RE: Mazda MX-5: PH Heroes
Discussion
dibblecorse said:
I'm in the minority here too, have never got these, don't know why and I love a convertible 2 seater, but these do nothing for me, would rather have a basic Westfield .....
But they're completely different cars. The MX5 was designed to be used daily, the Westfield wasn't. That's like saying "I don't get why you would buy a Westfield when you could buy a Formula Ford"
VladD said:
dibblecorse said:
I'm in the minority here too, have never got these, don't know why and I love a convertible 2 seater, but these do nothing for me, would rather have a basic Westfield .....
But they're completely different cars. The MX5 was designed to be used daily, the Westfield wasn't. That's like saying "I don't get why you would buy a Westfield when you could buy a Formula Ford"S2000 and MX5 are totally different. The only similarities are that they both have 2 seats and are convertible.
For a second hand car, an MX5 is an affordable entry level to sports car ownership. Low power but low weight.
S2000 is more expensive both to buy, in parts, tax, insurance.....I could go on. It's also a completely different beast vs a standard MX5 in terms of power delivery handling etc.
Having owned both I can honestly say they both have their own attractions but there seems little point in comparing IMHO.
For a second hand car, an MX5 is an affordable entry level to sports car ownership. Low power but low weight.
S2000 is more expensive both to buy, in parts, tax, insurance.....I could go on. It's also a completely different beast vs a standard MX5 in terms of power delivery handling etc.
Having owned both I can honestly say they both have their own attractions but there seems little point in comparing IMHO.
I've had all three versions.
The best MX5 is the Mk1, the Mk3 is the best car. I thought I'd made a big mistake when I first got the Mk3 RC, but a set of springs and 10k in 10 months later and I've changed my mind.
I could get something "better" sure, but I think the power war is for pub bores.
Yah my car has 500bhp, yah well mine has 510. Well done.
Next car will be a lightly used GT86.
The best MX5 is the Mk1, the Mk3 is the best car. I thought I'd made a big mistake when I first got the Mk3 RC, but a set of springs and 10k in 10 months later and I've changed my mind.
I could get something "better" sure, but I think the power war is for pub bores.
Yah my car has 500bhp, yah well mine has 510. Well done.
Next car will be a lightly used GT86.
Mr. Potato Head said:
I've had all three versions.
The best MX5 is the Mk1, the Mk3 is the best car. I thought I'd made a big mistake when I first got the Mk3 RC, but a set of springs and 10k in 10 months later and I've changed my mind.
I could get something "better" sure, but I think the power war is for pub bores.
Yah my car has 500bhp, yah well mine has 510. Well done.
Next car will be a lightly used GT86.
This man 'gets' MX5's.....and I know that from his last comment about the GT86.The best MX5 is the Mk1, the Mk3 is the best car. I thought I'd made a big mistake when I first got the Mk3 RC, but a set of springs and 10k in 10 months later and I've changed my mind.
I could get something "better" sure, but I think the power war is for pub bores.
Yah my car has 500bhp, yah well mine has 510. Well done.
Next car will be a lightly used GT86.
I share your sentiments exactly....I'm heading to 4 wheel drive turbo charged though
Most PHers here are obviously young enough not to remember exactly what
an impact the first (red) MIATAs had.
In 1989 the lighweight Roadster was officially dead. Only the Alfa Spider
soldierd on with the dealers fearing every August for it to be killed, too.
It was costly to built (at Pininfarina) and frankly a bit rubbish for a new
car to purchase.
The first pics of the MIATA caused an earthquake at my parents house. I might
still have my example of "ROAD&Track" in my mums basement. My dad borrowed it
from my table at first sight: "WHAT is THAT?"
Consequently he got one of the first black market imports as a test drive and
was instantly hooked. My mum (wisely) vetoed the purchase, because I was about
to pass my driving test the following year and she claimed my dad would only
use this as a tool to chase girls. It was fully out of her mind, that one could
willingly purchase a small red roadster for other reasons than that.
the first time, while he is on holiday:
I had an Alfa Spider 1.6 (1987) at the time and was quiet underwhelmed with the
NB Miata.
- Engine was rather gutless.(compared to the Weber fed Alfa)
- too quiet
- Equally as cramped as the Alfa
- Nearly as much cowl shake in a "newly" CAD designed chassis.
- slightly better handling, but less communicative
- Gearbox lightyears better
As a tall guy I always have the middle strut of the closed top on my head.
Only borrowed the Mx5 one more time.
But my dad still loves it, as it allows for the collectorcar ownership
experience without the hassle of welding or refusing of a true classic.
Mazda urgently needs to get the Gen.4 MX5 right. As I won't have an alternative
to their chassis the next time around...
Martin
an impact the first (red) MIATAs had.
In 1989 the lighweight Roadster was officially dead. Only the Alfa Spider
soldierd on with the dealers fearing every August for it to be killed, too.
It was costly to built (at Pininfarina) and frankly a bit rubbish for a new
car to purchase.
The first pics of the MIATA caused an earthquake at my parents house. I might
still have my example of "ROAD&Track" in my mums basement. My dad borrowed it
from my table at first sight: "WHAT is THAT?"
Consequently he got one of the first black market imports as a test drive and
was instantly hooked. My mum (wisely) vetoed the purchase, because I was about
to pass my driving test the following year and she claimed my dad would only
use this as a tool to chase girls. It was fully out of her mind, that one could
willingly purchase a small red roadster for other reasons than that.
the first time, while he is on holiday:
I had an Alfa Spider 1.6 (1987) at the time and was quiet underwhelmed with the
NB Miata.
