MX5 - overrated car.
Discussion
I had 2 mx5 now, Euno roadster and now driving a UK ones. They are similar age to each other.
They shakes badly, especailly the rear end next to door? going over the bumps.
Engine is quite harsh and coarse. My wife's hyundai i10 has better engine!
Only thing good about it, it handles nicely. and engine is bullet proof.
Why it is rated so highly? is it "convertible" thing wool pulled over your eyes?
I cant wait to get rid of it. im waiting for a V5 from DLVA. i only owned it for a month or so.
They shakes badly, especailly the rear end next to door? going over the bumps.
Engine is quite harsh and coarse. My wife's hyundai i10 has better engine!
Only thing good about it, it handles nicely. and engine is bullet proof.
Why it is rated so highly? is it "convertible" thing wool pulled over your eyes?
I cant wait to get rid of it. im waiting for a V5 from DLVA. i only owned it for a month or so.
vrooom said:
I had 2 mx5 now, Euno roadster and now driving a UK ones. They are similar age to each other.
They shakes badly, especailly the rear end next to door? going over the bumps.
Engine is quite harsh and coarse. My wife's hyundai i10 has better engine!
Only thing good about it, it handles nicely. and engine is bullet proof.
Why it is rated so highly? is it "convertible" thing wool pulled over your eyes?
I cant wait to get rid of it. im waiting for a V5 from DLVA. i only owned it for a month or so.
Why was it you bought the 2nd one again They shakes badly, especailly the rear end next to door? going over the bumps.
Engine is quite harsh and coarse. My wife's hyundai i10 has better engine!
Only thing good about it, it handles nicely. and engine is bullet proof.
Why it is rated so highly? is it "convertible" thing wool pulled over your eyes?
I cant wait to get rid of it. im waiting for a V5 from DLVA. i only owned it for a month or so.
They both exhbit same "characteristics" which they both have shuttle shakes, Steering shakes, vibration on back of the car over rough bumps due to very low torsional stiffness due to lack of the roof.
Im not talking about mechincal wear n tear such as wheel being out of balance, or anything like that.
I dont really want to buy full rollcage and lots of braces to stiffen the car up.
It is that reason alone why i dont like it, because i can really feel it.
Im not talking about mechincal wear n tear such as wheel being out of balance, or anything like that.
I dont really want to buy full rollcage and lots of braces to stiffen the car up.
It is that reason alone why i dont like it, because i can really feel it.
The braces (lower front, lower rear and between seatbelt towers) are quick and easy to bolt on and make a huge difference to scuttle shake. They were also fitted as standard from ~93 onwards from memory.
Also make sure the alignment/geometry is set up properly as that can make things feel pretty bad if its not right. The fact that you mention steering shake suggests the alignment and/or wheel balance is out, a healthy MX5 doesn't do that.
Also make sure the alignment/geometry is set up properly as that can make things feel pretty bad if its not right. The fact that you mention steering shake suggests the alignment and/or wheel balance is out, a healthy MX5 doesn't do that.
Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 22 September 13:21
I drive about 35,000 miles a year. 95% of those miles are done in my employer funded diesel Vauxhall. It’s an efficient business tool that covers the miles and has a decent turn of speed but it is just so dull, dull, dull!!
I bought the Eunos because I was becoming desperate to rediscover the fun of driving and because it is the most affordable sports car out there. (I looked at Caterhams and Westies but the value for money thing got to me.) Like the OP, I’m now onto my second car, trading “up” (or across if you prefer) from a ’90 1.6 to a 95 1.8. They’re old cars and of course they have their faults but every time I get in and put the roof down I feel my spirits being lifted. Driving the 5 brings a sense of adventure back to driving, even on short, local trips. I took my ’90 Eunos down to Le Mans for the Classic last July and loved every kilometre.
I also intended to do a few track days. In the event, so far I’ve only found time for one but I know I’ll do more and here again, the 5 is brilliant. The last car I tracked was an Impreza. It was undoubtedly quicker than the 5 but so much less fun in terms of balance and responsiveness. Plus, it ate tyres and brakes, whereas the 5’s seemed untouched.
So, in terms of smiles per £ I’m with almost everyone else on here: the 5 is brilliant!
