Discussion
I'm very bored of my current car, a 2020 Seat Leon FR. I bought it in October 23 and thought it was what I wanted, it isn't. I adored my Abarth 124, loved every single journey in it so I'm considering an ND MX5. The problem; it would be my only car.
I'm a single guy living alone, and realised I only ever have people in the back of the Leon when on a night out (not a common occurrence) so 2 seats aren't a problem. The RWD is, I live 160 metres above sea level, at the back of a housing estate which isn't gritted. Being in Scotland, it is also a fair bit colder and snowier here than in Kent... What's the consensus? Could an MX5 work as my only car? I've only lived here for a couple of months, having previously lived at sea level so not experienced snow as of yet. Will a set of winter wheels and tyres stored in the shed over the summer do me fine?
Only other downside is I can't carry the bike with me in an MX5, but I've not done that as of yet with the Leon either and maybe I'll buy a cheap shed when I get to the fitness stage of cycling elsewhere.
I'm a single guy living alone, and realised I only ever have people in the back of the Leon when on a night out (not a common occurrence) so 2 seats aren't a problem. The RWD is, I live 160 metres above sea level, at the back of a housing estate which isn't gritted. Being in Scotland, it is also a fair bit colder and snowier here than in Kent... What's the consensus? Could an MX5 work as my only car? I've only lived here for a couple of months, having previously lived at sea level so not experienced snow as of yet. Will a set of winter wheels and tyres stored in the shed over the summer do me fine?
Only other downside is I can't carry the bike with me in an MX5, but I've not done that as of yet with the Leon either and maybe I'll buy a cheap shed when I get to the fitness stage of cycling elsewhere.
Can't see why not, I've used my Mr2 regularly over last 20 years in hilly Derbyshire. Rwd is great fun in the snow. Plenty of people use an mx5 as a daily. You can get bike racks for an Mr2, I imagine you could get one for an mx5 if needed
If roads are icy and dangerous you won't (or shouldn't) be driving any car, so wouldn't matter if it's a 2 seater rwd.
If roads are icy and dangerous you won't (or shouldn't) be driving any car, so wouldn't matter if it's a 2 seater rwd.
I ran a ND MX5 2.0 Recoro sport as my daily driver from Aug 2018 to 09 2024 and as my only car Aug 2018 to Jan 2024. Had Michelin Pilot Sport 5's fitted and while I didn't actually drive it in snow I did drive it in all other weathers.
Yes you can daily an MX5. If you get regular snow I'd use all weather tyres or get a winter set with Winters on.
Yes you can daily an MX5. If you get regular snow I'd use all weather tyres or get a winter set with Winters on.
I also daily an RF.
In fact the reason I went for the RF is because I have no garage and need to use the car for early starts all year round. Its been fine through the winter. Traction control works pretty well when it's slippy but equally it can be a laugh to switch it off now and then when the situation arises.
In fact the reason I went for the RF is because I have no garage and need to use the car for early starts all year round. Its been fine through the winter. Traction control works pretty well when it's slippy but equally it can be a laugh to switch it off now and then when the situation arises.
I’ve owned several MK1’s and a MK2 as my only car and they are fine in bad weather - handled it much better than all the 5 Series and A6’s my colleagues had as company cars. If the snow got really bad I just chucked a couple of bags of coal in the boot.
As for 4 seats - my wife had a 7 seater for 10 years and the only people it benefitted were our friends as she became the taxi driver on days or nights out. We replaced it with a 5 seater (we have 2 kids) and it zero impact on our life. Buy a car for you and not other people, get the 2 seater. MX5’s make every journey fun.
As for 4 seats - my wife had a 7 seater for 10 years and the only people it benefitted were our friends as she became the taxi driver on days or nights out. We replaced it with a 5 seater (we have 2 kids) and it zero impact on our life. Buy a car for you and not other people, get the 2 seater. MX5’s make every journey fun.
ChrisH72 said:
I also daily an RF.
In fact the reason I went for the RF is because I have no garage and need to use the car for early starts all year round. Its been fine through the winter. Traction control works pretty well when it's slippy but equally it can be a laugh to switch it off now and then when the situation arises.
I also don't have a garage, only a parking space. Why is the RF better for winter? Even the "soft" roof has a hard roof under the canvas so I don't see why the RF would work better in bad weather?In fact the reason I went for the RF is because I have no garage and need to use the car for early starts all year round. Its been fine through the winter. Traction control works pretty well when it's slippy but equally it can be a laugh to switch it off now and then when the situation arises.
I prefer the look of the "soft" top, RF from certain angles can look too tall, so I'm hoping any foibles you say, I can live with!
We have an ND that lives outside all year in the Highlands. We tested an RF before buying the soft top, the RF had a strange wind noise/draft when the roof was down which we didn’t like. There was also little real difference in noise between the RF and soft top with the roof up.
We don’t daily the car as we have others but it could easily be, and it is surprisingly practical too, I just filled it with fuel and the range is saying just over 400 miles.
We don’t daily the car as we have others but it could easily be, and it is surprisingly practical too, I just filled it with fuel and the range is saying just over 400 miles.
I went for the RF simply because I think it looks better.
It's heavier, more expensive, and there's more to go wrong. But it looks better, in my view.
Interestingly, my car is almost six years old now, and the roof still works fine (it gets regularly used), but the passenger window is starting to play up: the first problem with the car (which lives outside). A job for when it gets warmer.
It's heavier, more expensive, and there's more to go wrong. But it looks better, in my view.
Interestingly, my car is almost six years old now, and the roof still works fine (it gets regularly used), but the passenger window is starting to play up: the first problem with the car (which lives outside). A job for when it gets warmer.
Shermanator said:
I also don't have a garage, only a parking space. Why is the RF better for winter? Even the "soft" roof has a hard roof under the canvas so I don't see why the RF would work better in bad weather?
I prefer the look of the "soft" top, RF from certain angles can look too tall, so I'm hoping any foibles you say, I can live with!
I assumed the RF would be better insulated than the soft top. Only guesswork as I've never owned a soft top mx5. But I did have a mk3 mr2 a few years ago and the windscreen used to freeze on the inside.I prefer the look of the "soft" top, RF from certain angles can look too tall, so I'm hoping any foibles you say, I can live with!
I also like the way the RF looks, especially with the roof up. I've always liked coupes and must admit I don't pur the roof down all that often. Nice to have the option though.
Shermanator said:
A500leroy said:
You need 3 extra things.
Underseal every year.
A bike rack
A spare set of steel wheels with winter tyres for October -April.
Now go find one and buy those extras.
You can get a bike rack for an MX5? Tell me more! I never knew thatUnderseal every year.
A bike rack
A spare set of steel wheels with winter tyres for October -April.
Now go find one and buy those extras.
skeeterm5 said:
car as we have others but it could easily be, and it is surprisingly practical too, I just filled it with fuel and the range is saying just over 400 miles.
I regularly head from the Midlands well up into Scotland. It copes just fine. Although the gearbox is a little short-geared. I tend to sit somewhere between 2.5 and 3k at around 65mph.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff