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

[CABC]

Jag_NE said:

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

you raise a whole can of worms with this.
of course everyone is image aware at some level.
in the case of cars i have become totally indifferent to the views of other people, though still aware.
i like driving cars which most people don't value.
most people value cars which just hold no interest for me.
i have become comfortably numb.

[stargazer30]

coldel said:

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

Or better still try and get ahold of an SP240 or a TTE MR2 roadster. Less weight than the V6 conversion and just as quick. Damn I miss mine.

[V8RX7]

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.

Some of us are secure enough to buy what we want

But why would girls liking my car, be a problem ?

[designforlife]

Personally I think the EP3 type R is now better VFM than an mx5. That's discounting the fwd/rwd difference.

Similar MPG, same purchase price, better performance, competant handling, reliable.

[V8RX7]

designforlife said:

Personally I think the EP3 type R is now better VFM than an mx5. That's discounting the fwd/rwd difference.

Similar MPG, same purchase price, better performance, competant handling, reliable.

Not as a weekend toy - fun and convertible surely have to be on that list.

As others have said the MGF (so cheap) and the MR2 MK3 are possibilities but the MX5 is so much more fun (ie highly communicative, making it easy to drive over it's limits without biting)

At the minute you could argue various exotica are cheaper as many have risen in price

Edited by V8RX7 on Thursday 17th January 16:54

[kurt535]

Z3; 3litre

[DoubleD]

kurt535 said:

Z3; 3litre

I tried one of these years ago, I thought it was an awful car.

[CABC]

DoubleD said:

kurt535 said:

Z3; 3litre

I tried one of these years ago, I thought it was an awful car.

funnily enough one of the mags (Car? maybe sm can help?) in the 90s reviewed the Z3M against an MX5.
hardly a normal comparison. MX5 won.

[mikey P 500]

Love mx5s but if fancy something different can also recommend mk3 mr2s and early 2.5 porsche boxster as alternatives.

[danster72]

Had a mk3 MR2 for a year as a company car when new. Great car, nimble, nippy and fun, it followed on from a mk2 MX5 and did not disappoint - almost. Do not underestimate the lack of MR2 luggage space - i remember it filling with one normal hold-all, a laptop backpack, and a change of shoes.

If your idea of a weekend toy includes weekends away with a female, either forget the mk3 MR2 or prepare to FedEx your luggage in advance

[Jamescrs]

I have an NB MX-5 and I love it as a weekend car/ track day car, I thought about replacing it recently and looked at various other 2 seat soft tops but I just couldn't see the point ultimately as nothing else in my opinion offers significantly more without spending maybe 5-6 times the money.

I'm not enjoying it quite so much at the moment as it has been forced into daily use and it's not so much fun as a daily but that will change soon when I collect a new (to me) family car.

The only cars which really appeal as a replacement are either Lotus, Caterham or a VX220, hopefully treat myself in a couple of years for my 40th.

[V8RX7]

Jamescrs said:

I have an NB MX-5 and I love it as a weekend car/ track day car, I thought about replacing it recently and looked at various other 2 seat soft tops but I just couldn't see the point ultimately as nothing else in my opinion offers significantly more without spending maybe 5-6 times the money.

The only cars which really appeal as a replacement are either Lotus, Caterham or a VX220, hopefully treat myself in a couple of years for my 40th.

Agreed - I've owned my MX5 for 20+ years - never usually keep a car more than 6 months, 944 Turbo, various TVR etc have come and gone

I did buy a V6 MR2 SW20 which is a great car - in different ways.

A mate had a much modified VX220T and we were both disappointed with it - not as communicative nor fun.

[Jag_NE]

V8RX7 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.

Some of us are secure enough to buy what we want

But why would girls liking my car, be a problem ?

Girls like skimpy thongs, but not on blokes!

I wasn’t challenging yours or my own security in ourselves, only that of the more general image conscious helmsman, which in reality are the majority.

[V8RX7]

Jag_NE said:

Girls like skimpy thongs, but not on blokes!

Depends how well you fill them !

I've only ever had positive comments on my MX5 - bearing in mind I've owned one from 23 to 40+ that's not bad going.

[BenLowden]

This readers' car thread doesn't help the want for a Mk3 MR2 either: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[DoubleD]

V8RX7 said:

Depends how well you fill them !

I've only ever had positive comments on my MX5 - bearing in mind I've owned one from 23 to 40+ that's not bad going.

They are pretty good cars, but like it or not, they do come with a bit of an image problem. Not unlike many other cars of course.

[V8RX7]

DoubleD said:

They are pretty good cars, but like it or not, they do come with a bit of an image problem. Not unlike many other cars of course.

With whom ?

IME of 20+ years experience that's not true.

And I've been to many trackdays, shows - Japfest etc and as an RX7, TVR ... owner.

I only hear of it from internet nerds on forums.

[DoubleD]

V8RX7 said:

DoubleD said:

They are pretty good cars, but like it or not, they do come with a bit of an image problem. Not unlike many other cars of course.

With whom ?

IME of 20+ years experience that's not true.

And I've been to many trackdays, shows - Japfest etc and as an RX7, TVR ... owner.

I only hear of it from internet nerds on forums.

A lot of the general public consider these types of cars to be hairdressers cars. Im not saying that they are right or wrong, just thats what lots say. That or homophobic comments.

[designforlife]

I had a few derogatory comments from other drivers over the 5 years I had my mx5...fortunately with the roof down it's very easy to audibly retort, and you have a wide open ampitheatre for hand gestures.

That said, after a while I did get bored with how slow they feel on anything except a twisty B road...I would say a turbo'd or supercharged one is a must over NA.

They are decent enough cars but not as good as some evangelical owners make out...there are some pretty terrible design and engineering faults built in.

I progressed on to a Type R DC5, much quicker and handled better than the MX5.

[V8RX7]

designforlife said:

That said, after a while I did get bored with how slow they feel on anything except a twisty B road...I would say a turbo'd or supercharged one is a must over NA.

I progressed on to a Type R DC5, much quicker and handled better than the MX5

Ah but I live and drive twisty B roads daily.

I agree in general usage they aren't the fastest and I supercharged mine after 2 years (and I came from Cosworth and Integrale) mine went from 115 - 130 - 180 - 220 - 240bhp

However I freely admit a standard one on a clear twisty road is more fun.

I hated the Integra R I had - it took so long to wind it up and then just as it came into power - someone would pull out. I'm sure they're great on the right road but I got so frustrated with mine I sold it within weeks.