RE: Shed of the Week: Mazda MX-5
Discussion
DailyHack said:
I do like the idea of these, but achingly boring...Mk1 would be little more interesting...at least to look at
its only boring if you do boring stuff with it.buy this, tyres and pads and check fluids and book onto a track day at Brans....suddenly your doing 90 at the end of the main straight wondering how late you can brake before turning into paddock hill...
Itsallicanafford said:
DailyHack said:
I do like the idea of these, but achingly boring...Mk1 would be little more interesting...at least to look at
its only boring if you do boring stuff with it.buy this, tyres and pads and check fluids and book onto a track day at Brans....suddenly your doing 90 at the end of the main straight wondering how late you can brake before turning into paddock hill...
I used to sell these and the Mk3 new. A few points to note.
Mk1 versions (NA) look great with the correct wheels and subtle modifications. Interior is the same as it is much nicer with leather seats and wheel - the basic interior in low-speck MK1s is awful. Also, a MK1 without power steering is a workout and not pleasant.
MK2s feel more modern and the body is more rigid (though it does still flex). Gearbox should be lovely (6 speed sport the best). 1.6 and 1.8 engines have similar character but 1.8 has more torque + power at the top end. It is one of those cars that feels like it pivots around a central point when cornering - great balance. The MK2.5 had a much improved interior and new seats, but they reduce the amount of headroom and can make the car unfomfortable for taller drivers.
Rust is a pain in both models and will kill them in the end unless really well looked after/not used in winter. Rust protection on Mazdas was not great and the MX5 was the worst of the lot.
Mk3 is a different machine altogether. Much more modern interior and a much more solid feeling car with very little body flex at all and based upon the same platform as the RX8. The engines were more powerful and the grip levels are higher, but they have a higher ride height (can look like a bathtub on smaller wheels) and lost some of the delicacy of the Mk1 and 2.
However, the Mk3.5 went a long way to addressing this with a lower ride height and improved chassis. Also the gearchange was a bit less clunky than the earlier versions. The Mk3s can rust but not (yet) as badly as the earlier versions. All Mk3 versions (as far as I know) use a timing chain rather than a belt.
I have not experienced a Mk4 but hope it has a combination of the quality and solidity of the Mk3 with the delicacy of the Mk1 and 2.
Hope this helps.
Mk1 versions (NA) look great with the correct wheels and subtle modifications. Interior is the same as it is much nicer with leather seats and wheel - the basic interior in low-speck MK1s is awful. Also, a MK1 without power steering is a workout and not pleasant.
MK2s feel more modern and the body is more rigid (though it does still flex). Gearbox should be lovely (6 speed sport the best). 1.6 and 1.8 engines have similar character but 1.8 has more torque + power at the top end. It is one of those cars that feels like it pivots around a central point when cornering - great balance. The MK2.5 had a much improved interior and new seats, but they reduce the amount of headroom and can make the car unfomfortable for taller drivers.
Rust is a pain in both models and will kill them in the end unless really well looked after/not used in winter. Rust protection on Mazdas was not great and the MX5 was the worst of the lot.
Mk3 is a different machine altogether. Much more modern interior and a much more solid feeling car with very little body flex at all and based upon the same platform as the RX8. The engines were more powerful and the grip levels are higher, but they have a higher ride height (can look like a bathtub on smaller wheels) and lost some of the delicacy of the Mk1 and 2.
However, the Mk3.5 went a long way to addressing this with a lower ride height and improved chassis. Also the gearchange was a bit less clunky than the earlier versions. The Mk3s can rust but not (yet) as badly as the earlier versions. All Mk3 versions (as far as I know) use a timing chain rather than a belt.
I have not experienced a Mk4 but hope it has a combination of the quality and solidity of the Mk3 with the delicacy of the Mk1 and 2.
Hope this helps.
daemon said:
treeroy said:
sgtBerbatov said:
I'm 6ft 3" and wanted an MX-5. Thank you for ruining the dream.
Don't believe them. I'm 6" and had miles (well...) of headroom in my MX-5. My 6'2 dad could drive it confortably too. Different body shapes suit different cars. Some people may not be fine but most will be. You could try sitting in one to find out for yourself.I'm 6ft tall and have had various NAs and NBs with no issues at all.
eltax91 said:
daemon said:
treeroy said:
sgtBerbatov said:
I'm 6ft 3" and wanted an MX-5. Thank you for ruining the dream.
Don't believe them. I'm 6" and had miles (well...) of headroom in my MX-5. My 6'2 dad could drive it confortably too. Different body shapes suit different cars. Some people may not be fine but most will be. You could try sitting in one to find out for yourself.I'm 6ft tall and have had various NAs and NBs with no issues at all.
eltax91 said:
daemon said:
treeroy said:
sgtBerbatov said:
I'm 6ft 3" and wanted an MX-5. Thank you for ruining the dream.
Don't believe them. I'm 6" and had miles (well...) of headroom in my MX-5. My 6'2 dad could drive it confortably too. Different body shapes suit different cars. Some people may not be fine but most will be. You could try sitting in one to find out for yourself.I'm 6ft tall and have had various NAs and NBs with no issues at all.
Well spotted.
Lets hope its his height we was referring to....
Itsallicanafford said:
Sorry, why is this one dull?
probably because its completely stock and is silver. pictures don't do them justice though, my silver mk2.5 looked great. great colour in the metal. and I don't usually like silver.daemon said:
Well spotted.
Lets hope its his height we was referring to....