I bought the Eunos because I was becoming desperate to rediscover the fun of driving and because it is the most affordable sports car out there. (I looked at Caterhams and Westies but the value for money thing got to me.) Like the OP, I’m now onto my second car, trading “up” (or across if you prefer) from a ’90 1.6 to a 95 1.8. They’re old cars and of course they have their faults but every time I get in and put the roof down I feel my spirits being lifted. Driving the 5 brings a sense of adventure back to driving, even on short, local trips. I took my ’90 Eunos down to Le Mans for the Classic last July and loved every kilometre.
I also intended to do a few track days. In the event, so far I’ve only found time for one but I know I’ll do more and here again, the 5 is brilliant. The last car I tracked was an Impreza. It was undoubtedly quicker than the 5 but so much less fun in terms of balance and responsiveness. Plus, it ate tyres and brakes, whereas the 5’s seemed untouched.
So, in terms of smiles per £ I’m with almost everyone else on here: the 5 is brilliant!
Have to agree that the 5 is the best car i have owned.
I have had a brand new Seat Lean FR, BMW's and yes they were nice to drive.
But what is nice, its not a huge smile on your face every time you get behind the wheel.
Its not driving in the snow with the roof off just because you can etc.
I have got a Isuzu Rodeo and Mondeo Ghia on the drive, both rather different cars to drive, both nice to drive but what do I class as my daily driver.
My MX5 Turbo.
I have had a brand new Seat Lean FR, BMW's and yes they were nice to drive.
But what is nice, its not a huge smile on your face every time you get behind the wheel.
Its not driving in the snow with the roof off just because you can etc.
I have got a Isuzu Rodeo and Mondeo Ghia on the drive, both rather different cars to drive, both nice to drive but what do I class as my daily driver.
My MX5 Turbo.
You must have bought a right couple of s
tters then i am afraid. I don't have any of the issues you describe with trim etc.
IMO the mx5 engine is a bit on the coarse side but i'm increasingly liking it - particularly when its up near the redline.. just sounds like a mechanical engine and not these poxy 3 cylinder haridryer sheds wisping about...
Theres nothing better than a well sorted '5, on a empty stretch of twisties with the engine on song!
tters then i am afraid. I don't have any of the issues you describe with trim etc.IMO the mx5 engine is a bit on the coarse side but i'm increasingly liking it - particularly when its up near the redline.. just sounds like a mechanical engine and not these poxy 3 cylinder haridryer sheds wisping about...
Theres nothing better than a well sorted '5, on a empty stretch of twisties with the engine on song!
Edited by J-Tuner on Wednesday 22 September 18:01
vrooom said:
They both exhbit same "characteristics" which they both have shuttle shakes, Steering shakes, vibration on back of the car over rough bumps due to very low torsional stiffness due to lack of the roof.
No, no, no, the car shouldn't do that and they don't do that if all is well, and there is something wrong with yours. Mine did the same 'til I sorted it.The first thing with mine (a '97 Mk1 Classic)was that it had boat-anchor 15" wheels fitted by the UK importer. There must have been lots of Mk1s that had these. On my car the 15" wheel and tyre was 7kgs each heavier than the 14" Mazda alloy + tyre that replaced them. That's 28kgs of unsprung rotating mass removed at a stroke.
Then the next thing to do, which every single purchaser of MX5s old and new should be doing, is to have the geometry set properly. Don't skimp on price, don't go to a £35 place 'cos they simply can't do it right at that price. Expect to pay a ton or more.
If your car is still suffering scuttle or body shake then you need to be looking to see if any after market suspension has been fitted, 'cos I know that even well respected after-market names sell kits for MX5s which can totally ruin an MX5.
And then there's tyres. I used to participate in road rallying, a sport which is hard on tyres. There used to be a company called Colway which made well respected remould tyres with stiff sidewalls and which were well used in rallying and trialling. I used to use them on an MGB and they suited the car very well. However, the set i tried on my MX5 *destroyed* the ride quality. I know exactly what you mean Vroom, about the troubles you describe - on my car the interior mirror would move, because it was stuck to the windscreen which was moving because the windscreen surround was shuddering along with the rest of the car. I *hated* it! Every single pothole i the road would send a crash! through the bodyshell, it was awful.
But eventually I ended up with a car that did what an MX5 was supposed to do, which is handle very nicely and ride the road with aplomb. Just like my Mk2 Golf Gti used to do, but with rwd.
The MX5 is a very nice handling car which is delightful to drive and has responsive controls and lovely, feelsome steering. And if a particular MX5 doesn't have all of this, there is something wrong with it. Honestly, it's nothing to do with not having a roof and the car doesn't have low torsional stiffness - IIRC for it's time it was the stiffest yet.
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