Mk2 to Mk3?

[Pulse]

Has anyone made this move? If so, what did you think?

I'm considering returning to the fold, but with Mk3 prices as they are at the moment, they seem to make a really good ownership proposal.

So, your views, please!

[rfn]

I haven't made the move, so to speak, but I have driven a Mk3 many times, and own a Mk2.5.

I really like my MX, but the Mk3 is a lot more modern, the dashboard feels higher up, you feel lower down. Handling I would say is on a par, I guess it just a looks/price thing.

I've had my MX since just before Christmas and have done 5000 miles in it - MK3's have started dropping below £8k now and I've also been occasionally thinking about making the change.

[Pulse]

rfn said:

I haven't made the move, so to speak, but I have driven a Mk3 many times, and own a Mk2.5.

I really like my MX, but the Mk3 is a lot more modern, the dashboard feels higher up, you feel lower down. Handling I would say is on a par, I guess it just a looks/price thing.

I've had my MX since just before Christmas and have done 5000 miles in it - MK3's have started dropping below £8k now and I've also been occasionally thinking about making the change.

Good to hear from someone who has driven one and thinks they are on a par handling-wise. That would be my largest concern, since if it handles poorly, I may aswell stick with what I've got. The thing dragging me towards the Mk3 would be the interior. It's far far better, and I would also hope it wouldn't have niggling stuff like rusty sills to deal with.

[S7Paul]

rfn is speaking from experience, which I can't (having only driven a Mk 2.5), however it is worth mentioning that just about every review in the motoring press concluded that the Mk 3 had lost the handling edge and driver enjoyment that came as standard with all previous MX-5s. It is only with the facelifted Mk 3 (see this month's Evo) that the balance has been redressed.

I would definitely advise that you get a drive in one first, and preferably one where you can drive it properly (i.e. not where you're on best behaviour because the salesman is in the passenger seat).

[rfn]

I found the Mk3 easier to push hard (I suppose because it has traction control). In my 2.5, if you push it slightly too much then it is very easy to get the back end out.

I genuinly think they are on a par (and the MK3 I have driven had not been lowered or been properly aligned - but then nor has my 2.5...).

[MattjK]

I thought the mk3 was a lovely car when I drove it. It needs lowering 40mm in my opinion, both for looks and its C.O.G. My only other gripe is that the traction control cuts in far too early. Before you get anywhere near tyre-squealing hooliganism - hell, before you even get anywhere near the limits of grip at all - your power is cut. It's like you have the government's Nanny State Division under your bonnet.

[Chris71]

I have to say I haven't driven a mk2, but I have owned a mk1 and driven several mk3s. I hate to stereotype, but I found most of the comparisons to be accurate - it felt like a bigger, heavier car (which, fair play, it is) with rather rolly-polly damping in comparison to the Mk1 and an over-eagre ESP system. It always felt like it retained the old cars turn in but didn't know what to do with it afterwards. Quibbles aside it remained well balanced, the extra grunt was noticeable (only drove the 2-litre), the brakes were considerably better and the chassis felt stiffer.

[patmahe]

Might be worth your while picking up the latest copy of evo, they have a test of the new facelifted MX5 (Mk 3.2?) and a test of a litchfield MX5 (Mk 3) with suspension tweaks and a supercharger. From what I can remember they said it improved the handling (suspension mods) and the supercharger made it good for 240bhp.

[Pulse]

Thanks for all your help everyone. Much appreciated. I guess I need to get down the dealers and test a Mk3 out. IF I returned to the fold, I would want to ensure it had as much of the feel as possible of my old Mk2s.

That said, the reason I changed to my VXR was that the MX5 was not comfortable enough for me, so perhaps the Mk3 is a happy middle ground? (Except I'd miss the power of the VXR)

[casbar]

Bought a Mk3 2ltr Sport Coupe for my wife last year. Great car, handles really well, although it does need lowering, the dealers provide the kit, you then also need to makes sure they fit it correctly and get the geom checked.

Wasn't that impressed before we had it lowered though, felt a little nervous. I also race and track a Caterham, so do understand how a car should handle

[Howard-]

Get three MK1s instead

[Wilburo]

To reiterate what was said above, the facelift mk.3 looks really nice and Evo seemed really impressed - they basically say that the facelift returns the MX-5 to the driving quality of the mk.2.

[Andy Meads]

MattjK said:

I thought the mk3 was a lovely car when I drove it. It needs lowering 40mm in my opinion, both for looks and its C.O.G. My only other gripe is that the traction control cuts in far too early. Before you get anywhere near tyre-squealing hooliganism - hell, before you even get anywhere near the limits of grip at all - your power is cut. It's like you have the government's Nanny State Division under your bonnet.

I have a MK3 2.0 and it used to do that until WIM sorted out the geometry and lowered it by 3.5mm. Not seen the t/c light since.

[casbar]

Andy Meads said:

MattjK said:

I thought the mk3 was a lovely car when I drove it. It needs lowering 40mm in my opinion, both for looks and its C.O.G. My only other gripe is that the traction control cuts in far too early. Before you get anywhere near tyre-squealing hooliganism - hell, before you even get anywhere near the limits of grip at all - your power is cut. It's like you have the government's Nanny State Division under your bonnet.

I have a MK3 2.0 and it used to do that until WIM sorted out the geometry and lowered it by 3.5mm. Not seen the t/c light since.

I had ours setup by WIM, after it was lowered. I see the traction control light quite often - your obviously not trying hard enough