MX5 MK4 (ND) car hire - anyone?

[mrrossi]

Hi all

Just wondering if anyone knows of anywhere I could hire the 'new shape' Mazda MX-5 (Mk4, or ND)?

Having owned 6 Mk1 MX-5's now I've avoided the newer cars as they are 'too modern' but I'm starting to think that's no bad thing! I wasn't fully convinced by the Mk3 but have heard the Mk4 is 'back to roots' and much lighter and more like the original. I'm thinking of going to a dealer and getting a test drive soon, but that doesn't really hack it for me. I need a day, maybe 2, to really get a proper feel of the car. Test it in parking, motorway, country road, town/urban scenarios etc etc.

Can't seem to find one for hire anywhere. Found some classic ones. No new ones. Checked the specialist sports car places and they tend to be Porches and Lambos and the odd Merc convertible.

Anyone know if it's possible to hire one anywhere? I'm Nottingham based so fairly central, can potentially travel if there's reasonable rail links.

Either that... or anyone own one fancying lending me?

Cheers!

Ross

[stanglish]

I looked at the same thing and came up blank. Certainly seems like a business opportunity for someone!

[lilwashu]

Mazda dealers are generally good with this - I would ask them for an extended test drive. They gave me a Mk4 for a day (and a picnic) as part of a launch event and I ended up buying one.

[toastyhamster]

If you do get one can you drive it into Gamston so I can have a look? :-)

In fact anybody with a mk2/2.5 want to show off I'd be interested in picking up some tips before I start seriously looking (instead of drunkenly looking on ebay at rusty heaps).

[mrrossi]

lilwashu said:

Mazda dealers are generally good with this - I would ask them for an extended test drive. They gave me a Mk4 for a day (and a picnic) as part of a launch event and I ended up buying one.

Wow, where was that?

I'd had a look for Mazda in Nottingham and came across Sandicliffe and Pentagon. I emailed both explaining my situation.

Sandicliffe never replied.

Pentagon called me (and emailed me) explaining that they didn't do Mazda at their branches in Nottingham and the nearest was Lincoln, and they could arrange an extended (45-60min) test drive for me.

Ended up going for a test drive last week with a very friendly chap called Stephen - only problem was it was the hard top RF (and I really wanted the softtop) and an auto.

Not that it was bad - but an auto box really isn't the right choice for an MX-5 and I really want the convenience of the 1.5 second roof up/down of the softtop - great when the weather changes, pull over/stop at lights and it's done. Takes too long with an electric hard top, and adds extra weight too.

The car handled nicely though and at just a tad (just a tad, officer!) over 70 it was only doing around 2200rpm, so nice and quiet. My 1994 1.6BBR turbo would be howling her socks off around 4500rpm in 5th.

Tonight though I went back and took a 2litre manual softtop out for a drive.

LOVED IT!

Pulled beautiful, the manual gearbox is just as lovely and 'snicketty' as the original Mk1, great fun. And the softtop with it's central hook is even easier and lighter than the original (sometimes feel like I'm gonna yank my arm out of my shoulder socket with mine). Brilliant.

Am I going to sell my practical commuter car and my lovely Mk1 to replace both with a new Mk4????

Hmmm. Still not sure on that.

At 'just a tad over 70' in the manual in 6th gear it was more like 3000rpm. But not too loud. But not too quiet, either. I could hear the radio 'ok' on a medium volume, i.e. didn't near it on really high. I *think* it would be ok on a long commute... hard to say for sure. After less than 2 mins we hit a traffic jam.

In summary, I think Mazda have done a cracking job - they've bought back the 'fun' factor and the great gearbox and light chassis of the original, in a modern car with better gearing for the motorway commute, yet still awesome on the 'twisties'.

Whether it's practical enough for me as a 'daily' I still don't know and would really need one longer.

An option is to sell the daily privately (as the dealer will only trade it somewhere between 69 and 75% of what I reckon I'd get for it privately) and then buy one, keep my Mk1, drive it for a couple of months (hoping it doesn't depreciate too much) and it it really turns out to be unpractical/can't live with it day to day, sell it on, hoping to not loose too much in the process.

And if it's great as a daily, sell the Mk1 (as much as it will break my heart).

And no - I can't keep both.

I'm not allowed THAT much fun

[mrrossi]

toastyhamster said:

If you do get one can you drive it into Gamston so I can have a look? :-)

In fact anybody with a mk2/2.5 want to show off I'd be interested in picking up some tips before I start seriously looking (instead of drunkenly looking on ebay at rusty heaps).

Sure!!

Pfff, don't get a mk2, get a mk1!!

I actually have two at the moment and one will be going up for sale tomorrow... hint hint

[toastyhamster]

mrrossi said:

toastyhamster said:

If you do get one can you drive it into Gamston so I can have a look? :-)

In fact anybody with a mk2/2.5 want to show off I'd be interested in picking up some tips before I start seriously looking (instead of drunkenly looking on ebay at rusty heaps).

Sure!!

Pfff, don't get a mk2, get a mk1!!

I actually have two at the moment and one will be going up for sale tomorrow... hint hint

Just me, prefer the looks of the 2/2.5, SO might be driving so want something slightly friendlier/refined.

[lilwashu]

The road noise is pretty loud in my soft top mk4, but I have done 12k miles in it in the past year as a daily and it hasn't made me want to sell it. I've done a couple of long (1500 and 2500 mile) road trips in it too and it's been great in terms of general comfort. It's due some new tyre imminently so I will see if they improve things.

The random cabin rattles are the most annoying NVH thing I have encountered on it so far.

[mrrossi]

toastyhamster said:

Just me, prefer the looks of the 2/2.5, SO might be driving so want something slightly friendlier/refined.

No worries, hope you manage to find a decent rust free one !

[mrrossi]

lilwashu said:

The road noise is pretty loud in my soft top mk4, but I have done 12k miles in it in the past year as a daily and it hasn't made me want to sell it. I've done a couple of long (1500 and 2500 mile) road trips in it too and it's been great in terms of general comfort. It's due some new tyre imminently so I will see if they improve things.

The random cabin rattles are the most annoying NVH thing I have encountered on it so far.

I used to use my Mk1 as a daily and didn't care about the noise but as I'm, hate to say it, 'ageing', I've started to prefer a bit more comfort/luxury. Hopefully it'll not be too bad.

Yes tyres can make a bit difference sometimes.

I'd read about cabin rattles and tried to listen out on the test drive but didn't hear anything then.