Roadster vs Coupe?

[baptistsan]

Am debating jumping into MX5 ownership.

Wondered if anyone could comment on the difference between the roadster and the coupe? Apart from the obvious ;-) How much of a difference does the extra 37kg actually make to the handling of the car? Will I need to be a driving God to actually benefit from the lack of extra weight in the roadster?

TIA.

[Richyvrlimited]

baptistsan said:

Am debating jumping into MX5 ownership.

Wondered if anyone could comment on the difference between the roadster and the coupe? Apart from the obvious ;-) How much of a difference does the extra 37kg actually make to the handling of the car? Will I need to be a driving God to actually benefit from the lack of extra weight in the roadster?

TIA.

I presume you mean the MK3, as MK2 coupes are extremely rare... FWIW Both MK3's are roadsters, just one has a cloth roof and the other a tintop, and the difference is more than 37KG, it's more like 100.

As for whether you can tell, can you tell when you have a passenger? as that's the difference, (plus a bit more).

[JFReturns]

I've never heard of a MK2 MX5 coupe until now!

[MX-5 Lazza]

According to the bumpf from Mazda, 37Kg really is the weight difference

[snotrag]

Richyvrlimited said:

the other a tintop, and the difference is more than 37KG, it's more like 100.

The 'tintop' is actually plastic I think. And like Lazza says, I'm sure I've seen the 37kg figure mentioned.

They look quite nice with the roof up but not as nice when down, as the boot line is higher than on the soft top version.

Also interestingly I'm sure I've read that the RC roof is actually noisier and less-insulating than the cloth soft-top?
Didnt someone on here try both?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Personally I'm not so keen on the RC. I don't like the shape of the roof, especially the panel that covers between the roof and the boot. IMO the soft-top looks better.

[Disco You]

Drive both and see what you think.

There is always the removable hardtop option for mk3s as well.

[Richyvrlimited]

MX-5 Lazza said:

According to the bumpf from Mazda, 37Kg really is the weight difference

Damn, I could've sworn it was quoted as 100Kg in EVO!

Ah well 37kg is very impressive, though as someone else said the softtop actually looks better

[MX-5 Lazza]

Richyvrlimited said:

Damn, I could've sworn it was quoted as 100Kg in EVO!

Ah well 37kg is very impressive, though as someone else said the softtop actually looks better

No, that was me too

[Prawo Jazdy]

Slightly off topic here, but has anyone imported any of the Mk2.5 coupes from Japan? I quite like the look of the standard ones. I know there are some special editions that look a bit ropey IMHO, but the normal ones look like baby XKRs

[1st_petrolhead]

I had never hear of a coupe so did a search and found this:

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/4461...

[Riknos]

1st_petrolhead said:

I had never hear of a coupe so did a search and found this:

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/4461...

Looks good! Love the fact it's rare as fook too.

Only issue is.. no top down action

[hornetrider]

snotrag said:

Also interestingly I'm sure I've read that the RC roof is actually noisier and less-insulating than the cloth soft-top?
Didnt someone on here try both?

5th Gear did a test and its a couple of DBs quieter in the RC than the cloth top.

[Luke.]

1st_petrolhead said:

I had never hear of a coupe so did a search and found this:

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/4461...

Meh.

[hornetrider]

baptistsan said:

Will I need to be a driving God to actually benefit from the lack of extra weight in the roadster?

To answer your question - yes, you would. The RC is not a fatty lump of lard.

[baptistsan]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

Hornet, care to share some of your experiences with your car please?

Am driving one next weekend and looking forward to it.

[hornetrider]

I'm very pleased with it.

It's got plenty of kit, BOSE, bluetooth, cruise, climate etc. Handling wise my car has been Eibach'd and fast road geo'd so its very stable. There really is a lot of grip from the OE Potenzas, also the brakes are very strong and easily modulated. As with all 5s the gearchange is rifle quick. Therefore as a package it can be very quick point to point - almost ludicrously so on twisty A and B-roads - on the straights not so much! I'd prefer better damping from the Bilsteins, but I'm being a bit fussy there I guess.

I love the roof, personally I think it adds a touch of class over and above the soft top, as well as security and some marginal sound deadening. Anything in particular you want to know?

[baptistsan]

Assume you have the Sport tech. Didn't realise you could Eibach that, how much lower does the car sit? Does the car have enough power or do you crave more? 160 seems a little low for a 2.0l engine, put I guess it's how it puts that power down.

I hope it is going to make me laugh like a loon, will mainly be used for A and B road driving, so want it to be pretty chuckable.

Out of interest, who did your geo?

Appreciate your input.

[hornetrider]

Yeah Sport Tech, and I think it sits 30mm lower. Looks good next to standard cars, nice aggressive stance. WIM did the geo as they're 20 mins from work.

More power would always be good but it won't get you quicker in the bends. The engine loves to rev though so keep it spooling up the rev range and you'll make decent progress. There is something to be said about wringing the neck out of it!

[baptistsan]

A few questions for you Hornet, in no real order.

How much feel do the brakes have? Are they too servo assisted?

Steering, how weighty is it and what sort of feedback do you get through the wheel? Turn in? Does the car react to your inputs straight away or is it all a little vague?

How planted does the car feel? Especially when going through a series of tight bends.

If it's any help I'm coming from a 911, but prior to that had an S2000.

Many thanks.