rx8, mx5 or clio 182?

[callywally18]

Hello everyone after a bit of help!

I currently have an old mr2 and a sensible seat ibiza, looking to sell them both to fund a nicer quicker everyday car, will have around 2.5k to spend

Have narrowed my choices down to the following

Mazda mx5
Mazda rx8
Renault Clio 182

I understand these are three completely different cars and all havr good and bad points In my eyes

Mazda mx5

Good handling 2 seater convertible

Not the most practical not too fast in a straight line and surprisingly highest to insure

Mazda rx8

Again good handling fast good looking nice interior

Awful fuel economy and the reliability issues

Clio 182

Practical cheap to insure probably the quickest out of them all

Just a clio in my eyes and dislike the Intwrior

Anyone else have any views on the above?
Or an alternative!

Thanks

[BrettMRC]

Id suggest getting in the drivers seat and seeing which one gells the best with you.

[Brabus Jord]

i owned a 182 for 5 years and loved ever minute of it - I had a friend with an RX8 which was as fast - the 231 model is quicker than the 182 top end but unless you want RWD handling you cant go wrong with a 182 in the twisties.

[MC Bodge]

An MX5 as an only car might be a bit frustrating in practicality terms -two steps up from a motorbike (Caterham one step). A boot-mounted rack would be important if I had one.

[Howroyd]

I daily an MX5, no issues at all. Boot is actually surprisingly large width wise

[callywally18]

Boot size isn't really an issue, I'm only 20 so don't really have any needs for a big car and I only do about 50 miles a day but right now in the seat it's a boring 50 miles a day

[T0MMY]

If you're going to be doing trackdays I'd go for the MX5 or 182 as I'm not sure I'd trust the reliability on an RX8, much as I like the idea of them.

For your budget you could get an FI MX5 which would solve the straightline speed issue. I'll be selling my HKS turbo'd mk1 for about that I expect.

[james_gt3rs]

callywally18 said:

Boot size isn't really an issue, I'm only 20 so don't really have any needs for a big car and I only do about 50 miles a day but right now in the seat it's a boring 50 miles a day

mk3 MR2? Better fuel economy on the motorway than an MX5, and being mid engined they feel really special. On track days I could easily keep pace with MX5s and RX8s.

[otolith]

T0MMY said:

If you're going to be doing trackdays I'd go for the MX5 or 182 as I'm not sure I'd trust the reliability on an RX8, much as I like the idea of them.

I don't think trackdays make any difference to those concerns, to be honest. If anything, I suspect a track car would be less troublesome than one used for pottering round the shops. One of the track driving schools used to have a load of them that got thrashed day in day out.

[SeanyD]

Previous 182 owner here. Fantastic cars provided you get one with FSH, I'd happily own another tomorrow. Quicker than the mx and more reliable than the RX. The lift of the second cam is a hoot every time.

[Level 7 Boss]

Ep3 type r, mk 1 cupra?

I'd personally go for the mx5 out of your choices.

[Driver101]

50 miles a day is too much in a MX5. The road noise gets annoying when you're not in the mood for it.

50 miles a day in the RX8 will lead to a much higher fuel bill compared to the others.

[Marc p]

MX5!

I had mine as a daily with no issues, it was de-refined further than normal aswell with a cage, bucket seats, coilovers, wider arches, wider wheels, polybushed, plus more. I loved it, every journey to and from work felt fantastic, with it's darty steering and all the feedback it gave you, it still felt special everytime I drove it........selling it is still the biggest regret I have when it comes to cars.

[T0MMY]

otolith said:

I don't think trackdays make any difference to those concerns, to be honest. If anything, I suspect a track car would be less troublesome than one used for pottering round the shops. One of the track driving schools used to have a load of them that got thrashed day in day out.

I was just put off by Dale Lomas' experience going from an MX to an RX I know that's just one case though.

Driver101 said:

50 miles a day is too much in a MX5. The road noise gets annoying when you're not in the mood for it.

I did an 80 mile/d commute in mine for a while, although I tended to wear headphones so it wasn't an issue. I did 2000 miles in a week round France without any ear protection as I had the GF with me and that didn't bother me either to be honest. That said I'm used to motorbikes and kitcars rather than luxo-barges

Edited by T0MMY on Monday 13th October 10:37

[Poopipe]

Ive had an mx5 , a 172 and a car that does less than 20mpg as dailys

I vote for the 182

[otolith]

T0MMY said:

I was just put off by Dale Lomas' experience going from an MX to an RX I know that's just one case though.

Might still have gone if it had been a road car, though, and I do wonder whether that shunt from behind immediately beforehand did it any good - it wrote off the exhaust system, and a good smack to the exhaust while the engine is running has been known to damage these engines.

[Al U]

182 without a moment's hesitation.

[Chris Type R]

MX5 for me, the cheap and cheerful roadster experience. Be sure you can manage without the extra seats & limited boot space though. RX8 can have frightening running costs. Not had any experience of the 182.

EDIT: And then consider a S2000 in a couple of years time. Someone managed to get one for £2.5k recently, but they're significantly more expensive to insure and run than a MX-5 (http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/1101883-introducing-the-le-mons-365-challenge-featuring-the-s2000/)

Edited by Chris Type R on Monday 13th October 10:59

[T0MMY]

otolith said:

Might still have gone if it had been a road car, though, and I do wonder whether that shunt from behind immediately beforehand did it any good - it wrote off the exhaust system, and a good smack to the exhaust while the engine is running has been known to damage these engines.

Either way, it's not uncommon to hear of RX8 engine failures which when you consider how relatively new and relatively rare they are compared to MX5s, is a bit worrying. I do love the idea of RXs but the bulletproof reliability of MX5s is a big attraction if you're going to be thrashing the hell out of the thing. Nothing worse than spending a load of cash on a trackday only to have a breakdown in the first hour!

The 182 option would be very appeaing as I'm sure they're great fun but I just couldn't stomach the FWD, hence I'd pick the MX5. MK3 MR2 was a good shout too although from what I hear that's a case of preference as they're meant to be more precise and less slidey slidey.

[untakenname]

If it's 50 miles in a rural area then get the rx-8, the mpg won't be far off the others and it's an all round better package for the roads and safer too.