Turbo Mk1 MX5 - Talk to me..
Discussion
The time has come to invest in quite possibly the best car in the world (of course!), but the bog standard MX5 seems a bit sluggish for me (even going from an EP3 Type R there does seem a noticable drop in straight line performance). I took a passenger ride in an a Mk1 Turbo MX5 on Wednesday which convinced me it was time to invest in such a beast - seemed quicker than the CTR both in a straight line and in the bends, proper driving machine! I've been looking at Driftworks and MX5Nutz and it seems you can get a decent example for £2.5k, but should I?
Anybody had any experience of this? Obviously aftermarket turbo conversions could cause reliablility issues, and I'm really not looking for a refined/perfect machine, I just want something to give a fantastic driving experience, and to have a sense of occassion when I go for a drive.
Thoughts gents?
Anybody had any experience of this? Obviously aftermarket turbo conversions could cause reliablility issues, and I'm really not looking for a refined/perfect machine, I just want something to give a fantastic driving experience, and to have a sense of occassion when I go for a drive.
Thoughts gents?
designforlife said:
whats not to like?
Very cheap to buy a turbo'd 5 now, cheap to service, as quick as most other metal on the road...or quicker.
I would imagine the best part is wiping the smug looks off of many "fast" car drivers who think you are driving a stock girly convertible.
Don't get the fascination at all with them, heat problems with turbo units etc and this would have been cool 20 years ago.Very cheap to buy a turbo'd 5 now, cheap to service, as quick as most other metal on the road...or quicker.
I would imagine the best part is wiping the smug looks off of many "fast" car drivers who think you are driving a stock girly convertible.
Daggers89 said:
The time has come to invest in quite possibly the best car in the world (of course!), but the bog standard MX5 seems a bit sluggish for me (even going from an EP3 Type R there does seem a noticable drop in straight line performance). I took a passenger ride in an a Mk1 Turbo MX5 on Wednesday which convinced me it was time to invest in such a beast - seemed quicker than the CTR both in a straight line and in the bends, proper driving machine! I've been looking at Driftworks and MX5Nutz and it seems you can get a decent example for £2.5k, but should I?
Anybody had any experience of this? Obviously aftermarket turbo conversions could cause reliablility issues, and I'm really not looking for a refined/perfect machine, I just want something to give a fantastic driving experience, and to have a sense of occassion when I go for a drive.
Thoughts gents?
I suspect these are fantastic cars and there are a few people on PH with FI MX's. Although I have to say, for the money I think I'd much rather go lary V8 powered or turbo V8 powered classic Triumph or Wedge shape TVR or even a 13B powered Gen 1 RX-7. Total cost will be similar for a similar type of car. But then I've never been one to follow convention.Anybody had any experience of this? Obviously aftermarket turbo conversions could cause reliablility issues, and I'm really not looking for a refined/perfect machine, I just want something to give a fantastic driving experience, and to have a sense of occassion when I go for a drive.
Thoughts gents?
designforlife said:
I would imagine the best part is wiping the smug looks off of many "fast" car drivers who think you are driving a stock girly convertible.
Case in point at 4:26 (don't even think this one was turbo'd
)Cheers for the prompt replies guys, will definitely check out EVO.
I think I'd get one with the turbo conversion already done (being honest I wouldn't have a clue where to start) - I'd have to make sure there was an uprated clutch, an ECU and improved cooling etc though.
Don't seem to be too many of them for sale though :-/
I think I'd get one with the turbo conversion already done (being honest I wouldn't have a clue where to start) - I'd have to make sure there was an uprated clutch, an ECU and improved cooling etc though.
Don't seem to be too many of them for sale though :-/
Daggers89 said:
Cheers for the prompt replies guys, will definitely check out EVO.
I think I'd get one with the turbo conversion already done (being honest I wouldn't have a clue where to start) - I'd have to make sure there was an uprated clutch, an ECU and improved cooling etc though.
Don't seem to be too many of them for sale though :-/
Check out miataturbo.net for all the info you could ever want. As the name suggests, it's a bit more FI focused than Nutz.I think I'd get one with the turbo conversion already done (being honest I wouldn't have a clue where to start) - I'd have to make sure there was an uprated clutch, an ECU and improved cooling etc though.
Don't seem to be too many of them for sale though :-/
I bought this about a month ago, it's absolutely mental.
It's far from mint and needs a few jobs doing here and there but it is fantastically entertaining.
Did at least 200 hard miles at the weekend going to the PH Malton meet and it never missed a beat.
Cheap parts, relatively simple, huge aftermarket scene, do it, you won't regret it.
It's far from mint and needs a few jobs doing here and there but it is fantastically entertaining.
Did at least 200 hard miles at the weekend going to the PH Malton meet and it never missed a beat.
Cheap parts, relatively simple, huge aftermarket scene, do it, you won't regret it.
I was looking for a decent turbo'd or Supercharged MX5, nothing came up and I was looking at spending four to five grand, possibly more for the right car, the guys on MX5nutz are are a great bunch, I went to a meet courtesy of a chap called Lew, all very welcoming and one lad (john90) took me for a spin in his stunning Mariner blue example (Supercharged) which was just what I wanted but he wasnt selling and nothing came up.
There tends to be the odd dustbin with a turbo appear, Ebay sourced turbo with the boost wound up, usual rust and generally not what I was after, then there are some highly developed track/drift cars with no interior, rock hard suspension and 300 bhp but not much that was what I was looking for, i.e. mint, developed using decent parts, no rust, not barried or stanced. A mate mentioned a colleague was selling a 944 cab and the rest is history, probably not as sharp as an MX5 but still fun and a bit faster than an N/A five, would still like a Turbo 5 but would have to be the right one, bet if I looked now it would be there, perfect in every respect and 2 miles from where I live.
There tends to be the odd dustbin with a turbo appear, Ebay sourced turbo with the boost wound up, usual rust and generally not what I was after, then there are some highly developed track/drift cars with no interior, rock hard suspension and 300 bhp but not much that was what I was looking for, i.e. mint, developed using decent parts, no rust, not barried or stanced. A mate mentioned a colleague was selling a 944 cab and the rest is history, probably not as sharp as an MX5 but still fun and a bit faster than an N/A five, would still like a Turbo 5 but would have to be the right one, bet if I looked now it would be there, perfect in every respect and 2 miles from where I live.
Daggers, it looks like you're based in the midlands so have a word with Ste at 5 Speed in Nottingham. He's just putting an FM2 turbo demonstrator car on the road so people can see what can be done with them. It's only been built in the last couple of weeks so I'd guess it's still being tuned but well worth a call and booking a ride in it.
TrophyMax said:
I bought this about a month ago, it's absolutely mental.
It's far from mint and needs a few jobs doing here and there but it is fantastically entertaining.
Did at least 200 hard miles at the weekend going to the PH Malton meet and it never missed a beat.
Cheap parts, relatively simple, huge aftermarket scene, do it, you won't regret it.
I actually saw that on the MX5Nutz classifieds before I knew you were on here, fantastic purchase! Something like that would be perfect. Done much since you've had it? Smile-minute motoring I'd assume It's far from mint and needs a few jobs doing here and there but it is fantastically entertaining.
Did at least 200 hard miles at the weekend going to the PH Malton meet and it never missed a beat.
Cheap parts, relatively simple, huge aftermarket scene, do it, you won't regret it.
durbster said:
Daggers, it looks like you're based in the midlands so have a word with Ste at 5 Speed in Nottingham. He's just putting an FM2 turbo demonstrator car on the road so people can see what can be done with them. It's only been built in the last couple of weeks so I'd guess it's still being tuned but well worth a call and booking a ride in it.
Thanks for that, I might pop over and have a look around - the only reservation I'd have is the turbo kit they use is $5000 approx, that's without the car purchase price! :-/Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff