RE: Mazda MX-5 1.5: PH Trade-Off!
Discussion
I do think the article is comparing apples and oranges. I have a Mk2 MX5 that I bought for shed money and I'm constantly amazed by it. Not as practical as my hatch or as raw as a Caterham, but I could conceivably enjoy using every day if I needed to. I imagine the new one is a fairly similar do it all car.
But with the VX220 (amazing cars not withstanding) - I think it misses the point. Yes they are both fun to drive - but can you effectively use it as your only car everyday, 24/7, 365 days a year?
Here at PH, I am fairly sure we all have at least a 2:1 degree in Man Maths from the Manly Mens Knowedge College (not a gender exclusive course or learning establishment). So I don't mean can you; as we can all dress up like Biggles and stoically drive through the storms while telling ourselves how much better it is than that 1.1 Kia Rio. But rather, would you want to - or would it be an absolutely impracticable experience in every conceivable way?
Would I be happy for my wife / son / daughter to drive it on their own? Can I go to Tesco? Do I need to worry about the road surface? Where are you leaving it when you go shopping? What would happen if I drove it 20,000 miles a year? Can I go to IKEA, buy a small flat pack, get it and my other half in the car, at the same time, in relative comfort, and drive 60 miles home, in the pouring rain, on the motorway?
My point is that while I disagree, I get the choice of the VX220 though. Even after 30 years- there aren't many comparable cars that do what an MX5 does, as well as an MX5.
But with the VX220 (amazing cars not withstanding) - I think it misses the point. Yes they are both fun to drive - but can you effectively use it as your only car everyday, 24/7, 365 days a year?
Here at PH, I am fairly sure we all have at least a 2:1 degree in Man Maths from the Manly Mens Knowedge College (not a gender exclusive course or learning establishment). So I don't mean can you; as we can all dress up like Biggles and stoically drive through the storms while telling ourselves how much better it is than that 1.1 Kia Rio. But rather, would you want to - or would it be an absolutely impracticable experience in every conceivable way?
Would I be happy for my wife / son / daughter to drive it on their own? Can I go to Tesco? Do I need to worry about the road surface? Where are you leaving it when you go shopping? What would happen if I drove it 20,000 miles a year? Can I go to IKEA, buy a small flat pack, get it and my other half in the car, at the same time, in relative comfort, and drive 60 miles home, in the pouring rain, on the motorway?
My point is that while I disagree, I get the choice of the VX220 though. Even after 30 years- there aren't many comparable cars that do what an MX5 does, as well as an MX5.
Funny enough just parked my VX220 outside the house after a visit to the gym and stopping in Tesco (so yes, you can shop at Tesco in a VX220 
) I use mine every chance I get its such a miles of smiles car, why wouldn't you!
Its a very different car to the MX5 though which is a sporty two seater - the VX is much more focused and less compromised i.e. no heater to speak of
They are brilliant cars though and everyone should at least once in their lives have a go in one because you will never drive another car (Elise and Cater/fields aside) that is so connected to the road.
Personally for £10k I would have been looking at a 987 Boxster for the purposes of the article.
) I use mine every chance I get its such a miles of smiles car, why wouldn't you!Its a very different car to the MX5 though which is a sporty two seater - the VX is much more focused and less compromised i.e. no heater to speak of
They are brilliant cars though and everyone should at least once in their lives have a go in one because you will never drive another car (Elise and Cater/fields aside) that is so connected to the road. Personally for £10k I would have been looking at a 987 Boxster for the purposes of the article.
munk said:
But with the VX220 (amazing cars not withstanding) - I think it misses the point. Yes they are both fun to drive - but can you effectively use it as your only car everyday, 24/7, 365 days a year?
As long as you're flexible enough to get in and out, there's really not much to choose between an MX5 and an Elise/VX220 in terms of practicality/usability. The MX5 has a bigger booting opening and considerably more sound deadening, but that's about it. I'm told the heater of the VX220 is a bit rubbish, but many have been upgraded by now. My wife has no problems driving my Elise and it's the car I jump into if I need to go shopping or take my daughter somewhere... it's just a car; a car with only two seats and a smallish boot, but just a car none-the-less.
ETA: I wouldn't buy either car or indeed any other small 2-seater to do £20k miles a year in!
Edited by kambites on Monday 15th April 14:44
munk said:
But with the VX220 (amazing cars not withstanding) - I think it misses the point. Yes they are both fun to drive - but can you effectively use it as your only car everyday, 24/7, 365 days a year?
munk said:
would it be an absolutely impracticable experience in every conceivable way?
munk said:
Would I be happy for my wife / son / daughter to drive it on their own? Can I go to Tesco? Do I need to worry about the road surface? Where are you leaving it when you go shopping? What would happen if I drove it 20,000 miles a year? Can I go to IKEA, buy a small flat pack, get it and my other half in the car, at the same time, in relative comfort, and drive 60 miles home, in the pouring rain, on the motorway?
You do need to dodge potholes.
Leave it in a car park when you go shopping.
If you drove it 20k a year, you'd have bigger biceps & triceps, and you'd be let down by the steering feel of just about any other non-Lotus car that you drive afterwards.
You can go to IKEA and buy something the size of an airline carry-on luggage case, get it, and the other half at the same time in the car, and drive 60 miles home in the pouring rain on the motorway. I've managed to get my other half plus our cases and enough food for a self-catering weekend away in a VX before.
munk said:
My point is that while I disagree, I get the choice of the VX220 though. Even after 30 years- there aren't many comparable cars that do what an MX5 does, as well as an MX5.
kambites said:
As long as you're flexible enough to get in and out, there's really not much to choose between an MX5 and an Elise/VX220 in terms of practicality/usability. The MX5 has a bigger booting opening and considerably more sound deadening, but that's about it. I'm told the heater of the VX220 is a bit rubbish, but many have been upgraded by now.
My wife has no problems driving my Elise and it's the car I jump into if I need to go shopping or take my daughter somewhere... it's just a car; a car with only two seats and a smallish boot, but just a car none-the-less.
ETA: I wouldn't buy either car or indeed any other small 2-seater to do £20k miles a year in!
Ah, I see you graduated in Man Maths above the rest the class... a first with honours? My wife has no problems driving my Elise and it's the car I jump into if I need to go shopping or take my daughter somewhere... it's just a car; a car with only two seats and a smallish boot, but just a car none-the-less.
ETA: I wouldn't buy either car or indeed any other small 2-seater to do £20k miles a year in!
You're preaching to the converted there, and if you like the car it does tend to make anything bearable!Just a question though.. Let's take your daughter (or your son) to the right hand side of the passenger seat; and you totally out of the equation. How comfortable are you with that? Same question MX5.
munk said:
Just a question though.. Let's take your daughter (or your son) to the right hand side of the passenger seat; and you totally out of the equation. How comfortable are you with that? Same question MX5.
Assuming I can afford the insurance, I suspect my daughter will learn to drive in my Elise when she turns 17 since we're unlikely to have another manual car. Why would I have a problem with it? It's just a car. Assuming I still have it in 13 years time that is (she's only 4). munk said:
kambites said:
As long as you're flexible enough to get in and out, there's really not much to choose between an MX5 and an Elise/VX220 in terms of practicality/usability. The MX5 has a bigger booting opening and considerably more sound deadening, but that's about it. I'm told the heater of the VX220 is a bit rubbish, but many have been upgraded by now.
My wife has no problems driving my Elise and it's the car I jump into if I need to go shopping or take my daughter somewhere... it's just a car; a car with only two seats and a smallish boot, but just a car none-the-less.
ETA: I wouldn't buy either car or indeed any other small 2-seater to do £20k miles a year in!
Ah, I see you graduated in Man Maths above the rest the class... a first with honours? My wife has no problems driving my Elise and it's the car I jump into if I need to go shopping or take my daughter somewhere... it's just a car; a car with only two seats and a smallish boot, but just a car none-the-less.
ETA: I wouldn't buy either car or indeed any other small 2-seater to do £20k miles a year in!
You're preaching to the converted there, and if you like the car it does tend to make anything bearable!Just a question though.. Let's take your daughter (or your son) to the right hand side of the passenger seat; and you totally out of the equation. How comfortable are you with that? Same question MX5.
Personally I'd feel less happy with letting her drive an Elise/VX220 if I had one, as these are a much quicker car and IMO less likely to look after an inexperienced driver who used too much throttle at the wrong time or lifted off at the wrong time in the wet. I'm sure someone will be along in a minute to tell me how friendly the Elise/VX220 is in the wet, but I've driven both extensively and an MX-5 really will allow for hamfistedness a lot more than the Elise/VX220.
kambites said:
Assuming I can afford the insurance, I suspect my daughter will learn to drive in my Elise when she turns 17 since we're unlikely to have another manual car. Why would I have a problem with it? It's just a car. Assuming I still have it in 13 years time that is (she's only 4).
Yeah, that's not really the question. What I'm asking is would you be happy for them to drive it on their own? You're not there. I don't imagine many young people learn to drive in an Elise. Edited by munk on Monday 15th April 17:16
munk said:
Yeah, that's not really the question. What I'm asking is would you be happy for them to drive it on their own? You're not there. I don't imagine many young people learn to drive in an Elise.
I can see no reason to be less happy with her driving the Elise than any other car. It's just a car. kambites said:
As long as you're flexible enough to get in and out, there's really not much to choose between an MX5 and an Elise/VX220 in terms of practicality/usability. The MX5 has a bigger booting opening and considerably more sound deadening, but that's about it. I'm told the heater of the VX220 is a bit rubbish, but many have been upgraded by now.
My wife has no problems driving my Elise and it's the car I jump into if I need to go shopping or take my daughter somewhere... it's just a car; a car with only two seats and a smallish boot, but just a car none-the-less.
ETA: I wouldn't buy either car or indeed any other small 2-seater to do £20k miles a year in!
I did 100,000 miles in 6 years in my mk1 MX-5 - they were 100,000 fun miles!My wife has no problems driving my Elise and it's the car I jump into if I need to go shopping or take my daughter somewhere... it's just a car; a car with only two seats and a smallish boot, but just a car none-the-less.
ETA: I wouldn't buy either car or indeed any other small 2-seater to do £20k miles a year in!
Edited by kambites on Monday 15th April 14:44
samoht said:
lotuslover69 said:
Fairly sure that rear lip on the s1 was added as a styling exercise and not to improve downforce which the original designer was not happy about at all.
"The aerodynamicists did a spot of re-styling in the wind tunnel, mainly to reduce rear lift"https://youtu.be/a-TiFKr2yb0?t=2457
(good documentary for anyone who's not seen it)
Nerdherder said:
samoht said:
lotuslover69 said:
Fairly sure that rear lip on the s1 was added as a styling exercise and not to improve downforce which the original designer was not happy about at all.
"The aerodynamicists did a spot of re-styling in the wind tunnel, mainly to reduce rear lift"https://youtu.be/a-TiFKr2yb0?t=2457
(good documentary for anyone who's not seen it)
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