Tiger to Mx5, would you?
Discussion
In this forum it may be a slightly biased question but Its something I have been toying with.
My Tiger has been on the road for 2 years now and is about to start it's third summer. In that time I have clocked up less than 700 miles. Mainly due to my own paranoia it has to be said. I dont want to take it to work as there are millions of speed bumps on site, I cant secure it, I dont want to get stuck in traffic, the range is fairly low, I dont want to be hit in the face with a rock (aeroscreen), If it broke down there is no towing eye. All this stops me really using it so I taxed it took it for a quick shakedown and have it booked in for an early MOT to sell. On that shakedown I found all forgiven I really enjoyed driving it and stayed out until the fuel was gone. I can't help thinking though I will yet again get to the end of the summer and think what a waste i have only done another few hundered miles.
The Mx5 is luring me away slightly as it has the benifit of being a well screwed together road car so I have none of the problems I do with the kit car. I think I would be far more likely to use it and really get to enjoy it more. The roof and watertightness are massive plus points on their own.
In standard trim the 5 doesn't seem too quick. I was thinking about a turbo mk1. Would i regret that move? Are there any short falls that would lead me leaving it garaged as another idea where the reality was just too annoying? Also what about insurance? Kit car insurance is very cheap, how would a modified 5 compare?
My Tiger has been on the road for 2 years now and is about to start it's third summer. In that time I have clocked up less than 700 miles. Mainly due to my own paranoia it has to be said. I dont want to take it to work as there are millions of speed bumps on site, I cant secure it, I dont want to get stuck in traffic, the range is fairly low, I dont want to be hit in the face with a rock (aeroscreen), If it broke down there is no towing eye. All this stops me really using it so I taxed it took it for a quick shakedown and have it booked in for an early MOT to sell. On that shakedown I found all forgiven I really enjoyed driving it and stayed out until the fuel was gone. I can't help thinking though I will yet again get to the end of the summer and think what a waste i have only done another few hundered miles.
The Mx5 is luring me away slightly as it has the benifit of being a well screwed together road car so I have none of the problems I do with the kit car. I think I would be far more likely to use it and really get to enjoy it more. The roof and watertightness are massive plus points on their own.
In standard trim the 5 doesn't seem too quick. I was thinking about a turbo mk1. Would i regret that move? Are there any short falls that would lead me leaving it garaged as another idea where the reality was just too annoying? Also what about insurance? Kit car insurance is very cheap, how would a modified 5 compare?
No opinions?
I was looking at mx5nuts the other night and noticed some insurance posts and it seemed like modified examples were getting insured for about £400 which is acceptable to me.
I think its just the practicallity I want assurance on. I just dont want to end up with a car i dont use and unless it is relyable I just wont use it.
I was looking at mx5nuts the other night and noticed some insurance posts and it seemed like modified examples were getting insured for about £400 which is acceptable to me.
I think its just the practicallity I want assurance on. I just dont want to end up with a car i dont use and unless it is relyable I just wont use it.
I sold my Tiger (Super6) and bought an MX-5, turned out to be a fantastic decision. The Tiger was faster but that was about the only thing it did better than the MX5 - the 5 drives and rides better, doesn't break down, has a boot, has a roof that you can put up (if absolutely necessary), has door locks, is utterly inconspicious meaning you can park it anywhere, gets 40mpg, doesn't require earplugs, has a fuel tank larger than a thimble, and it has a radio.
Most importantly though the 5 is just outright more fun to drive because it's fun at legal speeds rather than only at illegal ones.
I got a few years of fantastic enjoyment building my Tiger, but only drove it 1000 miles before I sold it for the 5.
If you get a mk1 then put a decat (but silenced) centre pipe and an MX-5Parts stainless twin exhaust on it - the noise is even better than the Tiger made.
Most importantly though the 5 is just outright more fun to drive because it's fun at legal speeds rather than only at illegal ones.
I got a few years of fantastic enjoyment building my Tiger, but only drove it 1000 miles before I sold it for the 5.
If you get a mk1 then put a decat (but silenced) centre pipe and an MX-5Parts stainless twin exhaust on it - the noise is even better than the Tiger made.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 25th May 13:23
I know more than a few people who have gone from 7-types to MX5's, and a few who have gone from MX5's to 7-types and then back again!
The consensus is thus -
Just occasionally, on the right road, at the right time, when the car IS all working properly, and the weathers right - the kit car is unbeatable.
BUT - an MX5 is 'good' all the time. You can leave it out in the rain. Drive it in winter. They dont (often) break down. The bits are cheap. You can quite easily pack the boot with gear and go away for a weekend. You can see at night. etc etc etc ad infinitum.
The consensus is thus -
Just occasionally, on the right road, at the right time, when the car IS all working properly, and the weathers right - the kit car is unbeatable.
