Do you find the MX5 exciting?
Do you find the MX5 exciting?
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Discussion

BeirutTaxi

Original Poster:

6,634 posts

237 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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I wasn't so sure to begin with, it all felt a little sedate and and numb. I couldn't help but think the experience was over rated on this forum.

Yesterday I took hold of it by the scruff of the neck, and that's when it all started to make sense. The chassis is so well balanced with incredibly direct steering. With a bit of throttle mid corner, the nose points where you want it.

How would you describe your experience with the MX5? Also, I'm struggling to understand the beef some people have with the MK2 given it's a better engineered package?

RealSquirrels

11,327 posts

215 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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there is actually a court order preventing me from going within 100 metres of one in public.

Simbu

1,874 posts

197 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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I've got a mk2. As a daily drive it's a nicer place to be in terms of refinement compared to the mk1, which is why I got mine. Also, some UK models have the Torsen LSD which is a bonus. It's still a fantastically fun drive. Wish I had pop-up head lights though!

Tim1989

798 posts

157 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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Another MK2 owner.

It's pretty exciting compared to anything else you could get for the money. It's more exciting the harder you drive it!

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

242 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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Mine was pretty damned exciting yesterday on track at Abingdon! There were a few other MX5ers there too who all seemed to be finding their MX5s pretty exciting too driving

Contigo

3,122 posts

232 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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Exciting when I was 19 and had one but not now just too slow and unworthy of exciting status now.

BeirutTaxi

Original Poster:

6,634 posts

237 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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Contigo said:
Exciting when I was 19 and had one but not now just too slow and unworthy of exciting status now.
Purely from a power aspect?

Mr MXT

7,774 posts

306 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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Fun yes, but on a day today basis it didn't really excite me. Even on the ring it was very quick and competent but not really adrenaline filled.

maybe I get bored too easy!

anonymous-user

77 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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Contigo said:
Exciting when I was 19 and had one but not now just too slow and unworthy of exciting status now.
I moved from a 320bhp Impreza Type R to a Mk1 1.6 MX5 and find the MX5 a much more exciting, enjoyable drive.
Speed isn't everything.

FatFace

290 posts

228 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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On UK roads yes very exciting. It's been very exciting today when you combine greasy roads and a LSD.

killingjoker

950 posts

216 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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Yes! It's an absolute hoot.

I guess some people just don't drive them like they should.

BeirutTaxi

Original Poster:

6,634 posts

237 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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I am quite interested in the responses, I watched the Chris Harris review and was surprised he was so negative.

I don't think it's the perfect drivers car but it's pretty good, esp for the money.

911p

2,351 posts

203 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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BeirutTaxi said:
With a bit of throttle mid corner, the nose points where you want it.
This usually causes understeer on the limit.


BeirutTaxi said:
I am quite interested in the responses, I watched the Chris Harris review and was surprised he was so negative.

I don't think it's the perfect drivers car but it's pretty good, esp for the money.
I kind of get what he means about it being a little scrappy when you start pushing on, but if you're getting this far into the cars limits it's time to start modding - the suspension tech is 23 years old. It's still an incredibly well balanced chassis however, and it's definitely an exciting car to drive.

brt900

190 posts

191 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
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i have a mk2, first few weeks i was thinking meh, but most recently i took a detour to uni on some nice b-roads to uni at a very clear time and it's the most fun i've ever had in a car

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

242 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
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911p said:
BeirutTaxi said:
With a bit of throttle mid corner, the nose points where you want it.
This usually causes understeer on the limit.
That depends on your alignment. The standard setup is "safe" but the chassis is very adjustable so you can make it understeer, neutral or oversteer very easily with the right setup.

911p said:
BeirutTaxi said:
I am quite interested in the responses, I watched the Chris Harris review and was surprised he was so negative.

I don't think it's the perfect drivers car but it's pretty good, esp for the money.
I kind of get what he means about it being a little scrappy when you start pushing on, but if you're getting this far into the cars limits it's time to start modding - the suspension tech is 23 years old. It's still an incredibly well balanced chassis however, and it's definitely an exciting car to drive.
Alignment again. If the alignment is spot-on then it's very predictable. With stock suspension and road tyres it doesn't have a great deal of grip compared to modern cars but it certainly shouldn't feel "scrappy"!

911p

2,351 posts

203 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
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MX-5 Lazza said:
That depends on your alignment. The standard setup is "safe" but the chassis is very adjustable so you can make it understeer, neutral or oversteer very easily with the right setup.

...

Alignment again. If the alignment is spot-on then it's very predictable. With stock suspension and road tyres it doesn't have a great deal of grip compared to modern cars but it certainly shouldn't feel "scrappy"!
Mine's running Yokohama AD08s which may be why the car feels a little untidy when starting to find the limits at the track. You can see how mine snaps out fairly quickly here at 1:25, and here at 0:20.

I'm at WIM this weekend getting Meister-Rs fitted as well as having the alignment done, so I'll report back when this is done!

Buff Mchugelarge

3,316 posts

173 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
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I run a mk1 as my only car and I love it.

I've just today replaced the upper and lower gear shift seals and what a difference!
So much quieter under 70mph. It's almost refined!.

I don't find mine lacking in power at all (1.8 decat pipe, otherwise standard). I know I could put bigger tyres /wheels on and get more grip but that defies the whole ethos of the Mx5, in my opinion, of course. Ive done a few longer trips in it and still not found it too bad, the gears are short for motorway cruising, but on an A road they're perfect.


I don't need a sensible car, I love cars/ driving and I'm not rich so an Mx5 is my perfect car!
.. and pop up lights never get old!

BeirutTaxi

Original Poster:

6,634 posts

237 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
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For an neural or oversteer setup on the suspension what settings should be run?

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

242 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
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BeirutTaxi said:
For an neural or oversteer setup on the suspension what settings should be run?
I'm not hot on that sort of thing. I just tell Wheels in Motion what I feel at the moment and how I'd like it to change and they do it for me using magic (or a very expensive machine and a lot of knowledge).

Eighteeteewhy

7,259 posts

191 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
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Mine was exciting in the snow last week! yikes