Can I reallly...
Discussion
Just get one you big girl! 
What's not to like?
The engine's in the right place.
It drives the correct set of wheels.
You can take the roof down.
The engine sounds good.
They're cheap to buy, run etc.
They look good.
They have a fantastic chassis.
They're the perfect springboard for much more power should you want it.
What's not to like?
The engine's in the right place.
It drives the correct set of wheels.
You can take the roof down.
The engine sounds good.
They're cheap to buy, run etc.
They look good.
They have a fantastic chassis.
They're the perfect springboard for much more power should you want it.
mx-5 lazza said:
There are loads of MX-5 owners in your area but don't bother with the OC. Post a message on the MX-5 Nutz website saying you are looking to buy an MX-5 but want a few test-drives and you'll be inundated with offers of everything from base 1.6 auto's to fire-breathing +250bhp FM Turbos (and they are much friendlier than the stuffy, clique that is the OC) 
Ah, that's not fair Lazza. Some of the OC lot are OK! Some of the Yorkshire lot are nuts! One guy put the V8 lump in his.
Will still give you a call about a run out in yours; I'm L33SMX from the OC forum.
Fruitcake said:
Just get one you big girl!
What's not to like?
The engine's in the right place.
It drives the correct set of wheels.
You can take the roof down.
The engine sounds good.
They're cheap to buy, run etc.
They look good.
They have a fantastic chassis.
They're the perfect springboard for much more power should you want it.
What's not to like?
The engine's in the right place.
It drives the correct set of wheels.
You can take the roof down.
The engine sounds good.
They're cheap to buy, run etc.
They look good.
They have a fantastic chassis.
They're the perfect springboard for much more power should you want it.
I know, I know
Its just the whole thing about it being my only car, and will it get to me not having space.
But I do appreciate that when you lay it out like that - they have to be the best all round drivers car that you can get for £3000.
My search continues next week. Maybe I might get one before Le Mans afterall. 5 weeks...
Tybo - I'd like to take you up on that - I'm a big fan of supercharged cars, much more so than Turbo'd motors. Be interesting to see what it feels - yours must be 180hp plus?
snotrag said:
Fruitcake said:
Just get one you big girl!
What's not to like?
The engine's in the right place.
It drives the correct set of wheels.
You can take the roof down.
The engine sounds good.
They're cheap to buy, run etc.
They look good.
They have a fantastic chassis.
They're the perfect springboard for much more power should you want it.
What's not to like?
The engine's in the right place.
It drives the correct set of wheels.
You can take the roof down.
The engine sounds good.
They're cheap to buy, run etc.
They look good.
They have a fantastic chassis.
They're the perfect springboard for much more power should you want it.
I know, I know
Its just the whole thing about it being my only car, and will it get to me not having space.
But I do appreciate that when you lay it out like that - they have to be the best all round drivers car that you can get for £3000.
My search continues next week. Maybe I might get one before Le Mans afterall. 5 weeks...
Tybo - I'd like to take you up on that - I'm a big fan of supercharged cars, much more so than Turbo'd motors. Be interesting to see what it feels - yours must be 180hp plus?
yeah mine should be around the 180BHP mark.
The offer still stands, so should be able to arrange something.
Where about's in Leeds are you ?
snotrag said:
... live with a 5?
I'm still tempted - cheap, reliable, fun, bum powered, cheap, soft top, cheap... I need a car that I will buy this summer while I'm on placement earning a wage, then it will have to last for 2 years while I'm at Uni, earning half a wage. I'm scared of buying one and being stuck with it - I can't afford to make the wrong choice!
Will it feel too slow? My current car IS slow, a 90hp escort, But I can still enjoy driving it. Whatever I buy does need to be a significant upgrade though.
Am I mad for thinking it will be fine taking me a mate and 2 DH bikes to Scotland? I've worked out that technically it can be done, but realistically?
The issues like noise, and lack of power bug me, but its really hard to gauge. What do you compare it to? My current car is noisy and slow.... So a 5 has to be better than that right?
Talk me out of buying one... BRG V -spec, tan leather, powder-coat yellow mini-lites, chrome bullet mirrors.. yellow roll bar, its all there worked out in my mind... a 60's race car homage.
I'm still tempted - cheap, reliable, fun, bum powered, cheap, soft top, cheap... I need a car that I will buy this summer while I'm on placement earning a wage, then it will have to last for 2 years while I'm at Uni, earning half a wage. I'm scared of buying one and being stuck with it - I can't afford to make the wrong choice!
