MX5 is the answer - but which one?

[Furyblade_Lee]

clarki said:

Furyblade_Lee said:

xcentric said:

Ir's a good question - my wife will be doing most of the commuting, and she's never really gelled with the Boxster. We've had it a fair few years (since 30k miles). It's more costly to insure, maintain, fuel and tax than an MX5 will be. It's odd to realise that I'll get nothing like the performance for the money, but it'd be a different experience and one she's more likely to get on with. But each time I drive it I find reasons to keep it - it was for sale on PH a couple of years ago and I changed my mind then too ??

I had the same, the Boxster thing I never understood, most disappointing car I have ever owned ( although certainly not the worst.... )

I'm with you guys on the Boxster. We had a 981S, didn't even last a year. Just dull. Held it's money though, which was good.

Was swapped for an slk55 (crazy car), 5 years ago, it's still here??!! Yet read all the press and believe the hype and you'd never choose an slk over a boxster

Yep, my mum still has a standard SLK230K with the manual 6-speed gearbox. Silver with black leather. Never took any notice of it until I had to borrow it for an hour. Hand on heart it was WAY more interesting and fun to drive than our Boxster S was.....

I got flamed on a Porsche forum once when I asked if as powering out of tighter corners under full power was it normal for only one rear wheel to break traction and smash itself up and down into the tarmac as if it was trying to rip the rear suspension and driveshaft off? The ABUSE I got!!! You would have thought I had been flashing at pensioners!!! I only bought the car to drive hard, it was scrappy at 10/10ths and bits keep breaking / falling off.

Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Saturday 16th January 23:11

[Lastmin]

I went from a 911 (996) to a ND , i've had quite a few mx5's but the handling/grip/damping of the 911 was sublime.

However for a lot less of the bills the mx5 gives me a better smiles per £ than the Porsche.

I currently love my winter mk2 1.8 run around especially when compared to mk1 prices now (i've had a 1992 and 1994 Mk1)

[xcentric]

I assume the mk2 winter one is to keep the ND in better condition for the decent weather? I mean, if the mk2 is fine for winter use, it's surely better in the summer so why have the ND too?

[Lastmin]

xcentric said:

I assume the mk2 winter one is to keep the ND in better condition for the decent weather? I mean, if the mk2 is fine for winter use, it's surely better in the summer so why have the ND too?

Kind of yes but the Mk2 wasn't an intentional buy my 2.0 2018 ND2 is really low miles around 5k but the MK2 was a family friends parents who downsizing so i bought it on a whim (wife only found out when the owners dropped it off) to tidy it up and then decide what to do with it.

My ND is an RF model so actually in the summer the Mk2 is prob the best option as a full convertible. I would quite happily use the ND all year round i'm not super precious but i have other things prob better suited to winter. We know mazda not exactly the best for unseal.

The ND is parked on the top of the driveway on a battery trickle charger for a few months but have kept it taxed etc so if the mood takes i can always grab the keys.

its my first NB and to be honest really like it, i know they don't have the fan base of the mk1 but i think they make for a great value buy.

[simonrockman]

I've just been through this.

The sweetest is an NA, pop-up headlights, basic. But they are climbing in price.
The NB, built on this. A little better to drive, lost the cool headlights
The NC started to get a bit flabby (particularly the RF)
The ND was a return to form, particularly the 2.0.

I needed something which kowtowed to that idiot Sadiq Khan's expanded ULEZ which meant an NA was out, so the best option for me as the NB. I would have wanted a 1.6 but that's not ULEZ, and EVO rates the 1.8 over the 1.6, and I could still get my 25-year-old son insured.

So i collected EP03 PVY on Friday. I've yet to drive it anywhere but London or in the daylight but I love it. I've driven cars which cost 30 times as much and they've not been as much fun.

[tonymor]

I got into Mx5s via my son with his mk1. We’ve both got mk1 . Mines a monza. I also have a mk7 golf and an E89 zed4. The Mazda is a real joy as they are a classic and do turn heads but it’s the pure simplicity that’s the big one. The moderns suffer from electrical marvels which can flash up worrying,and expensive lights.
I’ve not driven or owned any later Mx5 but overall for my money it’s mk1 . Especially as it seems very good ones are holding value +.

[simonrockman]

simonrockman said:

I've just been through this.

So I collected EP03 PVY on Friday. I've yet to drive it anywhere but London or in the daylight but I love it. I've driven cars which cost 30 times as much and they've not been as much fun.

The parts which have arrived:
A double DIN Android head unit with steering wheel remote, OBD-II connectivity, tyre pressure sensors, and reversing camera. A cam belt service kit, K&N induction set-up, and a can of matched paint.

Not yet arrived, but ordered: LED bulbs for dipped beam.

Next week it goes to have a couple of minor dents sorted.

It came with a magic tree so I think I'm good now.

[VladD]

simonrockman said:

simonrockman said:

I've just been through this.

So I collected EP03 PVY on Friday. I've yet to drive it anywhere but London or in the daylight but I love it. I've driven cars which cost 30 times as much and they've not been as much fun.

The parts which have arrived:
A double DIN Android head unit with steering wheel remote, OBD-II connectivity, tyre pressure sensors, and reversing camera. A cam belt service kit, K&N induction set-up, and a can of matched paint.

Not yet arrived, but ordered: LED bulbs for dipped beam.

Next week it goes to have a couple of minor dents sorted.

It came with a magic tree so I think I'm good now.

Any chance of a link to the double DIN unit?

[simonrockman]

VladD said:

Any chance of a link to the double DIN unit?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07CMY8973/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A friend who has tracked OS and processor recommended it but it doesn't have DAB (the friend is in the US) so I'm not sure it was a good buy.

What i can't find is a good, gooseneck microphone. I had an Ericsson car kit in the early 1990s in my Imprezza and that worked really well.

[xcentric]

tbh I've never found DAB any good in a car, at all. So not much loss, in my view!

Re versions, the NA is nice as a classic but am not so sure everyday, and it's not clean air zone compliant. NB/NC is good value - seems that the NC is more comfortable but slightly less sporty than the NB. ND is supposedly greta but the larger engined one is beyond what I want to spend.....

[Lily the Pink]

xcentric said:

tbh I've never found DAB any good in a car, at all. So not much loss, in my view!

It's absolutely fine in my 124 Spider, which is presumably exactly the same as the current MX5.

[PushedDover]

I bought some Kenwood KDC-BT7.... single DIN DAB stereos a while ago for the hacks, including the MX5. Bluetooth too. So google maps will bark directiosn, or stream music to it.

Works fine with a convertor, it allows me to keep the whip aerial.

I am looking for a replacement though, but cant find a holy grail Apple Carplay single Din unit.

[simonrockman]

xcentric said:

tbh I've never found DAB any good in a car, at all. So not much loss, in my view!

I've not had a problem and tried it in probably 30+ cars as I used to review cars. I particularly want to listen to Times Radio and my girlfriend wants six music - although she disapproves of the MX5 so that's less important.

It would have been cool if Mazda has put the 1.8 V6 from the RX-3 in the MX5. Still, I now lust after a Rocketeer. This is my first experience of an MX-5 so that can wait.

[A500leroy]

Do I buy a NC or keep a Fiat Panda?

[Nickp82]

Unless practicality is an issue, that’s a complete no-brainer