Why did I not look in here before?
Discussion
I know there's probably been a few of these threads before.. 
I'm at a stage where I want to get something fun for the summer, I guess you could call it a mid-year crisis, everyday that goes by.. it's getting closer, and closer to summer. I've looked at kit cars, hot hatchbacks, motorbikes.. Toying with the idea of each of them.. I was told to look at the MX5's, but I had shrugged off that suggestion. I was under the impression that they were very slow (60 in 11-12s), that along with the image kind of put me off.. But after a good bit of reading, it seems that it's more like 8s to 60 (Obviously they're not crazy fast.. But they're faster than what I'm driving at the minute), and overall I guess I had a bit of a stereotype myself..
But, just look at this:
I had a browse around the internet, and the local Mazda dealership actually has a 1.8 2004 MX5 Angels for sale. It's overpriced to say the least, but their dealership is about 50 yards from a NSL sign.. and one of the nicest driving roads around. So I might take a run up tomorrow morning, to see if I could get a look at it.
I'm still having a tough time finding out about all the different stages of the MX5.. Mk2, Mk2.5, the eunos.. There's alot of different engine combos, styles by the looks of it too!
I may have a tough time getting past the image the car has (or even attracts).. But after tomorrow that may not even be important!
I think i'll be around here for a little while yet..
I'm at a stage where I want to get something fun for the summer, I guess you could call it a mid-year crisis, everyday that goes by.. it's getting closer, and closer to summer. I've looked at kit cars, hot hatchbacks, motorbikes.. Toying with the idea of each of them.. I was told to look at the MX5's, but I had shrugged off that suggestion. I was under the impression that they were very slow (60 in 11-12s), that along with the image kind of put me off.. But after a good bit of reading, it seems that it's more like 8s to 60 (Obviously they're not crazy fast.. But they're faster than what I'm driving at the minute), and overall I guess I had a bit of a stereotype myself..
But, just look at this:
I had a browse around the internet, and the local Mazda dealership actually has a 1.8 2004 MX5 Angels for sale. It's overpriced to say the least, but their dealership is about 50 yards from a NSL sign.. and one of the nicest driving roads around. So I might take a run up tomorrow morning, to see if I could get a look at it.
I'm still having a tough time finding out about all the different stages of the MX5.. Mk2, Mk2.5, the eunos.. There's alot of different engine combos, styles by the looks of it too!
I may have a tough time getting past the image the car has (or even attracts).. But after tomorrow that may not even be important!
I think i'll be around here for a little while yet..
Edited by Conor D on Wednesday 19th May 21:46
Yeah that's a Euphonic special edition - it has a decent(ish) Sony stereo in it, red leather seats, LSD on the 1.8. I think it's the best Mk2.5 ltd edition (either that or the Phoenix anyway). Search on autotrader with euphonic in the keyword - I personally prefer it in the grey, but that black also looks very good!
Edit: And yes those alloys are standard on the Euphonic. Nice aren't they?!
Edit: And yes those alloys are standard on the Euphonic. Nice aren't they?!
Edited by hornetrider on Wednesday 19th May 22:00
hornetrider said:
Yeah that's a Euphonic special edition - it has a decent(ish) Sony stereo in it, red leather seats, LSD on the 1.8. I think it's the best Mk2.5 ltd edition (either that or the Phoenix anyway). Search on autotrader with euphonic in the keyword - I personally prefer it in the grey, but that black also looks very good!
Wow, thanks! They look stunning!I'm a bit, dare I say.. Excited about driving one tomorrow.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Well OP?
Going through with it ?
Reporting back today after your excursion ?
I will be, yea. At the minute it's looking like I won't be able to get out to them until about 5 at least. They're open to 8 though, but I might just ring ahead and make sure the cars still there.. And make them aware that I'll be coming.Going through with it ?
Reporting back today after your excursion ?
Can't wait!
vdubbin said:
Well, did you drive it yet?
ETA: Ah feck, beaten to it!
How far from the Gortin road (a.k.a the Widow Maker) are you?
The NSL sign I was talking about, that was about 50 yards away from the Dealership is the Gortin Road.. ETA: Ah feck, beaten to it!
How far from the Gortin road (a.k.a the Widow Maker) are you?
Edited by vdubbin on Thursday 20th May 12:48
I'm not sure if the sales man would be interested in going to Gortin though.
[quote=Conor D]Okay, so here it goes.. I got a chance to head out early so I went over to the dealership.
I got there and had a look around it, it looked smaller than I had thought.. And wasn't really sure how I would fit in it (6ft, 17 odd stone).. There was also a new RX8, which looked incredible and totally dwarfed this little MX5.
I got the dealer and he came out with plates, got into the car and to my delight it wasn't as small as i thought it would be. I maybe couldve adjusted the seat/steering a little better, as the wheel was a tad low, but I went on out anyway.
I headed out the 'gortin road' (which after a while is an incredible road) and nearly instantly got stuck behind alot of traffic, buses mainly.. So I cruised along at about 50mph. Things I liked at this stage was the gearbox, real short throw on it.. And real nice feel.
I went through the gears a bit, and accelerated a few times.. Though I didn't rev higher than maybe 3-4000rpm, I guess I'm too used to driving a diesel.. And I didn't want to scare the dealer at the same time.
Got so far down the road and decided to turn back and try and get a clean bit of road, again on the way back I only took it near the redline once.. I was thinking of him, more than me.. It was quick enough though, even in the low revs.. It liked to rev high though.
At this stage, I wasn't really feeling the 'bug'.. Sure it was pretty nice, but it didn't feel overly special and I was somewhat underwhelmed. So I ended up just leaving the car back and then went home after not long..
It wasn't until I got into my own car that things got interesting.. I went to drive out of the dealers, and instantly I thought "why's my steering wheel not doing anything".. Then I noticed the dull feel of the gearbox, and the length of the throw.. These were things I was (to an extent) happy with before.. Or maybe just didn't know any better..
The whole way home, I started to notice all the things from the MX5 that was superior.. The steering, te gearbox, the ride.. The overall driving experience..
And THEN, that's when I started to think what it wouldve been like had I been driving it like my own car (without the dealer)..
THEN I had the most savage smile
on my face the entire way home.. I had caught the bug! It was then that I had really noticed how much nicer the MX5 was to drive.. It was awesome!
Sorry if I went on a bit of a ramble there, haha.
I think I need to get another drive in one, and I think it might be time to look for a Euphoric MX5 (Is that the name?)..
I got there and had a look around it, it looked smaller than I had thought.. And wasn't really sure how I would fit in it (6ft, 17 odd stone).. There was also a new RX8, which looked incredible and totally dwarfed this little MX5.
I got the dealer and he came out with plates, got into the car and to my delight it wasn't as small as i thought it would be. I maybe couldve adjusted the seat/steering a little better, as the wheel was a tad low, but I went on out anyway.
I headed out the 'gortin road' (which after a while is an incredible road) and nearly instantly got stuck behind alot of traffic, buses mainly.. So I cruised along at about 50mph. Things I liked at this stage was the gearbox, real short throw on it.. And real nice feel.
I went through the gears a bit, and accelerated a few times.. Though I didn't rev higher than maybe 3-4000rpm, I guess I'm too used to driving a diesel.. And I didn't want to scare the dealer at the same time.
Got so far down the road and decided to turn back and try and get a clean bit of road, again on the way back I only took it near the redline once.. I was thinking of him, more than me.. It was quick enough though, even in the low revs.. It liked to rev high though.
At this stage, I wasn't really feeling the 'bug'.. Sure it was pretty nice, but it didn't feel overly special and I was somewhat underwhelmed. So I ended up just leaving the car back and then went home after not long..
It wasn't until I got into my own car that things got interesting.. I went to drive out of the dealers, and instantly I thought "why's my steering wheel not doing anything".. Then I noticed the dull feel of the gearbox, and the length of the throw.. These were things I was (to an extent) happy with before.. Or maybe just didn't know any better..
The whole way home, I started to notice all the things from the MX5 that was superior.. The steering, te gearbox, the ride.. The overall driving experience..
And THEN, that's when I started to think what it wouldve been like had I been driving it like my own car (without the dealer)..
THEN I had the most savage smile
on my face the entire way home.. I had caught the bug! It was then that I had really noticed how much nicer the MX5 was to drive.. It was awesome!
Sorry if I went on a bit of a ramble there, haha.
I think I need to get another drive in one, and I think it might be time to look for a Euphoric MX5 (Is that the name?)..
Edited by Conor D on Thursday 20th May 16:23
A lot of people make the mistake of driving them softly and then slating them. I can see you haven't but you haven't seen the best part yet either
My first experience of driving an MX5 was the MK1 demo car from GAZ/WiM at castle combe Japfest last year. I sold my car within a month and got one purely on the basis of the thrash i gave that car. I had a grin ear to ear and was laughing all the way around the track. Truely superb.
Get a proper drive out and give it some s
t - you will love it even more.
My first experience of driving an MX5 was the MK1 demo car from GAZ/WiM at castle combe Japfest last year. I sold my car within a month and got one purely on the basis of the thrash i gave that car. I had a grin ear to ear and was laughing all the way around the track. Truely superb.
Get a proper drive out and give it some s
t - you will love it even more.Jonny671 said:
Good write up!
So your now browsing the classifieds for one?
Haha, of course! So your now browsing the classifieds for one?
These are two that have really caught my eye..
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
Both 04, around 50'000 miles.. £4'500-5000.. Which is right in my price range!
Mark-2 said:
I thought I'd try that out this evening. Sat in my old Punto with it's horrible electric power steering, I hadn't really noticed how great the steering feel is on the '5 until I went around the block in the Punto lol
Luckily, I drive these kind of cars, well new cars with the over assisted electric steering, all day at work and thankfully when I get back to the '5 after work it always makes me realise how much nicer it is Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff