feel it's taken anything away from it at all nor changes it's original balance, it's exactly the same as before, just with a bit more poke. That being said, it's a mk2.5, 1.8 Sport so the 6 spd box and LSD lend themselves nicely to the power delivery
I'm just basing my knowledge on what I've been told by a small group of folks who've charged theirs in some way. I'm sure out of the mk1-2.5 range the mk2.5 sport would be the one that would take it with the most civility for exactly your reasoning, and if yours remains the same carefree chuckable car then happy days!

Howroyd

662 posts

122 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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I have a 2.0 NC2 (Mk3.5) MX5 and I never find it too slow. You have to learn to take it right up the to 7.5k and then it really starts to gather some pace and I have never found it underpowered anywhere - including on the motorway

I bought mine for the a very similar reason that you are. I wanted something fun, exciting, but relatively cheap to maintain to use at weekends & for eurotours. Fantastic, can't fault it at all.

You won't regret the decision

Tom

danjama

5,728 posts

141 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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Get an mr2 instead. HTH.

T0MMY

1,558 posts

175 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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I think you quickly recalibrate when you get a new car. I went from a JDM WRX to a standard 1.8 mk1 MX5 and whilst initially it felt slow, after a while it seemed ok really, even nippy. If you rev them out they're really not that bad; same power to weight ratio as an E36 328i for example, although obviously losing out at higher speeds. If you jump in one and drive it like a diesel repmobile you'll be disappointed as they need revs.

The main point with them is that if you get your kicks in straight lines they're not the car for you. If you want something with genuinely lively, involving and adjustable handling they're unbeatable for the money. I have a bike engined kitcar now that has both very rapid acceleration and fantastic handling but when I took my old MX5 out the other day before selling it I really, really enjoyed it. In some ways it's more fun on a B road actually and I was very sad to see it go. If I had a 2 car garage I'd have kept it.

Baskey

176 posts

145 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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My impreza turbo is much faster than my mk1 mx5

Yet for some reason if I go out for a random drive or go on a track day I always take the mazda !

vrsmxtb

2,002 posts

155 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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To echo the comments above, they feel like they need another 50bhp or so for out and out acceleration and A-road point to point runs, but the keep the revs high and on a twisty B-road they feel pretty much spot on.

It might be worth looking for one with a good turbo or supercharger install, as an MX5 with 180-200bhp would be pretty much perfect.