mx-5 vs mr2 vs smart roadster coupe
Discussion
Smart Roadster Coupes are actually quite practical - reasonable storage space under the bonnet and rear glass, provided you use squishy bags. They're good fun too, but not ultimately as fast either in a straight line or through the twisties as either an MX5 or an MR2. Lots of character, mind you.
Im afraid it would have to be the MX5. MR2 im not a fan, seems to depreciate like a stone and cost a fortune to repair being mid engined and all, even the simpleist of fixes can cost you a fortune just because being mid engined its just tricky to get to the part ie lots of labor hours!, Smart yes fantastic handling car but its just not going to cut it, its going to look like the gayest car in the village unless its the brabus one and still im going to be thinking that its a gay car thats been tuned and will be very impressive on the road, im going to respect it and want to have a go in it but I wouldn't say I owned one, which leaves the ultimate hairdressers car. I think the more the years go on, the more it gets mentioned, the less it gets ridiculed. Everyone who knows anything about cars knows that yes its a hairdressers car, but yes its a very very good 2 seater roadter, possibly the best ever built and you can pick one up for a grand!, gets my vote.
Whats a Mk4 MR2?
Anyway, I've driven a Mk3 MR2 if that helps and also a Mk2.5 MX5.
I'm torn.
Both are slow, lets get that out of the way straight away. Compared to the Clio 182 I had at the time, it was quite shocking how slow they both felt.
The Mazda felt a bit more exploitable on the road, the MR2 felt a bit more on edge. That said, the MR2 is a faster all round car than the MX5, with more grip, a more powerful engine, and less weight. Having said that, the MR2 had a rather bland engine note, the MX5 sounded much better to my ears. Also I got the impression the MX5 seemed a bit more raw, it was noisier and a lot less refined.
Personally, I think I would go for the MX5. Its slower, but probably more fun overall, more practical and cheaper to run with the exception of MPG where the MR2 trumps the MX5.
Anyway, I've driven a Mk3 MR2 if that helps and also a Mk2.5 MX5.
I'm torn.
Both are slow, lets get that out of the way straight away. Compared to the Clio 182 I had at the time, it was quite shocking how slow they both felt.
The Mazda felt a bit more exploitable on the road, the MR2 felt a bit more on edge. That said, the MR2 is a faster all round car than the MX5, with more grip, a more powerful engine, and less weight. Having said that, the MR2 had a rather bland engine note, the MX5 sounded much better to my ears. Also I got the impression the MX5 seemed a bit more raw, it was noisier and a lot less refined.
Personally, I think I would go for the MX5. Its slower, but probably more fun overall, more practical and cheaper to run with the exception of MPG where the MR2 trumps the MX5.
I'm biased obviously, I haven't driven a MR2 since the mark 1, and I've only driven a MX 5 once so I can't really compare. If you can learn to live with the gear change then the smart is great, never get less than 45 mpg. Servicing is only bad if you use merc dealers. I use an independant in Romsey but the roads from Swindon to Romsey are great. I have done nearly 60K in mine and apart from getting the door mirror seals done it hasn't missed a beat.
I've had mine mapped and fitted an after market filter. This alledgedlly gives 100bhp but I havn't had it dyno'd so I don't know. I do know it now boosts to 1.5 bar and you can hear the inlet roar when you nail it, oh and the waste gate popping on the overrun.
I've had mine mapped and fitted an after market filter. This alledgedlly gives 100bhp but I havn't had it dyno'd so I don't know. I do know it now boosts to 1.5 bar and you can hear the inlet roar when you nail it, oh and the waste gate popping on the overrun.
mattiselvis said:
but not ultimately as fast either in a straight line or through the twisties as either an MX5 or an MR2.
Agreed, and yet, I had trackdays where I was easily catching MX5's in the roadster. By all means, it could be down to driver (my ego can cope with that just fine) but the smart encourages carrying speed, and it's something it does extremely well.I've since sold mine, but I'd have another if I need another 2seater. I've been in MR2's and they felt much quicker than the smart, but lack of space put me off them. The roadster was cheap to run <use specialists not MB dealers>, cheap on fuel and always felt special. Couple that with a roof that you can open at *any* speed to grab sunshine and you always go home the long way, always look back at it when the journey is over.
