So I have been thinking.... its time too...
Discussion
Join the MX5 famiy, well maybe.
Currently drive a Gen 7 T Sport Celica so the hairdresser look is fine for me
.
However id be chopping it in and the 5 would be my daily drive. I (we) don't need four seats. Friends and family (not kids f
k that) need them more than us.
Were thinking of using it as a bit of a "training tool" before we step into the world of Lotus. As we have never owned RWD before.
Woud be looking to keep it for a year or more i guess.
My questions which 5 for the right side of 4k?
1.6 1.8?
Can the two of us no kids REALLY live with just a 5?
What about a MR2 or other suggestions?
Am i going to miss the power of the 190 BHP celica?
Your witty banter and excellent advice is appreciated as usual.
Currently drive a Gen 7 T Sport Celica so the hairdresser look is fine for me
.However id be chopping it in and the 5 would be my daily drive. I (we) don't need four seats. Friends and family (not kids f
k that) need them more than us.Were thinking of using it as a bit of a "training tool" before we step into the world of Lotus. As we have never owned RWD before.
Woud be looking to keep it for a year or more i guess.
My questions which 5 for the right side of 4k?
1.6 1.8?
Can the two of us no kids REALLY live with just a 5?
What about a MR2 or other suggestions?
Am i going to miss the power of the 190 BHP celica?
Your witty banter and excellent advice is appreciated as usual.
Can the two of us no kids REALLY live with just a 5?
Yes, probably. A weeks shopping will go in no sweat. Boot is big enough for a weekend away. How often do you really NEED your back seats? If you buy a new telly, Currys or whoever will deliver it to your door in a van. Dont worry!
What about a MR2 or other suggestions?
Pound in the box over there please (only joking).
Am i going to miss the power of the 190 BHP celica?.
No. People get caught up on this power thing too much. MX5's arent slow. They arent Fast, for sure, but they arent slow. A quick google shows that the Gen 7 Celica probably weighs upwards of 1400kg. Power to weight is probably actually better in most MX5s in that case.
Yes, probably. A weeks shopping will go in no sweat. Boot is big enough for a weekend away. How often do you really NEED your back seats? If you buy a new telly, Currys or whoever will deliver it to your door in a van. Dont worry!
What about a MR2 or other suggestions?
Pound in the box over there please (only joking).
Am i going to miss the power of the 190 BHP celica?.
No. People get caught up on this power thing too much. MX5's arent slow. They arent Fast, for sure, but they arent slow. A quick google shows that the Gen 7 Celica probably weighs upwards of 1400kg. Power to weight is probably actually better in most MX5s in that case.
snotrag][b said:
Am i going to miss the power of the 190 BHP celica?.
No. People get caught up on this power thing too much. MX5's arent slow. They arent Fast, for sure, but they arent slow. A quick google shows that the Gen 7 Celica probably weighs upwards of 1400kg. Power to weight is probably actually better in most MX5s in that case.
Simlar style engines having to rev the nuts of them. However it is much harder to rag the nuts out of the celica than the 5's i have driven. Gearbox is sNo. People get caught up on this power thing too much. MX5's arent slow. They arent Fast, for sure, but they arent slow. A quick google shows that the Gen 7 Celica probably weighs upwards of 1400kg. Power to weight is probably actually better in most MX5s in that case.
te in the celica in comparison .Edited by Petrol Only on Friday 4th June 09:43
Hmmmm 
Me thinks, if your long term goal is a lotus, an MX5 is a great introduction into RWD. Not at all scary & very controllable, even in the wet but with just enough power to keep things interesting at roundabouts etc.
They are pretty hard wearing & reliable. Simple engine & relatively cheap for spares. Size, as said above is not really an issue once you get used to it, perhaps a bit more space in a Mk2? For your budget I'd be looking at a late Mk1 1.8~ actually for £4k probably an FI'ed one
Me thinks, if your long term goal is a lotus, an MX5 is a great introduction into RWD. Not at all scary & very controllable, even in the wet but with just enough power to keep things interesting at roundabouts etc.They are pretty hard wearing & reliable. Simple engine & relatively cheap for spares. Size, as said above is not really an issue once you get used to it, perhaps a bit more space in a Mk2? For your budget I'd be looking at a late Mk1 1.8~ actually for £4k probably an FI'ed one
Edited by tuttle on Friday 4th June 10:18
tuttle said:
Hmmmm Me thinks, if your long term goal is a lotus, an MX5 is a great introduction into RWD. Not at all scary & very controllable, even in the wet but with just enough power to keep things interesting at roundabouts etc.
They are pretty hard wearing & reliable. Simple engine & relatively cheap for spares. Size, as said above is not really an issue once you get used to it, perhaps a bit more space in a Mk2? For your budget I'd be looking at a late Mk1 1.8~ actually for £4k probably an FI'ed one
What he said ^ Me thinks, if your long term goal is a lotus, an MX5 is a great introduction into RWD. Not at all scary & very controllable, even in the wet but with just enough power to keep things interesting at roundabouts etc.They are pretty hard wearing & reliable. Simple engine & relatively cheap for spares. Size, as said above is not really an issue once you get used to it, perhaps a bit more space in a Mk2? For your budget I'd be looking at a late Mk1 1.8~ actually for £4k probably an FI'ed one
Edited by tuttle on Friday 4th June 10:18
ironictwist said:
tuttle said:
Hmmmm Me thinks, if your long term goal is a lotus, an MX5 is a great introduction into RWD. Not at all scary & very controllable, even in the wet but with just enough power to keep things interesting at roundabouts etc.
They are pretty hard wearing & reliable. Simple engine & relatively cheap for spares. Size, as said above is not really an issue once you get used to it, perhaps a bit more space in a Mk2? For your budget I'd be looking at a late Mk1 1.8~ actually for £4k probably an FI'ed one
What he said ^ Me thinks, if your long term goal is a lotus, an MX5 is a great introduction into RWD. Not at all scary & very controllable, even in the wet but with just enough power to keep things interesting at roundabouts etc.They are pretty hard wearing & reliable. Simple engine & relatively cheap for spares. Size, as said above is not really an issue once you get used to it, perhaps a bit more space in a Mk2? For your budget I'd be looking at a late Mk1 1.8~ actually for £4k probably an FI'ed one
Edited by tuttle on Friday 4th June 10:18
An FI one though would get you quite abit more power straight away.
I probably would go with the MK1, I prefer the interior of the MK2 though..
You will not need to spend all your 4k unless you really want to. £2k will get you a nice mk1 to learn rear wheel drive in. Then use the spare £2k to add forced induction once you have got your confidence up on the basic set up. An early 1.6 is almost as quick as the 1.8s so just buy the best car you can find for your cash (avoid rust everything else is cheap to fix).
They are a very easy car to drive (I went the other way Elise first then a mx5) very easy to drive and more for giving than an Elise type car. Also a lot more practical to use as an everyday car.
They are a very easy car to drive (I went the other way Elise first then a mx5) very easy to drive and more for giving than an Elise type car. Also a lot more practical to use as an everyday car.
Having previously owned a number of MX-5s, I decided to try a mildly uprated S2 Elise as a daily driver. The MX5 was a better thought-out design but also softer and slower than the Elise. At lower speeds I have to say the MX5 could be just as much fun, maybe more; although the Elise comes into its own on track.
Overall, it's difficult to compare the two - they don't have much in common. The Elise always looked and felt more special and was dynamically the better car but it was clear they'd developed it on a shoestring - they couldn't even get basic technology like wind-up windows to work reliably. The MX-5 benefits from a comparatively huge development budget and is more exploitable at lower speeds. Both very good cars but for different reasons.
In terms of my experiences with the Elise, it was a mixed bag. You can use an Elise every day; whether you should depends on the sort of person you are. If you only use an Elise occasionally, you may be willing to overlook some of the shortcomings - you need to ask yourself if that would be the case if it was your only car.
Overall, it's difficult to compare the two - they don't have much in common. The Elise always looked and felt more special and was dynamically the better car but it was clear they'd developed it on a shoestring - they couldn't even get basic technology like wind-up windows to work reliably. The MX-5 benefits from a comparatively huge development budget and is more exploitable at lower speeds. Both very good cars but for different reasons.
In terms of my experiences with the Elise, it was a mixed bag. You can use an Elise every day; whether you should depends on the sort of person you are. If you only use an Elise occasionally, you may be willing to overlook some of the shortcomings - you need to ask yourself if that would be the case if it was your only car.
Edited by Risotto on Thursday 28th July 13:04
So supercharged 5's what are my extra running costs going to be?
Insurance?
How much quicker is say this...
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1538092.htm
Insurance?
How much quicker is say this...
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1538092.htm
Petrol Only said:
So supercharged 5's what are my extra running costs going to be?
Insurance?
How much quicker is say this...
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1538092.htm
If it is 200bhp, alot.Insurance?
How much quicker is say this...
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1538092.htm
My 1.8iS has 140bhp IIRC and is fast enough for the roads the MX5 excels in, so this is going to have alot more grunt down the straight bits that join up the bends, where the MX5 loses those it caught in the bends, Porsches etc.
MX5Lives is on here IIRC, or on '5Nutz definately.. If you wanted more questions/pictures
Petrol Only said:
snotrag][b said:
Am i going to miss the power of the 190 BHP celica?.
No. People get caught up on this power thing too much. MX5's arent slow. They arent Fast, for sure, but they arent slow. A quick google shows that the Gen 7 Celica probably weighs upwards of 1400kg. Power to weight is probably actually better in most MX5s in that case.
Simlar style engines having to rev the nuts of them. However it is much harder to rag the nuts out of the celica than the 5's i have driven. Gearbox is sNo. People get caught up on this power thing too much. MX5's arent slow. They arent Fast, for sure, but they arent slow. A quick google shows that the Gen 7 Celica probably weighs upwards of 1400kg. Power to weight is probably actually better in most MX5s in that case.
te in the celica in comparison .Edited by Petrol Only on Friday 4th June 09:43
Driven two today.
Mk2's
Both seemed to pull to the left. Known problems?
The gear box on one with 70k on the clock seemed clunky. Needs a oil change?
Which 5 has the biggest interior?
As the 70k one was a special edition with red leather etc. Name escapes me but someone here knows... seems to have less legroom with the bigger seats and heated bum jobbies then the standard cloth spec?
Also the brakes? How should they be? One was nothing... nothing than STOP.
So both cars had problems but there are plenty about. Great fun through the corners way way more planted than the celica.
Mk2's
Both seemed to pull to the left. Known problems?
The gear box on one with 70k on the clock seemed clunky. Needs a oil change?
Which 5 has the biggest interior?
As the 70k one was a special edition with red leather etc. Name escapes me but someone here knows... seems to have less legroom with the bigger seats and heated bum jobbies then the standard cloth spec?
Also the brakes? How should they be? One was nothing... nothing than STOP.
So both cars had problems but there are plenty about. Great fun through the corners way way more planted than the celica.
If you want a Lotus, what's stopping you going straight to one?
Getting a front-engined, RWD car isn't really good practice for a mid-engined RWD car to be honest, they are completely different beasts. You're better off getting the Lotus and learning to drive it well on some high-performance driving courses (I can personally recommend carlimits.com and CAT driver training).
They are both super cars (MX5 Mk1 and Lotus Elise S1 and S2), but very different creatures. I know, I've had plenty!
Getting a front-engined, RWD car isn't really good practice for a mid-engined RWD car to be honest, they are completely different beasts. You're better off getting the Lotus and learning to drive it well on some high-performance driving courses (I can personally recommend carlimits.com and CAT driver training).
They are both super cars (MX5 Mk1 and Lotus Elise S1 and S2), but very different creatures. I know, I've had plenty!
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