RE: PH Heroes: Mazda MX-5

[otolith]

posterboy said:

This is one of the most over rated cars ever.

Interesting. Which models are you basing this on having driven, and which aspects of their reputation would you dispute? Perhaps you could illustrate with some counter-examples of cars you've owned or at least driven which are better in those aspects?

[Mclovin]

Munter said:

Mclovin said:

Its like a riding moped or shagging a MILF or a driving a souped up skoda, its fun until your friends see you doing it.

Only if you've got the wrong friends.

:-) I suppose if your mates were chavs then riding pizza bikes, shagging a milf and driving a max power skoda would all be acceptable.

Edited by Mclovin on Wednesday 16th April 12:37

[eightseventhree]

I came from the Civic Type R to the MX5. My circle of mates most of them took the piss until we went out for a spin.

Now 2 of them are looking at getting them for there track day car. I have Mk2 1.8 great car underrated by most people due to image / straight line speed.

[patmahe]

I have found that since I joined PH I have been more and more drawn to these (coincedence), as a weekend toy that you'd never have to worry about they are top notch. They are fun without being dangerous, quick without losing you your licence, will start when you want, and go all day - and they are cheap too. The only thing they are not is manly but luckily I am at an age where fun is more important than appearing macho. If I ever sell my elise I might be popping one of these into the garage for the weekend hoonage.

All that being said I'm going on the experience of others but if its as good as others say its a tough package to beat.

[liamsp]

I own one was my first car very forgiving and I feel it was an excellent car to have got the hairdressers comments at first from friends but the ones who drove it all agreed it is a FUN car to drive. It was the 1.6 mk1 brg v-spec.

Edited by liamsp on Wednesday 16th April 12:44

[Strangely Brown]

patmahe said:

If I ever sell my elise I might be popping one of these into the garage for the weekend hoonage.

Likewise.

For now the Elise is my plaything but if it ever has to go then I am quite sure that it's place will be filled with a Mk1 MX-5.

[oagent]

I persuaded my girlfired to get a late mk 1, 1.8is about a year ago. for the price of a fiesta/corsa etc she ended up with a mint 60k mile, fsh, mx5.
It handles great, not got tonnes of ultimate grip, but its well balanced. Its quick enough, and certainly as quick as eny fiesta she could have got for similar money. Its cheaper to insure than her previous fiesta - work that out!
Some may call it hair dresserish, but I would prefer my hair cut by a girl who drives a rwd car and knows how to drift it, than a girl who drives a 1.1 hatch back. For a fun car that holds its value now, and costs peanuts to run, then you cant go far wrong in my opinion.
The only downside is the plasticy interior and the noise at 70mph.

[chunkymonkey71]

most fun car I've ever owned!!!

[Munter]

oagent said:

The only downside is the plasticy interior and the noise at 70mph.

Yeah certainly the MK1 interior is a bit hard plastic style. But on the plus side, it's not going to wear out.

Wind noise at 70 is reduced with the hardtop. The best £350 I have spent on the car that.

[Legend83]

I used to be in the school of thought that MX5's were hairdressers cars. Then I joined Pistonheads and began to wonder what all the fuss is about. Then I bought the best one I could find and have not looked back since

Friend of mine kept telling me: "I saw a car like yours last night".

I would say: "Oh yeah?"

Reply: "Yeah, it was being driven by a woman!" - cue much guffawing and snorting.

He drives a Mk4 Golf 1.6 - I told him I saw several cars like his, all being driven by boring, middle-age tts.

The MX5 is an excellent sports car/roadster which is accessible to everyone really. I would love a TVR one day but I am not looking forward to letting the Mrs drive it! With the Mazda I have no such worries.

[Road_Terrorist]

darth_pies said:

Now why did Mazda never make a proper 'hot' version?

You mean like the Mazdaspeed Turbo version?

[gedG]

Excellent car!!
Probably just about the best combination of fun, practicality and cost you can buy.

I never had much bother with name calling, except once someone shouted "gay boy". And he was the one squashed between two half naked men in the front of a Transit. I burst out laughing at the irony of it, he didn't seem to see the funny side.

[chunkymonkey71]

posterboy said:

This is one of the most over rated cars ever.

Lame

Audiholic?

So you love driving over servo'd cars with no feel or feedback then?

Or maybe you are just 15...

[B10]

Shame the author omitted the involvement of IAD late of Worthing and their involvement in chassis / suspension etc engineering. Editor please add.

[Andy_sx]

one of the cars im very drawn to as a track day / hooning project in the near future. get a bit of an untidy mk1 and sort it from there. wont have to look great as the emphasis will be on the performance, both in a straight line (engine swap for overall tuneability) and around the twisties

[Herman Toothrot]

I like mine, although outright speed isn't the point, it is something that makes them go from "fun" to "grinning idiot" territory.

200bhp is about right for them for the road, 250bhp for the track. Oh the joy of turbos and boost control

[AdamMX-5]

varsas said:

Would love one, but IIRC a decent one is still around £5k. However, I paid £3k for my old spitfire and in that context £5k for a modern, more powerful version of that would be a bargain...i'll have to test drive one one day.

Sold mine to a couple who had got rid of their Spitfire as it was too unreliable!

ETA - forgot to say, I loved mine and would still have it if my daughter hadn't arrived. Seriously considering getting back into one though for the summer as it's dawned on me that it's only me in the car on the way to work anyway!

Edited by AdamMX-5 on Wednesday 16th April 13:34

[Paul Holroyd]

My wife has always had one and last year I swooped her for my 4 x 4 "she can’t drive it due to bad health".

It's great the mk3 1800 limited edition Mazda Sport with all the bells and whistles complete full factory fitted kit and suspension...sadly it has to go cant afford two cars to run now. My sister is interested in buying it so I know it will go to a good home.

[dern]

chunkymonkey71 said:

posterboy said:

This is one of the most over rated cars ever.

Lame

Audiholic?

So you love driving over servo'd cars with no feel or feedback then?

Or maybe you are just 15...

I didn't like the one I test drove either. I think they're ok for what they are and most of the popularity is down to the flock of sheep effect.

[Wigeon Incognito]

They're unbelievably cheap to run and repair too.

Eveb with my excessive maintenance regime mine has cost me not much more than £1000 to run over the past couple of years including tyres and other consumables.

I'm having a new winf fitted due to a blemish in the paint and a brand new wing can be bought for just £80!!