Mk2 MX-5 1.8 or 1.8s
Mk2 MX-5 1.8 or 1.8s
Author
Discussion

stumpage

Original Poster:

2,188 posts

247 months

Sunday 7th January 2007
quotequote all
I am looking to get one of the above. What are the differences and which is the best bet?

deevlash

10,442 posts

258 months

Sunday 7th January 2007
quotequote all
the 1.8s has sportier suspension and is lowered, it also has an lsd. My mums got one, its great fun!

Pierscoe1

2,458 posts

282 months

Monday 8th January 2007
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yep... if you're buying it to DRIVE it, then most definately go for the 1.8iS.. the Torsen LSD is a must!!

..it means you can do much more of this:




Edited by Pierscoe1 on Monday 8th January 09:06

slinky

15,704 posts

270 months

Monday 8th January 2007
quotequote all
Tarmac terrorism... good stuff Piers!

stumpage

Original Poster:

2,188 posts

247 months

Monday 8th January 2007
quotequote all
Pierscoe1 said:
yep... if you're buying it to DRIVE it, then most definately go for the 1.8iS.. the Torsen LSD is a must!!

..it means you can do much more of this:




Edited by Pierscoe1 on Monday 8th January 09:06


SOLD!!!! 1.8s it is.

chimmo

17 posts

235 months

Monday 8th January 2007
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thats a cool pic piers! trying to copy my efforts no doubt!

chris71

21,548 posts

263 months

Monday 8th January 2007
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Can you get the LSD on UK cars?

I'm told theres also two specs (Torsen and regular LSD) and that the regular LSDs cease to lock after about 60,000 miles? Can anyone shed any light on this??

Looking to buy an MX5 in a few months and still slightly confused of the various specs!! Is S for example, just an abreviation of Sport or are they different models? Should I go for a 6 speed gear box? etc etc etc

slinky

15,704 posts

270 months

Monday 8th January 2007
quotequote all
chris71 said:
Can you get the LSD on UK cars?

I'm told theres also two specs (Torsen and regular LSD) and that the regular LSDs cease to lock after about 60,000 miles? Can anyone shed any light on this??

Looking to buy an MX5 in a few months and still slightly confused of the various specs!! Is S for example, just an abreviation of Sport or are they different models? Should I go for a 6 speed gear box? etc etc etc


The "regular" LSD as you put it, is a silicone based viscous LSD, the viscosity (sp?) or the silicone is generally regarded to have been "destroyed" by 60k leaving you with an open diff (as I have!)... I don't believe the VLSD was carried onto the mk2 (although I may well be completely wrong on that!)

HTH,

slinky

Pierscoe1

2,458 posts

282 months

Monday 8th January 2007
quotequote all
pretty sure there's only the Torsen on mk2's..

The S is NOT the same as the Sport.

the S get's you the Torsen, electric windows, some other bits..
the Sport gets you the 6-speed box.

the mk2.5 Sport (projector headlights, all-in-one seats without seperate headrests), gets you extra under-body bracing, and bigger discs)

there's more specifics, but that's the general idea....

slinky.. the pic is from the last PhoenixFives Curborough day!!

chimmo.. do we know each other!??! can't see any pics on your profile?


Edited by Pierscoe1 on Monday 8th January 20:16

slinky

15,704 posts

270 months

Monday 8th January 2007
quotequote all
Pierscoe1 said:


slinky.. the pic is from the last PhoenixFives Curborough day!!



I figured it was, as long as all is well with mine, and I'm not racing, I'll be at the next one!

chris71

21,548 posts

263 months

Tuesday 9th January 2007
quotequote all
Pierscoe1 said:
pretty sure there's only the Torsen on mk2's..

The S is NOT the same as the Sport.

the S get's you the Torsen, electric windows, some other bits..
the Sport gets you the 6-speed box.

the mk2.5 Sport (projector headlights, all-in-one seats without seperate headrests), gets you extra under-body bracing, and bigger discs)

there's more specifics, but that's the general idea....

slinky.. the pic is from the last PhoenixFives Curborough day!!

chimmo.. do we know each other!??! can't see any pics on your profile?


Edited by Pierscoe1 on Monday 8th January 20:16


Thanks. So an S-Sport isn't a typing error, it would be a mark 2 or 2.5 with torsen diff and a six speed box (both specs you mentioned)

Was the torsen available on the MK1s and imports?

slinky

15,704 posts

270 months

Tuesday 9th January 2007
quotequote all
chris71 said:


Thanks. So an S-Sport isn't a typing error, it would be a mark 2 or 2.5 with torsen diff and a six speed box (both specs you mentioned)

Was the torsen available on the MK1s and imports?


As far as I recall, the torsen is available on 1.8's post 94 (both UK and Import cars)

greg_D

6,542 posts

267 months

Tuesday 9th January 2007
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to further confuse things, there is an S-VT Sport, known as simply the sport (as piers described - plus a few other luxuries such as heated leather seats, VVT, 16" alloys, heated mirrors and CD player.

This is what i have. to be honest the iS is slightly more fun to drive due to it being a bit more back to basics and the bigger wheels on mine do blunt the feel somewhat.

also, if you decide to go turbo, the VVT and extra wiring becomes a pain in the arse.

greg

chimmo

17 posts

235 months

Tuesday 9th January 2007
quotequote all
Pierscoe1 said:


chimmo.. do we know each other!??! can't see any pics on your profile?


Edited by Pierscoe1 on Monday 8th January 20:16


Yes mate its Pad!

Pierscoe1

2,458 posts

282 months

Tuesday 9th January 2007
quotequote all
Doh!!!

mental note: chimmo=padster!


(put a pic in your profile too!)


Edited by Pierscoe1 on Tuesday 9th January 18:12

stumpage

Original Poster:

2,188 posts

247 months

Wednesday 10th January 2007
quotequote all
I have found to potential cars but they are both 02 plate MX-5 1.8 Sport models.

Now do these have the LSD and stiffer suspension? Also as I understand if the car has white dials then a Mazda child seat can be fitted is this true? (Believe it or not having a child has meant that that now Mrs Stumpage has a big car I don't have the need so all I will need to do is pick little one up from the child minder on the odd occasion.)

Pierscoe1

2,458 posts

282 months

Wednesday 10th January 2007
quotequote all
stumpage said:
I have found to potential cars but they are both 02 plate MX-5 1.8 Sport models.
Now do these have the LSD and stiffer suspension?


they're the ones to go for!!
mk2.5 (as these ones will be) have all the goodies! (they're a bit heavier too though, but I reckon the extra bracing is worth it)

Fruitcake

3,850 posts

247 months

Wednesday 10th January 2007
quotequote all
To echo the sentiments of those above, it has to be the S. I have one and it's awesome.

That diff really does its stuff, clunk-clunk-clunking merrily away at 5 mph...

The S is a very good car and not that much more than the 1.8 so it's well worth having one.

I love mine cloud9

Though I may not have a licence for much longer the b*stards

anonymous-user

75 months

Wednesday 10th January 2007
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The Viscous LSD was only on 1.6 cars and only the Eunos imports (although I believe available as an option on the BBR turbo).

greg_D

6,542 posts

267 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
Fruitcake said:
To echo the sentiments of those above, it has to be the S. I have one and it's awesome.

That diff really does its stuff, clunk-clunk-clunking merrily away at 5 mph...

The S is a very good car and not that much more than the 1.8 so it's well worth having one.

I love mine cloud9

Though I may not have a licence for much longer the b*stards


The diff doesn't clunk on mine!
are you talking about an iS or a sport, i have had both and they are very different cars, does yours have a 6 speed box?

Greg