Help me decide.....mx5 or 7
Discussion
First things first. I've always wanted a Caterham 7 since I was a young lad and have been looking on the classifieds for ages. I could afford an £8000ish Caterham but my concern is not having a garage to put it in. Although I have the cash to buy the car I can't really commit to the monthly cost of a lock up to put it in.
Then I started looking at MX-5's around the £1k mark as a bit of a fun summer car which wouldn't be the end of the world if some oik trashed it in the street.
Either would be a second car as I have a V70 estate/barge shed.
Would I regret not getting the 7 (well yes probably!) even if it meant getting no sleep worrying about who was doing what to it in the night? I've read blogs/posts from PHers who have kept 7's without a garage, I suppose it's insured....
Anyways I'm waffling so...thoughts?
Then I started looking at MX-5's around the £1k mark as a bit of a fun summer car which wouldn't be the end of the world if some oik trashed it in the street.
Either would be a second car as I have a V70 estate/barge shed.
Would I regret not getting the 7 (well yes probably!) even if it meant getting no sleep worrying about who was doing what to it in the night? I've read blogs/posts from PHers who have kept 7's without a garage, I suppose it's insured....
Anyways I'm waffling so...thoughts?
Driven both.
MX-5 is a great little all-round sports car. Can be used for weekend fun as well as commuting. When driven flat out, it does become a little ragged and soggy. But on a public road, that's probably approaching the limit of what's acceptable anyway.
7's are totally hardcore, making no sense or 'raison d'etre' at anything below flat out. Uncomfortable, cramped, hot (or cold depending on the weather) noisy, vibraty machines. Driven with commitment - bags of feedback, fun and reward. Maybe a little wasted on roads - better sampled to the limit on trackdays. Totally impractical for anything except fun days. Countryside touring or commuting - um, no.
Both cars fairly simple to work on, spares not an issue and fairly cheap.
I'd imagine insurance is similar for both (i.e. not much)
I personally wouldn't entertain keeping a 7 if I didn't have a garage or indoor storage of some description. Not just when it's parked, but for any spannering you may need to do on it.
An MX5 would be happy kept on a driveway or road.
So....depends on usage! Will you be doing trackdays?
MX-5 is a great little all-round sports car. Can be used for weekend fun as well as commuting. When driven flat out, it does become a little ragged and soggy. But on a public road, that's probably approaching the limit of what's acceptable anyway.
7's are totally hardcore, making no sense or 'raison d'etre' at anything below flat out. Uncomfortable, cramped, hot (or cold depending on the weather) noisy, vibraty machines. Driven with commitment - bags of feedback, fun and reward. Maybe a little wasted on roads - better sampled to the limit on trackdays. Totally impractical for anything except fun days. Countryside touring or commuting - um, no.
Both cars fairly simple to work on, spares not an issue and fairly cheap.
I'd imagine insurance is similar for both (i.e. not much)
I personally wouldn't entertain keeping a 7 if I didn't have a garage or indoor storage of some description. Not just when it's parked, but for any spannering you may need to do on it.
An MX5 would be happy kept on a driveway or road.
So....depends on usage! Will you be doing trackdays?
Well, for what it's worth - no garage and no track days means you'd be better off with an MX5 mate.
Plus, you don't say how handy you are with the spanners - but all the 7 owners i've known have had to spend a fair bit of time tinkering with them - it's the nature of the kit car type of build. There's usually some little thing that needs doing now and again.
All 'in my opinion' of course - hope this helps!
Plus, you don't say how handy you are with the spanners - but all the 7 owners i've known have had to spend a fair bit of time tinkering with them - it's the nature of the kit car type of build. There's usually some little thing that needs doing now and again.
All 'in my opinion' of course - hope this helps!
I'd say go for the Seven... As you say, you'll be disappointed if you don't. It's a second car, does it need to be very practical? MX5's are great, cheap fun but if your set on a Seven, get a Seven. 
Personally I wouldn't worry too much about it being outside. I'm sure covers are available... Keep in mind I have absolutely no experience with a Caterham or similar... so take this with a pinch of salt.
Personally I wouldn't worry too much about it being outside. I'm sure covers are available... Keep in mind I have absolutely no experience with a Caterham or similar... so take this with a pinch of salt.
Funnily enough I saw a midget when I was looking at mx5's on ebay and it did cross my mind. I think that would lead to upgrade/renovation costs though as I would become attached to it. The idea with the MX5 was to buy the cheapest possible for a bit of summer fun with little outlay and get rid before the sills disappear! It's been ages since I had a car I enjoy driving, and I love driving. Never had a rwd either (unless a 2wd Ford Ranger counts)so a bit short on PH points all round!
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
When driven flat out, it does become a little ragged and soggy. But on a public road, that's probably approaching the limit of what's acceptable anyway.
I have an MX5 for this reason. People laugh at me for trading down from a 987 Boxster S (via a V8 Mustang)but that was just too fast for road usage - I never got anywhere near the limits so the drive was somewhat clinical. I have a MK3 MX5 as a commuter and I press on every time I drive it - the sensation of speed means I'm rarely braking the law to an extent that anyone would be bothered about.
Great little cars - only downside is space, the size of the steering wheel and that the gearing is a bit short to make it a comfortable motorway cruiser.
I've owned both in the past. Needless to say the Caterham is light years ahead in every aspect when you get it on a track or an empty B-road. If that's the prime reason for buying the car and you'll get to do that a lot then go for a Caterham - or something similar - without even thinking about it. My Caterham cost me less to run than the MX5 did and it was a hoot on track.
If, however, you plan to use it every day and/or do long distance touring in it then the Caterham is less suitable. I know there are people who use them for commuting in all weathers, and maybe if you have a secure place to park at work and your morning slog takes you over the Pennines then it's worth doing, but for suburbia it's just not worth the dubious weather protection, almost total lack of security and the level of attention it will generate.
As you may have detected, I couldn't find enough occasions to use a car as focused as the Seven, so it didn't make a whole load of sense in the end - even with a garage for it to sit in, unused. I am so glad I experienced it, but I don't have a huge desire to go back.
While the MX5 wasn't even on the same plane as the Caterham it's the one I'd be more tempted to revisit, simply because you can use it far more often - you're not waiting for a sunny Sunday afternoon.
If, however, you plan to use it every day and/or do long distance touring in it then the Caterham is less suitable. I know there are people who use them for commuting in all weathers, and maybe if you have a secure place to park at work and your morning slog takes you over the Pennines then it's worth doing, but for suburbia it's just not worth the dubious weather protection, almost total lack of security and the level of attention it will generate.
As you may have detected, I couldn't find enough occasions to use a car as focused as the Seven, so it didn't make a whole load of sense in the end - even with a garage for it to sit in, unused. I am so glad I experienced it, but I don't have a huge desire to go back.
While the MX5 wasn't even on the same plane as the Caterham it's the one I'd be more tempted to revisit, simply because you can use it far more often - you're not waiting for a sunny Sunday afternoon.
I'd like the fun factor of a Seven, but not the dampness. So I have the Libra.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff