MX5 with winter tyres - perfect PH winter snotter?
Discussion
Have been thinking about a winter snotter to take the strain off the morgan over winter. So having spent a while looking at worthy but dull hatches, saloons and estates, i keep finding myself in the mazda section of the classifieds.
I have had an mx5 before and once i had replaced the 'stat the heater worked well and I enjoyed using it all through the year, except when it snowed when it had less traction than a slippery thing on a slide. Its all a few years ago now and I cant remember whether the snow came before I had swapped out the japanese ditchfinders that came on the car (it was a eunos import)
Has anyone had better experience of snowy traction issues, or of using winter tyres on one of these???
I have had an mx5 before and once i had replaced the 'stat the heater worked well and I enjoyed using it all through the year, except when it snowed when it had less traction than a slippery thing on a slide. Its all a few years ago now and I cant remember whether the snow came before I had swapped out the japanese ditchfinders that came on the car (it was a eunos import)
Has anyone had better experience of snowy traction issues, or of using winter tyres on one of these???
Even with decent snow tyres, I still expect mine to be (once again) spectacularly s
t if it snows. No ground clearance, and with it being RWD as soon as the front loses grip the nose just slides down the camber and your stuck. Really, its amusing if your in a car park of course, as they'll do donuts till you go dizzy, but if you actually want to go anywhere, complete garbage.
And Salty winter roads do not do them any good, you MUST keep on top of cleaning it and yu must keep it rust free, if you can see 'bubbles' on the outside then that doesnt mean its just starting to rust - that means its absolutely rotten, they rust from the inside out. Check INSIDE the sills before you buy one.
Also, no matter how good the hood, they get a bit damp and moist inside, steam up badly, and you cant out the hood down if its frozen.
I drove an Audi 80 all last year, with all its weight on its front 185 section tyres, masses of ground clearance, and galvanized body It was truly unstoppable in the snow and a fantastic winter car. I sold it cos it bored the hell out of me, and now this winter is going to be interesting unless. Still, I'd rather struggle a bit in my roadster than bore myself to death in that Audi again.
For a winter fun car, I would definitely reccomend getting something like a 205 Gti - light, FWD, good ground clearance.
t if it snows. No ground clearance, and with it being RWD as soon as the front loses grip the nose just slides down the camber and your stuck. Really, its amusing if your in a car park of course, as they'll do donuts till you go dizzy, but if you actually want to go anywhere, complete garbage. And Salty winter roads do not do them any good, you MUST keep on top of cleaning it and yu must keep it rust free, if you can see 'bubbles' on the outside then that doesnt mean its just starting to rust - that means its absolutely rotten, they rust from the inside out. Check INSIDE the sills before you buy one.
Also, no matter how good the hood, they get a bit damp and moist inside, steam up badly, and you cant out the hood down if its frozen.
I drove an Audi 80 all last year, with all its weight on its front 185 section tyres, masses of ground clearance, and galvanized body It was truly unstoppable in the snow and a fantastic winter car. I sold it cos it bored the hell out of me, and now this winter is going to be interesting unless. Still, I'd rather struggle a bit in my roadster than bore myself to death in that Audi again.
For a winter fun car, I would definitely reccomend getting something like a 205 Gti - light, FWD, good ground clearance.
Edited by snotrag on Tuesday 5th October 21:59
A ford KA is the ultimate winter snotter. Cheap, nice chassis (for a super mini) and low weight on 165 section tyres.
That said, a decent set of winter tyres on an MX5 will mean if it snows you will more than likely beach the car than run out of grip (if driving sensibly) so there's no reason not to do it.
That said, a decent set of winter tyres on an MX5 will mean if it snows you will more than likely beach the car than run out of grip (if driving sensibly) so there's no reason not to do it.
jon- said:
A ford KA is the ultimate winter snotter. Cheap, nice chassis (for a super mini) and low weight on 165 section tyres.
That said, a decent set of winter tyres on an MX5 will mean if it snows you will more than likely beach the car than run out of grip (if driving sensibly) so there's no reason not to do it.
A wee Ka on winter tyres would be hard to argue with in the snow.That said, a decent set of winter tyres on an MX5 will mean if it snows you will more than likely beach the car than run out of grip (if driving sensibly) so there's no reason not to do it.
I'm hoping my 206 with its 185's, diesel engine and lack of abs will be a throwback to my first couple of cars which didnt have any problems with snow at all (Micra & 306)
Any low power FWD car on winter tyres will out handle the crap out of an MX5.
One of my fondest memories of winter driving is taking my mother's Uno 55 on all season tyres from Kircaldy to Ipswich throughice and snd snow and being able to outdrive people in 'faster' cars with consumate ease. They all pussy footed along in each others tracks as I made my own in complete control a good 20 mph faster..........
One of my fondest memories of winter driving is taking my mother's Uno 55 on all season tyres from Kircaldy to Ipswich throughice and snd snow and being able to outdrive people in 'faster' cars with consumate ease. They all pussy footed along in each others tracks as I made my own in complete control a good 20 mph faster..........
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