So my mum tasked me with finding her a car...

[Darkslider]

She had less than a grand to spend, the criteria were it had to be small, easy to drive round town and park, practical and good on fuel. Not too much trouble you'd say, but all the above was flexible whereas the colour wasn't, it HAD to be a nice dark green.

So a week or two of ebay hunting and using infallible man logic without even asking Pistonheads I deduced a BRG Mk2 MX5 was the ideal choice . Won this 99 car on a T plate and went to pick it up on the weekend. Bad ebay picture ahoy.



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-MX5-mk2-1999-/2811...

After 120 odd miles in it to get it home I can honestly say I'm a proper MX5 convert now. I thought my Impreza was fun to drive however I never realised that perhaps, less is more, and in the case of the MX5 that definitely applies. This is the 1.8 so its 140 bhp is enough to hustle along if you're happy to wind it up, but being the first RWD car I've ever properly chucked about (at 24, I know I know) it was the roundabouts that really brought a smile to my face.

Although it made me appreciate quite how much mechanical grip the Scooby really has, in that car you can forget about losing any traction on the road when it's dry, and even in the wet when pulling out of a t junction or leaving a roundabout you need a very committed tug on the wheel at the same time as a boot full of throttle to get the back to step out of line. In contrast on a bone dry roundabout in 2nd gear a bit of throttle and a flick of the wheel has the arse of the Mazda coming round almost without thinking, and the relatively skinny 195 rubber means it's all very gradual and progressive and easy to control, quite the opposite of the two litre turbo monster that was my first non FWD car and was close to putting me off attempting any sideways action at all.

It might not be as quick, but I'm seriously thinking about swapping the Impreza for one of these, hopefully I'll be able to borrow it off my mum enough in the meantime to keep getting my fix

[lordlee]

They are lovely to drive. I am just getting acquainted to one myself. I am quite surprised the back steps out so easily - we have the mk2.5 but with 205 section tyres but you have to be very committed to get the back end out in the dry. What tyres are you running?

[Darkslider]

Not sure of the exact model but it has Falkens fitted on the back. I think trying to get a 4wd rally rep out of shape might have given me a different idea of 'committed' to yourself I was definitely trying to be a bit of a hooligan there's no chance it would let go without being provoked, I was just quite surprised how easy it was to initiate and then keep in control compared to the Scooby.

[lordlee]

4wd and gentle breakaway and never been good bed fellows!! I can't wait to get mine on track and see what she does, might pop some coilovers on at a later date too....

[gd49]

Think the OP's car is on 15" wheels. Mk 2.5 Sports have 16" wheels which I think have more grip than 15", almost regardless of what tyres are on the wheels. Certainly in my Mk2.5 on 16" wheels it takes a lot more than a bit of throttle to make the back break away in 2nd in dry conditions.

OP, I'd be surprised if your car has had its geometry done anytime recently, they handle even better once they've been set up properly!

[Darkslider]

Three of the tyres are in nearly new condition with 7mm of tread but the osf one is a bit low at less than 3mm so I've advised her to get it replaced, preferably with the same as the other side and get the wheel aligment done at the same time. Our local family owned tyre fitters know their stuff and have a good rep so will get them to do a four wheel aligment on it.