MK3 MX5 (replaces MK1)

[Munter]

Well after months (actually probably years), of umming and ahhing about possibly getting a Z3, or an S2000 or a 328. It turns out what I really wanted to replace the MX5 I'd had for the last 7 years. Was an MX5. And both I and the Mrs were determined it would not be silver. This one is definitely not silver.




A 2.0 Sport. The only non standard thing being the colour of the wheel I think. I quite like them dark..I think.

Sad to see this guy go though:

In seven years we've been around the Nurburgring, Oulton park and Bedford Autodrome (many times!).
Registered at 5 different addresses covered ~85,000 miles of daily abuse.
And it only left me stranded once.

The MX5 is dead. Long live the MX5!

[Luke.]

Lovely, lovely.

Sold the old one yet?

[lewisf182]

Colour combo suits it very very well. How different is it to drive from the old one?

[wackojacko]

Nice, I've been eyeing these up recently...

[Munter]

Luke. said:

Lovely, lovely.

Sold the old one yet?

Yes. Taken a deposit from a guy called Dan. I'll be sending the paperwork off to swap the plate off it. And once that's back it's his.

[Munter]

lewisf182 said:

Colour combo suits it very very well. How different is it to drive from the old one?

Not explored the limits much yet. But "refinement" is up massively. It feels like a modern car (which is no surprise). I think the alignment might be a bit out as under hard acceleration it want's to visit the other side of the road.

So it's not greatly different, just...'nicer'.

[mx5tom]

I'm tempted to upgrade to a 2.0 Sport and was thinking about going to view the car you've now bought.

It looks good. As you've mentioned in your post, it's worth getting the alignment checked. All standard cars will be far from ideal and exhibit problems like you've mentioned. It also doesn't take much to upset the alignment, so even if it's been done before it's always worth getting it checked out.

Congrats on the new car anyway, looks great.

[Chas88]

Looks good, I think bright colours suit these cars, my old one was bright blue. The wheels look good in black too.

[Munter]

Had to be done. A bit of a drive into Wales.


I'm finding the traction control cuts in quite a bit coming off roundabouts. Just how ham fisted can I be with it off? In the MK1 you could be a total ape with the throttle and it just went.

I left it turned on today. 2nd day of ownership and wales, does not sound like a great time to explore...

[Riknos]

Munter said:

Had to be done. A bit of a drive into Wales.


I'm finding the traction control cuts in quite a bit coming off roundabouts. Just how ham fisted can I be with it off? In the MK1 you could be a total ape with the throttle and it just went.

I left it turned on today. 2nd day of ownership and wales, does not sound like a great time to explore...

Looking very nice, I have recently (in the last couple of weeks) traded in my mk1 for a mk3 Sport also. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how much better the newer car feels, or the fact that you don't have as much handling feed back, and more body roll (mine was on coil overs though)

I would definitely advise getting lowering springs and the alignment done, I've done a lot of research and it sounds like the difference is well worth it.

RE: The traction control - you can press it once to turn it 'half off' or hold it down and it turns fully off.

[james_gt3rs]

Which one is better to drive then?

[Munter]

james_gt3rs said:

Which one is better to drive then?

I'm torn on that front. The MK1 is definitely more raw, and tells you everything about what is going on in intimate detail. The MK3 is more civilised. If you hit a speedbump in the MK1, the whole car shudders and bangs and creaks. In the MK3 there is a thud and the wheel twitches and the car is more composed.

Once you get going into a drive, and you're concentrating on the road, the seat of pants feeling is very similar. I suspect on track I'd sooner have the MK1, but for road use the MK3.

[Squadrone Rosso]

Love the MX5

The modern incarnation of my Alfa Spider

[Munter]

Well so far the only problem I've had was water in the boot. Fixed by shoving a wire coat hanger down the drain tubes. Followed by a trombone cleaner a few days later. The boot is very watertight though! There was about an inch of water int he bottom.

And I lost my buyer for the MK1. Took so long to sort out the paperwork around the reg numbers I think he got bored. Not returning my calls anyway.

Anybody want a car?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3989823.htm

[_Batty_]

Well priced mate.
and i would very much be tempted, once is shift some of my junk

[Craikeybaby]

I went from mk1 to mk3.5 last year, and the newer car feels like a slightly more refined bigger version of the original!

[Munter]

As I've driven the car more I've noticed it seemed to have an inclination to go right on throttle and left when you get off it. So took it around to the local laser alignment place:

Before >>> After


Only driven it a short distance home but it "feels" better.

To start with we didn't think he'd be able to do it as the left rear of the car was riding 1/2 an inch lower than the right.... But after raising the car on the alignment rig it'd settled flat. Underlying Shock problem?

[mx5tom]

I have no idea about stuff like this, but it sounds like it could be a twisted bush problem? If I remember correctly that can cause the ride height to be lower than it should be.

Have a google for mx5 twisted bushes. I'm not going to try to explain something I can barely remember and never completely understood when I could remember. :P

Basically though, I think it's something to do with tightening the suspension bush(es) while the car is still jacked up, so when it's lowered and the suspension is supporting the weight of the car, it twists the suspension bush and causes all sorts of problems. This explanation might be complete bks, so Google it!

[Munter]

mx5tom said:

I have no idea about stuff like this, but it sounds like it could be a twisted bush problem? If I remember correctly that can cause the ride height to be lower than it should be.

Have a google for mx5 twisted bushes. I'm not going to try to explain something I can barely remember and never completely understood when I could remember. :P

Basically though, I think it's something to do with tightening the suspension bush(es) while the car is still jacked up, so when it's lowered and the suspension is supporting the weight of the car, it twists the suspension bush and causes all sorts of problems. This explanation might be complete bks, so Google it!

That should be consistent though. The weight was never taken off the wheels. Just a bit of vibration as the lift went up wouldn't have undone it I wouldn't think....