Dilema involving a classic & an MX5!

[Kentish]

My current daily hack is an Audi TT Roadster, a 2001 car in immaculate condition and very sorted (lower coilover suspension, uprated ARBs, solid bushed suspension (no understeer), stainless exhaust system, improved induction, remapped to circa 270bhp). It's a top spec car anyway but I have also spent loads on it including the addition of cruise control, iPod stereo to work with the BOSE, later uprated headlights, new BBS LM style alloys and new tyres (last month). It has a full main dealer and specialist service history, has just had a new oil pump and pick up and a full service and MOT.

Oh yes, I also have a removal matching hard top for winter.

So, I know it well and know it has no faults and it is well sorted.

But I have this urge....

I could sell it for circa £5k, spend some of the money on finishing my MGB GT to a high standard and then buy a brand new MX5 on a lease purchase plan for about £250 a month. The MX5 has only half the BHP of the TTR but BHP is not the whole story.

Would I being disappointed?

Would it be a sensible thing to do?

Your thoughts much appreciated

Edited by Kentish on Wednesday 7th July 11:21

[Carpie]

From the description and the pics, you clearly love the TT, and probably want to keep it. I think it's enough of a drop in power to be a big difference as well.

[300bhp/ton]

Kentish said:

The MX5 has only half the BHP of the TTR but BHP is not the whole story.

Would I being disappointed?

I think you need to ask yourself some questions:

1. Do you make use of the 270hp in the Audi?
2. Do you like acceleration and HP?


If you answer Yes to one or more of the above, then ultimately I believe you will be disappointed with the MX-5. Probably not at first, as it'll be a new car, and if the weather is good. This feeling is likely to last anywhere from a week or until the end of summer.

But at some point you will miss the power and the acceleration, no problem if you have another outlet for it, but if you don't you will start looking for more HP one way or another.




My own experiences reinforce this, in Feb I bought a smart Roadster, it isn't fast, although feels faster than it is. But it's a joy to drive, its a real buzz and part of it, is the fact you can drive it hard without reaching silly speeds. In short I'm loving it.

But, if it were my only car (which it isn't) I'd be so wanting for more power, so much so that I'd have likely wasted money trying (and failing) to make the Roadster quicker.


The PH slogan tells me "Speed matters", and for me it does. I need it in some form and would truly hate to be without a powerful car (or a race/drag car if not).

[Kentish]

No thoughts anyone?

I currently spend around £300 a month on the Audi and on renovating my MGB so I thought I could spend the cash from the sale on finishing the MGB more quickly and having a new car instead for the same amount I spend on maintaining and improving the current 2 cars.

Make sense, or complete madness?

[Kentish]

Thanks guys, our posts crossed

I do really like the TTR; yes they are flawed as a standard car but so nice when sorted and for the money, the performance is very hard to beat.

I do like the performance and I drive on a lot of dual carriageways where I use the power a fair bit to get away from the dawdling flock

I guess the appeal is a brand new very nice car, well screwed together and I could keep it for eons but 123bhp is a big difference but it does depend on how that power is put down.

I think I need to take one out to see how frisky they feel.

[braddo]

I'd be spending the money on just making the MGB a great daily driver - get rid of any rust and get it properly undersealed etc, uprate suspension and brakes, minilites and decent tyres, drop in a K-series.... Or buy a MGB V8 and do the same stuff.

[Uhura fighter]

braddo said:

I'd be spending the money on just making the MGB a great daily driver - get rid of any rust and get it properly undersealed etc, uprate suspension and brakes, minilites and decent tyres, drop in a K-series.... Or buy a MGB V8 and do the same stuff.

The MGB he has is beautiful as it is.

Buy a MK1 mx5 and keep them all.

[Kentish]

braddo said:

I'd be spending the money on just making the MGB a great daily driver - get rid of any rust and get it properly undersealed etc, uprate suspension and brakes, minilites and decent tyres, drop in a K-series.... Or buy a MGB V8 and do the same stuff.

That's all being done but slowly over the months.

I could do it in one hit with the cash and still have a brand new sporty soft top, that's my dliema.

[300bhp/ton]

Are mx-5's only 123hp? Sure I saw one a Motor Trend test that was cracking 6.7 sec 0-60mph, would have thought it would have had more HP than that, unless its a US only model.

I do see the appeal of a new car, and at the end of the day if you know what you are getting, then why worry? You can always change it. Ok it might cost yo a bit, but at least it'll be an experience.

[Gazado]

What you've said does make logical senses but then this is one of those things that comes from the heart rather than the head.

You need to weigh up what you would want to do in your ideal situation. Are you just looking for something new to drive in general because you've had the TT for so long, perhaps you're just looking for a change of car now you have become so familier with what you already have?

Got quite a few things to think on and if you're asking for advice, chances are you're gut feeling is saying one thing and your head is saying another... If it was me I'd go with my gut feeling. If the MX5 doesn't work out, at least you can get your other motor finished finally. Then once that is sorted move on from the MX5 again knowing you've at least had the experience of owning/driving one.

[hornetrider]

300bhp/ton said:

Are mx-5's only 123hp? Sure I saw one a Motor Trend test that was cracking 6.7 sec 0-60mph, would have thought it would have had more HP than that, unless its a US only model.

The 2 litre is 160bhp and 0-60 is just under 8 seconds. But as we all know, 0-60 is not what the MX5 is about.

[dylan0451]

still would've been nice if they'd have made them to to hover around say, 15sec 1/4 mile though

op are you thinking of the earlier turbo ones? IMO the 1600 turbo should have been the base throughout production

[varsas]

That Audi TT is only worth £5k? shirley not? I don't think I'd sell it for that, as for buying a new car...doesn't ever seem worth it to me unless it's very special (Elise, Defender, XK etc) and you plan to keep it forever however I do approve of you spending money on the MGB GT so...in summary..

Sell the TT? NO
Buy an MX5? NO
Fix the MG? YES

Hope that helps.

[Orangecurry]

Worst 'get an advert for my car into GG' ever

[Luke.]

varsas said:

That Audi TT is only worth £5k? shirley not? I don't think I'd sell it for that, as for buying a new car...doesn't ever seem worth it to me unless it's very special (Elise, Defender, XK etc) and you plan to keep it forever however I do approve of you spending money on the MGB GT so...in summary..

Sell the TT? NO
Buy an MX5? NO
Fix the MG? YES

Hope that helps.

Seem like a bloody bargain to me. Surely worth an easy £6-7k?

[Kentish]

OK, thanks folks.

What makes me hesitate mainly is that I paid £11.5k for the TTR 3 years ago and I have spent a lot on it since. But it has only every had a rear spring snap (now replaced with all new coilovers), 2 coilpacks replaced and the MAF replaced. so very reliable on the whole. The other things I've done because of how I am, I like everything spot on, as good as it can be.

It has done 106k miles so is probably only worth £5.5k roughly now. The fact that it has always had Castrol Edge or Mobil1 oil, more frequent oil changes, stage 2 remap, all the suspension/chassis handling upgrades (R32 ARBS & DEFCONs) and the nice BBS alloys, new brakes discs and pads front and rear, stainless ex'st etc does not really make it worth anymore than a clean example that has had the minimum done by the main dealer all its life. It makes it a better buy for the shrewd buyer but that's all.

It's been and still is a great car, rapid enough to 60 (around 5.5s) and has had the 155mph limiter disabled (although it has never been over 120ish, on a dis-used runway ).

The sensible decision is to keep the TTR and not waste money on a new MX5 I suppose.

But, part of me would like to have a new and special car to keep for many many years.

[Luke.]

Kentish said:

But, part of me would like to have a new and special car to keep for many many years.

The novelty of that will wear off pretty quickly.

[braddo]

I'm not sure how special a MX5 will feel after a few years when you have been used to a decent TT and a nice MGB. I get the impression you probably wouldn't keep the MX5 very long (but then I haven't driven one, and I did read an EVO article last year-ish about someone who offers a supercharger kit for them, which would make it more special).

Edited to add: I think the EVO article was for a Litchfield kit - expensive, but tasty.

Edited by braddo on Wednesday 7th July 14:44

[Vidal Baboon]

Will you be dissapointed? No!
To fully disengage the traction control, you have to hold the button down for around 10seconds IIRC! I've never driven a car that is so controlable from standard.

Utterly, utterly fantastic to drive, and not much slower than the RX8 I drove back to back.

[Vidal Baboon]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Me?

Yes, from several Mk1s (one of which I own as of next weekend) & a latest version 2.0 sport.

I wouldn't call it underwhelming, a little lacking in power, maybe, but that's always been the way with the MX.