RE: Driven: BBR Mazda MX-5 Anniversary Edition

[dapprman]

221 bhp (I assume at the fly) on the 1.6 liter engine at 8.5 PSI, go on what you drinking.

As some one who was involved in the F/I MX-5 community many moons ago (until I got fed up with preposterous power figures), I know to get that much power from the original 1.6 engine (assuming it's in decent nick) you will need 12-13 PSI post intercooler. At 12 PSI post charge cooler I was just squeezing 210 with my super-charger setup (1). At 14 PSI the 1.6 engines were getting ~230 flywheel bhp and the later 1.8 models ~240.

I should point out I'm still all for putting a turbo or S/C on a '5 and am tempted to repeat it myself (even with having ~120k miles on the clock) (2) it's just that I think people should be a lot more realistic with their expectations.

1) Jackson Racing M45 S/C with 'Tony' node pulley and JR Big Boost crank pulley and 5th injector with programmable unit - with larger injectors and a fully programmable ECU I might have reached 220.
2) I also own a mildly modified RX-7 FD3 and can't justify two high powered cars

Edited by dapprman on Thursday 16th December 17:10

Edited by dapprman on Thursday 16th December 17:11

[TotalControl]

dapprman said:

221 bhp (I assume at the fly) on the 1.6 liter engine at 8.5 PSI, go on what you drinking.

As some one who was involved in the F/I MX-5 community many moons ago (until I got fed up with preposterous power figures), I know to get that much power from the original 1.6 engine (assuming it's in decent nick) you will need 12-13 PSI post intercooler. At 12 PSI post charge cooler I was just squeezing 210 with my super-charger setup (1). At 14 PSI the 1.6 engines were getting ~230 flywheel bhp and the later 1.8 models ~240.

I should point out I'm still all for putting a turbo or S/C on a '5 and am tempted to repeat it myself (even with having ~120k miles on the clock) (2) it's just that I think people should be a lot more realistic with their expectations.

1) Jackson Racing M45 S/C with 'Tony' node pulley and JR Big Boost crank pulley and 5th injector with programmable unit - with larger injectors and a fully programmable ECU I might have reached 220.
2) I also own a mildly modified RX-7 FD3 and can't justify two high powered cars

Edited by dapprman on Thursday 16th December 17:10

Edited by dapprman on Thursday 16th December 17:11

Nice. Just wondering though, how much does a boost in power effect the handling overall?

You have a very nice RX7 btw! I always stare at it for a while when walking past.

I live one road away from you. The guy with the rusting Celica on the drive.

[ragezx14r]

Benjc said:

Screw it.

For £12k you could have:

Is there anyone doing these conversions in the UK?

[Andy T]

[quote=dapprman]221 bhp (I assume at the fly) on the 1.6 liter engine at 8.5 PSI, go on what you drinking.

As some one who was involved in the F/I MX-5 community many moons ago (until I got fed up with preposterous power figures), I know to get that much power from the original 1.6 engine (assuming it's in decent nick) you will need 12-13 PSI post intercooler. At 12 PSI post charge cooler I was just squeezing 210 with my super-charger setup (1). At 14 PSI the 1.6 engines were getting ~230 flywheel bhp and the later 1.8 models ~240.

I should point out I'm still all for putting a turbo or S/C on a '5 and am tempted to repeat it myself (even with having ~120k miles on the clock) (2) it's just that I think people should be a lot more realistic with their expectations.

1) Jackson Racing M45 S/C with 'Tony' node pulley and JR Big Boost crank pulley and 5th injector with programmable unit - with larger injectors and a fully programmable ECU I might have reached 220.
2) I also own a mildly modified RX-7 FD3 and can't justify two high powered cars

Edited by dapprman on Thursday 16th December 17:10

I was wondering about that too. Although turbo pressure alone isnt an indicator of bhp. There are other factors too like mapping which will have a huge effect on how efficient the engine can run. Having said that, I'm a little surprised they claim 221 bhp from a 1.6 with "just" 8.5 psi of boost.

Tbh, I'm not one for dyno runs and numbers, I've never dyno'd mine, I just love driving it, and it feels fast enough to me.

Someone else asked how the extra power affects handling, well it just makes it better! The mx5 chassis has always been one of the best you can get. Having some more power turns it from a fun little car to a properly quick sportscar. Only thing I'd want to do is Get some coilovers on it to sharpen up the handling and replace the brake pads for some yellowstuff ones or even better replace the brakes for bigg ones from a 1.8.

[Chicane-UK]

£7,995?!

Performance car bargain of the year? The MX-5 has never done much for me if I'm honest (and I know that's enough to get me flamed to death on Pistonheads) but you can't argue with that kind of money for that kind of work. Awesome deal. I suspect they may well sell a few cars!

[dinkel]

youngsyr said:

Looks and sounds great from the article, but £12K is still very strong money for a very old second hand car, even if it is tuned with a few nice parts added.

Compared to what it offers it's excellent value for money. Sound 60s Elans are in the 30K range at the moment.

Mind you: maintaince costs are peanuts on these cars.

I was a bit surprised C&SC mag did not mention the MX5 in their greatest drivers supplement.

[genericguy]

I can see the attraction of having a properly sorted version with manufacturers backing, I do wonder if it would lose a fair bit when the warranty expires, but possibly the rarity will help?
I guess if you add the turbo etc yourself you never get back what you spend anyway.

[papercup]

Benjc said:

Screw it.

For £12k you could have:

no you couldn't.

[Gary C]

8k sounds amazing value at first but I would like to know what 'stripped down' acutally means.

Are BBR guarenteeing the car or just the engine ?

Is the shell fully prepped, etched, painted ?

Has the transmission, steering, brakes been overhauled to as new condition.

Are the electrics and all anciliaries checked and maintained ?

for 8k do you get a 100,000 mile car or a 50,000 mile car ?

[Beefmeister]

Gary C said:

8k sounds amazing value at first but I would like to know what 'stripped down' acutally means.

Are BBR guarenteeing the car or just the engine ?

Is the shell fully prepped, etched, painted ?

Has the transmission, steering, brakes been overhauled to as new condition.

Are the electrics and all anciliaries checked and maintained ?

for 8k do you get a 100,000 mile car or a 50,000 mile car ?

All very valid points. Probably best if you supplied the MX5 and then they do all the work to it, that way at least you can guarantee that you know the car...

[Snoggledog]

ragezx14r said:

Benjc said:

Screw it.

For £12k you could have:

Is there anyone doing these conversions in the UK?

Have a chat with sidewaysste

[youngsyr]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Beefmeister said:

Gary C said:

8k sounds amazing value at first but I would like to know what 'stripped down' acutally means.

Are BBR guarenteeing the car or just the engine ?

Is the shell fully prepped, etched, painted ?

Has the transmission, steering, brakes been overhauled to as new condition.

Are the electrics and all anciliaries checked and maintained ?

for 8k do you get a 100,000 mile car or a 50,000 mile car ?

All very valid points. Probably best if you supplied the MX5 and then they do all the work to it, that way at least you can guarantee that you know the car...

But that's my point above.
I would be almost interestewd if they took MY car I know, but also know as not 100% perfect, and did the full biffter to it for the 5k. not just blow it and fettle the engine, and spray it a different colour.

I think you can take it as read that for £8K you are not going to get a fully stripped and refreshed engine, gearbox, transmission, bushes, suspension, coolant system etc.

The turbo kit on its own is £4K, the respray will be at least £1K and then you've got to buy the car.

[dinkel]

Snoggledog said:

ragezx14r said:

Benjc said:

Screw it.

For £12k you could have:

Is there anyone doing these conversions in the UK?

Have a chat with sidewaysste

With how much power can the MX5 cope?

225 sounds like a healthy bit for serious action: 0-60 in what? 911 territory?

[hornetrider]

dinkel said:

225 sounds like a healthy bit for serious action: 0-60 in what? 911 territory?

Not quite. More like around the 6s mark to 60 I would imagine, so more like Boxster / S pace.

[Snoggledog]

dinkel said:

Snoggledog said:

Have a chat with sidewaysste

With how much power can the MX5 cope?

225 sounds like a healthy bit for serious action: 0-60 in what? 911 territory?

Steve's is pushing out somewhere around 500. 0-60 is limited by traction but on a dry warm road it's breathtakingly quick.

[5lab]

225 bhp would be around 220-250bhp/tonne, depending on what else is done. That's around focus RS power to weight ratio, so around 5 to 60? depends how sticky/wide you make the rear rubber i guess?

[vz-r_dave]

I just love PH, fking may as call pistonheadspricecomparison.com Would people please stop about the price, people who love their MX5's who know the true pottential and driving fun that can be had for 10K and assuming they have the bank balance will pay for it. If you'd rather go and buy an EVO why post, it is a totaly different car, far more boring to drive for example. If I was'nt 6'5 I would seriously consider this option. You can not buy anything as raw as the MX5 right now, easy and cheap to repair etc unlike the Boxster which has also got a mention. It is great to see that a company has given a full product for MX5 owners. No ball park figures, everything is priced and then you have 2 years Warranty to top it off. Fantastic imo.

[dapprman]

dinkel said:

Snoggledog said:

ragezx14r said:

Benjc said:

Screw it.

For £12k you could have:

Is there anyone doing these conversions in the UK?

Have a chat with sidewaysste

With how much power can the MX5 cope?

225 sounds like a healthy bit for serious action: 0-60 in what? 911 territory?

The original 1.6 can happily cope with 230 BHP (fly), which is about 14-15 psi, the original 1.8, around 240. After that you start having to look at internal mods (i.e. where it gets expensive). I seem to remember, back when you could still trust the figures people quoted, one person got ~270 BHP at the fly with a 15 psi FM2 kit using a MoTeC ECU and some serious head work (think it was bored out from 1.8 to 2.1 litres as well). Not sure Steve's ever been a Pistonheader so he may well not be able to correct me on this.

[Adam Towler]

hornetrider said:

Adam Towler said:

hornetrider said:

Numbskulls!!!!

Did you go to BBR and not drive the st hot off the press newly Cosworth supercharged Mk3???? ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I did drive it and there will be a review on here soon.

Brilliant, thank you. When will said review be available for the masses?

Not sure - that's down to the Editor.

It was an interesting car though - totally different in character/delivery to the above, but very impressive.

[hornetrider]

Adam Towler said:

hornetrider said:

Adam Towler said:

hornetrider said:

Numbskulls!!!!

Did you go to BBR and not drive the st hot off the press newly Cosworth supercharged Mk3???? ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I did drive it and there will be a review on here soon.

Brilliant, thank you. When will said review be available for the masses?

Not sure - that's down to the Editor.

It was an interesting car though - totally different in character/delivery to the above, but very impressive.

Thanks - did you get performance figures? Also - bend the ear of the editor please