Prelude or MX5

Author
Discussion

BrianTheYank

7,585 posts

251 months

Friday 30th April 2004
quotequote all
Go with the MX5

GregE240

10,857 posts

268 months

Friday 30th April 2004
quotequote all
Gazboy said:
Two friends of mine are selling their cars, a 92 prelude Vtec, auto, black £2250, the other a 94 MX5, £3000, manual, sky blue, uk car. Which would be most satisfying to own, and cheapest to run?

Satisfying - MX-5

Cheapest - Hmmm. probably the MX-5 too. May I remind sir that summer is alleged to be "just around the corner" as well. The colour of which you speak is either Mariner Blue (like a royal blue) or Laguna Blue (more of a sky blue colour)

Do it. You'd look a right chump tracking an auto Prelude!

Servicing on a '5 is buttons. Even at a dealer.

HTH, Greg.

dern

14,055 posts

280 months

Friday 30th April 2004
quotequote all
Vtec preludes are good cars but I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) the gearboxes in sport mode will change up at the red line and because of the gearing will put you in the next gear up *outside* the vtec band. You will then have to wait until you get back in the vtec band to continue accelerating rapidly. A garage told me that some of the manual uk models also did this because the vtec band wasn't as wide as the japanese models. I only have first hand experience of a manual japanese import vtec so I'm not saying any of this is gospel but it's worth checking.

PS. Preludes rarely go wrong but the service interval is (from memory) 6000 miles and go A-B-A-C. Again from memory the A service was about 100, the B was somewhere between 100 and 200 and the C was about 250. Honda garages are happy to service them and get bits for you (at a price) whereas I have heard mazda garages may not be so keen... that still leaves you with a ton of choice of places to get the much more available parts from though.

Regards,

Mark

>> Edited by dern on Friday 30th April 16:47

cptsideways

13,552 posts

253 months

Friday 30th April 2004
quotequote all
[redacted]

mrs fish

30,018 posts

259 months

Friday 30th April 2004
quotequote all
MX5 they are great fun

PJLarge

480 posts

248 months

Friday 30th April 2004
quotequote all
...and the MX is more tweak-able if that takes your fancy. Lots of shiny bits available to make it look your own, then there are several performance mods from basic induction kits up to full on 250bhp + turbo kits. Is the Mazda a 1.8? Easy way to tell, 1600's have the lettering on the cam cover indented whereas the 1800's are raised. I'd go with a 1.8 for power mods as they have a stronger diff, better brakes etc. The 1.6 is a sweeter engine and more rev happy and not really much (if any) slower than a 1.8. The early 1.6's also weigh much less than the later 1.8 cars. If it's the blue I'm thinking of (laguna blue) which was on M reg UK 1.8's it's a really nice colour. There aren't many of them about as it wasn't a popular colour in the UK.

Phil.

jazzybee

3,056 posts

250 months

Saturday 1st May 2004
quotequote all
My brother just sold his '98 Prelude to buy a '94 MX5 after driving my 5. He is very happy with the change.

mxdi

13,993 posts

250 months

Saturday 1st May 2004
quotequote all
Gaz
MX5 of course, I always wanted a prelude but the image they give off put me off, although they are fast and good engines the roof doesnt come off.
RWD, convertable, good handling, manual are all plus points for the '5 and mines is cheap as chips to run, group 13 insurance (12 on some) good tyres for £40, and very reliable.
Sorry to hear the MRT is going, you may get frustrated with the MX being a bit slower, but it has its other good qualities too, mine doesnt cost any more money than my 1.6 clio (unless I have a weekend thrash of course )
I'd go for a 1.8 though
Di

>> Edited by mxdi on Saturday 1st May 09:39

deltaf

6,806 posts

254 months

Saturday 1st May 2004
quotequote all
cptsideways said:
MX5 is rear wheel drive - game over


cptsideways

13,552 posts

253 months

Saturday 1st May 2004
quotequote all
I meant it wins hand down sorry

In that case MX5 RWD wins every time

PJLarge

480 posts

248 months

Sunday 2nd May 2004
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Gazboy said:

Think you got the wrong end of the stick, if I wanted to tune it, I'd keep the Toyota,as it is easier to tune, and has the basics already in place, this is an economy drive, I want to move house and buy a Griffith so the MRT has to go. Cheers for the advice though.


Fair comment, Gazboy. Just beware - the modding bug strikes really quickly with these cars. I bought mine just to leave as stock. One turbo kit and a whole load of stuff later, it's a different story ;-)

Oh, as for the economy, expect between 220 and 300 miles to your £30 tank of fuel.

Phil.

detomaso

1,354 posts

249 months

Sunday 2nd May 2004
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Gazboy said:

I want to move house and buy a Griffith


I don't believe it! Have the LB boys convinced you to get a tiv?

PJLarge

480 posts

248 months

Sunday 2nd May 2004
quotequote all
Oil and filter every 6k on the MX5, cambelt every 60k. It's a non interference engine so no big drama if the belt goes. They're pretty light on brakes. Easy motor to work on too. Lots of access under the bonnet.

Phil.

mxdi

13,993 posts

250 months

Monday 3rd May 2004
quotequote all
detomaso said:

Gazboy said:

I want to move house and buy a Griffith



I don't believe it! Have the LB boys convinced you to get a tiv?

now they need to work on neilsie

mxdi

13,993 posts

250 months

Monday 3rd May 2004
quotequote all
PJLarge said:
Oil and filter every 6k on the MX5, cambelt every 60k. It's a non interference engine so no big drama if the belt goes. They're pretty light on brakes. Easy motor to work on too. Lots of access under the bonnet.

Phil.

depends on the year so i beleive, mine is 9k intervals, i think the early mk1's were 6k and the later mk1's 9k

dinkel

26,965 posts

259 months

Monday 3rd May 2004
quotequote all
MX, strange to hear from a Honda fan. BUT later Prelude anytime . . . 2.2 VTEC is awesome and a classy car it is . . .

Of course u have to pep the 4pot . . . or do this: www.iluvmyrx7.com/other/articles/other_mag_articles.htm

dinkel

26,965 posts

259 months

Marsh

62 posts

239 months

Saturday 3rd July 2004
quotequote all
Am selling my MX5 if interested. Been very cheap to run, cambelt etc all done and even the warranty can be transfered over and will run until April 2005!
British Raccing Green, let me know if you want any more details,

Martin

07970 980 864

The ad:

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=25181&s=57

DanBoy

4,899 posts

244 months

Saturday 3rd July 2004
quotequote all
Gazboy said:
Nah, bought a 306 to run about in, then getting Esprit.


You HAVE to take me for a spin in the Esprit when you get it!

Lucky b*stard!

DanBoy

4,899 posts

244 months

Saturday 3rd July 2004
quotequote all


The very best I can do is try and persuade somebody else to buy it - I can't afford to I'm afraid.