The joy of driving... I get it!
Discussion
Finally.
Now, I've been a fan of cars for years. Mainly big German barges, in fact I think I've reached my Barge limit with the A8. Now, I like going fast in straight lines, like toys, a sense of occasion on journeys, however it has never really been "enough". I mean, it's got a V8 but doesn't really go round corners especially quickly.
For a while I was toying with the idea of selling the Barge, getting a £7.5k bank loan and buying something like a Boxster S. Decided against this because of difficulty of mounting bikes so was back to the drawing board.
Last week I saw a 1990 import MX-5 on Ebay. Straight enough, 132,000 miles, so a lot, but clearly fairly well looked after. In a dodgy rattle-can jungle camo paint job. Early 1.6 so more powerful than later ones, and an LSD to boot.
Hence, this car finished its eBay auction with no bids and a starting price of £650. I phoned the guy up an hour later and we agreed a price of £600. I got the train down to Sussex on Friday, met the guy at the station and went to look at the car at his nearby abode. I had a quick run in it, poked around the sills, checked for anything obviously dodgy engine-wise and happily parted with the cash. Cambelt and water pump done earlier this year, mechanically very tidy. Working stereo, decent tyres/wheels, everything up together- Interior pristine. No obvious rust, and it looks like the sills have been "attended to" in the past.
I stayed in Sussex overnight with family, and then set off to see other family members in West Somerset on Saturday morning. Straight up the M27 then across Salisbury Plain. Few heavy showers on the motorway but I kept the faith and discovered that the rain really does blow over the car so long as you're doing over 50mph.
Glorious sunshine across the Plain, stopped at a services and a couple of people commented favourably on the car. Enjoyable hoon through the back roads from Taunton to get to Somerset. Lovely bimble back up to Bristol today via the Somerset Levels and Wells. The roof hasn't been up since I picked up the car from Sussez, apart from when parked.
About halfway through today's drive I got it- This is what people mean when they're just "going out for a drive" and "Enjoying a hoon": Open roads through lovely countryside, wind in your hair, seeing other enthusiasts out and giving them a wave. Glorious sunshine. Saw loads of other cars enjoying the sunshine- Few MX-5s, lovely old convertible Rolls, MGB across the Levels. All top down, enjoying the sun.
I also "get" the MX-5 now. Comfortable but focused driver's car. Lovely revvy engine, goes round corners sublimely, cracking gearbox. Needs to be "driven" properly- Rev matching through the gears and the car sings. I can't find anything obviously wrong- I definitely need to renew the suspension and I think the geometry needs a tweak, but really...
I've bought this car for £600, insured it for just over £150, and it's got an MoT until next April. No loan required- It's mine. Bought and paid for. And I love it!
That is all.
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Now, I've been a fan of cars for years. Mainly big German barges, in fact I think I've reached my Barge limit with the A8. Now, I like going fast in straight lines, like toys, a sense of occasion on journeys, however it has never really been "enough". I mean, it's got a V8 but doesn't really go round corners especially quickly.
For a while I was toying with the idea of selling the Barge, getting a £7.5k bank loan and buying something like a Boxster S. Decided against this because of difficulty of mounting bikes so was back to the drawing board.
Last week I saw a 1990 import MX-5 on Ebay. Straight enough, 132,000 miles, so a lot, but clearly fairly well looked after. In a dodgy rattle-can jungle camo paint job. Early 1.6 so more powerful than later ones, and an LSD to boot.
Hence, this car finished its eBay auction with no bids and a starting price of £650. I phoned the guy up an hour later and we agreed a price of £600. I got the train down to Sussex on Friday, met the guy at the station and went to look at the car at his nearby abode. I had a quick run in it, poked around the sills, checked for anything obviously dodgy engine-wise and happily parted with the cash. Cambelt and water pump done earlier this year, mechanically very tidy. Working stereo, decent tyres/wheels, everything up together- Interior pristine. No obvious rust, and it looks like the sills have been "attended to" in the past.
I stayed in Sussex overnight with family, and then set off to see other family members in West Somerset on Saturday morning. Straight up the M27 then across Salisbury Plain. Few heavy showers on the motorway but I kept the faith and discovered that the rain really does blow over the car so long as you're doing over 50mph.
Glorious sunshine across the Plain, stopped at a services and a couple of people commented favourably on the car. Enjoyable hoon through the back roads from Taunton to get to Somerset. Lovely bimble back up to Bristol today via the Somerset Levels and Wells. The roof hasn't been up since I picked up the car from Sussez, apart from when parked.
About halfway through today's drive I got it- This is what people mean when they're just "going out for a drive" and "Enjoying a hoon": Open roads through lovely countryside, wind in your hair, seeing other enthusiasts out and giving them a wave. Glorious sunshine. Saw loads of other cars enjoying the sunshine- Few MX-5s, lovely old convertible Rolls, MGB across the Levels. All top down, enjoying the sun.
I also "get" the MX-5 now. Comfortable but focused driver's car. Lovely revvy engine, goes round corners sublimely, cracking gearbox. Needs to be "driven" properly- Rev matching through the gears and the car sings. I can't find anything obviously wrong- I definitely need to renew the suspension and I think the geometry needs a tweak, but really...
I've bought this car for £600, insured it for just over £150, and it's got an MoT until next April. No loan required- It's mine. Bought and paid for. And I love it!
That is all.
i know what you mean.
my MX5 failed to start the other morning when the missus was going to take it.
