Can anything beat an Mx-5 for value for money?

[Osmoliver]

As the title says, is there a better weekend toy in value for money terms?

Assuming that you have a daily car for all your getting about needs and your weekend car is for B road blasts and the occasional track day. Is there anything better or as good?

There are some very good FWD hot hatches, but they're a different prospect to the Mx-5. Other 2 seater RWD cars are typically heavier (Z4, 350Z) or are more expensive (S2000, Boxter).

I know Mx-5 is usually the PH answer, but let's pretend they all disappeared. What's the next answer?

[Pistonheader101]

Honestly the mx5 is the biggest pile of junk I’ve had the experience of owning. It’s overhyped and the only thing going for it is it’s cheap price compared to other roadsters.

As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for..

[Osmoliver]

I love mine, but fair enough.

I'd be interested to hear what you replaced it with?

[l354uge]

I'd say an MG tf or f is better value for money.
Mazda is a better car, but the rust troubles and rising values make them worse value.

[DoubleD]

Whats your budget?

[SCEtoAUX]

MR2 Roadster.

Looks better, doesn't rot, uses less fuel, Toyota reliabilty.

Very good ones cost no more than £3k, perfectly good ones considerably less.

I've owned two. Got rid of the first when my son was learning to drive, got rid of the second because it was barely being used and filling my garage.

If/when I move to a bigger place I'll get another one in a heartbeat.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by SCEtoAUX on Wednesday 16th January 19:54

[CubanPete]

Mx5 is great fun.

MR2 Mk3 or MGTF.

[stargazer30]

Another vote for the MR2 roadster. Have had 3 myself!

[Nickp82]

Rx-8 if you buy a good one.

[Jag_NE]

I get that it’s a decent steer but it looks like an absolute girls car. The image conscious helmsman would take a more brutish coupe or GT.

[ZX10R NIN]

If it's a weekend toy then these are pretty hard to beat when it comes to fun/value for money:

S1000RR

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

MV F4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Gad-Westy]

Have had 4x Mk1 MX5's so you know where my loyalties lie. I love them but I think actual bargains are a little harder to find these days. Really good MK1's that aren't crusty are probably over £2k now. The Mk2 is maybe less fashionable so there might be bargains to be had but rust is probably even more of a concern on those.

Would agree about the mk3 MR2. They are great value too and handle beautifully.

[RSTurboPaul]

Jag_NE said:

I get that it’s a decent steer but it looks like an absolute girls car. The image conscious helmsman would take a more brutish coupe or GT.

Perhaps 'the image conscious helmsman' should buy cars to please himself rather than to try to meet the expectations he imagines other people might have of him?

Edited by RSTurboPaul on Thursday 17th January 09:13

[coldel]

RSTurboPaul said:

Jag_NE said:

I get that it’s a decent steer but it looks like an absolute girls car. The image conscious helmsman would take a more brutish coupe or GT.

Perhaps 'the image conscious helmsman' should buy cars to please himself rather than to try to meet other random people's expectations?

And just send the MR2 to Woodsport to drop a V6 into it for you

[Osmoliver]

Thanks for the replies!

l354uge said:

I'd say an MG tf or f is better value for money.
Mazda is a better car, but the rust troubles and rising values make them worse value.

I'm not sure I could trust the MG's K series engine and don't they rust as much as Mx-5s?

DoubleD said:

Whats your budget?

I guess there isn't one, but let's say a usable NA Mx-5 is £2k. To be better value for money, an car with a price north of this has to offer something more than an Mx-5.

SCEtoAUX said:

MR2 Roadster.

You might be onto something here! I'm aware there's not much luggage space in them. Can you comfortably fit weekend bags in them?

CubanPete & stargazer30 I like your suggestions for the MR2!

Nickp82 said:

Rx-8 if you buy a good one.

Having to rebuild the engine every so often, the high fuel consumption and the weight of these put me off.

Jag_NE said:

I get that it’s a decent steer but it looks like an absolute girls car. The image conscious helmsman would take a more brutish coupe or GT.

Any suggestions?

ZX10R NIN said:

If it's a weekend toy then these are pretty hard to beat when it comes to fun/value for money:

S1000RR

MV F4

You're right, motorbikes are definitely a different class when it comes to fun and value for money. I did my unrestricted bike licence last year, so I would love to buy a bike. I just need some indoor space due to where I live (insurance...)

Gad-Westy said:

Have had 4x Mk1 MX5's so you know where my loyalties lie. I love them but I think actual bargains are a little harder to find these days. Really good MK1's that aren't crusty are probably over £2k now. The Mk2 is maybe less fashionable so there might be bargains to be had but rust is probably even more of a concern on those.

Would agree about the mk3 MR2. They are great value too and handle beautifully.

Agreed, they came with rust from the factory and I feel as though no matter how nice of a car you buy it's just a matter of time before it'll need surgery (unless you can keep it garaged).

Interesting to hear another suggestion for the MR2.


I used to have a Toyota Yaris T Sport with the 1.5vvti engine and that was great. The 1.8vvti should be even better and it'd definitely sound more charismatic than the Mx-5!

[CABC]

No.
MR2 is closest.

Anything over 1250kg is playing in different sector of fun. for pure fun a lot of light fwd hatches should be considered (not the current crop of 1400+kg). PH directors, with credible helmsman images to protect, will be in denial of course.

[BenLowden]

If you're after FWD, then Clio 172/182 I've had three and they're the cheapest and most reliable cars I've ever owned. So much fun for the money and fairly practical too, could get close to 40mpg on my commute.

[kurokawa]

I will give RX-8 another vote too
It is addictive if the rotary behave

[nunpuncher]

I've owned 2x NA and 4x NB MX5s over the years. Their great to drive and mechanically solid by my god they like to rust. Even with the ability to weld them myself, 3 of mine were beyond saving.

I now have an r53 Cooper S bought for what used to be NA MX5 money. If anything the noise and shove from the supercharger make it slightly more fun than any of my MX5s were. You can have endless fun tuning the thing with greater benefits from doing so and it goes round corners just as well. The only thing missing really is the option of doing big skids.

Nowadays I'd take a Clio 182, R53 or an MR2 over an MX5.

(or a motorbike)

[Jag_NE]

RSTurboPaul said:

Jag_NE said:

I get that it’s a decent steer but it looks like an absolute girls car. The image conscious helmsman would take a more brutish coupe or GT.

Perhaps 'the image conscious helmsman' should buy cars to please himself rather than to try to meet the expectations he imagines other people might have of him?

Edited by RSTurboPaul on Thursday 17th January 09:13

He would a pretty low rent “image conscious helmsman” if he was suddenly indifferent to the views of other people.