Whats so good about an MX5?
Discussion
I have never driven one. Not driven much other than hatchbacks. But anyone who spends anytime on this site will notice alot of people who have taken a shine to this little car. So what is it about it? It has just fallen into acceptable insurance territory and iv often wondered if they can be that good.
Yes they are! I've been lucky enough to have driven (not owned unfortunately) some rare and exotic cars, and few come close to the enjoyment factor I get from driving my mk1 mx5, it won't win any top trumps if you're looking at figures on paper but the driving experience is great, and they're good value too in terms of purchase price and running costs!
Drive one, or you'll never really know.
Drive one, or you'll never really know.
As above - it's been argued about many times before. I think it's a shame that while the British pioneered the concept of a light, simple two-seater convertible, they didn't have the money or facilities to fully realise its potential. Thankfully, the Japanese had the resources and the enthusiasm to take the basic concept and get the details right.
The MX-5 is never going to break any land speed records but they're incredibly well balanced and are great fun at legal-ish speeds unlike more powerful cars. They have one of the best gearchanges you'll find, they're incredibly reliable and a lot of thought went into every detail of the design.
The fact that they cost peanuts to buy and run is just a bonus - indeed the fact that they're worth so little adds to the enjoyment because you're not constantly worried about the repair costs if you get too enthusiastic.
Speaking personally, I've tried all manner of more powerful performance cars but the only car I've bought multiple examples of is the MX-5 - there's just something about them I guess!
The MX-5 is never going to break any land speed records but they're incredibly well balanced and are great fun at legal-ish speeds unlike more powerful cars. They have one of the best gearchanges you'll find, they're incredibly reliable and a lot of thought went into every detail of the design.
The fact that they cost peanuts to buy and run is just a bonus - indeed the fact that they're worth so little adds to the enjoyment because you're not constantly worried about the repair costs if you get too enthusiastic.
Speaking personally, I've tried all manner of more powerful performance cars but the only car I've bought multiple examples of is the MX-5 - there's just something about them I guess!
Edited by Risotto on Monday 21st June 11:22
It was one of those wonderful classic comedy moments when i attended a LOT event at silverstone with a friend who brought along his MX5. At lunch time a chap in an elise came up to him and asked:
-'So, erm, what have you had done to it? quite quick isn't it?'
him:
-It's 100% standard (which it is)
That tells you all you need to know really. They aren't as specialist as anything with an elise chassis, and they are certainly more compromised on track. What it does say though, is that they punch high above their weight.
-'So, erm, what have you had done to it? quite quick isn't it?'
him:
-It's 100% standard (which it is)
That tells you all you need to know really. They aren't as specialist as anything with an elise chassis, and they are certainly more compromised on track. What it does say though, is that they punch high above their weight.
Jimbo_vx said:
It was one of those wonderful classic comedy moments when i attended a LOT event at silverstone with a friend who brought along his MX5. At lunch time a chap in an elise came up to him and asked:
-'So, erm, what have you had done to it? quite quick isn't it?'
him:
-It's 100% standard (which it is)
That tells you all you need to know really. They aren't as specialist as anything with an elise chassis, and they are certainly more compromised on track. What it does say though, is that they punch high above their weight.
That one person is quicker around a track? -'So, erm, what have you had done to it? quite quick isn't it?'
him:
-It's 100% standard (which it is)
That tells you all you need to know really. They aren't as specialist as anything with an elise chassis, and they are certainly more compromised on track. What it does say though, is that they punch high above their weight.
Brian McGee said:
Jimbo_vx said:
It was one of those wonderful classic comedy moments when i attended a LOT event at silverstone with a friend who brought along his MX5. At lunch time a chap in an elise came up to him and asked:
-'So, erm, what have you had done to it? quite quick isn't it?'
him:
-It's 100% standard (which it is)
That tells you all you need to know really. They aren't as specialist as anything with an elise chassis, and they are certainly more compromised on track. What it does say though, is that they punch high above their weight.
That one person is quicker around a track? -'So, erm, what have you had done to it? quite quick isn't it?'
him:
-It's 100% standard (which it is)
That tells you all you need to know really. They aren't as specialist as anything with an elise chassis, and they are certainly more compromised on track. What it does say though, is that they punch high above their weight.
I never gave them much credit, but its all about the driving experience and the balance.
The mistake I made when I test drove one, was paying too much attention to the grunt of the car - which is pretty non existent.
I'd been driving an MR2 Turbo for a while, but was getting a bit sick of it trying to throw me in a hedge everytime the moisture in the air got above 'bone dry'. So I test drove the MX-5 and was completely underwhelmed because it didnt take off like a rocket off the line.
It strikes me as a car that is very capable itself, and that you can afford to stretch to its limits, unlike some more powerful or expensive machinery which you'll never get near to utilising to the full.
The mistake I made when I test drove one, was paying too much attention to the grunt of the car - which is pretty non existent.
I'd been driving an MR2 Turbo for a while, but was getting a bit sick of it trying to throw me in a hedge everytime the moisture in the air got above 'bone dry'. So I test drove the MX-5 and was completely underwhelmed because it didnt take off like a rocket off the line.
It strikes me as a car that is very capable itself, and that you can afford to stretch to its limits, unlike some more powerful or expensive machinery which you'll never get near to utilising to the full.
Where to begin.
