MX5 / MX5(FI) / MEV Exocet / Tiger / Westfield arrrggghhhh

[anonymous-user]

I'm going around in circles. I'm going through an early mid-life crisis: I am after a track / weekend car but I can't decide what I should get.

Initially I was thinking just get an MX5 like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

and have some fun upgrading it and tracking it.

But then why not buy a supercharged already sorted MX5 like this:
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?app=classif...

Or an exocet:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/k...

A friend has a westfield and I think its more of an occasion to drive and it is so much fun even with around 130bhp.

So why don't I buy one like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271581953241?_trksid=p20...
or
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221517252078?_trksid=p20...

I want a car to mess with in the garage, track, and take out on a weekend if I'm in the mood. Me and the Mrs have 2 cars and a motorbike between us with nothing owed.

Last week I was set on an MX5. Now I'm thinking just grow some balls and get a 7 type kit car with a zetec. It will loose less money, be more fun and feel a bit more special. But then.....I can probably save myself 4k by getting option 1 and if I bin it on track will be less upset.

First world problems eh!

Opinions on a postcard please.

TB

[keo]

I am in the same situation. I want a fun, second car for weekends and the odd track day. Thinking mk1 mx5, maybe a mk2 not sure. Mk3 MR2 sound good fun as well. Then the budget goes up and thinking a 986 boxster s or maybe a westfeild.
Same as you i would prefer a cheaper option at the minute, from what i have read on here makes me think i would be missing out if i didnt try a mx5 or mr2

[Mr MXT]

I had a turbo'd mk2 mx5 and replaced it with a Westie.

The Westie is loads more fun.

[MG CHRIS]

Get a rust free mx5 then play with it. This is coming from me that owns both a mx5 well several atm and a mev exocet.
The exocet is only for good dry weather its pointless in the rain, also use for track use but its a lot of money to repair if things go tits up.

Get a nice mx5 drive it see what needs doing then upgrade as you go along far more satisfaction then getting a fully sorted one. You don't even need FI tbh just find roads that suit the mx5 ie most of wales.

[leemarkadams]

I have had a Westfield (184bhp and VERY fast), an MK Indy (R1 motorbike engined) and they both were very limited to when I could use them, as both had aeroscreens with no creature comforts. For track days and nice weekend runs they were brilliant, with VERY low running costs )e.g. I did 4 track days in the Westfield and did not need to cage any brakes or tyres) only the oil and filters as preventative maintenance.

The big down side was they were limited to when they could be used (sold them now) and I am away with work for a few years but when I get back I am thinking of a Mk1 MX5 (FI) or an elise, something that I could use to go to work in etc if I wanted and that will give about 75% of the fun with 200% of the practicality.

Oh, I am 41 years old!

[leemarkadams]

I have had a Westfield (184bhp and VERY fast), an MK Indy (R1 motorbike engined) and they both were very limited to when I could use them, as both had aeroscreens with no creature comforts. For track days and nice weekend runs they were brilliant, with VERY low running costs )e.g. I did 4 track days in the Westfield and did not need to cage any brakes or tyres) only the oil and filters as preventative maintenance.

The big down side was they were limited to when they could be used (sold them now) and I am away with work for a few years but when I get back I am thinking of a Mk1 MX5 (FI) or an elise, something that I could use to go to work in etc if I wanted and that will give about 75% of the fun with 200% of the practicality.

Oh, I am 41 years old!

[jesfirth]

Or you could buy a cheap TVR. They go like stink and are lots of fun.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the replies.

The differing opinions haven't really helped me decide this one.

The practicality thing is something I've thought about. I reckon that if he weather isn't good enough to take a westfield out, I probably won't want to take an mx5 out either. I live pretty close to work so I'm not so fussed about using it to commute and I use the motorbike all year round for that anyway.

My other consideration is that my current diesel barge car can tow 1600kgs and it will be a lot easier to mate up my car with a trailer and a light weight kit car than an mx5 and trailer to take it to a track.

Any other points or thoughts?

[anonymous-user]

jesfirth said:

Or you could buy a cheap TVR. They go like stink and are lots of fun.

I definitely don't have the balls for that.

[Mr MXT]

Westfield much more of a sense of occasion, everyone smiles, faster than most on track, strap bag to rollbar for extra luggage capacity. Much much quicker than my 210bhp mx5.

[Huff]

OP - you can find MX5s for £1500 or so. Just buy one, run it, and get it out of your system - or get in deeper after discovering what you it is really want after a cheap year of fun.

My take - after hankering after caterfields for years and trying a good few in the 18months or so I was seriously looking - I just jumped and bought the best-sorted BEC I found: a Fisher Fury spyder R1 (details in profile). 4+years later - no, no plans to change. For what I want, it's wonderful.

Edited by Huff on Sunday 24th August 20:55