Anyone go from a faster, more expensive car?
Discussion
I sort of have a bit of both.
All of my cars are good at different things, but i do love the '5 for driving round town and certainly for track days.
Actually looking at it another way, if i had to get rid of them one by one, the penultimate one remaining would be our mk1 roadster. The last one would be my mini pickup, but for different reasons!
I'd happily keep a '5 for a daily driver, above any of the others.
All of my cars are good at different things, but i do love the '5 for driving round town and certainly for track days.
Actually looking at it another way, if i had to get rid of them one by one, the penultimate one remaining would be our mk1 roadster. The last one would be my mini pickup, but for different reasons!
I'd happily keep a '5 for a daily driver, above any of the others.
Risotto said:
I've had a few over the years after more expensive cars. Why? Mainly because we've been moving house or similar and needed to free up some cash. Regardless of what they've replaced, the MX-5s have always been great fun. Perhaps not as accomplished in some areas but always fun.
The amount you spend on a car has little to do with how much enjoyment you get from driving it. In fact, cheaper cars can add to the enjoyment - it's a relief not to have to worry about how many miles you're putting on it or how much it might cost if you get a bit sideways in the wrong place. Panicking about every little noise isn't much fun, nor is having to keep £xxxx aside to cover unforeseen problems!
I'd echo that, A good point well made.The amount you spend on a car has little to do with how much enjoyment you get from driving it. In fact, cheaper cars can add to the enjoyment - it's a relief not to have to worry about how many miles you're putting on it or how much it might cost if you get a bit sideways in the wrong place. Panicking about every little noise isn't much fun, nor is having to keep £xxxx aside to cover unforeseen problems!
Edited by Risotto on Thursday 7th October 22:17
I sold my e39 M5, Now have a 330D and an MX5.
Sounds like a silly idea but i think it's one of the best motoring decisions I've made.
I picked up an MX-5 in February to sit on the drive next to my 400 bhp Evo.
The Evo is ballistic in a straight-line, not too shabby in the corners and isn't phased by poor weather/roads, but the MX-5 is more fun to drive in the summer with the top down, doesn't attract as much attention and is much easier to drive around town.
The Evo is ballistic in a straight-line, not too shabby in the corners and isn't phased by poor weather/roads, but the MX-5 is more fun to drive in the summer with the top down, doesn't attract as much attention and is much easier to drive around town.
I had an S1 Elise before I the MX-5s. It was a brilliant car and I hope to have one again but I had to sell it when I decided to buy a house; it freed up cash and I couldn't afford the risk of it breaking down.
In a lot of ways I much prefer driving the 5. I know I can afford new wheels and to fix most problems. I would also say that I get more out of it as I don't have the constant fear of wear and tear. It is a lot easy to handle when closer to the limit as well
In a lot of ways I much prefer driving the 5. I know I can afford new wheels and to fix most problems. I would also say that I get more out of it as I don't have the constant fear of wear and tear. It is a lot easy to handle when closer to the limit as well
Edited by King David on Friday 8th October 11:42
I have a bmw 650i sitting in the drive deprecating, because I enjoy driving the mx5 so much. It can very easily halve the any of the mx5's acceleration times.
I also have 2 racing cars that could do the same, and also out handle it.
And the lola could very easily accelerate in a third of the mx5's times.
But I still find the mx5 interesting and fun to drive, and I would be sad if I had to sell it.
(I would be over the moon if I sold the bmw)
I also have 2 racing cars that could do the same, and also out handle it.
And the lola could very easily accelerate in a third of the mx5's times.
But I still find the mx5 interesting and fun to drive, and I would be sad if I had to sell it.
(I would be over the moon if I sold the bmw)
I'm hoping to do this over the coming months, I have a S2 Elise and need to free up some funds. I'd echo what people here have said about running costs, breakages and mileage always being in the back of your mind. Don't get me wrong the elise has been brilliant but it'll be nice to put those worries to one side.
patmahe said:
I'm hoping to do this over the coming months, I have a S2 Elise and need to free up some funds. I'd echo what people here have said about running costs, breakages and mileage always being in the back of your mind. Don't get me wrong the elise has been brilliant but it'll be nice to put those worries to one side.
I can honestly say I haven't regretted it for a moment. The best bit is when you have a short journey and the sun is out, it doesn't take longer to take the roof off than it does to do the drive King David said:
patmahe said:
I'm hoping to do this over the coming months, I have a S2 Elise and need to free up some funds. I'd echo what people here have said about running costs, breakages and mileage always being in the back of your mind. Don't get me wrong the elise has been brilliant but it'll be nice to put those worries to one side.
I can honestly say I haven't regretted it for a moment. The best bit is when you have a short journey and the sun is out, it doesn't take longer to take the roof off than it does to do the drive I did exactly that a few months ago. Went from an Ariel Atom to an MK1 MX5 !!
