Discussion
As some of you know I'm expecting to pick up a Panda 100 in November but I'm having the usual (for me!) second thoughts.
After scouring the classifieds I've seen that I can pick up a very decent specced 06/07 sport model for the price of the Panda.
I'd be very interested in hearing the good and bad points of the Mk3, my major concern is the practicality of running a two seater over a hatchback, how big is the boot?
As it will have to cover 15k a year what is it like for tyre wear, consumables etc?
ta!
Steve
After scouring the classifieds I've seen that I can pick up a very decent specced 06/07 sport model for the price of the Panda.
I'd be very interested in hearing the good and bad points of the Mk3, my major concern is the practicality of running a two seater over a hatchback, how big is the boot?
As it will have to cover 15k a year what is it like for tyre wear, consumables etc?
ta!
Steve
Afraid I can't speak from personal experience. But it's a fairly light car, so it shouldn't eat through tyres. Although this will be dictated largely on how and where you drive. If you drive it hard with plenty of wheelspin and sideways moments don't expect them to last anywhere near as long.
In terms of living with a 2 seater. Well do you have access to another car or mates/family close by with a car that could be used should you need to?
I might also be worth sitting down and trying to write down every time you've needed to carry more than 2 people or move a large object in the past 1-2 years.
If you really struggle to think of any then you have your answer
Seriously though, it will depend. If you need to move or collect a TV the MX-5 will struggle. But it allows you to get stuff you can't in a hatch, e.g. you could buy a ladder and put the roof down and strap it to the passenger seat. It might not fit in a hatch at all.
In terms of living with a 2 seater. Well do you have access to another car or mates/family close by with a car that could be used should you need to?
I might also be worth sitting down and trying to write down every time you've needed to carry more than 2 people or move a large object in the past 1-2 years.
If you really struggle to think of any then you have your answer
Seriously though, it will depend. If you need to move or collect a TV the MX-5 will struggle. But it allows you to get stuff you can't in a hatch, e.g. you could buy a ladder and put the roof down and strap it to the passenger seat. It might not fit in a hatch at all.
panda has ~200litres of boot space
mx5 has ~50 liters
in real terms, The better half and I did 10 days touring in a '5, with bags, shoes, large camera bag, laptop, etc, all stuffed into the boot of a mk1 '5 (I believe the boot is largely the same size). I've also had my bike in it (on the passenger seat).
Depends how practicle you need it to be. The Mazda would almost certainly hold its value better though - I'd imagine the panda will depreciate like a sportKa - so in 6 years it'll be worth £1500 or so - but a 6 year old mx5 is still 2-3 times that much
mx5 has ~50 liters
in real terms, The better half and I did 10 days touring in a '5, with bags, shoes, large camera bag, laptop, etc, all stuffed into the boot of a mk1 '5 (I believe the boot is largely the same size). I've also had my bike in it (on the passenger seat).
Depends how practicle you need it to be. The Mazda would almost certainly hold its value better though - I'd imagine the panda will depreciate like a sportKa - so in 6 years it'll be worth £1500 or so - but a 6 year old mx5 is still 2-3 times that much
I've had my mk3 for 13 months, it took me and a mate across Europe on a 5,000 mile road trip in the summer, and in total I've covered 18000 miles. It averages 32mpg, but you can get 40mpg on a long motorway run, much less around town, and if you drive "progressively" everywhere then it drops a bit.
ETA: we took two large holdalls, two sleeping bags, two air beds, a tent, two larg(ish) camera bags and there was still room in the cubbies behind the seat for lunch each day and some bits and bobs we bought along the journey.
It's had a service at Mazda, 62,500 service at 54000 miles which cost £275, an MOT, and road tax. It's also had four tyres (which aren't counted in the figures in the image below) that cost about £370 (Toyo T1-R's). Other money I've spent is on things like lowering, geometry alignment, clear indicators etc. It hasn't wanted for anything other than routine servicing.
Not to mention that it looks bloody awesome once lowered. It is also for sale including a hard top.
(click for larger)
ETA: we took two large holdalls, two sleeping bags, two air beds, a tent, two larg(ish) camera bags and there was still room in the cubbies behind the seat for lunch each day and some bits and bobs we bought along the journey.
It's had a service at Mazda, 62,500 service at 54000 miles which cost £275, an MOT, and road tax. It's also had four tyres (which aren't counted in the figures in the image below) that cost about £370 (Toyo T1-R's). Other money I've spent is on things like lowering, geometry alignment, clear indicators etc. It hasn't wanted for anything other than routine servicing.
Not to mention that it looks bloody awesome once lowered. It is also for sale including a hard top.
(click for larger)Edited by rfn on Friday 22 October 13:46
Edited by rfn on Friday 22 October 13:46
300bhp/ton said:
Afraid I can't speak from personal experience. But it's a fairly light car, so it shouldn't eat through tyres. Although this will be dictated largely on how and where you drive. If you drive it hard with plenty of wheelspin and sideways moments don't expect them to last anywhere near as long.
In terms of living with a 2 seater. Well do you have access to another car or mates/family close by with a car that could be used should you need to?
I might also be worth sitting down and trying to write down every time you've needed to carry more than 2 people or move a large object in the past 1-2 years.
