Failure to click...
Discussion
I know I'm likely to get a flaming for this, what with the MX being the car of choice for many, but has anyone else failed to click with their car?
I bought this on impulse after driving a MK3 and being smitten with it, but having lived with the NA for around 3 months now...I want rid
Main reasons being...well, everything I knew the car would be like before I bought it. I struggle to fit in the car comfortably without my knees touching the back of the wheel, there is sod all space in the boot, its not exactly fantastic on the motorway and the ride is strangely rock hard.
With me doing more motorway miles than anything else and the car being parked up 4/5 days a week, I am tempted to flog it and get a 530D as a waft mobile, something that has comfy seats, a decent sound system and boot as well as returning a decent mpg without having to sit at 55/60.
Is it just me that has bought one and failed to enjoy it, or can someone convince me to stop being soft and it is in fact a bloody good car regardless?
I bought this on impulse after driving a MK3 and being smitten with it, but having lived with the NA for around 3 months now...I want rid
Main reasons being...well, everything I knew the car would be like before I bought it. I struggle to fit in the car comfortably without my knees touching the back of the wheel, there is sod all space in the boot, its not exactly fantastic on the motorway and the ride is strangely rock hard.
With me doing more motorway miles than anything else and the car being parked up 4/5 days a week, I am tempted to flog it and get a 530D as a waft mobile, something that has comfy seats, a decent sound system and boot as well as returning a decent mpg without having to sit at 55/60.
Is it just me that has bought one and failed to enjoy it, or can someone convince me to stop being soft and it is in fact a bloody good car regardless?
Entirely a matter of personal choice.
If you don't enjoy the car follow your own preferences.
I like kit cars but the majority of my friends and the Police who regularly stop me for an update on the latest car, think I am nuts. My OH think I am certifiable and my pointing out that I lived with her which, must say something, was unwise. The bruises are going down
I am Nuts. That is my privilege. You do not like MX5's. That's yours.
If you don't enjoy the car follow your own preferences.
I like kit cars but the majority of my friends and the Police who regularly stop me for an update on the latest car, think I am nuts. My OH think I am certifiable and my pointing out that I lived with her which, must say something, was unwise. The bruises are going down
I am Nuts. That is my privilege. You do not like MX5's. That's yours.
I know they're polar opposites...but for me, the 530d seems to tick all the boxes at the minute. I'd love to keep the MX, I really would, but with me living in London, I'm not exactly spoiled for choice on B-roads and with the other half living over 150 miles away, its all motorway miles I'm doing.
Impulse buying failing to deliver again!
And Steffan, I think you are right. I'm just not in the fortunate position to have both. Deep down I knew it would be somewhat disappointing on the motorway having spoken to two or three other owners...I just presumed I could live with it. Clearly not. My OH has given up on the car front, I think she's come to accept that no matter how much she moans, it has no bearing on my decisions
Impulse buying failing to deliver again!
And Steffan, I think you are right. I'm just not in the fortunate position to have both. Deep down I knew it would be somewhat disappointing on the motorway having spoken to two or three other owners...I just presumed I could live with it. Clearly not. My OH has given up on the car front, I think she's come to accept that no matter how much she moans, it has no bearing on my decisions
JohnoVR6 said:
I know they're polar opposites...but for me, the 530d seems to tick all the boxes at the minute. I'd love to keep the MX, I really would, but with me living in London, I'm not exactly spoiled for choice on B-roads and with the other half living over 150 miles away, its all motorway miles I'm doing.
Impulse buying failing to deliver again!
And Steffan, I think you are right. I'm just not in the fortunate position to have both. Deep down I knew it would be somewhat disappointing on the motorway having spoken to two or three other owners...I just presumed I could live with it. Clearly not. My OH has given up on the car front, I think she's come to accept that no matter how much she moans, it has no bearing on my decisions
Women have ways of making you listen. I hope it does not hurt too much.Impulse buying failing to deliver again!
