Which MX-5s have an LSD?

Author
Discussion

HereBeMonsters

Original Poster:

14,180 posts

181 months

Tuesday 6th April 2010
quotequote all
Decided to finally bite the bullet and get myself one, as the diesel I bought for a winter hack isn't returning the MPG I would have thought it would, so why not get a nice convertible for the summer?

Definitely going for a 1.8, a Mk2 if I can find one for my budget (max £3.5k) but I'm not sure which ones have the LSD or not. I presume the 1.8 S (the one with the 6 gears?) has, but they're fairly rare and unlikely to come in under budget for a decent one.

Wouldn't mind a later Mk1 as I like pop-up headlights, but they're an absolute minefield with the imports/UK versions, different power outputs etc. Basically I'd like one with a decent interior - leather etc. Do any of them have electric hoods btw? Although LSD is first in order of preference.

Thanks in advance for advice!

Howard-

4,950 posts

201 months

Tuesday 6th April 2010
quotequote all
HereBeMonsters said:
Wouldn't mind a later Mk1 as I like pop-up headlights, but they're an absolute minefield with the imports/UK versions, different power outputs etc.
Are they? confused



Only the MK3 has an electric roof.


Get a late mk1 1.8 if you like them, and plenty of the imports will have an LSD, although I'd question the need for one unless you're a fan of drifting wink



Edited by Howard- on Tuesday 6th April 08:30

HereBeMonsters

Original Poster:

14,180 posts

181 months

Tuesday 6th April 2010
quotequote all
Howard- said:
Get a late mk1 1.8 if you like them, and plenty of the imports will have an LSD, although I'd question the need for one unless you're a fan of drifting wink
I'm a fan of hanging the arse out around wet roundabouts in work's Z4.

Seriously though, I'll be doing a couple of trackdays in it, and taking it to the 'ring etc. so LSD is a must as far as I'm concerned.

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Tuesday 6th April 2010
quotequote all
Mk1
1.6 (JDM) - 114bhp (all years) (VLSD)
1.6 (UK) to 93 - 114bhp - from 94 - 88bhp (possible VLSD)
1.8 128 - 133bhp (all years) (JDM Torsen, UK Torsen on 1.8iS)

Mk2
1.6 110bhp
1.8 138bhp (JDM Torsen, UK Torsen on 1.8iS and some special editions)

Mk2.5 (2001+)
1.6 110bhp
1.8 146bhp (JDM Torsen, UK Torsen on 1.8 Sport and some special editions)

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Tuesday 6th April 2010
quotequote all
HereBeMonsters said:
Seriously though, I'll be doing a couple of trackdays in it, and taking it to the 'ring etc. so LSD is a must as far as I'm concerned.
Any MX5 will happily hang its tail out regardless of LSD. If you want to hold it out there and balance the drift using the throttle then you will need LSD but bear in mind the MX5 isn't a power-house so it needs a fair bit of work and some silly angles to be able to hold it sideways for long wink

HereBeMonsters

Original Poster:

14,180 posts

181 months

Tuesday 6th April 2010
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
HereBeMonsters said:
Seriously though, I'll be doing a couple of trackdays in it, and taking it to the 'ring etc. so LSD is a must as far as I'm concerned.
Any MX5 will happily hang its tail out regardless of LSD. If you want to hold it out there and balance the drift using the throttle then you will need LSD but bear in mind the MX5 isn't a power-house so it needs a fair bit of work and some silly angles to be able to hold it sideways for long wink
Well if I get on with the car (and no reason to suppose I won't) it'll get forced induction over the winter. I'm not going to turn it into a drift machine, but I prefer the balance and handling an LSD offers, especially on trackdays. Basically I'd rather start off with a decent base than have to chop and change it about at a later date.

Are they all Torsen diffs? Or are there some variants?

ETA: Thanks for post above - looks like a later 1.8 is what to go for. Probably a Eunos I would reckon, how many RS-Limiteds are there in the UK?

phil_cardiff

7,043 posts

207 months

Tuesday 6th April 2010
quotequote all
Looks like my little 1998 1.8iS with torsen lsd will be up for sale in late April/May. Significantly less than your £3.5k budget too.

Edited by phil_cardiff on Tuesday 6th April 16:00

J-Tuner

2,855 posts

242 months

Tuesday 6th April 2010
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
HereBeMonsters said:
Seriously though, I'll be doing a couple of trackdays in it, and taking it to the 'ring etc. so LSD is a must as far as I'm concerned.
Any MX5 will happily hang its tail out regardless of LSD. If you want to hold it out there and balance the drift using the throttle then you will need LSD but bear in mind the MX5 isn't a power-house so it needs a fair bit of work and some silly angles to be able to hold it sideways for long wink
Mines a uk car and at my trackday at bedford this saturday gone on new lowering springs i still found the inside wheel spinning up coming out of tight corners. Public road = probably little/no benefit, track days = potentially better traction coming out of corners (as well as being able to get the arse out wink)

Ved

3,825 posts

174 months

Tuesday 6th April 2010
quotequote all
There is a mint 56,000 R-Limited on Autotrader at the moment if you're interested. If I hadn't just bought my S Special I'd have snapped their arm off for it. Only £2600 and sounds like a good advert to me with lots of specific info.

Go get it smile

HereBeMonsters

Original Poster:

14,180 posts

181 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
phil_cardiff said:
Looks like my little 1998 1.8iS with torsen lsd will be up for sale in late April/May. Significantly less than your £3.5k budget too.
That might be ideal, although I have to get rid of at least one of my 205s first!

BonzoGuinness

1,554 posts

213 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
Mk1
1.6 (JDM) - 114bhp (all years) (VLSD)
1.6 (UK) to 93 - 114bhp - from 94 - 88bhp (possible VLSD)
1.8 128 - 133bhp (all years) (JDM Torsen, UK Torsen on 1.8iS)
OK, this might be a stupid question. I have a 1996 1.8iS - at least that's what the badge says! I figured it didn't have an LSD because of the piss poor performance in the snow - parked on a hill with one wheel on dry tarmac and t'other in slush near pavement, and I'd go nowhere but backwards. With the rear end jacked, if I turn one wheel by hand, the other turns oppositely.

Does this mean LSDs were optional, or mine should have had one which has either died or been swapped out?

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
I know the Mk1 1.8iS (top spec UK model at the time) was supposed to have Torsen LSD as standard but whether they all actually had one I have no idea.

HereBeMonsters

Original Poster:

14,180 posts

181 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
Is it just the Mk2 that has the six speed 'box?

Howard-

4,950 posts

201 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
BonzoGuinness said:
MX-5 Lazza said:
Mk1
1.6 (JDM) - 114bhp (all years) (VLSD)
1.6 (UK) to 93 - 114bhp - from 94 - 88bhp (possible VLSD)
1.8 128 - 133bhp (all years) (JDM Torsen, UK Torsen on 1.8iS)
OK, this might be a stupid question. I have a 1996 1.8iS - at least that's what the badge says! I figured it didn't have an LSD because of the piss poor performance in the snow - parked on a hill with one wheel on dry tarmac and t'other in slush near pavement, and I'd go nowhere but backwards. With the rear end jacked, if I turn one wheel by hand, the other turns oppositely.

Does this mean LSDs were optional, or mine should have had one which has either died or been swapped out?
No it's just the way Torsens work. You need some friction against both wheels for it to operate in a "limited slip" fashion - try applying the handbrake slightly next time to see if that helps

phil_cardiff

7,043 posts

207 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
HereBeMonsters said:
phil_cardiff said:
Looks like my little 1998 1.8iS with torsen lsd will be up for sale in late April/May. Significantly less than your £3.5k budget too.
That might be ideal, although I have to get rid of at least one of my 205s first!
Feel free to drop me a PM about it at anytime.

Were you specifically after a 6 speed box? Mine is 5 speed.

HereBeMonsters

Original Poster:

14,180 posts

181 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
phil_cardiff said:
HereBeMonsters said:
phil_cardiff said:
Looks like my little 1998 1.8iS with torsen lsd will be up for sale in late April/May. Significantly less than your £3.5k budget too.
That might be ideal, although I have to get rid of at least one of my 205s first!
Feel free to drop me a PM about it at anytime.

Were you specifically after a 6 speed box? Mine is 5 speed.
Only because I've never owned a car with more (or indeed less) than 5 forward gears.

Also, I've never owned a car that goes "plip" on a keyfob to unlock the doors. Does yours go "plip"?

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
The 6 speed is only available in some special edition Mk2/Mk2.5 and the Mk2.5 Sport.
It was never officially available on the Mk1.

phil_cardiff

7,043 posts

207 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
HereBeMonsters said:
phil_cardiff said:
HereBeMonsters said:
phil_cardiff said:
Looks like my little 1998 1.8iS with torsen lsd will be up for sale in late April/May. Significantly less than your £3.5k budget too.
That might be ideal, although I have to get rid of at least one of my 205s first!
Feel free to drop me a PM about it at anytime.

Were you specifically after a 6 speed box? Mine is 5 speed.
Only because I've never owned a car with more (or indeed less) than 5 forward gears.

Also, I've never owned a car that goes "plip" on a keyfob to unlock the doors. Does yours go "plip"?
The alarm goes plip. Doesn't open the doors though it's not supposed to. On the other hand, it does have a recent new roof and side seals (£500), I know which is more important to me now I've got a nice dry bum on rainy days!

Edited by phil_cardiff on Wednesday 7th April 14:39

dylan0451

1,040 posts

190 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
Howard- said:
BonzoGuinness said:
MX-5 Lazza said:
Mk1
1.6 (JDM) - 114bhp (all years) (VLSD)
1.6 (UK) to 93 - 114bhp - from 94 - 88bhp (possible VLSD)
1.8 128 - 133bhp (all years) (JDM Torsen, UK Torsen on 1.8iS)
OK, this might be a stupid question. I have a 1996 1.8iS - at least that's what the badge says! I figured it didn't have an LSD because of the piss poor performance in the snow - parked on a hill with one wheel on dry tarmac and t'other in slush near pavement, and I'd go nowhere but backwards. With the rear end jacked, if I turn one wheel by hand, the other turns oppositely.

Does this mean LSDs were optional, or mine should have had one which has either died or been swapped out?
No it's just the way Torsens work. You need some friction against both wheels for it to operate in a "limited slip" fashion - try applying the handbrake slightly next time to see if that helps
i think it's only the clutch type 'propper' lsd's where both wheels will turn in the same direction?

i thought the same with my vlsd with the car jacked up, thought time or abuse had killed it. was really handy to get 100% lockup in the snow though