Am I being blind? MX5/Eunos comparison

[Tommy Winchester]

I cannot find a comparison of the two anywhere - I have even tried the search function!

There is a Eunos parked on my drive for the afternoon, had a sit in it, pretty impressed. I gather the interior spec level is better than a UK MX5 - is there anything else which would be different?

Would I be correct in assuming insurance may be a tad higher for an import?

If I have missed an obvious guide to all this please call me a fool and point me in the right direction.

Cheers

[rudecherub]

Tommy Winchester said:

I cannot find a comparison of the two anywhere - I have even tried the search function!

There is a Eunos parked on my drive for the afternoon, had a sit in it, pretty impressed. I gather the interior spec level is better than a UK MX5 - is there anything else which would be different?

Would I be correct in assuming insurance may be a tad higher for an import?

If I have missed an obvious guide to all this please call me a fool and point me in the right direction.

Cheers

spec is higher if you consider power steering, electic windows and a/c to be relevant!

Basically these add complexity and weight, and only the latter brings any benefit ie demist speed on damp day and even then it's tenuous.

Other things on there are so many special editions both UK and import like an LSD are better.

Leather is nice - but - it seems this isn't especially high quality AFIK and arguably the cloth wears better - but leather replacements are available for not a lot and are an easy DIY fit.

Insurance for imports can be higher but I don't think it's much for Mx5/Eunos. Others will know more than me.

[Disco You]

One fairly major difference to be aware of is that the later 1.6 mk1 MX5s are detuned whereas roadsters aren't.

As said, there are loads of special editions, for a list of the UK limited editions and what they have, look here:
http://www.mx5-3rdgenerationlimited.com/mx5limited...

[Janitor]

rudecherub has it pretty well nailed there They all come from the same production line and there are countless variations in models and specs - it's down to you what is important or not thereafter

I got a couple quick GoCompare quotes - UK MX-5 for me was £205 cheapest, import Eunos £310 cheapest. So quite a difference and I was surprised to see that the lowest quote for the UK car couldn't even quote for the import

[NeoVR]

Also "generally" roadsters tend to be in better condition underneath as they havent been subjected to as many harsh UK winters...

Regarding insurance, if you go to a specialist insurance company (im with richard eggar) then they dont tend to differentiate between the UK and jap models.

[MX-5 Lazza]

It seems the general rule that JDM cars are in better condition than UK cars is not as true as it used to be. You have to remember that the majority of Mk1 imports were imported 10 years ago or more so they have seen plenty of winter salt.

[hornetrider]

rudecherub said:

spec is higher if you consider power steering, electic windows and a/c to be relevant!

Basically these add complexity and weight, and only the latter brings any benefit ie demist speed on damp day and even then it's tenuous.

I wouldn't say power steering brings no benefit. The 5 was designed to have it and it has excellent weight and feel.

[Mazdamender]

Disco You said:

One fairly major difference to be aware of is that the later 1.6 mk1 MX5s are detuned whereas roadsters aren't.

As said, there are loads of special editions, for a list of the UK limited editions and what they have, look here:
http://www.mx5-3rdgenerationlimited.com/mx5limited...

The later 1.6 Mx5,Miata and Eunos raodster Mk 1 were all detuned,were have you heard that it was only for the likes of just us?
And just to open a can of worms up,I dont care which badge it wears they are all the same car it's just that you will get more for your money with an import,and they will all give you the fun and smiles.
And to be honest the Eunos Roadster was the first on the market in japan in 1989,a full year before it hit are shores before the MX-5;)
Regards
Wayne

[Disco You]

Mazdamender said:

Disco You said:

One fairly major difference to be aware of is that the later 1.6 mk1 MX5s are detuned whereas roadsters aren't.

As said, there are loads of special editions, for a list of the UK limited editions and what they have, look here:
http://www.mx5-3rdgenerationlimited.com/mx5limited...

The later 1.6 Mx5,Miata and Eunos raodster Mk 1 were all detuned,were have you heard that it was only for the likes of just us?
And just to open a can of worms up,I dont care which badge it wears they are all the same car it's just that you will get more for your money with an import,and they will all give you the fun and smiles.
And to be honest the Eunos Roadster was the first on the market in japan in 1989,a full year before it hit are shores before the MX-5;)
Regards
Wayne

MX-5 Lazza in this thread, post 4:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
"In UK Mk1 1.6 was 114bhp until 94 when it was replaced with 130bhp 1.8. In 95 an 88bhp 1.6 was introduced as a cheaper insurance option.
JDM Mk1 1.6 stayed at 114bhp right through to 98."

That thread might also be of use to the OP if he's interested.

[MX-5 Lazza]

I've definitely read elsewhere that the 88bhp engine was only offered in the European market and that everywhere else got the 114bhp engine up to the launch of the Mk2. No idea if that's true as I've never actually seen a JDM 1.6 later than 94.
The low-power car was introduced to counter the stupid insurance market at the time caused by the proliferation of cheap "hot" hatchbacks that pushed insurance prices up.

[Mazdamender]

I stand corrected...The first market to sell these pocket rockets was the USA (I am shocked also)and was badged as a miata,6 months later Japan(which i have always thought came first,you live and learn) and Europe got them as the Eunos Roadster(Japan,later to become just a Roadster 98>) and the Uk as the Mx-5.
The detuned 1.6 engine was only avilable in Europe and east asia,the 1.8 had taken it's place for good in the USA and Japan 1993> so no more 1.6's.
If I was to say personally which car to get,then it would be the long nose crank 1990> 1993 1.6 import(more for your money).
If it was a 1.8 then the 1993>1994 import(More for your money again) before ford/Mazda started to fit cheaper parts,and the build quality suffered also badly.
The good news on the later 1.6 mx-5 detuned engine is that a younger crew are open to ownership without killing their pockets
Regards
Wayne

[SJobson]

I am not convinced there's any difference in rust-proofing on UK cars and JDM cars - they both rot over here on the salty roads. Glad my JDM car was imported in 2008

The PAS, electric windows and air-con aren't the only worthwhile spec differences. The JDM split sunvisors are great; the internal boot release is useful and the headrest speakers make the stereo properly audible with the top down. Not sure the flare is particularly worthwhile... Things like the strut brace and BBS alloys on my S-Special are also nice.

[MX-5 Lazza]

SJobson said:

The JDM split sunvisors are great; the internal boot release is useful and the headrest speakers make the stereo properly audible with the top down. Not sure the flare is particularly worthwhile... Things like the strut brace and BBS alloys on my S-Special are also nice.

I don't think any of those things are unique to JDM cars (not sure about the split sun-visors) except the flare.

[heebeegeetee]

hornetrider said:

rudecherub said:

spec is higher if you consider power steering, electic windows and a/c to be relevant!

Basically these add complexity and weight, and only the latter brings any benefit ie demist speed on damp day and even then it's tenuous.

I wouldn't say power steering brings no benefit. The 5 was designed to have it and it has excellent weight and feel.

The 5s without power steering have lower geared and less accurate steering than those with, in my experience, and are just not as nice to steer/drive.

Power windows really don't offer much more complexity, there is a small electric motor fitted inside the door where the manual winder would be, and some associated wiring. Both types of actuators fail with age.

Air con does indeed represent extra weight and complexity though, and probably not best suited to an MX5 in the UK.

[NiceCupOfTea]

All already said IMHO. I would go for a JDM car personally. As for the "more to go wrong" - it's all Jap engineered and very reliable IME.

PAS and LSD well worth having. I could live without electric windows, but the A/C is very good - black hood on a hot day, the car is unbearable inside if you have to have the roof up (motorway, dodgy area, etc.)

[seismic22]

No air con and getting hot inside? Just drop the rear window!

I got a base spec UK car. apart from missing the LSD something im much happier without all the other gubbins. The cars lighter and more raw and without power steering im 100% sure i can feel more through the wheel. They are easy to park with or without PAS.

Im not even sure im that bothered about not having the LSD as the car hasnt got enough power to really be getting the inside wheel spinning exiting a corner (and i do enjoy over 7k revs on a daily basis), when i do want to be sill bugger and kick the back out exiting a corner or pulling away all i got to do is keep the revs up high and it has no trouble at hanging its arse out properly!! Just need Revs!

[SJobson]

MX-5 Lazza said:

SJobson said:

The JDM split sunvisors are great; the internal boot release is useful and the headrest speakers make the stereo properly audible with the top down. Not sure the flare is particularly worthwhile... Things like the strut brace and BBS alloys on my S-Special are also nice.

I don't think any of those things are unique to JDM cars (not sure about the split sun-visors) except the flare.

Pretty much all of the alloys offered on special editions of the mk1 in the UK were horrid; I got the impression the UK importer just took base-spec cars in various colours and added the trim extras locally.

Fair enough if some official UK cars did come in with the additional JDM spec bits I mentioned; I stand corrected. Must be pretty rare though.

[heebeegeetee]

SJobson said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

SJobson said:

The JDM split sunvisors are great; the internal boot release is useful and the headrest speakers make the stereo properly audible with the top down. Not sure the flare is particularly worthwhile... Things like the strut brace and BBS alloys on my S-Special are also nice.

I don't think any of those things are unique to JDM cars (not sure about the split sun-visors) except the flare.

Pretty much all of the alloys offered on special editions of the mk1 in the UK were horrid; I got the impression the UK importer just took base-spec cars in various colours and added the trim extras locally.

I think you're spot on. The 15" alloys fitted to my limited edition (Classic) were 7kgs each heavier than the Mazda alloys i subsequently fitted, and they ruined the ride and handling of my car.

[NiceCupOfTea]

seismic22 said:

No air con and getting hot inside? Just drop the rear window!

I got a base spec UK car. apart from missing the LSD something im much happier without all the other gubbins. The cars lighter and more raw and without power steering im 100% sure i can feel more through the wheel. They are easy to park with or without PAS.

Im not even sure im that bothered about not having the LSD as the car hasnt got enough power to really be getting the inside wheel spinning exiting a corner (and i do enjoy over 7k revs on a daily basis), when i do want to be sill bugger and kick the back out exiting a corner or pulling away all i got to do is keep the revs up high and it has no trouble at hanging its arse out properly!! Just need Revs!

Dropping the rear window isn't always practical - draughty on the motorway, and a real PITA if you are storing things on the rear shelf. If you get stuck in a jam a/c is the only thing that will keep you cool.

Ref. the PAS, my dad had a UK Mk.1 with unassisted steering and I have a Mk.1 JDM Roadster with PAS. The only real difference I remember is that his was hard work at low speeds. You certainly don't lose any "feel" having the PAS - it was designed to have it!

[heebeegeetee]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Ref. the PAS, my dad had a UK Mk.1 with unassisted steering and I have a Mk.1 JDM Roadster with PAS. The only real difference I remember is that his was hard work at low speeds. You certainly don't lose any "feel" having the PAS - it was designed to have it!

I agree. The gearing of the steering rack on non-pas is lower too, requiring more movement at the steering wheel for the same movement at the front wheel.