Is the mx-5 really that slow?
Discussion
Hi guys.
I'm looking for advice from people who have owned a miata.
I passed my test about 2 years ago and I've had a Renault Clio 1.2 turbo up until now.
I got the Clio for practicality/economy or something, but now that I've driven for a little while, I've realised that I actually really enjoy driving, and I'd like to own a car which makes me smile more.
I have had my eyes on the mx-5, most likely a used NC. Although it seems to have quite a few drawbacks (practicality, noise, 2 seats etc.), the only thing I'm really concerned about is its speed. I've heard it's pretty slow for motorway driving. I expect to be doing 80-ish miles per week on a dual carriageway which I know isn't that much, but I don't want it to be too slow. I don't need it to be a rocket, but my Clio is a bit frustrating at times because it isn't very good at accelerating for entering the dual carriageway and for overtaking.
When people say the mx-5 is slow, do they mean slow for a sports car, or slow for a car in general? Surely with the bigger engine and light body, the mx-5 would be a big step up from my Clio, right?
If not, I might get a FiST, but it's not my first choice.
My budget is about £5K max. and I'd be looking to buy in the winter when hopefully the mx-5s are cheap.
What do you guys think? Will the mx-5 feel slow? Will it be slow but feel fast? Am I better off with a FiST?
All help is appreciated. Thanks.
I'm looking for advice from people who have owned a miata.
I passed my test about 2 years ago and I've had a Renault Clio 1.2 turbo up until now.
I got the Clio for practicality/economy or something, but now that I've driven for a little while, I've realised that I actually really enjoy driving, and I'd like to own a car which makes me smile more.
I have had my eyes on the mx-5, most likely a used NC. Although it seems to have quite a few drawbacks (practicality, noise, 2 seats etc.), the only thing I'm really concerned about is its speed. I've heard it's pretty slow for motorway driving. I expect to be doing 80-ish miles per week on a dual carriageway which I know isn't that much, but I don't want it to be too slow. I don't need it to be a rocket, but my Clio is a bit frustrating at times because it isn't very good at accelerating for entering the dual carriageway and for overtaking.
When people say the mx-5 is slow, do they mean slow for a sports car, or slow for a car in general? Surely with the bigger engine and light body, the mx-5 would be a big step up from my Clio, right?
If not, I might get a FiST, but it's not my first choice.
My budget is about £5K max. and I'd be looking to buy in the winter when hopefully the mx-5s are cheap.
What do you guys think? Will the mx-5 feel slow? Will it be slow but feel fast? Am I better off with a FiST?
All help is appreciated. Thanks.
Edited by jmfowler1996 on Sunday 8th July 10:40
I don't know what the 1.8 is like but my old 2.0 litre was plenty quick enough. I reckon it was faster to 60 than the quoted 7.9 seconds.
They are pretty docile below 4k rpm but really pick up after that and seemed to thrive on being driven hard.
I have a mk1 now but the NC was a lot more civilized and will handle motorway driving vwith ease.
They are pretty docile below 4k rpm but really pick up after that and seemed to thrive on being driven hard.
I have a mk1 now but the NC was a lot more civilized and will handle motorway driving vwith ease.
Edited by kuro on Saturday 7th July 15:05
I bought a mk2 1.6 at 18 and have had it 3 years. I'm now selling it as I have a new toy. They are brilliant cars and id have another I just get bored of cars. Mine was entirely standard and I loved it. Not fast but also not slow and through corners you could stay with most cars and surprise some supposedly performance cars. If I had another my first port of call would be some very good tyres and a good set of coilovers. After that maybe a supercharger or turbo but only because I'm a big kid. As I said mine's for sale, nudge nudge 
.
.They aren't slow, but they aren't motorway cars. They are huge fun to actively drive on A and B roads, roof down, using the throttle and changing gears often to keep the revs up. They are noisy on the motorway with the roof up.
If you want to bore up a motorway for hours per day, get a big German diesel saloon.
If you want to bore up a motorway for hours per day, get a big German diesel saloon.
MKnight702 said:
We went for a test drive in a 1.8 way back and I kept putting my foot down expecting the car to take off but it just never did. Really disappointing, we ended up buying a Cappuccino which felt much faster and was a hoot to drive despite having an engine almost one third the size.
Being a naturally aspirated engine they need to be revved to make peak power whereas a turbocharged Cappuccino will feel faster as the turbo will produce its power much further down the rev range. Deep Thought said:
Being a naturally aspirated engine they need to be revved to make peak power whereas a turbocharged Cappuccino will feel faster as the turbo will produce its power much further down the rev range.
I know, however, despite trying to thrash the living daylights out of the MX-5 it just never felt fast, in fact, it felt downright slow. The Cappuccino, however, quite the opposite which came as a great shock. I owned a 2.0 NC2 for nearly three years. There is absolutely no issue with them at motorway speeds, plently of oomph. Remember it's not a forced induction or big displacement engine, so very swift progress can be made you just need to be prepared to row through the (lovely) gearbox.
I've had much faster cars since, a Supercharged S3 Elise, currently in a Porsche, but I still look back at that car and think it was the most fun per £ I've ever had in a car.
Just buy one, you'll love it. I got mine a few years after passing my test too.
I've had much faster cars since, a Supercharged S3 Elise, currently in a Porsche, but I still look back at that car and think it was the most fun per £ I've ever had in a car.
Just buy one, you'll love it. I got mine a few years after passing my test too.
they aren't slow, but they're not exactly quick, especially by modern standards.
