RE: Mazda MX-5
Discussion
I've just returned from 1500 mls assisting on a Classic Regularity Rally arranged by Classic Rally Tours. We went from Bilbao to the Picos and back to French Pyrenees.
My 1.6 MX-5 Brodie Brittain Turbo with around 200 bhp was absolute heaven.
I can't imagine a better car for the job. It was Fun Fun Fun. and enough space to 2 weeks clobber.
Snicking between 2nd & 3rd with the turbo sucking the cool air, flicking the car from hairpin to hairpin - a comfy go-kart.
Thanks hairdressers for buying so many, now lots of us driving fans can enjoy them. They are that good.
This Alfa was on the Rally, I sometimes feel that Mazda found some of the magical Guilietta spirit and clothed it in an Elanish dateless form.
It was a long way down from here - Lucky....
My 1.6 MX-5 Brodie Brittain Turbo with around 200 bhp was absolute heaven.
I can't imagine a better car for the job. It was Fun Fun Fun. and enough space to 2 weeks clobber.
Snicking between 2nd & 3rd with the turbo sucking the cool air, flicking the car from hairpin to hairpin - a comfy go-kart.
Thanks hairdressers for buying so many, now lots of us driving fans can enjoy them. They are that good.
This Alfa was on the Rally, I sometimes feel that Mazda found some of the magical Guilietta spirit and clothed it in an Elanish dateless form.
It was a long way down from here - Lucky....
franv8 said:
Nice pics!
Not envious of the BBR either... although you know it'd rubbish compared to a TVR wedge. You hairdresser!
(in fact - they are amazing pics, and the rally looks fun too - how was the 5 recieved?)
Many competitors have had experience of them, so know how good they are. Another official came in his Boxster, he has a Supercharged MX as well and loves them equally, but for different reasons.Not envious of the BBR either... although you know it'd rubbish compared to a TVR wedge. You hairdresser!
(in fact - they are amazing pics, and the rally looks fun too - how was the 5 recieved?)
Incidently, my BBR has a TVR steering wheel purloined from a Wedge when I used to sell them.
I also have 2 others.....and I'm not afraid to admit it !! I can't see the point of buying a car to impress some bloke down the road. Been there, done that, and it achieved nowt but drain the pocket.
Best fun car I've ever had, and I've been lucky to have had some fancy stuff over the years.
Classic Rally Tours run some great events, look them up [ use Explorer to view ]
Los Angeles said:
Can anybody post or direct me to the forum that shows the alterations in design of the next MX5? Can't find it. Thanks.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-mazda-mx-5-leakage/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/29/2009-mazda-mx-5...
Los Angeles said:
Great journey, Threespires, fine pics, memorable drive! 
My navigator just sent me this :-The Pyrenees Mountain Drive
Hairpin after hairpin was the route we followed
A long and narrow dangerous road.
We lost three cars over the edge
Down a mountain, not stuck in a hedge.
They were going very slow
Enough time to see below
And still they had trouble staying on the road
So a tractor was called to get them towed.
The perfect car for this big big drive
Is the little Mazda MX-5
You don’t need the 4x4 trends
This little car sorts out the bends.
Up & Up & Round & Round it went
And just seemed perfectly content
It held the road just right
And the driver it did excite.
A sports car made for any road
With gears that simply, flowed.
The driver gave the car the drive of its life
And not once did that little car gripe.
Edited by threespires on Thursday 9th October 23:35
Edited by threespires on Thursday 9th October 23:35
Los Angeles said:
Thanks, Threespires.
Am not happy about the corporate Mazda mouth. BIG mistake. I like the extended headlights - more aggression. Can't see much difference in the dash and console layout. Wonder if they moved the shoulder snapping boot catch from the cubby between the seats? The pics show a neat auto. I'd actually buy one for everyday town use if the manual was not so sublime.
The front works for me, but many are with you. Maybe when we see it in the flesh it wont be so bold. They tend to take pix from low down which accentuates the look.Am not happy about the corporate Mazda mouth. BIG mistake. I like the extended headlights - more aggression. Can't see much difference in the dash and console layout. Wonder if they moved the shoulder snapping boot catch from the cubby between the seats? The pics show a neat auto. I'd actually buy one for everyday town use if the manual was not so sublime.
I see the RX-8 has received similar treatment.
DennisTheMenace said:
Although beautifully made and do the job well, I don't think it has the fun factor. As the roof goes into the boot, it's really best for town use, I believe. One followed our rally on Andorra plates, but they were unable to de-roof, an important factor for me. grahamw48 said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
grahamw48 said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
grahamw48 said:
When did a MX5 get more than a passing glance, unless there was a fit female driving it.
Don't know about anybody else but I didn't buy an MX-5 to be looked at! I bought it because it is a very competent sportscar with excellent handling for very little money. That's why I bought mine too.
Most Wedgers have minds of their own and definitely couldn't give a toss about what anyone else thinks of their choice of vehicle or anything else for that matter.
