Discussion
Cabsi said:
Good thing I am - that's what we've ordered!I'll admit to being a little worried about the harshness of the Sport suspension for the 2.0 which is what we've gone for, but I figure if I'm going to buy a car like this, I may as well got for the 'full monty'. I'm doing the extended 'hamper day' on the 20th, so hopefully I'll get a taste of the Sport suspension then.
elvismiggell said:
Cabsi said:
Good thing I am - that's what we've ordered!I'll admit to being a little worried about the harshness of the Sport suspension for the 2.0 which is what we've gone for, but I figure if I'm going to buy a car like this, I may as well got for the 'full monty'. I'm doing the extended 'hamper day' on the 20th, so hopefully I'll get a taste of the Sport suspension then.
I'm hoping this confirms your suspicions and helps you and isn't intended to rain on your parade.
SFO said:
MX-5 2L SE-L wins Autocar's under £30k handling test
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/anything-goes/ev...
I hope I'm not being too 'anorak', but I'm not sure which 2l MX5 Autocar were testing tbh.http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/anything-goes/ev...
I can see that the black mirror caps and dark wheels should denote SE-L, and that the seats appear to be cloth, but in the item comparing the MX to the Caterham and the GT86, the cars' stats at the end state the MX to be a Sport-Nav.
However, there's no mention of Bilsteins, and the accuracy of their stats descriptions is called into question by their stating that the torque for the 2l. is 148, whereas I believe it's actually 198!
So..... !?
Pickle77 said:
SFO said:
MX-5 2L SE-L wins Autocar's under £30k handling test
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/anything-goes/ev...
I hope I'm not being too 'anorak', but I'm not sure which 2l MX5 Autocar were testing tbh.http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/anything-goes/ev...
I can see that the black mirror caps and dark wheels should denote SE-L, and that the seats appear to be cloth, but in the item comparing the MX to the Caterham and the GT86, the cars' stats at the end state the MX to be a Sport-Nav.
However, there's no mention of Bilsteins, and the accuracy of their stats descriptions is called into question by their stating that the torque for the 2l. is 148, whereas I believe it's actually 198!
So..... !?
Autocar got the technical and spec level wrong in the Caterham/GT86 comparison
elvismiggell said:
Cabsi said:
Good thing I am - that's what we've ordered!I'll admit to being a little worried about the harshness of the Sport suspension for the 2.0 which is what we've gone for, but I figure if I'm going to buy a car like this, I may as well got for the 'full monty'. I'm doing the extended 'hamper day' on the 20th, so hopefully I'll get a taste of the Sport suspension then.
It would be sad if they were all Black, Grey, White and Red, but Blue reflex just struck me as a 'luxury' colour rather than a 'sporty' one . But, hey ho, we're all different (says the man who has a Purple car..).
But it would be good to see some bold primary colours on the MX5, as noted in an earlier posting. And I'd love to see one in Porsche Mexico Blue!
Cabsi said:
And I'd love to see one in Porsche Mexico Blue!
Isn't google wonderful. Here's an NA in Mexico Blue http://www.jdmeuro.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/...
(Sorry for the thread hijack).
Cabsi said:
ZedLeppelin said:
I drove the Mk4 2.0 sport for a few hours yesterday and the biggest criticism I have of it, is the overdamped suspension.
Seems to be a pattern developing. Do you think Mazda UK are reading this? In fact if Mazda UK are reading this, I'd like them to build an MX5, not a 'good all-rounder' sporty car ..... which isn't one thing or another. It's not a balls-out Jag XK type of car, or a handy little car for around town, or a ridiculously well though out rwd two seater.....they've had 25+ years to get it spot on and built an over damped best guess/ safe bet.
Cabsi said:
elvismiggell said:
Cabsi said:
Good thing I am - that's what we've ordered!I'll admit to being a little worried about the harshness of the Sport suspension for the 2.0 which is what we've gone for, but I figure if I'm going to buy a car like this, I may as well got for the 'full monty'. I'm doing the extended 'hamper day' on the 20th, so hopefully I'll get a taste of the Sport suspension then.
It would be sad if they were all Black, Grey, White and Red, but Blue reflex just struck me as a 'luxury' colour rather than a 'sporty' one . But, hey ho, we're all different (says the man who has a Purple car..).
But it would be good to see some bold primary colours on the MX5, as noted in an earlier posting. And I'd love to see one in Porsche Mexico Blue!
ZedLeppelin said:
elvismiggell said:
Cabsi said:
Good thing I am - that's what we've ordered!I'll admit to being a little worried about the harshness of the Sport suspension for the 2.0 which is what we've gone for, but I figure if I'm going to buy a car like this, I may as well got for the 'full monty'. I'm doing the extended 'hamper day' on the 20th, so hopefully I'll get a taste of the Sport suspension then.
