Fabia vRS vs. mk3 MX5 2,0 Sport
Discussion
Evening all. Getting bored with my Fabia and fed up of wheelspinning every time I want to pull out into traffic etc...
Question is, will the MX5 feel that much quicker than my current car on the road? My car is very gutsy around town but on the open road seems to run out of puff, hence why I'm hankering after petrol and RWD.
A nice red one has popped up at a local dealer with 40k and may go and take a further look on Saturday so just wondering what the overall thoughts are really.
Ta!
Question is, will the MX5 feel that much quicker than my current car on the road? My car is very gutsy around town but on the open road seems to run out of puff, hence why I'm hankering after petrol and RWD.
A nice red one has popped up at a local dealer with 40k and may go and take a further look on Saturday so just wondering what the overall thoughts are really.
Ta!
Well the Mazda is a lighter more powerful car, so yes it's going to be faster. But it's also normally aspirated so it you'll need to use the gearbox.
The MX5 is not a car to buy for straight line speed though, if that's what you enjoy, there are probably far better options out there.
The MX5 is not a car to buy for straight line speed though, if that's what you enjoy, there are probably far better options out there.
The 5 is mid 7.5-8s ish to 60 so not that quick. I suspect the PD engine when floored will feel initially quicker due to the torque diesel shove - however the 5 likes to rev all the way to the redline. The driving experience could not be more different between the two... Try one and see!
Mafioso said:
Evening all. Getting bored with my Fabia and fed up of wheelspinning every time I want to pull out into traffic etc...
Question is, will the MX5 feel that much quicker than my current car on the road? My car is very gutsy around town but on the open road seems to run out of puff, hence why I'm hankering after petrol and RWD.
A nice red one has popped up at a local dealer with 40k and may go and take a further look on Saturday so just wondering what the overall thoughts are really.
Ta!
It will 'feel' quicker, whether or not it will be much quicker is doubtful, at least in a straight line. The MX5 will leave the VRS behind n the twisties though, whether or not that actually makes a massive difference in your daily drive remains to be seen. 'Running out of puff' is what MX5's tend to do best on the open road, they are not fast by any means but they are quick enough and love to be driven hard. When you've settled into the car you'll find you know better what the back end is doing and what the grip levels are and you can press on accordingly. Question is, will the MX5 feel that much quicker than my current car on the road? My car is very gutsy around town but on the open road seems to run out of puff, hence why I'm hankering after petrol and RWD.
A nice red one has popped up at a local dealer with 40k and may go and take a further look on Saturday so just wondering what the overall thoughts are really.
Ta!
I'd definitely choose an MX5 over a Skoda. I used to have a 1.6 mk2 model and it was great, if a little 'wild' to drive with a very slippery back end and very little in the way of comfort and refinement. I was never much a fan of the mk3 models though (the 'new' 2.0L shape). It felt no quicker than the older 1.6 and 1.8 models but the interior felt very tacky, and was trying far too hard to look classy. They moved too far away from the core philosophy of the MX5 with the mk3, putting too much effort into styling instead of driving mechanics. The bigger wheels on the mk3 also steal some of that pin-sharp precision of the old MX5 handling, and even the body styling is a bungle, resulting in a fat and bloated looking iteration of what should be a sleek sports car.
So, my advice, look for an older MX5 in good condition and enjoy geting a better car for far less money.
Baryonyx said:
I used to have a 1.6 mk2 model and it was great, if a little 'wild' to drive with a very slippery back end and very little in the way of comfort and refinement. I was never much a fan of the mk3 models though (the 'new' 2.0L shape). It felt no quicker than the older 1.6 and 1.8 models but the interior felt very tacky, and was trying far too hard to look classy. They moved too far away from the core philosophy of the MX5 with the mk3, putting too much effort into styling instead of driving mechanics. The bigger wheels on the mk3 also steal some of that pin-sharp precision of the old MX5 handling, and even the body styling is a bungle, resulting in a fat and bloated looking iteration of what should be a sleek sports car.
Have you put many miles in a Mk3 or 3.5?Baryonyx said:
It will 'feel' quicker, whether or not it will be much quicker is doubtful, at least in a straight line. The MX5 will leave the VRS behind n the twisties though, whether or not that actually makes a massive difference in your daily drive remains to be seen. 'Running out of puff' is what MX5's tend to do best on the open road, they are not fast by any means but they are quick enough and love to be driven hard. When you've settled into the car you'll find you know better what the back end is doing and what the grip levels are and you can press on accordingly.
