Mx5 turbo/sc for fun?

[leemarkadams]

Hello all,

Just wondering what a turboed or supercharged mx5 would be like on track days or a weekend bit of fun?

Bit of history, looking to downsize my cars (sold the 911 already) and have a 184bhp westfiield at the moment which is good on track and weekends but limited to when it can be used (no windscreen etc). So been looking at other options such as lotus elise/vx220 etc then saw some mx5 turbos for sale and did not realise that you could get so much car for a very reasonable price.

Anyway, would say a 200 bhp mx5 mk1 be fun enough to drive? Also what about the stats, such as 0-60 or 1/4 mile etc?

Thanks

Lee

[MxMurray]

Lee
Have a quick search on you tube for turbo MX-5.
Or have a look on mx5nutz for buid stories.
A nice turbo MX-5 is a joy to behold,I'm in the process of gathering parts to charge mine.

[leemarkadams]

Thanks and will do, just the appeal of a cheap but fun car you could use in not great weather sounds good. As said would want to track day it as well as have weekend fun. Also looking at elises and vx220s, stufff like that but they cost more than twice what a turboed or sced mx5 is.

[mcrdave]

You can get a lot of car for the money. The best kits are from flyin' miata an american brand, the bits are well made and won't (shouldn't) break, also ECU wise megasquirt is good if well mapped. Under 200bhp you can get a piggyback card and for S/c Moss or Jackson racing do a kit. I've had my turbo for 6 months now, had a few niggles but theres loads of info on mx5nutz (where i bought mine from). Absolutely love it. 239bhp and 211lbs is plenty enough for me and I can still use it to commute occasionally.

[GravelBen]

Mine was fun



Just make sure the cooling has been upgraded to handle the extra heat from the turbo on track.

[leemarkadams]

Thanks once more and may have to see about going to look at one.

The only down side is the image....

[pewe]

IMO supercharged is deffo the way to go.
Having run both s/c and turbo cars (albeit tintops) my s/c Mk1 1.6 never ceases to amuse.
Crack open the throttle and off it goes - no lag, just building torque - closest thing to riding a motorbike on four wheels.

The easiest way to go about it is to buy one already converted.
There are some nicely specced cars out there for not a lot of money.
Take care about rust issues partic. Mk2.5's which have double skinned front legs which rot out from the inside!
Sensible mods include chassis rails, decent adjustable coil-overs (mine is on MeisterR's) and a slippy diff.
200bhp is a bit ambitious for a day-to-day driver but certainly 160 at the wheels makes for an entertaining drive and running costs aren't huge.

OK so some regard it as a hairdresser's car but only to the un-initiated.
Drivers of Porsche, Ferrari and M3's have been known to comment favourably
If you fancy a passenger ride and are within striking distance of Bracknell come up to one of the monthly MX5Nutz meets - normally a few turbo and s/c cars around.
Cheers, Pewe.

[MX-5 Lazza]

leemarkadams said:

The only down side is the image....

Forget anything you've heard about image. I go on lot of PH hoons and mixed track days and without exception people in all kinds of car are interested in my car and give it as much respect as any other 245bhp sports car.

My SC car at Brands in 2008

[leemarkadams]

Right, anyone nearish to portsmouth with one i could be taken in etc?

[leemarkadams]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Forget anything you've heard about image. I go on lot of PH hoons and mixed track days and without exception people in all kinds of car are interested in my car and give it as much respect as any other 245bhp sports car.

My SC car at Brands in 2008

Just watched that clip, very impressive, what's the spec of your car?

[skilly1]

I am sort of looking to sell mine (have not advertised it anywhere but thought about it!) ! Runs about 200bhp, but is not MOT'd but would run it through if you were serious. I call it white lightening as a bit of a joke ! I have run it for around 3 years and it has been very reliable, but exterior body work not in the best shape, does not bother me though.

Here is the spec from when I bought it.

