which mk1 mx5? 1.6 or 1.8?

[paulwoof]

so im taking the plunge and looking for my first mx5, ive been trawling the internet the last couple of days but im having great difficulty finding one i want relativly close by.

my main queery is which engine to go for. i understand that after 1994 the 1.6 got downgraded to 89bhp.

so im either looking for a post 1994 1.8 or pre 1994 1.6, is the difference in the power: 114bhp to 130bhp a big difference, also what are the differences in fuel economy etc.

i understand condition is the main point, sills etc, im used to old rotting japaneese cars, just never had a mx5.

also what is the top spec which comes with AC, elec windows etc.?

[skinny]

there's not much difference in performance between teh two really. you need to get yourself a couple test drives to see if you prefer one over the other - the main thing is to buy on the condition of the bodywork tho really, paint and rust are the things that cost money.

[MX-5 Lazza]

[skinny]

1.6 / 1.8 isn't a can of worms - i'd reserve that for mk1 / mk2 / mk2.5, or sc / tc

[attym3]

I drove both while looking for mine, even though the 1.8 has a bit more power the 1.6 just feels so much sweeter and a lot more eager to rev. It seems to suit the car better. IMO

Mark

[Riknos]

attym3 said:

I drove both while looking for mine, even though the 1.8 has a bit more power the 1.6 just feels so much sweeter and a lot more eager to rev. It seems to suit the car better. IMO

Mark

I never understand this statement. Surely it's EXACTLY the same engine, just with a bigger capacity, so it should have the exact same characteristics, just more power and torque? I could understand if comparing different engines which would rev in a different way, but when it's the same engine? Or is it just that the 1.6 feels like it is more eager to rev, because you've gotta rev it more in the first place?

[seismic22]

Riknos said:

I never understand this statement. Surely it's EXACTLY the same engine, just with a bigger capacity, so it should have the exact same characteristics, just more power and torque? I could understand if comparing different engines which would rev in a different way, but when it's the same engine? Or is it just that the 1.6 feels like it is more eager to rev, because you've gotta rev it more in the first place?

This!

Personally I think the two are just as fun on the open road. However, by todays standards the mx5 is not exactly powerful and I believe the 1.8's slight extra power and torque comes in very useful for overtaking on our now over crowded roads. There is nothing wrong with 1.6! Nothing. But I personally cant understand when people say its no slower than the 1.8. there is a considerable and very useable difference.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Basically the same engine but not the same. 1.8 isn't just a bored out 1.6, if it was then there wouldn't be a need for different intake/exhaust manifolds for the different engines and turbos would also be interchangable.
There are also other changes such as a different/improved ecu/exhaust/intake that is tuned to give more mid-range in the 1.8 making the higher revs feel less lively.