RE: Mazda MX-5: PH Heroes
Discussion
Munter said:
Of course some of those 1 million didn't like the way it looked. So they "improved it"...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tribute-Automotive-MX250...
I want one!http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tribute-Automotive-MX250...
☺☺☺
Brilliant little cars imo. I bought a rusty mk1 import in winter 2012 for 400 quid it was my first rwd car and taught me a lot about car control and so much fun in the snow. It didn't end well when I moved lanes to quickly in the wet and spun it hitting a barrier. Sold it on and now own another mk1 eunos in the best colour mariner blue which to this day I still use daily.
Show me a car that you can take back and for to work everyday, do the weekly shopping, be able to drop the roof at a moments notice and then on the weekend take it for a blast up the mountains or rag it around a track and not miss a beat in that time for the some total of 1k I cant.
Parts are cheap, some many different options for modifications the downside is the classic rust. You only have to do a few mods to make it a completely different car lower it with adjustable coilovers or lowering springs with upgraded shocks/ full geo set up/ decent set of tyres/ new exhaust system and it a different car. I will still have it even when my kit car has changed owner and yes the kit car is totally different well not actually as it's mx5 based but for cheap budget motoring all year round there is no other choice out there.
Show me a car that you can take back and for to work everyday, do the weekly shopping, be able to drop the roof at a moments notice and then on the weekend take it for a blast up the mountains or rag it around a track and not miss a beat in that time for the some total of 1k I cant.
Parts are cheap, some many different options for modifications the downside is the classic rust. You only have to do a few mods to make it a completely different car lower it with adjustable coilovers or lowering springs with upgraded shocks/ full geo set up/ decent set of tyres/ new exhaust system and it a different car. I will still have it even when my kit car has changed owner and yes the kit car is totally different well not actually as it's mx5 based but for cheap budget motoring all year round there is no other choice out there.
Article said:
The MX-5 is surprisingly practical small convertible too: the boot is spacious...
I adore the MX-5 as much as anyone, but I find it rather challenging to accept the boot of an MX-5 being described as 'spacious'. Unless you're actually a field mouse. Compared to an Mk3 MR2 it is quite generous, but compared to just about anything else, it's small. It's a big reason why I haven't bought one already, and long for a drop-top GT86/BRZ, which sadly may never materialise. I look forward to the Mk4, although there are rumours already it may just squeak 1000kg in basic form, rather than the original 900-odd kg target. THe MX-5 is a hero in my book because it offers the type(s) of fun that would be inaccessible to many otherwise.
elephantstone said:
How much would you want for those wheels when you change? Are the just the standard sport wheels painted?
I'm keeping these wheels, got winter tyres on them...not really been needed this year but I will be keeping them just in case for next year 
And yes they are the standard 17 inch wheels just painted black. Really nice wheels just a slightly weak offset.
V8RX7 said:
Yes no stickers, except for the crest thingy on the bonnet, I think the mk1 has aged very well, I'm doing a bathroom for some geezer next month and he has a silver one with red leather gathering dust in his garage, he said I could have it for a monkey, seriously tempted
I've seen about 8 of them.
Highly prized by the Owners Club but many have had the stickers removed because TBH they look awful.
I've seen about 8 of them.
Highly prized by the Owners Club but many have had the stickers removed because TBH they look awful.
The MX-5 is a car that fulfills its brief just about perfectly. I like the fact they aren't that powerful. My car has 158bhp and that is plenty to have fun with on the public road. How many times will you be able to fully extend a supercar on the road and still keep your licence?
The MX-5 strikes a brilliant balance of purchase cost, running cost, speed, handling, looks, reliability, comfort, practicality, and most of all FUN! Close on 1 million sales say that Mazda is doing something right.
The MX-5 strikes a brilliant balance of purchase cost, running cost, speed, handling, looks, reliability, comfort, practicality, and most of all FUN! Close on 1 million sales say that Mazda is doing something right.
