RE: Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 V6 | PH Review

[hairykrishna]

TheJimi said:

As it is, I don't think it's fair to compare force inducted standard engines with the V6.

Why not? It's the obvious comparison as I see it. A supercharger suits the MX5 nicely and can be done well for a couple of grand, perhaps 5 or 6 is someone's doing it for you. You give up the noise of the V6 but save £10k+

[unlikelymechanic]

https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/55786550/clean-title-...

Donor anyone?

[Sandpit Steve]

unlikelymechanic said:

https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/55786550/clean-title-...

Donor anyone?

Looks good - runs and drives, light bodywork damage, will probably go for well under a grand.

[unlikelymechanic]

Sandpit Steve said:

unlikelymechanic said:

https://www.copart.co.uk/lot/55786550/clean-title-...

Donor anyone?

Looks good - runs and drives, light bodywork damage, will probably go for well under a grand.

Have a good listen to the engine before you attack it with a socket set - sell the trim, wheels, lights, bodyshell (they are banger raced nowadays) to recoup some of your money and there you go a reasonable mile engine for a few hundred quid (which is what I did!)

[JamesMK]

A1VDY said:

Strange they didn't go for the 2.9 24v Cosworth engine as fitted to Granadas..

Nice engine - I have one of those in my TVR (swapped out the original Cologne V6)

[Liquid Knight]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

That's a lot of money for a car that isn't road legal.

[Sway]

Liquid Knight said:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

That's a lot of money for a car that isn't road legal.

Why wouldn't it be legal if notified?

There's zero changes to the monocoque, so nowhere near needing an IVA, especially with original gearbox and diff.

[TheJimi]

Liquid Knight said:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

That's a lot of money for a car that isn't road legal.

What car isn't road legal?

[hairykrishna]

Liquid Knight said:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

That's a lot of money for a car that isn't road legal.

Is the suggestion that they haven't declared the engine swap? Why wouldn't they?

[TheJimi]

hairykrishna said:

TheJimi said:

As it is, I don't think it's fair to compare force inducted standard engines with the V6.

Why not? It's the obvious comparison as I see it. A supercharger suits the MX5 nicely and can be done well for a couple of grand, perhaps 5 or 6 is someone's doing it for you. You give up the noise of the V6 but save £10k+

I don't think it is a fair comparison, because the two engines are very different and each transforms the car in it's own unique way. There's no point talking about cost either, because bang for buck is an entirely different discussion.

Really though, I can't be arsed to argue any further on this, so I'll agree to disagree

[unlikelymechanic]

No issues I have declared the engine on mine to the DVLA so my V5 shows 1990 Mazda mx5 with 2967cc engine

[PushedDover]

unlikelymechanic said:

No issues I have declared the engine on mine to the DVLA so my V5 shows 1990 Mazda mx5 with 2967cc engine

Epic

[fstorm]

For me it'd have to be no more than £15K (pref. closer to £10K) including the donor car with refreshed running gear, based on the Mk1 or Mk3, version 2 is way too ugly. The issue then would be finding a donor car that was not rusty.

The main problem it faces is the Boxster and Cayman, the Honda S2000 would be a contender too.

[MX-6]

The Boxster has been mentioned as an obvious stand-out alternative, and the S2000 too since it has a similar power output to a V6.

I was thinking of other factory options for a manual RWD 6 pot (or similar power) roadsters within a £15k budget, came up with this list:

BMW Z3 2.8/3.0
BMW Z4 2.5/3.0
Nissan 350Z 3.5 convertible
Alfa Romeo Brera Spider 3.2
Chrysler Crossfire roadster 3.2
TVR Chimera 4.0
TVR S3 2.9
Vauxhall VX220 2.0
Mercedes SLK 280/300

There looks to be some interesting options but I guess none as as light weight as a Rocketeer, apart from a VX220 which is a 4 pot turbo. Some of these listed are likely to be a fair bit cheaper though...

[cerb4.5lee]

MX-6 said:

The Boxster has been mentioned as an obvious stand-out alternative, and the S2000 too since it has a similar power output to a V6.

I was thinking of other factory options for a manual RWD 6 pot (or similar power) roadsters within a £15k budget, came up with this list:

BMW Z3 2.8/3.0
BMW Z4 2.5/3.0
Nissan 350Z 3.5 convertible
Alfa Romeo Brera Spider 3.2
Chrysler Crossfire roadster 3.2
TVR Chimera 4.0
TVR S3 2.9
Vauxhall VX220 2.0
Mercedes SLK 280/300

There looks to be some interesting options but I guess none as as light weight as a Rocketeer, apart from a VX220 which is a 4 pot turbo. Some of these listed are likely to be a fair bit cheaper though...

You could add the BMW Z4M 3.2 Roadster and Nissan 370Z 3.7 Roadster to that list as well.

[Sway]

cerb4.5lee said:

MX-6 said:

The Boxster has been mentioned as an obvious stand-out alternative, and the S2000 too since it has a similar power output to a V6.

I was thinking of other factory options for a manual RWD 6 pot (or similar power) roadsters within a £15k budget, came up with this list:

BMW Z3 2.8/3.0
BMW Z4 2.5/3.0
Nissan 350Z 3.5 convertible
Alfa Romeo Brera Spider 3.2
Chrysler Crossfire roadster 3.2
TVR Chimera 4.0
TVR S3 2.9
Vauxhall VX220 2.0
Mercedes SLK 280/300

There looks to be some interesting options but I guess none as as light weight as a Rocketeer, apart from a VX220 which is a 4 pot turbo. Some of these listed are likely to be a fair bit cheaper though...

You could add the BMW Z4M 3.2 Roadster and Nissan 370Z 3.7 Roadster to that list as well.

I think it's fair to say I'd rather have the Rocketeer MX5 than any of that list at £15-20k.

The sheer joy in driving a mk2 stock power MX5 with high end suspension is just superb, the 30k miles I did in mine were an utter pleasure. With a v6 soundtrack and a near doubling of the power it'd be even better.

[cerb4.5lee]

Sway said:

cerb4.5lee said:

MX-6 said:

The Boxster has been mentioned as an obvious stand-out alternative, and the S2000 too since it has a similar power output to a V6.

I was thinking of other factory options for a manual RWD 6 pot (or similar power) roadsters within a £15k budget, came up with this list:

BMW Z3 2.8/3.0
BMW Z4 2.5/3.0
Nissan 350Z 3.5 convertible
Alfa Romeo Brera Spider 3.2
Chrysler Crossfire roadster 3.2
TVR Chimera 4.0
TVR S3 2.9
Vauxhall VX220 2.0
Mercedes SLK 280/300

There looks to be some interesting options but I guess none as as light weight as a Rocketeer, apart from a VX220 which is a 4 pot turbo. Some of these listed are likely to be a fair bit cheaper though...

You could add the BMW Z4M 3.2 Roadster and Nissan 370Z 3.7 Roadster to that list as well.

I think it's fair to say I'd rather have the Rocketeer MX5 than any of that list at £15-20k.

The sheer joy in driving a mk2 stock power MX5 with high end suspension is just superb, the 30k miles I did in mine were an utter pleasure. With a v6 soundtrack and a near doubling of the power it'd be even better.

The MX-5's lower weight is what really appeals to me with them too. Stuff like 350/370Z/Z4/SLK etc are all a bit more GT rather than sports when it comes to their weight I reckon.

[MX-6]

cerb4.5lee said:

Sway said:

cerb4.5lee said:

MX-6 said:

The Boxster has been mentioned as an obvious stand-out alternative, and the S2000 too since it has a similar power output to a V6.

I was thinking of other factory options for a manual RWD 6 pot (or similar power) roadsters within a £15k budget, came up with this list:

BMW Z3 2.8/3.0
BMW Z4 2.5/3.0
Nissan 350Z 3.5 convertible
Alfa Romeo Brera Spider 3.2
Chrysler Crossfire roadster 3.2
TVR Chimera 4.0
TVR S3 2.9
Vauxhall VX220 2.0
Mercedes SLK 280/300

There looks to be some interesting options but I guess none as as light weight as a Rocketeer, apart from a VX220 which is a 4 pot turbo. Some of these listed are likely to be a fair bit cheaper though...

You could add the BMW Z4M 3.2 Roadster and Nissan 370Z 3.7 Roadster to that list as well.

I think it's fair to say I'd rather have the Rocketeer MX5 than any of that list at £15-20k.

The sheer joy in driving a mk2 stock power MX5 with high end suspension is just superb, the 30k miles I did in mine were an utter pleasure. With a v6 soundtrack and a near doubling of the power it'd be even better.

The MX-5's lower weight is what really appeals to me with them too. Stuff like 350/370Z/Z4/SLK etc are all a bit more GT rather than sports when it comes to their weight I reckon.

I think it's the lower weight that is the one USP compared to the other options. You may be right about those being somewhat more GT-ish, all could be sharpened up with some modifications to the suspension and what have you, but it would be difficult to take weight out and still have a nicely functioning road car.

[TheJimi]

I keep saying this, but in my opinion, anyone buying a Rocketeer conversion is doing so because they *want* an MX5, or they already have one ready to be converted.

Edited by TheJimi on Wednesday 6th January 13:26

[MX-6]

TheJimi said:

I keep saying this, but in my opinion, anyone buying a Rocketeer conversion is doing so because they *want* an MX5, or they already have one ready to be converted.

Understandable. But if it were my money I would at least be thinking about the alternatives given that it's quite a significant investment to make, especially to spend on an MX5 which is only worth a few grand. I'm not saying it isn't worth it, but it's not something I'd get into lightly.