What are MX-3's like to drive?

What are MX-3's like to drive?

Author
Discussion

glazbagun

Original Poster:

14,280 posts

198 months

Sunday 2nd December 2007
quotequote all
I always thought these looked pretty awesome in the 90's, and though they've aged, they still look quite cool in red. Plus they're cheaper than MX5's- but are they any fun to drive? The idea of a 1.8 V6 is nice, but they only put out about 130HP, and theyre FWD- all show no go?

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

220 months

Sunday 2nd December 2007
quotequote all
I tried a 1.8 V6 a couple of years ago. Complete shite.

swansea v6

1,279 posts

226 months

Monday 3rd December 2007
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I ran an imported 1.8 V6 a few years ago, awesome free spinning engine, redlined at nearly 8000rpm, sounded awesome but not really that quick to be honest. Chassis was very, very good, it looked like my car had been lowered before I got it but it really handled like a go-kart and was loads of fun.
Gearbox was a bit jekyll and hyde, very short geared which was brilliant when charging around A roads but complete nightmare on the M-way, 70mph = 4000rpm..........

Fuel ecomomy was better than I expected, hovered around 30mpg and it never needed any work except for regular oil changes, oh yea and the fitment of a stainlees steel axhaust and de cat, what a noise it made then!!!!!

All in all it was a cheap fun little coupe, back seats were pretty useless but had decent sized boot and was a good laugh, would def get on again, wish I could afford to run alongside my mx-5.....

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

220 months

Monday 3rd December 2007
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The one I drove just felt soft.
The ride was soft, it rolled badly on corners, the engine felt gutless - revved well but had no real guts - no torque even the brakes felt soft.

I tried a Mk1 MX-5 for the first time after than which felt much better in every way - it even felt like it was quicker and had more torque!

swansea v6

1,279 posts

226 months

Monday 3rd December 2007
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There is no way my mark 1 mx-5 feels quicker than my old mx-3? and the brakes on the mx-3 were very sharp, maybe a duff car?? still prefer the top down and rear wheel drive of the mx-5

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

220 months

Monday 3rd December 2007
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Yeah, maybe I tried a bad car though it looked/sounded very clean & tidy. Maybe yours was a very good one - you did say it had a few modifications to suspension & exhaust...

swansea v6

1,279 posts

226 months

Monday 3rd December 2007
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Yea prob, don't really know if suspension was standard or not, it just seemed low for a 'standard' car? exhaust was my doing and was best mod ive ever done, just made that v6 sing