- Engine was rather gutless.(compared to the Weber fed Alfa)
- too quiet
- Equally as cramped as the Alfa
- Nearly as much cowl shake in a "newly" CAD designed chassis.
- slightly better handling, but less communicative
- Gearbox lightyears better
As a tall guy I always have the middle strut of the closed top on my head.
Only borrowed the Mx5 one more time.
But my dad still loves it, as it allows for the collectorcar ownership
experience without the hassle of welding or refusing of a true classic.
Mazda urgently needs to get the Gen.4 MX5 right. As I won't have an alternative
to their chassis the next time around...
Martin
If you're buying an NB then a through inspecton of the front chassis rails needs to be carried out. There is a very serious corrosion problem with the MK2s and it's not always picked up on an MOT because the engine undertray hides the rust.
Potential £2k repair bill if they're totally rotted.
Potential £2k repair bill if they're totally rotted.
Off track you might return as much as 35mpg at the pumps, yet on track your MX-5 will deliver unrivalled dash for the cash. Prices for the earliest decent examples start at under £1,500
I manage 37mpg from my 1.6! Though I can testify to the 'decent examples at £1500' lark..two mates have spend £1800 and theyve got crackers (including one with an unknown front nosecone that looks fab). My £800 1990 V-Special Eunos? Not so much..rot rot rot in the sills. Still a great daily though! Disagree with the boot though, its useless apart from a couple of shopping bags!
I manage 37mpg from my 1.6! Though I can testify to the 'decent examples at £1500' lark..two mates have spend £1800 and theyve got crackers (including one with an unknown front nosecone that looks fab). My £800 1990 V-Special Eunos? Not so much..rot rot rot in the sills. Still a great daily though! Disagree with the boot though, its useless apart from a couple of shopping bags!
Bought mine (92 import) a year ago after being a passenger in a mates car.
For the money (paid 1700 for mine) its a great car. Get alot of grief from friends/workmates about it (hairdressers/girls car) but when the suns out and the roads are quiet its good fun.
And it is cheap. Using mine for trackdays this year, so have replaced brakes/consumables etc and it isnt costing the world. The new coilovers I'm planning on buying will the biggest bill, and then thats it. Summer of trackdays and back road blasts.
And when I have finished with it, I should get most of my money back, prices for good ones are starting to rise.
For the money (paid 1700 for mine) its a great car. Get alot of grief from friends/workmates about it (hairdressers/girls car) but when the suns out and the roads are quiet its good fun.
And it is cheap. Using mine for trackdays this year, so have replaced brakes/consumables etc and it isnt costing the world. The new coilovers I'm planning on buying will the biggest bill, and then thats it. Summer of trackdays and back road blasts.
And when I have finished with it, I should get most of my money back, prices for good ones are starting to rise.
Prawo Jazdy said:
Oil changes vital every 6,000 miles?! I don't know about an NA, but my NB service schedule is 9,000-mile intervals. Obviously more regular ones don't hurt, but that's not the point.
Serviced my NA every 9000. It only did 130,000 miles before I sold it on, and the engine was in fine fettle. Not sure where they got some of the "facts" for this story.I've never really got the PH appeal. My wife always wanted an open top sports car - she's a great passenger but a pretty timid driver. Anyway, I bought her a second generation MX-5 1.8 and she drove it for 3 years and loved it. I loathed the thing. Under powered, noisy when revved (but not in a pleasant way), and the handling was nothing to write home about. It seemed to have surprisingly little grip, and I've noticed the same on track days that even at quite modest speeds MX-5s look 'on the limit'...but she loved it, so as a car for a non-petrol-head missus I guess it was ideal.
She eventually changed it for an SLK and as far as I would judge, it's a better car in every way. Sure they look cute, but there are far better cars out there unless the requirement is little more than a cheapish little open-top 2-seater.
She eventually changed it for an SLK and as far as I would judge, it's a better car in every way. Sure they look cute, but there are far better cars out there unless the requirement is little more than a cheapish little open-top 2-seater.
tvrolet said:
It seemed to have surprisingly little grip, and I've noticed the same on track days that even at quite modest speeds MX-5s look 'on the limit'...but she loved it, so as a car for a non-petrol-head missus I guess it was ideal.
Bingo, that's why it's so good.tvrolet said:
She eventually changed it for an SLK and as far as I would judge, it's a better car in every way. Sure they look cute, but there are far better cars out there unless the requirement is little more than a cheapish little open-top 2-seater.
So you prefer an SLK to an MX5. Nuff said.They do need the suspension set up correctly. Older cars may have been abused and lost their edge and early NCs had dreadful suspension from the factory! Once that is sorted they are clearly both fun and competent - just look at trackday performance, for sure they'll be outgunned on the straight but not on the twisties.
tvrolet said:
I've never really got the PH appeal. My wife always wanted an open top sports car - she's a great passenger but a pretty timid driver. Anyway, I bought her a second generation MX-5 1.8 and she drove it for 3 years and loved it. I loathed the thing. Under powered, noisy when revved (but not in a pleasant way), and the handling was nothing to write home about. It seemed to have surprisingly little grip, and I've noticed the same on track days that even at quite modest speeds MX-5s look 'on the limit'...but she loved it, so as a car for a non-petrol-head missus I guess it was ideal.
She eventually changed it for an SLK and as far as I would judge, it's a better car in every way. Sure they look cute, but there are far better cars out there unless the requirement is little more than a cheapish little open-top 2-seater.
Sorry but to me the headline of this post would be:She eventually changed it for an SLK and as far as I would judge, it's a better car in every way. Sure they look cute, but there are far better cars out there unless the requirement is little more than a cheapish little open-top 2-seater.
Man mistakes grip for handling
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