MX5 turbo reliability on track
Discussion
Hi,
I have a MX5 NB I have began to use on track on small and twisty tracks (I have the Corvette for bigger tracks). I really like the small format of the car, the handling and the easiness to maintain a drift in curves. I like also that I can really rev it all day long with no concern of reliability issues.
I just find that a better power to weight ratio would allow even more fun. I also find it quiet hard to keep up with elises.
I have first thought about an Elise S1 but the price range here in france is very much higher than MX5. And, as good as it seems, I feel they are less fun and easy than my MX5. I tested one on little roads and I found it more difficult to predict at the limit.
So my thinking is now to find a MX5 NA already turboed and use it on track (and drive to it). Hoping that it could be as good as an Elise and funnier to drive (drift, etc).
I just have the question of reliability.
I am currently looking at a NA with a GT2560R on a 1.8.
I would be interested to hear about you if you currently are driving a turboed MX5 on track.
Are they reliable like original?
Is the turbo a great upgrade compared to original?
What are the shortcomings?
What are the way to ensure reliability of a turboed MX5 (coolers, choice of turbo, clutch, turbo fitting and tuning, etc)?
I have a MX5 NB I have began to use on track on small and twisty tracks (I have the Corvette for bigger tracks). I really like the small format of the car, the handling and the easiness to maintain a drift in curves. I like also that I can really rev it all day long with no concern of reliability issues.
I just find that a better power to weight ratio would allow even more fun. I also find it quiet hard to keep up with elises.
I have first thought about an Elise S1 but the price range here in france is very much higher than MX5. And, as good as it seems, I feel they are less fun and easy than my MX5. I tested one on little roads and I found it more difficult to predict at the limit.
So my thinking is now to find a MX5 NA already turboed and use it on track (and drive to it). Hoping that it could be as good as an Elise and funnier to drive (drift, etc).
I just have the question of reliability.
I am currently looking at a NA with a GT2560R on a 1.8.
I would be interested to hear about you if you currently are driving a turboed MX5 on track.
Are they reliable like original?
Is the turbo a great upgrade compared to original?
What are the shortcomings?
What are the way to ensure reliability of a turboed MX5 (coolers, choice of turbo, clutch, turbo fitting and tuning, etc)?
There are a lot of different chices when it comes to turbos so it's hard to give a definitive answer. They should all be reliable as long as they are as they were designed to be (and not using a cheap chinese ebay manifold). If someone has fitted an FM2 turbo with intercooler, upgraded all of the exhaust & down-pipe, fitted bigger injectors and had it all mapped by a profesional then it should be as reliable as stock at well over 250bhp. However, if someone has justy sourced the cheapest turbo they can find then whacked the boost up as high as it will go and mapped it themselves on the road without using det-cans then it might be unreliable at 150bhp.
Myself, I have a supercharged Mk2.5 with 240bhp. I've been ragging it on track like that since 2004 and it's still rock solid (touch wood).
Myself, I have a supercharged Mk2.5 with 240bhp. I've been ragging it on track like that since 2004 and it's still rock solid (touch wood).
The engines are bullet-proof and can quite happily take 270bhp & 250lb/ft as long as they are tuned well with track use in mind and have sufficient cooling (mine has a much bigger radiator with an oil-cooler built in for example).
On a 1.6 the weak point would be the dif but a 1.8 with TorSen should be ok.
On a 1.6 the weak point would be the dif but a 1.8 with TorSen should be ok.
uprated clutch (even better if it's from the 1.8 model) would also be on the wishlist, as well as uprated brakes. on a turbo'd 1.6 set up i'd want something like carbon lorraine / carbotech.
as for the engine tho, 200bhp and a constant thrash on track won't kill it as long as it's been done properly. good cooling, good oil, good mapping.
as for the engine tho, 200bhp and a constant thrash on track won't kill it as long as it's been done properly. good cooling, good oil, good mapping.
I am in France so I don't know where I can have the mapping checked exactly.
As per the clutch upgrade, it is an ACT stage 3.
As per the brake kit it is a TSE 11.75" on front with carbotech XP12 and XP10. This is the pads I have on the Corvette and they are excellent, so I guess they work well on such a light car.
As per the clutch upgrade, it is an ACT stage 3.
As per the brake kit it is a TSE 11.75" on front with carbotech XP12 and XP10. This is the pads I have on the Corvette and they are excellent, so I guess they work well on such a light car.
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