Will it feel too slow? My current car IS slow, a 90hp escort, But I can still enjoy driving it. Whatever I buy does need to be a significant upgrade though.
Am I mad for thinking it will be fine taking me a mate and 2 DH bikes to Scotland? I've worked out that technically it can be done, but realistically?
The issues like noise, and lack of power bug me, but its really hard to gauge. What do you compare it to? My current car is noisy and slow.... So a 5 has to be better than that right?
Talk me out of buying one... BRG V -spec, tan leather, powder-coat yellow mini-lites, chrome bullet mirrors.. yellow roll bar, its all there worked out in my mind... a 60's race car homage.
Am I sensing a theme here?
Personally I wouldn't want to drive any significant distance with the second most expensive thing I own, dangling precariously off the most expensive thing that I own.
You can however fit a deceptively large ammount of stuff in one and I dont think it's a problem driving few miles across to your mates, with a bike rack on. Then getting into his saloon/hatch/estate.
Speed wise - if you stop to think about how fast your going you won't be blown away. I'd expect it to be a little quicker than your escort, but not a lot. The positive side is you're unlikely to spend time worrying about how fast you're going, because the engines are tremendously willing - really hightens the '60s racer' sensations as it feels like a car that's really performing even though you're not going that quickly.
Handling is great fun. If you see yourself in a Ferrari/TVR/Porsche/Caterham or whatever in a few years time, then the MX5 is a great way to get started in RWD. My only complaint is the torsional rigidity isn't great, even with additional chassis bracing so it never feels as stiff as a tin top.
Right, here are some alternative suggestions you can fit a bike in,
Porsche 924S/944 - holds a bike with one wheel still on! Even better balanced than the MX5 IMHO. Shop around and insurance/servicing costs are less than a new repmobile.
Scimitar GTE - again, huge space (it is basically an estate) with a 3 litre V6 driving the correct set of wheels. Peanuts for classic car insurance, plentiful cars and spares - £2500 for a gone one!
BMW 3 series Coupe - 6 cylinders are pretty serious performers (low 6's to 60mph) and you can load a 7ft door into the back of an E36 coupe. Could probably get a bike in with both wheels on!!
Mk2 Golf GTi 16v - if you have to do FWD, do so with style....
Now, if you can dismiss all these, I'd say that only really leaves you with an MX5 and some very careful adjustment of the bike rack straps
chris71 said:
If you see yourself in a Ferrari/TVR/Porsche/Caterham or whatever in a few years time,
Thats exactly the plan.
As for your suggestions
Mk2 golf - considered this and other fast hatches (306 mainly). Probably the most sensible choice. But they all suffer from the same thing - being a fast 'normal' car. You dont have to bend down to get in, and ultimately they never feel anything more than a regular shopping car with a big engine.
944/Scimitar - again, already considered, and would really fullfill the 'special' requirement. However - I'm off back to Uni for two years - I aint gonna have a lot of money. If I bump it, or pop an engine, thats it, screwed. Just scared it will bankrupt me, a bit too peaky to have as an only car.
Leaving the E36 - the main contender. Actually been to see/drive a few, fast, posh, comfy, practical. But a bit expensive for a nice one, and while probably not as much as a Porsche, parts cost worries me.
The MX5 just seems to work on so many levels, appealing as a drivers car, but also being the only proper 'sports car' that I can realistically afford to buy and run on a really, really small budget.
I've started tentatively looking at a few at dealers, and I just flipping love em. I'm 21. I dont give a cock about how noisy it is on the motorway, or how uncomfy it is with stiff springs, or the fact its going to take about 8 trips to move all my stuff back to Uni. Plenty of time to buy posh wafting sensible cars.
As for the bike - the Towbars are still available for the Mk1 - I will either buy on of those or fabricate one at work, and use a good towbar mount quality rack. Its a small compromise to make on car thats ticks all the boxes bar one. I just need to stop spending so much money on othe crap for a few weeks, and really thoroughly trawl the ads.
Sounds like your mind is made up - welcome aboard
That'll bring the total of PHers who were on that mahoosive MX5 thread a few months back and subsequently bought one to, what 5?
I'm about to leave work early and take mine back. It was raining earlier and it's just starting to dry up, so the roads are slippery, but the sun is out - perfect MX5 conditions!
That'll bring the total of PHers who were on that mahoosive MX5 thread a few months back and subsequently bought one to, what 5?
I'm about to leave work early and take mine back. It was raining earlier and it's just starting to dry up, so the roads are slippery, but the sun is out - perfect MX5 conditions!
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