The gearbox? Marmite I guess. I loved it in auto when being lazy / commuting, and dropping cogs by a quick tug on the shaft <repost at peril lol> whilst approaching a bend is one of those sublime moments that just feels *right*. The only place you can get ahead of it is on track, usually around lunchtime, when you need to take a step back, realise you are faster than first sessions of the day, and brake earlier, change earlier, then you can change again as you get close to a bend. It doesn't like dropping multiple gears in rapid succession.
Edited by ian_c_uk on Saturday 17th May 09:52
NiceCupOfTea said:
I think "slow" is a bit unfair. Sure, they're not fast, but the 1.8 MX-5 gets to 60 in 8 to 8.5 secs which is at least nippy. Don't forget there are many cheap tuning options - don't know if there are similar options with the MR2 and Smart Roadster?
The MX-5 is particularly slow IMO. I know it can do 0-60 in 8.5 seconds, but compared to say a Mk2 Golf GTI 8v, itself a fairly dog slow car, feels a lot faster than the Mazda, believe me, and that has a similar 0-60 time and top speed - in fact if anything it has poorer figures.I dont know why the Mazda feels so slow considering the power its got and the weight. Even when i bounced it off the limiter constantly, it didnt feel particularly great.
If I got one I reckon I'd have to have a supercharger or tubocharger.
Despite that, they are good fun though. Dont take the "slow" comment as a put down. The MR2 is faster, but it too feels slow.
C&P'd from another thread. Saves me typing it again and again:
I've had 2 MX5's and a Mk3 MR2. There is no arguing that the MR2 has a better chassis, better brakes, goes faster and handles better. It just does. Faced with a racetrack I'd get into a MR2 every time.
However, I drive on the road and there the MX5 is simply more fun. The MR2, I find dull unless you spank it, it's too capable. The fact that the MX5 has less grip, but does have a beautifully balanced chassis, means you can enjoy it at lower speeds, which in this day and age, is a good way to hold on to your license. It also, and this is the daft bit, feels more like an old sports car. Which is really hard to quantify. It has a charm and a character that the MR2 does not.
You pay your money, you make your choice. People often wonder why the MX5 is so popular given it is flawed and compared to modern cars, slow. You really do have to have one a while to realise just how much of a laugh you can have with this car more of the time than you can in just about anything else on the road. I've had and driven some quite quick cars and I still rate the MX5 car as probably one of the top 2 sports cars of all time.
I've had 2 MX5's and a Mk3 MR2. There is no arguing that the MR2 has a better chassis, better brakes, goes faster and handles better. It just does. Faced with a racetrack I'd get into a MR2 every time.
However, I drive on the road and there the MX5 is simply more fun. The MR2, I find dull unless you spank it, it's too capable. The fact that the MX5 has less grip, but does have a beautifully balanced chassis, means you can enjoy it at lower speeds, which in this day and age, is a good way to hold on to your license. It also, and this is the daft bit, feels more like an old sports car. Which is really hard to quantify. It has a charm and a character that the MR2 does not.
You pay your money, you make your choice. People often wonder why the MX5 is so popular given it is flawed and compared to modern cars, slow. You really do have to have one a while to realise just how much of a laugh you can have with this car more of the time than you can in just about anything else on the road. I've had and driven some quite quick cars and I still rate the MX5 car as probably one of the top 2 sports cars of all time.
Edited by juansolo on Saturday 17th May 09:53
ian_c_uk said:
Agreed, and yet, I had trackdays where I was easily catching MX5's in the roadster. By all means, it could be down to driver (my ego can cope with that just fine) but the smart encourages carrying speed, and it's something it does extremely well.
It's your driving, I think - lap for lap my Brabus was equivalent to a 1.6 mk1 MX5. As you say, the Smart has much better grip, so it carries more speed through the corners, but has less grunt on the straights.
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