RE: SOTW Special: Mazda MX-5

[dirty boy]

niggtv said:

I don't really get the PH infatuation with the MX-5, but at £600 that is a bargain!

They're not fast, but make no mistake, they are superb.

[Gad-Westy]

Starting to wonder if we paid too much for our's. Don't regret it at all though. Everybody should have one!

[tybo]

Gad-Westy said:

Starting to wonder if we paid too much for our's. Don't regret it at all though. Everybody should have one!

I'm amazed at the prices they can be picked up for these days.

[J4CKO]

A fellow Scoobynetter kindly offered me a passenger ride in his £500 Matt Black MX5 with Pistonheads logo (you on here Simon ?) round the Anglessey circuit, it was a blast, went round in an Evo the same day which was obviously faster by a good margin but I preffered being in the MX5, much more fun from a passenger point of view, it was on very sticky tyres and was getting mercillesly hammered but it just kept going on the ragged edge all day, my respect for these little cars went right up, no wonder they are such a success, small, light, nible, fun, quick enough for most situations, reliable, whats not to like ?

[LHD]

Great Shed.

Stick it on a nice set of original wheels, new hood, sort the suspension and put it up at £1300.

Job's a good 'un.

[Risotto]

I've got a new front badge lying around at home somewhere if you want it, just let me know where to send it.

[v8will]

tybo said:

Chris71 said:

v8will said:

Got 9th as well in the evo 100 greatest drivers cars

I do like the MX5, but (having owned one) I suspect the overall package (price, reliability, availability, praciticality) was taken into account to come to that position. It's very good for what it is, but I don't think even the mighty MX5 would be the ninth best driver's car ever built if money and practicality were taken out the equation.

Edited by Chris71 on Friday 28th August 12:32

Don't forget what was at number 1.....The Zonda

Have to take the Evo guide with a pince of salt - Perhaps the Zonda won as a certain editor of said magazine owns one? Also the Focus RS made a suspiciously high entry - good car I'm sure but better than a McLaren F1??

If you take the MX-5 at face value, a japanese interpretation of the classic British sports car (and lets not argue about the definition) then it is very good. Lightweight and classic front engine rear drive layout. Then look deeper - its got a near perfect weight distribution, a lively (comparitively) twin cam engine, snickety snick gearchange, adjustable independant suspension and on some models a viscous LSD. It's easily modified too and there is a cottage industry dedicated to them. They can easily be converted to forced induction and many examples run well over 200 BHP. Flyin Miata in the USA even does a V8 conversion kit!

For the mortal man with a limited budget and non stig like driving qualities it's ideal. It'll flatter you and teach the basics of performance driving without scaring yer pants off or dumping you arse first into a hedge. Certainly not fast and in a straight line a modern diesel will leave it for dust but in this edge of speed cameras and over zealous points and fines you can have a load of fun at a sensible speed.

Chicks dig 'em too

[Garlick]

Risotto said:

I've got a new front badge lying around at home somewhere if you want it, just let me know where to send it.

Thanks PM on the way.

[Munter]

Garlick said:

Risotto said:

I've got a new front badge lying around at home somewhere if you want it, just let me know where to send it.

Thanks PM on the way.

If you need other bits... 10% discount this weekend....

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/

[tybo]

v8will said:

tybo said:

Chris71 said:

v8will said:

Got 9th as well in the evo 100 greatest drivers cars

I do like the MX5, but (having owned one) I suspect the overall package (price, reliability, availability, praciticality) was taken into account to come to that position. It's very good for what it is, but I don't think even the mighty MX5 would be the ninth best driver's car ever built if money and practicality were taken out the equation.

Edited by Chris71 on Friday 28th August 12:32

Don't forget what was at number 1.....The Zonda

Have to take the Evo guide with a pince of salt - Perhaps the Zonda won as a certain editor of said magazine owns one? Also the Focus RS made a suspiciously high entry - good car I'm sure but better than a McLaren F1??

If you take the MX-5 at face value, a japanese interpretation of the classic British sports car (and lets not argue about the definition) then it is very good. Lightweight and classic front engine rear drive layout. Then look deeper - its got a near perfect weight distribution, a lively (comparitively) twin cam engine, snickety snick gearchange, adjustable independant suspension and on some models a viscous LSD. It's easily modified too and there is a cottage industry dedicated to them. They can easily be converted to forced induction and many examples run well over 200 BHP. Flyin Miata in the USA even does a V8 conversion kit!

For the mortal man with a limited budget and non stig like driving qualities it's ideal. It'll flatter you and teach the basics of performance driving without scaring yer pants off or dumping you arse first into a hedge. Certainly not fast and in a straight line a modern diesel will leave it for dust but in this edge of speed cameras and over zealous points and fines you can have a load of fun at a sensible speed.

Chicks dig 'em too

You're preaching to the converted
I have a 240 BHP FM2. Mine is quite fast in a straight line too

[Negative Creep]

Don't like the colour but for £600 who cares? A real bargain there, just in time for winter

[Gizmo!]

Munter said:

Garlick said:

Risotto said:

I've got a new front badge lying around at home somewhere if you want it, just let me know where to send it.

Thanks PM on the way.

If you need other bits... 10% discount this weekend....

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/

Spectacularly good timing really!

[Garlick]

Negative Creep said:

just in time for winter

Not hanging around with this one, it will be scrubbed, spruced, fixed and re- sold ASAP.

Hopefully we'll make a nice profit meaning 'Project SOTW' can start buying some rather special metal very soon

[Andy_sx]

Will be on the look out for one of these soonish as a replacement to the god awful 106 I am driving around in, for the money you have a decent amount of car, and plenty of options for tweeking. Hopefully get one for the same price as you did aswell, congrats on the purchase

[minimatt1967]

Garlick said:

Negative Creep said:

just in time for winter

Not hanging around with this one, it will be scrubbed, spruced, fixed and re- sold ASAP.

Hopefully we'll make a nice profit meaning 'Project SOTW' can start buying some rather special metal very soon

[v8will]

tybo said:

You're preaching to the converted
I have a 240 BHP FM2. Mine is quite fast in a straight line too

Aye, that'd do nicely! Thats the full fat kit with their engine management?

Dammit I'm gonna have to buy another one aren't I?

[tybo]

v8will said:

tybo said:

You're preaching to the converted
I have a 240 BHP FM2. Mine is quite fast in a straight line too

Aye, that'd do nicely! Thats the full fat kit with their engine management?

Dammit I'm gonna have to buy another one aren't I?

Yes, it's the full fat kit.

And.....yes....you are...

[Jimmyarm]

I've been looking for a cheap'ish weekend toy to exert my spanner monkey side on and these are going to get a serious look in after this

[Garlick]

Article said:

Shed-obsessed after his latest spot

I've ALWAYS been shed obsessed?

[TryingHard]

Great shed and I still have a soft spot for MX5's having owned a couple.

A while back I managed my own shed special MX5. I was selling mine and a guy phoned up as he wanted to replace his with a better example. Got chatting and I mentioned that when he wanted rid of his I would be interested as a track slag.

Heard nothing then a couple of months later out of the blue he calls me..."Paintwork is knackered, roof is knackered, MOT runs out in a couple of days but it drives well"..."OK, how much do you want (thinking £400/500)"..."Not much...£50"..."I'll take it". He even delivered to me as we both worked in the same town.

It looked a bit rough (the paint was peeling and the roof was completely knackered) but I picked up a roof for £60 on Ebay complete with frame, fitted it and it drove spot on (had new rear tyres and half a tank of fuel already). Sadly I got distracted so never did anything else with it and just flogged it on again (for £400 though).