I'm hoping this confirms your suspicions and helps you and isn't intended to rain on your parade.
I guess we'll be looking for new options to swap over once we get the car. Never done anything like that, so perhaps it'll be a fun first time experience?
SFO said:
pics of the MX-5 in both group tests are of the SE-L .. as you say, black mirrors, and if you zoom in, no rear parking sensors either
Autocar got the technical and spec level wrong in the Caterham/GT86 comparison
Yes, well spotted re. the sensors SFO - I hadn't looked at that photo.Autocar got the technical and spec level wrong in the Caterham/GT86 comparison
Good news for us SE-L supporters then (except that sometimes Autocar seem to be talking out of their exhaust pipes! )
This month's Car mag has a test of the 2.0 SE-L vs the GT86 Aero and a 2.0l TT of some description. The MX-5 wins, of course, but their question at the end is whether to pick the faster 2.0 or go for the "more charismatic" 1.5.
The sort of question that internet forums were designed for really.
(Having driven both Sport models, I went for the 1.5 without a second thought)
The sort of question that internet forums were designed for really.
(Having driven both Sport models, I went for the 1.5 without a second thought)
I'm still scratching my head over the move to electronic steering. I just do not get this "it saves fuel" thought. I hope it's not because it costs a lot less than hydraulic and the bean counters have their say. Does it save weight?
I don't see why Mazda cannot do a Clubsport package for the 1.5 that junks this for hydraulic steering, ups the rev limit and you have the choice to also remove air con and the heavy standard seats. Perhaps even move the battery to the boot space and reduce the ££. Like the old Porsche 968 ClubSport.
Porsche make a lot out of giving a more sporty version of their cars, Mazda should do likewise. Halo effect and more money to them.
I don't see why Mazda cannot do a Clubsport package for the 1.5 that junks this for hydraulic steering, ups the rev limit and you have the choice to also remove air con and the heavy standard seats. Perhaps even move the battery to the boot space and reduce the ££. Like the old Porsche 968 ClubSport.
Porsche make a lot out of giving a more sporty version of their cars, Mazda should do likewise. Halo effect and more money to them.
Tron Kirk said:
Quote from the Car test:
"in comparison to the zingy, high-revving 1.5-litre alternative, the 2.0-litre MX-5 lump seems a touch too much like it was destined for a Mazda 6 and ended up in a sports car by mistake."
I'd say that Mazda have mangled together a car out of ideas randomly taken from the spare ideas list, rather than build a real car with its own identity. Mazda got it right with the Mk1 and then got drawn into redesigning it because that's what's supposed to happen. See BMW 'mini'. The 2.0 isn't right for the car at all and feels imbalanced and a bit disconnected. Still, who cares? "in comparison to the zingy, high-revving 1.5-litre alternative, the 2.0-litre MX-5 lump seems a touch too much like it was destined for a Mazda 6 and ended up in a sports car by mistake."
Tron Kirk said:
Quote from the Car test:
"in comparison to the zingy, high-revving 1.5-litre alternative, the 2.0-litre MX-5 lump seems a touch too much like it was destined for a Mazda 6 and ended up in a sports car by mistake."
I haven't driven the 1.5, but I really could not complain about the way the 2.0 made its power or felt. And anyone claiming a Mazda 6 has throttle response like the MX-5 is talking utter trash tbh and simply looking for something to moan about."in comparison to the zingy, high-revving 1.5-litre alternative, the 2.0-litre MX-5 lump seems a touch too much like it was destined for a Mazda 6 and ended up in a sports car by mistake."
ZedLeppelin said:
Tron Kirk said:
Quote from the Car test:
"in comparison to the zingy, high-revving 1.5-litre alternative, the 2.0-litre MX-5 lump seems a touch too much like it was destined for a Mazda 6 and ended up in a sports car by mistake."
I'd say that Mazda have mangled together a car out of ideas randomly taken from the spare ideas list, rather than build a real car with its own identity. Mazda got it right with the Mk1 and then got drawn into redesigning it because that's what's supposed to happen. See BMW 'mini'. The 2.0 isn't right for the car at all and feels imbalanced and a bit disconnected. Still, who cares? "in comparison to the zingy, high-revving 1.5-litre alternative, the 2.0-litre MX-5 lump seems a touch too much like it was destined for a Mazda 6 and ended up in a sports car by mistake."
I think the 2.0 engine is fine, and I'd bet with the usual ECU and manifold upgrade so the engine isn't being strangled for emissions management, the proper character (and much better performance) will be unleashed. With the smaller capacity engine they could afford to be more free with their tuning.
As far as the suspension is concerned, they've fallen into the same trap as Audi etc and not developed the sports suspension for UK roads.
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