BUT - an MX5 is 'good' all the time. You can leave it out in the rain. Drive it in winter. They dont (often) break down. The bits are cheap. You can quite easily pack the boot with gear and go away for a weekend. You can see at night. etc etc etc ad infinitum.
You're right Paddy, based on the miles I do it isn't really that cheap. The car has never really given me any reason to doubt is. It's just the what if's play on my mind too much.
I think Snotrags post is exactly what I wanted to hear. The other day was just great sunny weather little on the road. It was fantastic, wind all around, glorious. But I just want that little extra practicallity. I can live with it being good all the time rather than amazing 4 times a year. For example the other year about April I headed down to the Essex PH meet and it was freezing. Throuroughly miserable, every part of me was cold and I was hunched in the footwell trying to minimise how cold I got. I could live with that in a car with a heater, a screen and a roof to pop up.
Very interesting to hear you have made the same move Jim. I loved bolting the car together but I think I enjoyed it like you enjoy a jigsaw. It was fun as a problem, as an item to be assembled, but as a picture it leaves a bit to be desired. I'm pleased to hear you rate the mx5 as a good experiance to drive as that is something i dont want to lose, I just want an increase in the practicality.
I think I'll book the MOT up and stick it up at the weekend. There are a few nice looking 5's in the classifieds.
I think Snotrags post is exactly what I wanted to hear. The other day was just great sunny weather little on the road. It was fantastic, wind all around, glorious. But I just want that little extra practicallity. I can live with it being good all the time rather than amazing 4 times a year. For example the other year about April I headed down to the Essex PH meet and it was freezing. Throuroughly miserable, every part of me was cold and I was hunched in the footwell trying to minimise how cold I got. I could live with that in a car with a heater, a screen and a roof to pop up.
Very interesting to hear you have made the same move Jim. I loved bolting the car together but I think I enjoyed it like you enjoy a jigsaw. It was fun as a problem, as an item to be assembled, but as a picture it leaves a bit to be desired. I'm pleased to hear you rate the mx5 as a good experiance to drive as that is something i dont want to lose, I just want an increase in the practicality.
I think I'll book the MOT up and stick it up at the weekend. There are a few nice looking 5's in the classifieds.
Another thing then based on what you've just said.
About tinkering. The nice thing about ktis is they are easy to tinker with and work on.
I have to say - from my experience the MX5 is the easiest modern(ish), monocoque based car I know of to work on. I have done jobs on this car I would never have considered on many other more complex cars, had gearboxs and engines out, suspension, brakes off, timing belts, all sorts. They are a joy to work on.
Also - the massive popularity means there is literally endless amounts of information, guides, tuning options, spares, upgrades etc, just like kit cars.
I find something to fiddle with every weekend on my MX5 - not because it needs it, but because I can, and its enjoyable.
So if the tinkering/DIY aspect is also important to you then the MX5 scores highly here too.
About tinkering. The nice thing about ktis is they are easy to tinker with and work on.
I have to say - from my experience the MX5 is the easiest modern(ish), monocoque based car I know of to work on. I have done jobs on this car I would never have considered on many other more complex cars, had gearboxs and engines out, suspension, brakes off, timing belts, all sorts. They are a joy to work on.
Also - the massive popularity means there is literally endless amounts of information, guides, tuning options, spares, upgrades etc, just like kit cars.
I find something to fiddle with every weekend on my MX5 - not because it needs it, but because I can, and its enjoyable.
So if the tinkering/DIY aspect is also important to you then the MX5 scores highly here too.
Another thing I like about the '5 isn't so much the car itself, but the community. I've been bowled over by helpful other MX-5 owners on here and on nutz have been, I've never experienced such camaraderie (is that the right word?!) with other makes of car, but most '5 owners seem to be all too happy to help if they can (I would to, if I wasn't such a mechanical numptie!)
Those sound two other good reasons then. I like having a tinker with the car and thumbing through catalogues to find new bits to add so thats a big bonus. The kit car world is a pretty friendly one so I wouldn't want to lose that either. It seems more and more the Mx5 seems to have some really positive side to it. I'll just need to get a fancier hair cut.
Thats bad luck paddy, I guess if the disks and pads are relatively new they wont be too worn or warped. Is a sticky caliper a likely cause? I like the use of f
ksticks, are you a Kunt and the gang fan?
Thats bad luck paddy, I guess if the disks and pads are relatively new they wont be too worn or warped. Is a sticky caliper a likely cause? I like the use of f
ksticks, are you a Kunt and the gang fan?I went turbo mx5 to Caterham, always wanted one, agile as a fly & 180bhp/500kg rapid too, but as mentioned above the impractical nature of it was a pain to be honest, sunny day was ace but hated it hood up & scary in the wet & felt too exposed on road & on trackdays, mx5 in mk1 form is a long way from perfect but as compramises go an FI mx5 is a pretty darn good one, Caterham was sold & back with an FI mx5 again, this time supercharged, not as fast at all (m45 I need an M62 really or spend a lot on the 45) but great fun nonetheless.
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