Great fun to drive,
Not too much grip,
Easy to control on the limit,
Thrashable,
Reliable,
Easy to mod, thousands of after marker parts about,
Easy to work on (I'm a complete tool with a tool and even I can do it),
The ladies seem to love em,
Cheap as chips (but people who aren't petrol heads think 'ohhh little sports car, must of been pricey'),
Cheap to insure,
Reasonably cheap to run,
Easy to park (the turning circle is tiny and with the roof down, rear visibility is obviously superb),
Anything else I neglected to mention?
Reply to the above post,
Yeah they are pretty slow but thats kind of the point. You have to thrash it to make any real progress and it just laps it up. You really have to grab it my the balls to make progress, and even then you are still doing relatively legal speeds
Great fun to drive,
Not too much grip,
Easy to control on the limit,
Thrashable,
Reliable,
Easy to mod, thousands of after marker parts about,
Easy to work on (I'm a complete tool with a tool and even I can do it),
The ladies seem to love em,
Cheap as chips (but people who aren't petrol heads think 'ohhh little sports car, must of been pricey'),
Cheap to insure,
Reasonably cheap to run,
Easy to park (the turning circle is tiny and with the roof down, rear visibility is obviously superb),
Anything else I neglected to mention?
Reply to the above post,
Yeah they are pretty slow but thats kind of the point. You have to thrash it to make any real progress and it just laps it up. You really have to grab it my the balls to make progress, and even then you are still doing relatively legal speeds
Edited by Oxygen2k10 on Monday 21st June 11:19
I was sceptical too before I drove one, then bought one a week later.
Brilliant handling and oodles of fun. Buy a good one and it'll last forever and there is lots of choice out there.
If you want a hardcore one there are special editions like the V, S, R and RS Limited ones that come with standard items like harder suspension and in the case of the RS some wonderful Recaro seats.
I bought an S-Special for 3k and after buying a new roof it is perfect. Looks the nuts too, I think!
This think is from the brochure:
Brilliant handling and oodles of fun. Buy a good one and it'll last forever and there is lots of choice out there.
If you want a hardcore one there are special editions like the V, S, R and RS Limited ones that come with standard items like harder suspension and in the case of the RS some wonderful Recaro seats.
I bought an S-Special for 3k and after buying a new roof it is perfect. Looks the nuts too, I think!
This think is from the brochure:
Celt said:
I have never driven one. Not driven much other than hatchbacks. But anyone who spends anytime on this site will notice alot of people who have taken a shine to this little car. So what is it about it? It has just fallen into acceptable insurance territory and iv often wondered if they can be that good.
They are that good. It's all been done before.This is my 2nd one & I've done 10k in mine since the start of March...& even yesterday, driving 35 miles to work to pickup my sunglasses which I'd accidentally left there ended up being a hoon rather than a monotonous task! Still completely thrilling!
In short...I'd marry it if it was legal.
Rawwr said:
Balance.
This. And lightness, I took my first Mk1 down to a local scrap yard when I first go it (Which is arguably where it looked like it belonged, but thats another story,) and stuck it on the weighbridge. Dripping wet with 3/4's of a tank of fuel and various crap littering the cabin it weighed in a at approx 950kg from memory. I know it doesn't have huge motive power but in that budget you'd struggle to find anything that drives the right wheels and is so communicative.
The great thing about the MX5 is it does (practically) everything quite well.
Contrary to what you'll hear on here it is not the automotive Messiah. There are any number of cars that go faster, handle better or offer more practicality in isolation; there are even some which are cheaper. However, I struggle to think of anything with the same breadth of ability for so little money - it doesn't excel at anything, but there isn't a single weak point either, it's a guilt free sports car.
It handles well, it goes acceptably, it's got a fairly reasonable boot, it's one of very few convertibles that actually keeps you dry (well, mine did anyway), it's tolerably economical, it's very reliable, it's cheap to buy and has a large enough following to gurantee parts and expertise for years to come.
Contrary to what you'll hear on here it is not the automotive Messiah. There are any number of cars that go faster, handle better or offer more practicality in isolation; there are even some which are cheaper. However, I struggle to think of anything with the same breadth of ability for so little money - it doesn't excel at anything, but there isn't a single weak point either, it's a guilt free sports car.
It handles well, it goes acceptably, it's got a fairly reasonable boot, it's one of very few convertibles that actually keeps you dry (well, mine did anyway), it's tolerably economical, it's very reliable, it's cheap to buy and has a large enough following to gurantee parts and expertise for years to come.
hornetrider said:
Brian McGee said:
Jimbo_vx said:
It was one of those wonderful classic comedy moments when i attended a LOT event at silverstone with a friend who brought along his MX5. At lunch time a chap in an elise came up to him and asked:
-'So, erm, what have you had done to it? quite quick isn't it?'
him:
-It's 100% standard (which it is)
That tells you all you need to know really. They aren't as specialist as anything with an elise chassis, and they are certainly more compromised on track. What it does say though, is that they punch high above their weight.
That one person is quicker around a track? -'So, erm, what have you had done to it? quite quick isn't it?'
him:
-It's 100% standard (which it is)
That tells you all you need to know really. They aren't as specialist as anything with an elise chassis, and they are certainly more compromised on track. What it does say though, is that they punch high above their weight.
homerjay said:
come on then mx5/eunos lovers.
whats the best one around for under 3k?
Depends what you're after but I've always gone for imports over UK cars. If you like wood & leather, you could look at something like a V-Spec, if you want a slightly more hardcore car, you could try something like this. Strong money, but the seats alone are worth the best part of a grand and it's getting less common to find original examples of the RS-Ltd.whats the best one around for under 3k?
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