1.6 Petrol
Greddy Turbo System @ 10psi
Greddy Type S Dump Valve
Intercooler (www.universal-intercoolers.co.uk) fellow member of MX5NUTZ (DAN)
340cc Toyota Supra Injectors
ITG Air Filter (AFM is now removed)
HKS Cams
MegaSquirt Engine Management with Electronic Boost Controller
Innovate LC-1 Air/Fuel Gauge


MECHANICAL:
Upgraded Torsen Differential (1.8)
1.8 Front Brakes w/ EBC Yellow Stuff Pads all round)
Braided Brake Hose Lines
Uprated Clutch
Lower Front/Rear & Cabin Brace, Engine Strut Brace
15x7 Volk TE37 Bronze (VERY VERY RARE AND LIGHT!)
Toyo Proxes T1R Rubber
XS-Speed Exhaust
KYB Shocks (Ajustable) with TEIN Springs (10 Months old)
WIM Nurbergring Alignment
Mobile FUlly sync oil (oil change every 6 months)

I have also put lotus Elsie seats in it which are worth over £350 on their own.It also has a hard top - what more do you want !! I am based in Gloucester.

If interested PM me.

[Mr MXT]

Lee, I had a 210bhp turbo'd mk2 mx5 and switched to a 180bhp Aeroscreened Westie - I'd never go back.

The mx5 was more usable in the sense that you could drive it in the rain (that said, the deathfield goes out in all weathers) but nowhere near special enough as a second car IMO. The Westfield mullers it in everyway. Except boot space.

[leemarkadams]

Fair point!

Oh the agony of choice!

[Bomberharris]

Skilly, im trying to private mail but ts bouncing can you try pm'ing me please

[skilly1]

Bomberharris said:

Skilly, im trying to private mail but ts bouncing can you try pm'ing me please

Its bouncing me as well - system must be down. Will try tomorrow.

[Richyvrlimited]

skilly1 said:

I am sort of looking to sell mine (have not advertised it anywhere but thought about it!) ! Runs about 200bhp, but is not MOT'd but would run it through if you were serious. I call it white lightening as a bit of a joke ! I have run it for around 3 years and it has been very reliable, but exterior body work not in the best shape, does not bother me though.

Here is the spec from when I bought it.

1.6 Petrol
Greddy Turbo System @ 10psi
Greddy Type S Dump Valve
Intercooler (www.universal-intercoolers.co.uk) fellow member of MX5NUTZ (DAN)
340cc Toyota Supra Injectors
ITG Air Filter (AFM is now removed)
HKS Cams
MegaSquirt Engine Management with Electronic Boost Controller
Innovate LC-1 Air/Fuel Gauge


MECHANICAL:
Upgraded Torsen Differential (1.8)
1.8 Front Brakes w/ EBC Yellow Stuff Pads all round)
Braided Brake Hose Lines
Uprated Clutch
Lower Front/Rear & Cabin Brace, Engine Strut Brace
15x7 Volk TE37 Bronze (VERY VERY RARE AND LIGHT!)
Toyo Proxes T1R Rubber
XS-Speed Exhaust
KYB Shocks (Ajustable) with TEIN Springs (10 Months old)
WIM Nurbergring Alignment
Mobile FUlly sync oil (oil change every 6 months)

I have also put lotus Elsie seats in it which are worth over £350 on their own.It also has a hard top - what more do you want !! I am based in Gloucester.

If interested PM me.

Heh, I helped the lad that built that car, um build it, was fapping quick.

Looks like you've taken it to another level again.

Can you PM what you'd want for it? I've another mate who'd be really interested in it.

[fatjon]

I built a Mk2 turbo with forged internals, megasquirt and a GT2860RS ball bearing turbo (and a whole lot of other goodies too). It has virtually no lag and is making over 300BHP. I Suppose it depends on how far you want to go really. Mine happily pulls up hills in 6th from 1500RPM and is coming into 6 or 7 PSI of boost by 1600RPM, then it goes rapidly skywards to the 21PSI limit. It remains a really enjoyable car to drive too which was very important to me.

I learned a lot about the cars and the expensive bear traps when converting them to forced induction and there are a few. I used BEGI for the cast manifold and big downpipe, really nice quality gear. Don't, whatever you do, be tempted by the Ebay £99 turbo exhaust manifold. It's nasty Chinese rubbish and cracked up within a few hours of use. No amount of welding could keep it together, the steel is like porcelain.

[BeirutTaxi]

Forced induction is laugh out loud good in an MX5, although for a good coversion the cost + a decent base car means you're not far off the price of something like a used Honda S2000.

[GravelBen]

BeirutTaxi said:

...means you're not far off the price of something like a used Honda S2000.

But a fair bit faster!

[leemarkadams]

Thanks once more and just need to get a try of one now, so if anyone is near portsmouth/chichester area with one??