Does an Mx3 corner better than a Lotus Elise ?

[crazydude123]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/968651.htm

This in my opinion deluded seller seems to think so !

Does an Mx3 really get better performance on a Skidpad than an Elise ?

Surely something going on here?

[Oldandslow]

If it says so on the internet it must be true!

[Fire99]

Well the MX3 is a quirky beast so you never know it may be the darkest of dark horses.

The V6 sounds quite nice, but it's no rocket ship and despite the ad blurb you've gotta rev the caboodles off it to go anywhere.

Either way a grand for that one is much too much.

[jamieboy]

crazydude123 said:

Does an Mx3 really get better performance on a Skidpad than an Elise ?

I've no idea whether it does or not, but it's not impossible. The 1989 Alfa SZ can apparently* corner at 1.4g on a skidpan - a figure that Porsche was excited about equalling with the 2006 997 GT3. Other figures I've seen are 1.13g for the Ferrari 360, 1.04g for the 550, and 0.96g for the Audi S4 Avant.

So I'd say it's not impossible, but it probably doesn't mean as much in the real world as the guy selling the Mazda would like you to think.


* from 'Road + Track' magazine, I think.

Edited by jamieboy on Tuesday 31st March 09:40

[eowen]

Well thats that - if anyone has an MX3 they want to trade for an Elise R, please let me know.

[kambites]

Elises don't pull huge G-forces. Their performance comes from their ability to change attitude quickly and maintain grip on bumpy surfaces rather than generate massive cornering loads.

Since neither will generate significant downforce, I would imagine that maximum cornering loads come down almost entirely to what compound of tyres the cars in question are running.

[Mr Will]

According to the same figures, a Triumph Spitfire can generate the same cornering G as a Mclaren F1.

I think that tells you all you need to know...

[otolith]

Skidpan figures are a measure of raw grip on a flat surface at a constant steering angle. There's nothing clever about getting a good figure. How the car behaves as it is asked to make rapid changes of direction is another matter. Throw in surface irregularities, cambers, yumps. Then consider how the car feeds back information to the driver. Then see if the MX-3 still compares to the Elise.

[mechsympathy]

It may have more grip than an Elise but it handles worse, which is more important IMO.

[dirty boy]

My cousin had one of these and it was a lovely little motor, completely forgot about them to be honest.

Might make a nice little future classic.

[Jasandjules]

I don't think I've ever driven a car which felt as planted as an Elise.

[Fastra]

Skid pan ratings...!!!

Bloody hell, he'll be saying that you can balance a coin on the engine whilst running, but not under load, next...!

[morgrp]

Are you planning to drive it round in circles then? if not I'd get an Mx5 instead

[ExPat2B]

Hi, Its my advert for the Mx-3.

To be fair, I don't claim that it handles as well as an Elise, but it does achieve the same skid pad figures as one - and they are "best in class" figures, beating more contempory rivals like a Puma or Fiesta ST, which is why I highlighted it.

The Elise will change direction much quicker and is more adjustable mid corner, no argument from me.

I do take issue with claims the Elise is better mid corner hitting a bump than the Mx-3. In my experience of Elises, they get very wayward very quickly midcorner if you hit a bump while at the limit,( the flip side of that keeness to change direction, and something to do with the roll on oversteer they suffer =-) while the Mx3 soaks it up without trying to make love to the nearest hedge.

And lets not forget the Elise cost 8 times what I have this car for sale for.....

[MrMoonyMan]

Well written advert.

[G_T]

Well it's made me consider one for a "run-about".

Although I never understood why Mazda wanted to claim "the smallest production V6"... Suppose it's a nice quirk though.

[durbster]

I think a decent set of tyres means a hell of a lot more than a decent chassis when you're talking about cornering forces.

[hairykrishna]

I had an MX3. It had plenty of grip in the corners but I found it fairly underwhelming in general.

[Noger]

Ah, but greater lateral force isn't "better cornering" necessarily.

Force = Mass x Acceleration. An Elise has a bit less Mass than an MX3 - so will have greater acceleration (i.e change in direction) round a corner.

[Rubber-Ducky]

Noger said:

Ah, but greater lateral force isn't "better cornering" necessarily.

Force = Mass x Acceleration. An Elise has a bit less Mass than an MX3 - so will have greater acceleration (i.e change in direction) round a corner.

A great comment from someone who clearly doesn't know their arse from their elbow.

Cornering G is a measure of acceleration.