If you really struggle to think of any then you have your answer
Seriously though, it will depend. If you need to move or collect a TV the MX-5 will struggle. But it allows you to get stuff you can't in a hatch, e.g. you could buy a ladder and put the roof down and strap it to the passenger seat. It might not fit in a hatch at all.
I'm not sure I want my car choice dictated to by practical needs tho In terms of living with a 2 seater. Well do you have access to another car or mates/family close by with a car that could be used should you need to?
I might also be worth sitting down and trying to write down every time you've needed to carry more than 2 people or move a large object in the past 1-2 years.
If you really struggle to think of any then you have your answer
Seriously though, it will depend. If you need to move or collect a TV the MX-5 will struggle. But it allows you to get stuff you can't in a hatch, e.g. you could buy a ladder and put the roof down and strap it to the passenger seat. It might not fit in a hatch at all.
It's genuine RWD fun with a classy chassis vs a FWD hatch that whilst undeniably fun is a little rough around the edges. I'm fairly certain that the 5 will give me far more depth of enjoyment.
Would be very interested to hear of service intervals and costs.
raf_gti said:
I'm not sure I want my car choice dictated to by practical needs tho
It's genuine RWD fun with a classy chassis vs a FWD hatch that whilst undeniably fun is a little rough around the edges. I'm fairly certain that the 5 will give me far more depth of enjoyment.
Would be very interested to hear of service intervals and costs.
Service intervals are every 12,500 miles. And they go Minor, Minor, Major, Minor, Minor, Major (it is a Ford engine, after all (same as Ford service intervals). I don't have the exact costs to hand on the other services by car has had but £275 was for the 62.5k mile service at a Main Dealer. Not bad money IMO.It's genuine RWD fun with a classy chassis vs a FWD hatch that whilst undeniably fun is a little rough around the edges. I'm fairly certain that the 5 will give me far more depth of enjoyment.
Would be very interested to hear of service intervals and costs.
ETA: Tyre wear - about 12,000 - 15,000 miles on a set - the rears seem to last slightly less than the front as with most RWD cars.
Edited by rfn on Friday 22 October 13:53
I don't know anything about MK3 mx5, but I have lived with impracticle 2 seater sports cars for 8 years. I only have an issue and then not a big one when I go on holiday, I then use a boot rack. I have never had the need to carry more than 2 people. if more than 2 of us want to go some one of the others will drive. I did once get stopped for driving with 2 large fibreglass planters, in the shape of rocks on the bootrack. BiB thought it was a bit optimistic to balance massive rocks on my bootrack :-)
rfn said:
I've had my mk3 for 13 months, it took me and a mate across Europe on a 5,000 mile road trip in the summer, and in total I've covered 18000 miles. It averages 32mpg, but you can get 40mpg on a long motorway run, much less around town, and if you drive "progressively" everywhere then it drops a bit.
ETA: we took two large holdalls, two sleeping bags, two air beds, a tent, two larg(ish) camera bags and there was still room in the cubbies behind the seat for lunch each day and some bits and bobs we bought along the journey.
It's had a service at Mazda, 62,500 service at 54000 miles which cost £275, an MOT, and road tax. It's also had four tyres (which aren't counted in the figures in the image below) that cost about £370 (Toyo T1-R's). Other money I've spent is on things like lowering, geometry alignment, clear indicators etc. It hasn't wanted for anything other than routine servicing.
Not to mention that it looks bloody awesome once lowered. It is also for sale including a hard top.
Looking good ETA: we took two large holdalls, two sleeping bags, two air beds, a tent, two larg(ish) camera bags and there was still room in the cubbies behind the seat for lunch each day and some bits and bobs we bought along the journey.
It's had a service at Mazda, 62,500 service at 54000 miles which cost £275, an MOT, and road tax. It's also had four tyres (which aren't counted in the figures in the image below) that cost about £370 (Toyo T1-R's). Other money I've spent is on things like lowering, geometry alignment, clear indicators etc. It hasn't wanted for anything other than routine servicing.
Not to mention that it looks bloody awesome once lowered. It is also for sale including a hard top.
Did you lower it with the official Mazda springs? Eibach I believe?
How fiddly is the hard top to fit and how is it stored when not in use?
raf_gti said:
Looking good
Did you lower it with the official Mazda springs? Eibach I believe?
How fiddly is the hard top to fit and how is it stored when not in use?
Mine is actually lowered a bit more than Mazda would - 45mm I believe and was lowered by Wheels in Motion in Chesham (Bucks). They're great with their MX-5's and widely recognised as being great at their job.Did you lower it with the official Mazda springs? Eibach I believe?
How fiddly is the hard top to fit and how is it stored when not in use?
The hard top is stored in my garage and is reasonably easy to fit - though you'd want two people to do it with ease as it is a bit bulky!
hornetrider said:
abarber said:
The MK3s are very disappointing to drive compared to the M1/2 models. Nothing like the same balance or enjoyment to be had at the helm. Not tried the M3.5 updated version though.
Toilet.Mk3 was a riot to drive. I had a go in a 2.0 (not the top spec one), it had enough grunt to keep things interesting- the sales woman even showed me how to disengage the TC properly
Hold the button down for 7 seconds apparently.
It does everything my Mk1 does, just better & it's so much nicer on the Dual Carrigeways.
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