RE: BBR Stage 2 Mazda MX-5 2.0: Spotted

[227bhp]

This has been for sale for a long time now.

[Craikeybaby]

I think the mk3 MX-5, especially the later ones, are such under-rated cars. I ran a bottom of the range 1.8 for a few years and it was lots of fun.

[WCZ]

Ed Straker said:

I
But at 300bhp you cannot now reasonably use the performance on the road?

simply not true

[Omega1987]

Fantastic car, too expensive.

[K50 DEL]

sandys said:

No they need the power, they are fun stock I grant you but once you start using them on trackdays etc you spend your life behind people who can’t drive for toffee because whilst you have absolutely mullered them in the corners you can’t pass there it is against the rules, and you don’t have the grunt to pass your average turbo charged shopping trolley or even more fancy vehicles on the straights.

My mk3 has 190bhp it is a nice amount, out on track alone against the clock, it is quicker than many things it shouldn’t be but once traffic is involved it’s a pain, I think no one wants to let the MX5 past as it is seen as an insult to their manliness

The solution is boost…one day I will have some in my 5

I stopped doing trackdays when this stupid "no passing through corners" rule was brought in in the late 90s
As the driver of a Fiesta XR2 I had no hope of passing all the heroes in their 300zx and Imprezas on the straights, without fail I'd get held up in the bends though.
It got to the point where there was no enjoyment in being on track as I could never get a clear lap so I stopped and haven't done one since.

[Blayney]

fido said:

Yes with the 2.0 - I think the Venture was one up from the Sport - nicer seats, satnav etc.

I did see this car for sale before and commented on the optimistic price tag. However if someone wants to buy my '61 plate Sport Tech (with BBR 185 GT upgrade) or a p/x ...

Edited by fido on Thursday 18th April 10:56

What's it like with the BBR 185? (Have a 09 sport tech)

[WJNB]

A very neat job with a non-Chaved exterior.
Whilst the 3/4 rear view is not very flattering overall I prefer the shape to the current model with all it's silly creases, cosmetic fashionable frippery & ugly great computer screen dominating the pokey cabin.

[fido]

Blayney said:

What's it like with the BBR 185? (Have a 09 sport tech)

F{will get deleted again by mods}' awesome. Super throttle response and the exhaust is just the right side of loud.

I did have trouble keeping up with a new ND the other day but aside from a stage one/two/270 turbo - there's nothing I would replace it with.

[WhatHappenedThere]

I would think 200bhp or thereabouts would be a handy and deployable power in a Mx5. Optimum in other words

[DoubleD]

That MX5 looks much better than the standard car, they normally look like they are on stilts.

[tolksee]

WhatHappenedThere said:

I would think 200bhp or thereabouts would be a handy and deployable power in a Mx5. Optimum in other words

Not sure about that.

I have the same 300bhp conversion in my MX5. It's a handy and deployable power. :-)

I've never thought "I wish I had less power".....

[Monsieur Du Lard]

I have a mate who has a 300bhp BBR MX5 and a Caterham with a 220bhp K Series in it. The bear few similarities and to make such a comparison is frankly daft. The MX5 is quick. but not Caterham quick, and totally lacks the agility.

[griffdude]

Monsieur Du Lard said:

I have a mate who has a 300bhp BBR MX5 and a Caterham with a 220bhp K Series in it. The bear few similarities and to make such a comparison is frankly daft. The MX5 is quick. but not Caterham quick, and totally lacks the agility.

Very true, the MX5 is literally twice the weight & wouldn’t see which way the Caterham 7 went on the twisties, on a long straight where the 7s aerodynamics came in to play, the MX5 might just see it in the distance.

[Blayney]

fido said:

F{will get deleted again by mods}' awesome. Super throttle response and the exhaust is just the right side of loud.

I did have trouble keeping up with a new ND the other day but aside from a stage one/two/270 turbo - there's nothing I would replace it with.

Bugger I was hoping you'd hate it. Very tempted.

[humphra]

Monsieur Du Lard said:

I have a mate who has a 300bhp BBR MX5 and a Caterham with a 220bhp K Series in it. The bear few similarities and to make such a comparison is frankly daft. The MX5 is quick. but not Caterham quick, and totally lacks the agility.

The seller had a caterham and a 300bhp BBR mx5....... your mate has a caterham and a 300bhp BBR mx5. Is your mate the seller, or is this some magic combo of cars to own that i don't know about??

[WhatHappenedThere]

But the last few suggestions miss the point.

The raison d'être of the humble MX5 is that it can be daily useable. Secure, dry, reliable, safe - yet fun, exploitable, and with space.


I'd love and know a Caterfield would be more faster and more honed. A Subaru thing more powerful and traction sticky. But they don't offer what the MX5 offers - in spades if modded like the BBR one in the article.

[redroadster]

Why not just buy a Merc slk 350 or a 55 ? Blow this away .

[ZX10R NIN]

Now that's an MX-5 I'd consider buying.

[WJNB]

redroadster said:

Why not just buy a Merc slk 350 or a 55 ? Blow this away .

..& have the satisfaction you're in a superior make of car, not just a child's toy.

[WhatHappenedThere]

WJNB said:

redroadster said:

Why not just buy a Merc slk 350 or a 55 ? Blow this away .

..& have the satisfaction you're in a superior make of car, not just a child's toy.

I’d doubt a SLK 350 would see where it went - and 55 at the same price ? The Bork factor / cost makes it an entirely different ownership