I purchased a Mk 1 1.8 import last year as it cost less than the repair bill to one of my other cars after a long boys weekend away in Wales. In essence it was seen as disposable........but I fell for it in a big way, fitting different wheels still 14" mind, setting up the suspension and tarting up the interior.......it was just great fun to both drift and rag around, or even just cruise along in to the pub.
The planning over takes and driving lines for sight and momentum were a rekindled experience. Sold it for more than I paid and yes I do miss it every time I see it in the local area.
The planning over takes and driving lines for sight and momentum were a rekindled experience. Sold it for more than I paid and yes I do miss it every time I see it in the local area.
Convoyed to Le Mans 10 years ago in my mk 2 1.8iS with a Noble, Impreza, & 996 C4S. We took the scenic back roads. My over-riding memory (which tends to sum up this thread & the whole spirit of the MX-5) was after a full-on section of the drive was when the 911 driver said
"You're a bloody handicap on the straights, but we can't keep up with you on the twisties, how the hell do you do it?"
I'd like to take the credit for my superior driving skills, but the reality is that the difference was the sheer balance of the car that inspired confidence to carry speed into & through a corner.
(911 driver held a national rally licence, so he knew how to drive)
"You're a bloody handicap on the straights, but we can't keep up with you on the twisties, how the hell do you do it?"
I'd like to take the credit for my superior driving skills, but the reality is that the difference was the sheer balance of the car that inspired confidence to carry speed into & through a corner.
(911 driver held a national rally licence, so he knew how to drive)
garrykiller said:
Krikkit said:
What's the verdict PH'ers? Is a 1.6 NA fast enough these days to overtake without trouble, or is a 1.8 a wiser choice?
depends on whether its a UK or import. the imports have more power in the 1.6. I had a 1.6 import and it was quick enough. i bought my nc1 as a daily for a bargain price with full mazda service hx and removable hard top. it has h& r springs, ILM exhaust, ILM ARB and set up from Blink motorsport. for the price you cannot compare it to a similar condition s2000, boxster, slk, z4, elise etc (and I did look at all of these)
I enjoy it on the road and track. yes its not the be all end all but it sounds good, enjoyable at real world speeds and practical. Its cheap and cheerful and tbh I have more fun in it daily than some of the other more exotica I own - which can be extremely frustrating on public roads (but nice to talk about in the pub or occasional track day)
I personally think (like Jay Leno) if you like driving, you will like a well set up mx-5 of any generation. If you like to talk about driving, 0-60 times or posing you will not.
I enjoy it on the road and track. yes its not the be all end all but it sounds good, enjoyable at real world speeds and practical. Its cheap and cheerful and tbh I have more fun in it daily than some of the other more exotica I own - which can be extremely frustrating on public roads (but nice to talk about in the pub or occasional track day)
I personally think (like Jay Leno) if you like driving, you will like a well set up mx-5 of any generation. If you like to talk about driving, 0-60 times or posing you will not.
kainedog said:
My mates auntie has a mx5 Le Mans, apparently they made 24 , 1600cc turbo from the factory, has anyone else seen one I wonder?
14 or 15 survive I believe.
Mazda MX-5 - BBR Le Mans
I've driven my brothers Mk1 a couple of times. I thought the straight line performance wasn't bad, I was confused by the cornering aspect though. All this talk of playful handing...I was expecting it to have low limits and progressive easy handling...not my brothers, it just gripped, and the most surprising thing was when it finally gave up it was into oversteer..not very quickly, but still not what I was expecting at about 1g lat acc and 80mph.
I bought a 1998 1.5 MX B and was good fun. I even had a track day out of it and it never let me down. So cheap to run compared to the Mini Cooper S and Elise I had afterwards. The Elise is a better handling car no doubt, but on a day to day basis and the fun that can be had a low speeds, it is hard to beat. I'm starting to think about buying another to be honest.
Edited by tobyb on Saturday 22 February 09:22
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