RE: New Mazda MX-5: 184hp, 7500rpm? Sold.
Discussion
Frimley111R said:
Sounds a lot of effort, just stick a turbo on it, everyone can remap it and we'll have a fast little sports car, not simply a nippy one (don't say it!)
So an Abarth 124? Or is that not enough power for you? Does it need to be 200bhp+? If so call BBR or another tuning company to create the car of your dreams.greenarrow said:
Oh and another thing...
They wont get rid of the body roll that Pistonheads, EVO and others are always moaning about. Its that relative softness that helps make the MX-5 friendly in the wet. Make it too stiff and people will be spinning off left right and centre. One thing I always loved about my NB was that I could hoon it about in the wet and not fear it was going to bite.
After 28 years and over a million plus sales, if it ain't broke......
It is quite easy to reduce the body roll and change the way the car feels whilst at the same time maintaining the friendly nature of the stock set up, just need to chose a carefully thought out road biased set up that's all, rather than an overly sprung, overly lowered track biased one.They wont get rid of the body roll that Pistonheads, EVO and others are always moaning about. Its that relative softness that helps make the MX-5 friendly in the wet. Make it too stiff and people will be spinning off left right and centre. One thing I always loved about my NB was that I could hoon it about in the wet and not fear it was going to bite.
After 28 years and over a million plus sales, if it ain't broke......
AlexHat said:
Frimley111R said:
Sounds a lot of effort, just stick a turbo on it, everyone can remap it and we'll have a fast little sports car, not simply a nippy one (don't say it!)
So an Abarth 124? Or is that not enough power for you? Does it need to be 200bhp+? If so call BBR or another tuning company to create the car of your dreams.Lotus needed the power even less and yet they have kept cars light and sharp AND added power.
There is a secret way of making a current 2.0 one go faster, nothing else at all works inc the stop button 
but it will go like absolute stink until you stall it. They have a mapped throttle body & a peskily low rev limit by default, that is all gone using this technique. I have tried it (quite a lot) & no I'm not allowed to tell you, but some people have found it by accident.
Still want a 1.5 with a diff, Mazda!
but it will go like absolute stink until you stall it. They have a mapped throttle body & a peskily low rev limit by default, that is all gone using this technique. I have tried it (quite a lot) & no I'm not allowed to tell you, but some people have found it by accident.Still want a 1.5 with a diff, Mazda!
Frimley111R said:
True but I don't mean only have a 250bhp one (as an example) but such a car could be the halo one for the range. A 5kg turbo and 5kg intercooler is hardly going to weigh the thing down. Its easy to say they want to keep power low but the world is moving on in terms of power and for people who might buy a higher powered MX5 there is no offering directly.
Lotus needed the power even less and yet they have kept cars light and sharp AND added power.
For a car you can steer on the throttle a turbo would be a bit of a blunt instrument as there is an element of variability to them once temps are up, the response of the NA engine is key to its appeal really, everything Mazda are doing sounds like it is going to maintain that response and be even better.Lotus needed the power even less and yet they have kept cars light and sharp AND added power.
The power may not sound like a lot but interms of bhp/ton that new ND will trump a 6 spd NC BBR200 or a Boggo Golf GTi, so it will feel spritely.
Frimley111R said:
True but I don't mean only have a 250bhp one (as an example) but such a car could be the halo one for the range. A 5kg turbo and 5kg intercooler is hardly going to weigh the thing down. Its easy to say they want to keep power low but the world is moving on in terms of power and for people who might buy a higher powered MX5 there is no offering directly.
Lotus needed the power even less and yet they have kept cars light and sharp AND added power.
My 'dream car' would be an MX-5 made by Lotus ... call it an er Elan ?Lotus needed the power even less and yet they have kept cars light and sharp AND added power.
The attributes of the ND are brilliant in terms of layout, size, weight, practicality, front engined, rwd, LSD, nice gearbox, NA drivetrain, friendly balance, sensible wheels & tyres etc etc ...
If Lotus approached this with a mindset like Mazda & Alpine have done recently what a car that could be.
They could even team up with Mazda and offer a NA engine .... I know I know I'm dreaming now.
(basically an MX-5 with a much stiffer chassis, 'lotus steering feel' and as close to the BBR S200 214bhp NA engine as current regulations will apply)
Edited by Simon Owen on Tuesday 12th June 18:15
Lovely pretty two-tone interior but the pokey cabin with lack of storage & still no steering wheel adjustment would drive me nuts.
Fun & frivolous that's all & of course the owners club scene appeals to many clubby types, but a used Boxster/TT so much a better classier place for your money.
Fun & frivolous that's all & of course the owners club scene appeals to many clubby types, but a used Boxster/TT so much a better classier place for your money.
greenarrow said:
Oh and another thing...
They wont get rid of the body roll that Pistonheads, EVO and others are always moaning about. Its that relative softness that helps make the MX-5 friendly in the wet. Make it too stiff and people will be spinning off left right and centre. One thing I always loved about my NB was that I could hoon it about in the wet and not fear it was going to bite.
After 28 years and over a million plus sales, if it ain't broke......
It really is too soft, though. Roll oversteer is not a nice handling trait. I do like MX-5s, but the handling is actually quite wayward if you really press on.They wont get rid of the body roll that Pistonheads, EVO and others are always moaning about. Its that relative softness that helps make the MX-5 friendly in the wet. Make it too stiff and people will be spinning off left right and centre. One thing I always loved about my NB was that I could hoon it about in the wet and not fear it was going to bite.
After 28 years and over a million plus sales, if it ain't broke......
Looks like a great upgrade to an already very good car. My 2.0 NC is quick enough on a winding road to have lots of fun and I'm sure this will be even better. Looks like Mazda have listened to the feedback - adjustable steering column, more power, higher rev limit, no turbos (hurray!)
Interestingly my two favourite brands at the moment (Mazda and Suzuki) are keeping things relatively simple and just concentrating on building well engineered cars that are fun to drive.
Can't wait to have a go in this and if it's as good as I think it will be I can see me trading in my current NC in a couple of years. Hope they keep the price rise to a minimum.
Interestingly my two favourite brands at the moment (Mazda and Suzuki) are keeping things relatively simple and just concentrating on building well engineered cars that are fun to drive.
Can't wait to have a go in this and if it's as good as I think it will be I can see me trading in my current NC in a couple of years. Hope they keep the price rise to a minimum.
Looks like a great upgrade to an already very good car. My 2.0 NC is quick enough on a winding road to have lots of fun and I'm sure this will be even better. Looks like Mazda have listened to the feedback - adjustable steering column, more power, higher rev limit, no turbos (hurray!)
Interestingly my two favourite brands at the moment (Mazda and Suzuki) are keeping things relatively simple and just concentrating on building well engineered cars that are fun to drive.
Can't wait to have a go in this and if it's as good as I think it will be I can see me trading in my current NC in a couple of years. Hope they keep the price rise to a minimum.
Interestingly my two favourite brands at the moment (Mazda and Suzuki) are keeping things relatively simple and just concentrating on building well engineered cars that are fun to drive.
Can't wait to have a go in this and if it's as good as I think it will be I can see me trading in my current NC in a couple of years. Hope they keep the price rise to a minimum.
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