I'd definitely choose an MX5 over a Skoda. I used to have a 1.6 mk2 model and it was great, if a little 'wild' to drive with a very slippery back end and very little in the way of comfort and refinement. I was never much a fan of the mk2 models though (the 'new' 2.0L shape). It felt no quicker than the older 1.6 and 1.8 models but the interior felt very tacky, and was trying far too hard to look classy. They moved too far away from the core philosophy of the MX5 with the mk3, putting too much effort into styling instead of driving mechanics. The bigger wheels on the mk3 also steal some of that pin-sharp precision of the old MX5 handling, and even the body styling is a bungle, resulting in a fat and bloated looking iteration of what should be a sleek sports car.
So, my advice, look for an older MX5 in good condition and enjoy geting a better car for far less money.
Interesting point and, if I'm honest, one that doesn't surprise me really. I know I only drive a Skoda but I reckon I would miss the interior build quality and the way it cruises nicely on a long motorway run, oh and the boot space! Maybe I should just get mine remapped?I'd definitely choose an MX5 over a Skoda. I used to have a 1.6 mk2 model and it was great, if a little 'wild' to drive with a very slippery back end and very little in the way of comfort and refinement. I was never much a fan of the mk2 models though (the 'new' 2.0L shape). It felt no quicker than the older 1.6 and 1.8 models but the interior felt very tacky, and was trying far too hard to look classy. They moved too far away from the core philosophy of the MX5 with the mk3, putting too much effort into styling instead of driving mechanics. The bigger wheels on the mk3 also steal some of that pin-sharp precision of the old MX5 handling, and even the body styling is a bungle, resulting in a fat and bloated looking iteration of what should be a sleek sports car.
So, my advice, look for an older MX5 in good condition and enjoy geting a better car for far less money.
Oh and I'm not really out looking for a toy as I get my kicks blasting about with my Dad in his Porsche so an older one is out of the question I'm afraid.
To be quite honest I found the MX5 more fun with the roof down. It traps that buzzing twin cam noise. And when you're in a downpour, with the weedy headlights glowing and the racket of the rain beating on the roof it is a truely thrilling driving experience. Not least because you're constantly monitoring the car's back end for signs of an unruly oversteer skid.
I'd pick the 5 over a diesel hatchback every time, and be very happy with it.
However they're cramped, noisy at speed, and as mentioned won't win you many prizes in a traffic light GP competition. If those things matter to you then I'd look at something else.
ETA - Opinion based on the Mk3.5 2.0 sport I drove recently, the wind noise turned into an annoying whistle at speed, hopefully the coupe doesn't suffer the same fate.
However they're cramped, noisy at speed, and as mentioned won't win you many prizes in a traffic light GP competition. If those things matter to you then I'd look at something else.
ETA - Opinion based on the Mk3.5 2.0 sport I drove recently, the wind noise turned into an annoying whistle at speed, hopefully the coupe doesn't suffer the same fate.
Edited by Accelebrate on Tuesday 27th September 21:24
Baryonyx said:
Not least because you're constantly monitoring the car's back end for signs of an unruly oversteer skid.
Didn't we establish in a previous thread that your MX5 either had something wrong with it or really, really bad tyres? The rear ends of mine have never been anything other than predictable/controllable - easy enough to provoke oversteer if you want to but they don't go without warning and are very intuitive to hold slides in.OP - it sounds like most posters (like me) are talking from experience of the Mk1/2 rather than the Mk3 which has a reputation for being a fair bit more refined, so don't base too much on those comments. Probably the best way to decide is finding one to take for a drive yourself.
GravelBen said:
OP - it sounds like most posters (like me) are talking from experience of the Mk1/2 rather than the Mk3 which has a reputation for being a fair bit more refined, so don't base too much on those comments. Probably the best way to decide is finding one to take for a drive yourself.
Yeah that's what I'm after tbh. Afterall, it will be an everyday car! Chances are I'll just stick with what I've got but I may go and give it a go. Thanks guys!
I used to have a BMW E36 328. I remember having to work pretty hard to keep up with a Skoda vRS. I suspect that an MX5 would have to work very hard to be much quicker.
But there really is no comparison. Why would you want a wrong wheel drive diesel hatch when you could have a soft top RWD sportscar?
But there really is no comparison. Why would you want a wrong wheel drive diesel hatch when you could have a soft top RWD sportscar?
GravelBen said:
Didn't we establish in a previous thread that your MX5 either had something wrong with it or really, really bad tyres? The rear ends of mine have never been anything other than predictable/controllable.