And Steffan, I think you are right. I'm just not in the fortunate position to have both. Deep down I knew it would be somewhat disappointing on the motorway having spoken to two or three other owners...I just presumed I could live with it. Clearly not. My OH has given up on the car front, I think she's come to accept that no matter how much she moans, it has no bearing on my decisions
Personally i feel they are an excellent (and cheap) choice for a second fun / weekend motor.
On modern roads, with potholes, traffic and speed cameras they dont make for a fun daily driver especially if you need to munch some motorway miles.
I am lucky enough to have the drive space, and live in Shropshire so its perfect for a weekend blast. But as soon as i need to travel any distance for work (or anything) i jump in the passat cc.
My personal experience.
On modern roads, with potholes, traffic and speed cameras they dont make for a fun daily driver especially if you need to munch some motorway miles.
I am lucky enough to have the drive space, and live in Shropshire so its perfect for a weekend blast. But as soon as i need to travel any distance for work (or anything) i jump in the passat cc.
My personal experience.
I have a Mk1 and use it for work as well as my own time. I'm field based so some days i travel a few miles and some i'm drving hundreds on the motorway. I must admit that at first i thought i'd made the wrong choice of car, but it was outweighed by the fact that every journey can supply me with a moment of pure joy. There are times when its raining sideways, i've got hundreds of motorway miles to do and i just want to get home and i wish i was back in my old company car but the balance of pleasure / pain just about works out.
I'm six months into ownership now and I'm going to see how i get on through the bleak Lancashire winter before I decide whether its a keeper or not. So far, so good.
I'm six months into ownership now and I'm going to see how i get on through the bleak Lancashire winter before I decide whether its a keeper or not. So far, so good.
JohnoVR6 said:
I know they're polar opposites...but for me, the 530d seems to tick all the boxes at the minute. I'd love to keep the MX, I really would, but with me living in London, I'm not exactly spoiled for choice on B-roads and with the other half living over 150 miles away, its all motorway miles I'm doing.
Impulse buying failing to deliver again!
And Steffan, I think you are right. I'm just not in the fortunate position to have both. Deep down I knew it would be somewhat disappointing on the motorway having spoken to two or three other owners...I just presumed I could live with it. Clearly not. My OH has given up on the car front, I think she's come to accept that no matter how much she moans, it has no bearing on my decisions
I think you've already made up your mind. I'm lucky enough to have a Mk 1 as a second car and love it to bits when I get to go for a blast in it on a sunny day, or maybe even have a few days away in it. However, it definitely isn't a great motorway car and for day to day and motorway driving, I find my volvo much more comfortable and easier to live withImpulse buying failing to deliver again!
And Steffan, I think you are right. I'm just not in the fortunate position to have both. Deep down I knew it would be somewhat disappointing on the motorway having spoken to two or three other owners...I just presumed I could live with it. Clearly not. My OH has given up on the car front, I think she's come to accept that no matter how much she moans, it has no bearing on my decisions
Yes it's a shame you can't have both. I have an MX-5 which is guaranteed to bring a smile to my face no matter how down I get, but try not to use it on the motorway, luckily I have a BMW too. Although I've not worked for months and am therefore hanging on to both cars by the skin of my teeth, I wouldn't part with either unless they were surgically removed.
Mechanical niggles / uncertainty have really blocked me bonding with mine. It was a buzz at first driving something so low with such great grip and handling, but it gets tiresome revving the tits off it to even keep up with modern traffic and the shakes it gets over rough roads is annoying too. Sounds like it's not your style of car, starting to wonder the same myself.
vrsmxtb said:
Mechanical niggles / uncertainty have really blocked me bonding with mine. It was a buzz at first driving something so low with such great grip and handling, but it gets tiresome revving the tits off it to even keep up with modern traffic and the shakes it gets over rough roads is annoying too. Sounds like it's not your style of car, starting to wonder the same myself.
The downside: This morning's drive to Sheffield took four hours (it normally takes two), it rained nearly the whole time and it was a constant battle to keep the car de-misted and one of the window seals was leaking a bit of water. Like VRSMXTB my suspension is rock hard, the car shakes over rough roads and this makes my daily driving even more fatigue inducing. The upside: Came home over Snake Pass and it was fairly clear
Today summerises my Mk1 MX5 experience so far.
The thing is, I took the car out again last night for a bit of a drive and I'm now loathed to get rid of it. I mean yes it is uncomfortably hard (although I do have a feeling that the shocks may be worn) and my knees do hit the back of the wheel...but they're both an easy fix? Deep dish steering wheel and new shocks are easy enough to come by. I'm just trying to weigh up whether the potential 3/4k expenditure on purchasing the 530D could be spent improving the car to my taste (I am fully aware that money spent modifying it will never been returned etc etc but that isn't an issue if most parts can bolt on, bolt off).
This may be clutching at absolute straws here, but in terms of FI, would this make motorway driving any different? (Other than shorter distances between petrol stations) Would the addition of a turbo/ SC move the powerband down? Thus making it less strained on a motorway? I.E...delivering similar power at a lower rpm? Or is this just wishful thinking at its best?
Only as much as I admire the E39, I'm 24 and want something that is a bit of fun, and I'm reluctant to adopt the family wagon so soon! - Plus it doesn't have pop up headlights!
This may be clutching at absolute straws here, but in terms of FI, would this make motorway driving any different? (Other than shorter distances between petrol stations) Would the addition of a turbo/ SC move the powerband down? Thus making it less strained on a motorway? I.E...delivering similar power at a lower rpm? Or is this just wishful thinking at its best?
Only as much as I admire the E39, I'm 24 and want something that is a bit of fun, and I'm reluctant to adopt the family wagon so soon! - Plus it doesn't have pop up headlights!
Edited by JohnoVR6 on Friday 9th September 12:37
I feel like I'm slightly in the same boat. I bought mine about four or five months ago, and although I generally like it and cant really fault it all that much, it just doesnt seem that exiting or interesting somehow 
Previous to this I had a MR2 and ford based Ginetta and before that a WestFeild, I either intended to get a MX5 or 944. I hoped that the MX5 would be a sort of more practical and easier to live with Westfeild. which to be fair it is, but somehow there seems something missing
Previous to this I had a MR2 and ford based Ginetta and before that a WestFeild, I either intended to get a MX5 or 944. I hoped that the MX5 would be a sort of more practical and easier to live with Westfeild. which to be fair it is, but somehow there seems something missing
grimfandango said:
I hoped that the MX5 would be a sort of more practical and easier to live with Westfeild. which to be fair it is, but somehow there seems something missing
Stiffen it up, make it louder etc? I have two.One is lower, louder and stiffer and feels far more track focused.The other is softer, makes very little noise and rides bumpier roads better.I don't need to tell you which is the more fun vehicle 
I had a Westfield and have thought the same as you at times, but the Westy was a very raw (fun) experience that can't really compare to a standard/near standard MX5.I also forgot just how often the Westy was used purely for fun and not for those trips involving traffic jams or runs down to B&Q etc that I will do in an MX5 without thinking.
I think the main thing they lack is the balls out performance of the Westfield.When the MX is on song and being worked hard, it really does cover ground well and is an absolute joy to drive, but it's not a sub 6.0 second car like the Westy was out of the corners, and such a vehicle ramps up the thrill factor quite heavily! Even with rather sedate driving, a couple of seconds of 'blatting' out of a roundabout or down a slip road was enough to get the adrenaline pumping in the kit.I have to work harder in the MX5 to get that feeling.That said, the feeling is there, it's just a toned down and more practical version of it.
JohnoVR6 said:
This may be clutching at absolute straws here, but in terms of FI, would this make motorway driving any different? (Other than shorter distances between petrol stations) Would the addition of a turbo/ SC move the powerband down? Thus making it less strained on a motorway? I.E...delivering similar power at a lower rpm? Or is this just wishful thinking at its best?
You would need to change the gearbox or the final drive in order to make the speed per rpm change. Improving the sound deadening might help? Or just turn the radio up louder
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