Any mk1 owners in West London on here?

[drgoatboy]

So its a very cheeky ask, I'm seriously considering getting a mk1 mx-5 but being rather taller than average I don't actually know if I'll fit in one...

Is there any mk1 owners in West London, preferably near to Twickenham who wouldn't mind showing me around their cars in exchange for 4 pack of beer/ bottle of wine? (and probably a good laugh at watching me try to fold myself into the car)

Normally I would hunt a car out at a dealers and go have a look round on their forecourt but because these are so cheap now they seem to be mostly private sales or small dealers without a forecourt selling them. (I don't want to waste a private buyers time, I know how frustrating that is!)

I'm told they can accomodate the large driver with a few mods (foam removal from seat, smaller steering wheel, armrest removal etc) but I'd like to make sure before I start my hunt...

Can anyone help?

[hornetrider]

Last time I was in MKG3000 they had a Mk1 on the forecourt iirc. And a Mk2.5 Euphonic which is for all intents and purposes the same size inside. They are the Mazda main dealer right in Twickenham.

[MX-5 Lazza]

If you are much over 6" then a Mk2.5 will probably be out of the question as they have deeper/higher seats that limit knee & leg room and sit you much higher.

There is a regular meet in Cobham at The In On The Lake at Silvermere Golf Course. Next one 27th July. The MX5 OC also have a meet in Twickenham at The Winning Post on the A316 on the evening of the 1st Monday each month.
Both are good meets and a good bunch of people but if you wanted to actually got for a drive in an MX5 rather than just a sit in one then the Cobham meet would probably be better.

[drgoatboy]

Cheers for the replies. I'll have a look at the dealers. I've sat in a 2.5 and 3 there before and to be honest I didn't fit. I was lead to believe the mk1 was a bit more roomy or a least had more scope to modify it to be.

I saw the details of the meet at the winning post on the owners club but as you have to pay to sign up to their forum I didn't bother (yet) and didn't just want to turn up out of the blue...

[MX-5 Lazza]

Mk2/2.5 is the same to modify as Mk1. I have Elise S2 seats in my Mk2.5

Oh, and don't be afraid to just turn up to a meet, most turn up without announcing it beforehand

[drgoatboy]

hornetrider said:

Last time I was in MKG3000 they had a Mk1 on the forecourt iirc. And a Mk2.5 Euphonic which is for all intents and purposes the same size inside. They are the Mazda main dealer right in Twickenham.

I went down to mkg and gave all versions a sit with the exception of a mk1. It would seem that I do indeed fit in a mk2/mk2.5 but its not great with the roof on (and a hard top is a no go), ideally could do with sitting another couple of inches lower, looks like the seats fit a good distance off the floor though so maybe with some custom runners or bolting the seat to the floor it could work out nicely...

[hornetrider]

Goatboy, you can do a foamectomy... It removes foam from the seat base. Search the word on mx5 forums for more info

[drgoatboy]

hornetrider said:

Goatboy, you can do a foamectomy... It removes foam from the seat base. Search the word on mx5 forums for more info

thanks for the tip, I've already stumbled across the technique!

[MX-5 Lazza]

You can't mount the MX5 seats much if any lower. The base goes down between the runners almost to the floor. You might be able to get it 1/2 inch lower at best.
Mk1 & Mk2 seats are pretty much the same. A Mk1 seat might feel a little lower but mostly only due to being more worn.

[drgoatboy]

What I was thinking was a different seat, e.g and elise seat which is virtually flat on the bottom and mounting it straight to the floor. It will only ever be me driving the car so it doesn't matter if it doesn't move.