Yes, it had a fairly new pair of P6000's on the back. Loads of tread, and as hard as rocks. Even when they were 'warm' they were still like bars of soap. Occasionally predictable, and always controllable providing you were right on top of the car and what it was doing. No, it certainly was not the easy-going, benign roadster some make it out to be. At least, mine wasn't. It was great fun though, as I expect some people spend time and money chasing thrills like that car provided! Ultimately, it could be a bit of a pin. One of the things that irritated me about it was driving it home after a long shift at work. Sometimes it was dark, wet and cold and you just wanted to get home. And thats when the car was at it's most merciless, demanding razor-sharp wits and control that would not be out of place on a bloody trackday! 
Looks like a lot of rubbish being posted in this thread.
I used to own a PD100 Ibiza TDi (and various other diesel cars) and now own a Mk3 MX-5.
I've done 35k in it over the past two years, it's a 56 plate and now has 80k on. Has been utterly reliable its entire life (I've known the car since new) and has only needed routine servicing, tyres and brakes. Mine's modified a little bit (suspension, brakes, wheels, exhaust etc) but the car is just perfect. It gets used fairly regularly and have been on two european jaunts in it (one in 2010 and one this summer).
The Fabia is a completely different car to the MX-5, and the Mk3 MX-5 is also completely different to the Mk1 and Mk2 that came before it - having owned both a Mk1 (5k miles) and a Mk2 (10k miles) before getting the Mk3 I'd say I was fairly qualified to say that!
You need to get out there and take a test drive in one - yes it isn't "that" fast - at 7.6 seconds to 60 recorded most people might say it's "slow" but in the real world it has NEVER felt slow to me, and it has spent a lot of time on the motorway as well as it's favourite stomping ground which is the winding B road.
If you choose to get one I wish you the best of luck - they are wonderful cars.
ETA: I'd also say that it isn't cramped or noisy inside - the wind noise is very refined (gotta remember it has a cloth top) and with heated leather, climate control, BOSE sound system it's damned well spec'd too. VERY comfy too!
I used to own a PD100 Ibiza TDi (and various other diesel cars) and now own a Mk3 MX-5.
I've done 35k in it over the past two years, it's a 56 plate and now has 80k on. Has been utterly reliable its entire life (I've known the car since new) and has only needed routine servicing, tyres and brakes. Mine's modified a little bit (suspension, brakes, wheels, exhaust etc) but the car is just perfect. It gets used fairly regularly and have been on two european jaunts in it (one in 2010 and one this summer).
The Fabia is a completely different car to the MX-5, and the Mk3 MX-5 is also completely different to the Mk1 and Mk2 that came before it - having owned both a Mk1 (5k miles) and a Mk2 (10k miles) before getting the Mk3 I'd say I was fairly qualified to say that!
You need to get out there and take a test drive in one - yes it isn't "that" fast - at 7.6 seconds to 60 recorded most people might say it's "slow" but in the real world it has NEVER felt slow to me, and it has spent a lot of time on the motorway as well as it's favourite stomping ground which is the winding B road.
If you choose to get one I wish you the best of luck - they are wonderful cars.
ETA: I'd also say that it isn't cramped or noisy inside - the wind noise is very refined (gotta remember it has a cloth top) and with heated leather, climate control, BOSE sound system it's damned well spec'd too. VERY comfy too!
Mafioso said:
Evening all. Getting bored with my Fabia and fed up of wheelspinning every time I want to pull out into traffic etc...
Question is, will the MX5 feel that much quicker than my current car on the road? My car is very gutsy around town but on the open road seems to run out of puff
An MX5 is nowhere near as good a performance as a Fabia VRS. A £300 remap will mean the MX5 feels like its going backwards, and as for wheelspinning, you need to learn to drive and make sure you stick to decent tyres. I agree if its wet and remapped its a little difficult to set off.Question is, will the MX5 feel that much quicker than my current car on the road? My car is very gutsy around town but on the open road seems to run out of puff
Handling wise, and car feel the Mazda is way better.
nottyash said:
An MX5 is nowhere near as good a performance as a Fabia VRS. A £300 remap will mean the MX5 feels like its going backwards, and as for wheelspinning, you need to learn to drive and make sure you stick to decent tyres. I agree if its wet and remapped its a little difficult to set off.
Handling wise, and car feel the Mazda is way better.
Intruiging why you think this?Handling wise, and car feel the Mazda is way better.
Manufacturers stats show that the Fabia is approx 1.5 seconds to 60 slower than the MX-5?
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff