Share the hate for the MX5

[Kinkell]

Best selling sports car, bullet proof mechanicals, top down wind in the hair motoring heaven that won't break the bank.
They tick a lot of petrolhead boxes but I hold a deep unforgiving dislike of these imposters that grows every time some old grey haired git passes by on the other side of the road driving one of them.
I see the poorer examples rotting amidst the weeds and burst couches of unkempt front gardens as I go about my daily chores.
My views have been reinforced on track with the mx5 racers taking each other out at every opportunity. They may be cheap, well yes mibbe that's what they are all about.

[stick100]

Mx5 was a very good car. Handle very well. It was let down by being under powered and rusting outer sills but it was cheaper then other cars ie the Honda s2000 which I always thought the mx5 should of been

[scott15]

My handbrake light keep coming on every time i go round a corner 'enthusiastically'.

[Stuartggray]

I regard the MX5 as the son of MG. I like both.

[Limpet]

As the small, accessible, simple, fun handling roadster it was designed to be, I don't see how anyone can hate it.

Expect a fast, furious sports car, and yeah it is a bit lacking.

But who ever claimed it was one of those? Certainly wasn't Mazda.

[tr7v8]

Mx5 brilliant! Bought nearly 2 years ago for my wife. 88 Eunos 1600 in fantastic nick. Despite being used as an appliance, costing me peanuts in servicing & aside from shredding its fanbelt the other week it has been 100% reliable. Great fun to drive & not too bad to insure, which was important as wife had no NCB. Despite only have FWD experience with ABS & all the other stay safe bits, she has got some RWD experience with it.

[storminnorman]

Stuartggray said:

I regard the MX5 as the son of MG. I like both.

elan, no?

I don't particularly dislike the MX5 but I generally dislike Japanese cars. To me, they just lack spark

[saaby93]

In a strange kinda way I like this



Mazda based the MX5 on the Elan, Elan colours on an MX5

Homage?

[Darkslider]

What MG should have made instead of the F.

[johnnyBv8]

Must say, I'm not a fan either. Have only driven the Mk2 (?) 1.8 though. It's the Vauxhall Astra of the entry level 'sports car' world.

[stick100]

50/50 weight disruption wasn't a bad idea but the power plant should of of had more beans

[mattshiz]

johnnyBv8 said:

Must say, I'm not a fan either. Have only driven the Mk2 (?) 1.8 though. It's the Vauxhall Astra of the entry level 'sports car' world.

Apart from its well built, reliable and ok to look at.

I suppose a Porsche 911 is the Ford Focus of the 'sports car' world.

[Baryonyx]

Cheap, decent handler, slightly characterless engine that is peppy and loves being ragged. Nowt wrong with them in my book. Had one and didn't love it, but I'd have another and try harder with it this time! People complain about the factory setup being a little soft; it's fantastic for UK B roads and is just the ticket for keeping your wheels down on our awful tarmac.

[Motorrad]

One massive design flaw. They are built for midgets. I simply can't fit in one with the roof up and with it down the top edge of the windscreen sits right in my sight line.

[Igurisu]

Not much hating going on so far

Bought ours 2 years ago as a dd for the missus. Peanuts to run, totally reliable and that's with me abusing it on a couple of track days.

[vikingaero]

I like them. Old enough for a wide range of models to drive, ranging from £20k new ones to >£1k snotters. Even a lot of the snotters are good enough to use as a daily driver. Lend themselves to pootling or trackdays and modifying if that is your scene.

Driven by a lot of grey haired folk because the kids have left home and they can drive something they want unlike us who have to consider the family. And I suppose it reminds them of their youth when they may have owned something similar. If you are going to berate a car for its ownership demographics then most Porsches I see are driven by those aged 50+. Not sure hating a car because of the owners is a good thing.

MGFs = buckets o crap.

[johnnyBv8]

mattshiz said:

johnnyBv8 said:

Must say, I'm not a fan either. Have only driven the Mk2 (?) 1.8 though. It's the Vauxhall Astra of the entry level 'sports car' world.

Apart from its well built, reliable and ok to look at.

I may be a bit out of touch then - I didnt realise Astras had build and reliability issues.

What I meant is that I find the MX5 a bit of an uninspired choice; it suits people that want to feel like they have something sporty and different, despite it being fairly utilitarian. They're just a bit 'meh'. However, my view is probably partly tainted by the fact that I find Japanese cars pretty soulless generally!

mattshiz said:

I suppose a Porsche 911 is the Ford Focus of the 'sports car' world.

For me, that would be the Golf. Very competent, very common, and perceived to be reliable. That makes it sound like I don't like 911s or Golfs....I like both!

[Euro1300]

johnnyBv8 said:

it suits people that want to feel like they have something sporty and different

I don't know anyone who bought one for this reason.

Know plenty who bought them as they're a fantastic way to do track days on a shoestring, though. Or to enjoy driving holidays to the Alps / Tyrol / Black Forest etc.

I think some people can't see beyond big power and too much grip when they think sports car - when they should be thinking lightweight and fun.

[johnnyBv8]

Euro1300 said:

johnnyBv8 said:

it suits people that want to feel like they have something sporty and different

I don't know anyone who bought one for this reason.

Know plenty who bought them as they're a fantastic way to do track days on a shoestring, though. Or to enjoy driving holidays to the Alps / Tyrol / Black Forest etc.

I do, and I don't think it's particularly at odds with the reasoning you cite.

Euro1300 said:

I think some people can't see beyond big power and too much grip when they think sports car - when they should be thinking lightweight and fun.

Must add my 205 GTI to my PH 'garage'!

[Ari]

johnnyBv8 said:

Must add my 205 GTI to my PH 'garage'!

Meh, the Peugeot 205 of the 'sportscar world' surely?