As far as I'm concerned the MX5 is a computer designed mass-produced, common as muck machine, mainly driven by hairdresser types or women.
I you don't like that...TOUGH.
"So what" nothing - if you read the sequence of quotes above I think it's pretty plain that I am saying that I'm not bothered what anybody else thinks, so your tepid cliches are a bit pointless! You say that wedgers have minds of their own, yet you are clearly too weak-willed to consider teh MX-5 as you're worried that people will think you're gay!
I can respect the opinions of people who say they don't like the looks, or think they're underpowered, or that they're too common, etc. Fair enough.
However, wheeling out the tired old MX-5 stereotypes?? Please! I must be a gayer and a hairdresser and a girl and all those things you said, how annoying.
I wasn't having a pop at your car, I was demonstrating (or trying to) that we all have different tastes. However you have well and truly thrown your toys out of your pram!
Thank you for your concern, but rest assured that I am comfortable with my sexuality
On the other hand, methinks the lady doth protest too much BTW, if you fancy going down the stereotype road we could always start on chest wigs, chassis rust and build quality?
grahamw48 said:
When did a MX5 get more than a passing glance, unless there was a fit female driving it.
A passing glance? Look, i could go and buy an Aston Martin, but when i climb out of it, I'm still fat, I'm still bald and I'm still fifty. grahamw48 said:
[
As far as I'm concerned the MX5 is a computer designed mass-produced, common as muck machine, mainly driven by hairdresser types or women.
I you don't like that...TOUGH.
Computers build cars better than people. Mass produced cars are of far better quality than hand made cars. Affordable cars that remain rare do so because not enough people like them. I don't know what a hair dresser 'type' is, (nor do i know what you find wrong about women), but just for the record, when i last had enough hair to warrant a hair dresser he had a Porker 928GT, and the one before that had a Lotus Elise. Now, my barber has a Rover 200. As far as I'm concerned the MX5 is a computer designed mass-produced, common as muck machine, mainly driven by hairdresser types or women.
I you don't like that...TOUGH.
I have to say though, all this macho man talk, and this desperation to spend money to try to appear as something that you're not... it just makes me think of homosexual men who are married with kids and are to scared to come out.
And if you don't like any of that...TOUGH.
The MX5 is certainly mass produced and, therefore, manufactured in huge numbers. It is, however, one of the few modern cars in which its engineers were more concerned with actual feel, sound, and ergonomics rather than sheer numbers. That's exactly why most modern German cars leave me cold. They may do everything right, but I end up bored.
Mazda called it "kansei" which is their version of engineering proper interaction between man and machine. When developing the MX5, the head of engineering for the MX5 actually wrote down the heading "Oneness between horse and rider," under which he wrote what was needed to achieve this. They also listened to recordings of the sounds of over one hundred sports car of the past in order to tune the exhaust sound. All of this may sound strange to us westerners, but there's no denying that their approach worked.
Miguel
Mazda called it "kansei" which is their version of engineering proper interaction between man and machine. When developing the MX5, the head of engineering for the MX5 actually wrote down the heading "Oneness between horse and rider," under which he wrote what was needed to achieve this. They also listened to recordings of the sounds of over one hundred sports car of the past in order to tune the exhaust sound. All of this may sound strange to us westerners, but there's no denying that their approach worked.
Miguel
Los Angeles said:
Seriously? 
Will search out their website.
I guess you didn't see it earlier, but SunDiver included it in his post on the bottom of page 3. Here it is again: Will search out their website.http://www.cosworthusa.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?id...
I'm with you, LA. I still want a V6 powered MX5.
Miguel
Dooshbag said:
hcanning said:
Am I the only one who gets a little sad when I see a mk1 MX5 in what looks like a state of neglect - i.e being driven yet covered in scratches, dents, damaged roof, etc, or filthy and parked under a tree or something They deserve better!
You'd love mine then, rusty arches, dents, tatty interior etc etc. I didn't buy it to clean it, I bought it to drive the arse off it. Great fun, simple, light etc etc. They deserve better! And rust only shortens it's life hcanning said:
Am I the only one who gets a little sad when I see a mk1 MX5 in what looks like a state of neglect - i.e being driven yet covered in scratches, dents, damaged roof, etc, or filthy and parked under a tree or something They deserve better!
You'll love mine then - the guy from the insurance co repairing it says it is a great little car, one of the best kept examples he has seen ( They deserve better!
for the polish MattOz).ali_kat said:
hcanning said:
Am I the only one who gets a little sad when I see a mk1 MX5 in what looks like a state of neglect - i.e being driven yet covered in scratches, dents, damaged roof, etc, or filthy and parked under a tree or something They deserve better!
You'll love mine then - the guy from the insurance co repairing it says it is a great little car, one of the best kept examples he has seen ( They deserve better! for the polish MattOz).After years of dismissing this car as a 'haridressers car' I am now considering buying a mk1 mx-5 for around the 2k mark. Question is, should I consider an import, or stick to a UK model? And is the 1.8 really worth buying over the 1.6? Any advice from mx-5 owners would be appreciated???......
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