Sold the Atom to free up some cash and wanted a fun car for the weekends. Ended up with a Turbo'd MX5 running about 205bhp, which is white with gold wheels !! Cost me around £3k as has most parts upgraded.
Its an absolute hoot, and I know if I damage it the bill should not be massive. Can't wait for my 1st track day....
Its obviously not as fast at the Atom, but the MX5 delivers enough thrills for now. Bang for buck its pretty hard to beat.
Sold the Atom to free up some cash and wanted a fun car for the weekends. Ended up with a Turbo'd MX5 running about 205bhp, which is white with gold wheels !! Cost me around £3k as has most parts upgraded.
Its an absolute hoot, and I know if I damage it the bill should not be massive. Can't wait for my 1st track day....
Its obviously not as fast at the Atom, but the MX5 delivers enough thrills for now. Bang for buck its pretty hard to beat.
Went from an AMG C32 to a Mk2. Got the Mk2 as a temporary car and sold the AMG out of choice because the MX-5 is just so much more fun and less stressful to own. The AMG was cataclysmically fast but I was always sweating about the engine or gearbox going. The MX-5 really is worry-free enjoyment. The aftermarket support is enormous and every part is cheap and readily available.
I don't really drive with the roof off that often but it's still a blast because it is so chuckable and dependable. I keep wracking my brains for something else that is light, fast enough, cheap enough, skiddy enough and practical enough (I can put my wee boy's baby seat in the boot - no chance of that with an MR2) to compare and keep drawing a blank. It's a great design.
I don't really drive with the roof off that often but it's still a blast because it is so chuckable and dependable. I keep wracking my brains for something else that is light, fast enough, cheap enough, skiddy enough and practical enough (I can put my wee boy's baby seat in the boot - no chance of that with an MR2) to compare and keep drawing a blank. It's a great design.
breagh said:
I don't really drive with the roof off ...
GET OUT! 
breagh said:
I can put my wee boy's baby seat in the boot - no chance of that with an MR2)
Great way to turn it into a cheap 3 seater (or 4 if you can get his sister in there too)! 
I'll let you off your previous blasphemy for being ingenious.
Welcome back!
I don't know about the others on here, but I found the MX-5 is just as fast, if not faster around roundabouts and tight corners as more powerful and heavier cars and you can brake later to scrub off the speed too in a '5.
Of course, if you miss the straight-line acceleration of a more powerful car, the answer is just to supercharge the '5.
Of course, if you miss the straight-line acceleration of a more powerful car, the answer is just to supercharge the '5.
Edited by youngsyr on Friday 8th October 15:11
I've got an MX5 (£2700), and drive more expensive cars than it all day.
Just got back from dropping off a customers car, worth about £7000, 2.0 engine.. It was quite boring, and horrible to drive.
I then got into my bosses £22,000 Mazda3 Sport, its a 2.2 Diesel, 150bhp, and this was also boring, gearstick that was longer than 2 of the MX5 put together, power in a lump and not that responsive, where as the MX5 is revvy, power through the band, revs high, nice suspension.
I'd have my MX5 over their cars anyday!
Just got back from dropping off a customers car, worth about £7000, 2.0 engine.. It was quite boring, and horrible to drive.
I then got into my bosses £22,000 Mazda3 Sport, its a 2.2 Diesel, 150bhp, and this was also boring, gearstick that was longer than 2 of the MX5 put together, power in a lump and not that responsive, where as the MX5 is revvy, power through the band, revs high, nice suspension.
I'd have my MX5 over their cars anyday!
Had an '06 plate Elise 111R SportRacer. It sat in the garage too often as needed more than two seats...
57 plate Mk2 TT 2.0T - very good car
58 plate TTS - outstanding car
Then the arse fell out of world, so the expensive toys had to go
Got a MiTo (155bhp) as the family wheels - great car and effortlessly quick...
...but was missing having a toy and heard all the Lotus guys having nothing but good things to say about the 5 - until then I'd never considered one
Picked up a '94 plate 1.8 Eunos a few weeks ago and love it to bits
57 plate Mk2 TT 2.0T - very good car
58 plate TTS - outstanding car
Then the arse fell out of world, so the expensive toys had to go
Got a MiTo (155bhp) as the family wheels - great car and effortlessly quick...
...but was missing having a toy and heard all the Lotus guys having nothing but good things to say about the 5 - until then I'd never considered one
Picked up a '94 plate 1.8 Eunos a few weeks ago and love it to bits
h4muf said:
Still got a westfield as well.
Does that count?
Me too - still got a FW400 in the garage!Does that count?
I got the MX5 as a stop-gap, fun touring car while I decide what to get next.
It directly replaced an Elan Sprint, but I've a fairly long history of quick sportscars behind me, including a TVR Griffith and several Lotuses.
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