I had a go later in the day, got it started after a bit of turning over with my foot on full throttle (guessing she accidentally flooded the engine somehow) but i thought i'd give it a run to make sure the battery was fully charged...
...i was gone 3hrs.
Theres some lovely roads up round my neck of the woods
my MX5 failed to start the other morning when the missus was going to take it.
I had a go later in the day, got it started after a bit of turning over with my foot on full throttle (guessing she accidentally flooded the engine somehow) but i thought i'd give it a run to make sure the battery was fully charged...
...i was gone 3hrs.
Theres some lovely roads up round my neck of the woods
Excellent! Glad we have another convert.
They are brilliant cars.
We went on a hoon this morning, I let the others drive off without me.. I had the route and sometimes dislike going at it like hammer and tongs, sometimes I like to have a more relaxed hoon, nicely through the sweeping corners, revving hard but not valve bouncing, the car enjoys it too. You can tell from the way it drives that its happy in those kind of roads. Little bit of unsettlement on a few corners, but easily corrected and with an aftermarket exhaust its beautiful just reving through with the roof off, wind noise and the feeling its just you and the car.
Wait for top down at night, thats the best driving known to man. Motorways are cool, streetlamps shooting above your head as you drive along, the black sky with the moon out. It makes the mornings when the cars roof has leaked as I didn't close it properly, or the.. "Its abit of a girls car isn't it?" comments all worth it
Definitely get the suspension sorted, if you haven't seen.. Over on MX5 Nutz, on eBay theres coilover suspension for around £150 and apparently isn't stiff, just like standard but adjustable height and 2 year warranty. Then a Wheels In Motion set up for £100 and job done.
Rambled on there
They are brilliant cars.
We went on a hoon this morning, I let the others drive off without me.. I had the route and sometimes dislike going at it like hammer and tongs, sometimes I like to have a more relaxed hoon, nicely through the sweeping corners, revving hard but not valve bouncing, the car enjoys it too. You can tell from the way it drives that its happy in those kind of roads. Little bit of unsettlement on a few corners, but easily corrected and with an aftermarket exhaust its beautiful just reving through with the roof off, wind noise and the feeling its just you and the car.
Wait for top down at night, thats the best driving known to man. Motorways are cool, streetlamps shooting above your head as you drive along, the black sky with the moon out. It makes the mornings when the cars roof has leaked as I didn't close it properly, or the.. "Its abit of a girls car isn't it?" comments all worth it
Definitely get the suspension sorted, if you haven't seen.. Over on MX5 Nutz, on eBay theres coilover suspension for around £150 and apparently isn't stiff, just like standard but adjustable height and 2 year warranty. Then a Wheels In Motion set up for £100 and job done.
Rambled on there
Shaw Tarse said:
There was a link about that car on here recently.
That would be the one I started 
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... MX-5...
Jonny671 said:
We went on a hoon this morning, I let the others drive off without me.. I had the route and sometimes dislike going at it like hammer and tongs, sometimes I like to have a more relaxed hoon, nicely through the sweeping corners, revving hard but not valve bouncing, the car enjoys it too. You can tell from the way it drives that its happy in those kind of roads. Little bit of unsettlement on a few corners, but easily corrected and with an aftermarket exhaust its beautiful just reving through with the roof off, wind noise and the feeling its just you and the car.
You should have said mate, I was waiting for you at the junctions! I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed with your '5 - it looks so damn comfy with that high transmission tunnel, low seat and lack of roof! I'm definitely after one for my next car sometime in the new year...carreauchompeur said:
Shaw Tarse said:
There was a link about that car on here recently.
That would be the one I started http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... MX-5...
Enjoy the car
Ben Hughes said:
Jonny671 said:
We went on a hoon this morning, I let the others drive off without me.. I had the route and sometimes dislike going at it like hammer and tongs, sometimes I like to have a more relaxed hoon, nicely through the sweeping corners, revving hard but not valve bouncing, the car enjoys it too. You can tell from the way it drives that its happy in those kind of roads. Little bit of unsettlement on a few corners, but easily corrected and with an aftermarket exhaust its beautiful just reving through with the roof off, wind noise and the feeling its just you and the car.
You should have said mate, I was waiting for you at the junctions! I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed with your '5 - it looks so damn comfy with that high transmission tunnel, low seat and lack of roof! I'm definitely after one for my next car sometime in the new year...Thanks! It's a lovely car to drive!
Edited by Jonny671 on Sunday 12th September 23:05
carreauchompeur said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Good choice - is it the pic or is there something strange about the wheel placement in the rear arch?
You're right, it does look a bit odd. The rear suspension is a bit shagged so I would imagine that would have something to do with it.
I'm no expert though - would get it checked out. Did you HPI it - any chance it's been in a shunt?Sorry, not meaning to take the shine off it!
NiceCupOfTea said:
carreauchompeur said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Good choice - is it the pic or is there something strange about the wheel placement in the rear arch?
You're right, it does look a bit odd. The rear suspension is a bit shagged so I would imagine that would have something to do with it. I'm no expert though - would get it checked out. Did you HPI it - any chance it's been in a shunt?Sorry, not meaning to take the shine off it!
NiceCupOfTea said:
carreauchompeur said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Good choice - is it the pic or is there something strange about the wheel placement in the rear arch?
You're right, it does look a bit odd. The rear suspension is a bit shagged so I would imagine that would have something to do with it. I'm no expert though - would get it checked out. Did you HPI it - any chance it's been in a shunt?Sorry, not meaning to take the shine off it!
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