I owned a mk2 for 5 years, and after a while the handling side of things no longer made up for the fact that they are a bit underpowered in standard guise.
I moved to an integra DC5 which is far quicker and handles better, no regrets and I don't miss the mx5 at all.
If i ever wanted another mx5 again, I would buy an s2000.
To answer your original question, the mx5 won't seem like a big step up in power from the clio if you are after a bit more straight line oomph. if you are after something quick on a budget, that will feel in another league, I would be looking at an EP3 type R...genuinely quick for as little as £2k.
I owned a mk2 for 5 years, and after a while the handling side of things no longer made up for the fact that they are a bit underpowered in standard guise.
I moved to an integra DC5 which is far quicker and handles better, no regrets and I don't miss the mx5 at all.
If i ever wanted another mx5 again, I would buy an s2000.
To answer your original question, the mx5 won't seem like a big step up in power from the clio if you are after a bit more straight line oomph. if you are after something quick on a budget, that will feel in another league, I would be looking at an EP3 type R...genuinely quick for as little as £2k.
Edited by designforlife on Monday 9th July 14:12
They're really not that slow.
Not a lot of torque and the power is all top-end. So in some daily driving situations they can feel a little lacking.
You will struggle to find a more fun car for the money though. Sure an ST or similar warm hatch might be faster, but the MX5 will be better balanced and it's RWD so more fun IMHO.
I have a 1.6 Eunos Roadster and it's the most fun car I've owned. Had it on track for the first time at the weekend. I didn't feel it was too slow at all.
Miata is always the answer!
Not a lot of torque and the power is all top-end. So in some daily driving situations they can feel a little lacking.
You will struggle to find a more fun car for the money though. Sure an ST or similar warm hatch might be faster, but the MX5 will be better balanced and it's RWD so more fun IMHO.
I have a 1.6 Eunos Roadster and it's the most fun car I've owned. Had it on track for the first time at the weekend. I didn't feel it was too slow at all.
Miata is always the answer!
They may not be fast in purely numbers terms, but if you get a Mk1 or Mk2, the 'rawness' of the drive and the closeness to the tarmac makes things feel a lot faster, not dissimilar to a proper Mini.
Plus, the fact it is tiny next to anything new, has no roof, airbags, ABS, ESP, TC, crash structures, etc. etc. does make one more circumspect and think 'Do I really want to be driving this fast down this road?'
They are enjoyable at even just 5/10ths, which I reckon is a lot more than can be said for most of the hyper-hatches and serious kit nowadays.
Get one bought, you won't regret it. And if you lose your mind you should be able to sell it on for minimal loss.
Plus, the fact it is tiny next to anything new, has no roof, airbags, ABS, ESP, TC, crash structures, etc. etc. does make one more circumspect and think 'Do I really want to be driving this fast down this road?'
They are enjoyable at even just 5/10ths, which I reckon is a lot more than can be said for most of the hyper-hatches and serious kit nowadays.
Get one bought, you won't regret it. And if you lose your mind
you should be able to sell it on for minimal loss.Had a Mk3.75 (NC3) 2.0 for 3 years before I replaced it with an S3.
The 2.0 was fine for motorways, and took the trip from London to the Côte d'Azur in its stride more than once, including the obligatory 100+ mile detour to take in the Viaduc de Millau.
It was comfortable enough even for a 6’3” lump like me, and whilst it wasn’t like driving in the serene silence of an S-Class, with the PRHT the wind noise was more than manageable. The only time wind noise was intrusive was well above 90mph, when the window seals would start to whistle slightly.
There’s enough performance available as standard, but I would wholeheartedly recommend the BBR kits. The basic manifold and map is plenty and boosts low range torque just enough to keep up with most warm hatches. The 200hp map (with cams) is enough to fend off 99% of hairdresser jokes, and the 300hp turbo option will keep your dry cleaner busy for a good long while.
More important than power is how the car is to drive. I miss my MX5, it was fun, engaging, and challenging to drive. My S3 is apparently in a different league in terms of outright performance, but to be brutally honest, in comparison with the MX5 the S3 is boring.
The 2.0 was fine for motorways, and took the trip from London to the Côte d'Azur in its stride more than once, including the obligatory 100+ mile detour to take in the Viaduc de Millau.
It was comfortable enough even for a 6’3” lump like me, and whilst it wasn’t like driving in the serene silence of an S-Class, with the PRHT the wind noise was more than manageable. The only time wind noise was intrusive was well above 90mph, when the window seals would start to whistle slightly.
There’s enough performance available as standard, but I would wholeheartedly recommend the BBR kits. The basic manifold and map is plenty and boosts low range torque just enough to keep up with most warm hatches. The 200hp map (with cams) is enough to fend off 99% of hairdresser jokes, and the 300hp turbo option will keep your dry cleaner busy for a good long while.
More important than power is how the car is to drive. I miss my MX5, it was fun, engaging, and challenging to drive. My S3 is apparently in a different league in terms of outright performance, but to be brutally honest, in comparison with the MX5 the S3 is boring.
Mate of mine has a Mk1, I thought it was the 1.8 but might have been the 1.6. We went for a trundle around some lanes. Out of every well sighted corner he was left for dead without me really trying. OK, I have a Chimaera 400 but they're not exactly renowned for outright pace either. I'd have thought he'd catch up along the straights, but he just slipped further and further behind. Caught up at the meet point a bit after I got there ...
Speed matters, so they say.
Speed matters, so they say.
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