Itsallicanafford said:
daemon said:
You can do all of that in a mk1 and various other mk2s that are available. This one is particularly dull and needs money spent and isnt priced accordingly.
Sorry, why is this one dull? Yes, if it was perfect, but thats ones not. It needs probably £,£££ spent on it to welding it up and getting it looking decent and even if you adopt the "just drive it" shed approach then you've got that end of summer MOT to worry about.
For shed budget, i'd find a mk1, run it between now and the end of the summer as a bit of fun, then spend the time and money on it as a winter project.
daemon said:
I just dont think it has much going for it that would warrant spending the money on it that its going to require. If it was a mk1 then yes, if it was a mk2.5 iS then yes or maybe a nice limited edition with some spec, but a boggo silver mk2.5 in standard spec isnt something i could feel passionate about spending significant time and money on - which i suspect that one will need.
Yes, if it was perfect, but thats ones not. It needs probably £,£££ spent on it to welding it up and getting it looking decent and even if you adopt the "just drive it" shed approach then you've got that end of summer MOT to worry about.
For shed budget, i'd find a mk1, run it between now and the end of the summer as a bit of fun, then spend the time and money on it as a winter project.
you can make any car your own though. £1350 is not that much money and you can quickly and cheaply make some changes that make the car more personal. Yes, if it was perfect, but thats ones not. It needs probably £,£££ spent on it to welding it up and getting it looking decent and even if you adopt the "just drive it" shed approach then you've got that end of summer MOT to worry about.
For shed budget, i'd find a mk1, run it between now and the end of the summer as a bit of fun, then spend the time and money on it as a winter project.
daemon said:
I just dont think it has much going for it that would warrant spending the money on it that its going to require. If it was a mk1 then yes, if it was a mk2.5 iS then yes or maybe a nice limited edition with some spec, but a boggo silver mk2.5 in standard spec isnt something i could feel passionate about spending significant time and money on - which i suspect that one will need.
Yes, if it was perfect, but thats ones not. It needs probably £,£££ spent on it to welding it up and getting it looking decent and even if you adopt the "just drive it" shed approach then you've got that end of summer MOT to worry about.
For shed budget, i'd find a mk1, run it between now and the end of the summer as a bit of fun, then spend the time and money on it as a winter project.
Sure, i agree its a total money pit if you wanted to keep it long term but i suppose if it looses its ticket in September you could just trailer and track it. Yes, if it was perfect, but thats ones not. It needs probably £,£££ spent on it to welding it up and getting it looking decent and even if you adopt the "just drive it" shed approach then you've got that end of summer MOT to worry about.
For shed budget, i'd find a mk1, run it between now and the end of the summer as a bit of fun, then spend the time and money on it as a winter project.
sgtBerbatov said:
I'm 6ft 3" and wanted an MX-5. Thank you for ruining the dream.
I'm also 6 ft 2, tried all versions of MX5s over the years and didn't fit in any - then I heard about a foamectomy... A simple proceedure that you can do on a Mk1. Take drivers seat apart and using an electric carving knife you slice about an inch of foam out of the seat base and back.
You do it on the underside of the foam so the leather is still supported and looks normal when you're not in the car but as soon as you get in you sit a bit lower and further back.
Other change for us lanky gits is a slightly smaller steering wheel. My Mk1 is the Eunos version with power steering so a smaller wheel doesn't make the steering heavy.
Those changes worked a treat and I now fit in it much better than most classics and many moderns. Can easily drive a couple of hundred miles at a time. Late Mk1s and onwards had airbags and different seat designs so us tall people will have to stick with early Mk1s.
sgtBerbatov said:
TimHorn said:
Great car, but I'm 6'2" and don't fit. And if Mrs Shed is 6'2" wide, I can't imagine how she fits either!!!!!
I'm 6ft 3" and wanted an MX-5. Thank you for ruining the dream.1.8 S-VT with all the toys
CDP said:
While not perfect either there are always the options from Toyota and MG. They both seem far more resilient to rust and can be lots of fun.
Yeah, I've always really liked the MR2 Roadster. I hear good things about them. Nearly bought one in the summer, but chickened out due to practicality. Bought a hot hatch instead. Being a tradesman, that was the least practical vehicle I could get away with. So wanted the MR2, but I would've been stopped by the police with 8ft of ladder strapped to the front seat 
Johnny5hoods said:
CDP said:
While not perfect either there are always the options from Toyota and MG. They both seem far more resilient to rust and can be lots of fun.
Yeah, I've always really liked the MR2 Roadster. I hear good things about them. Nearly bought one in the summer, but chickened out due to practicality. Bought a hot hatch instead. Being a tradesman, that was the least practical vehicle I could get away with. So wanted the MR2, but I would've been stopped by the police with 8ft of ladder strapped to the front seat 
edit cos I buggered up the formatting
classicyanktanks said:
I paid £650 for this one for my GF I love it ! reminds me very much of a MK1 Elan and a Mk1 Frogeye (except everything works). As you can see "birds" love it. 
Is that a Nevada model? I remember coveting a new one before I bought a 3 year old Mk2 back in 2003.I only kept my Mk2 for a year due to a house move, but returned to MX-5s with a Mk3 which I had for 8 years, until summer last year.
Both were very well looked after but the Mk3 started bubbling on the underside of the boot lid around the number plate lights and on the bottom face of the rear arches. The rear arches form an internal shelf which collects mud which sits on the metal. I needed to replace it with a family car, bought a Mazda 6 and that has the same design with a lovely accumulation of dried mud. Not sure if that’s just a Mazda thing, but it felt like a poor design.
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