Previous Mx5 owners help!
Discussion
Apologies for a strange question but I’m having a hard time making my mind up!
The Elise S2 is on my car shortlist for a purchase sometime this year, have not really decided when as I’m holding back a little with the current financial climate, budget likely to be £20k to £25k.
I currently have a solid Mk 1 Mx5 sat in my garage which I’ve recently put back on the road and although it’s only a 1.6 I’ve kind of fallen in love with it!
I just feel it lacks a bit of sparkle, I’ve been thinking about adding an S/C or Turbo conversion and without going mad would be happy with around 170 Bhp, engine swaps I’d rather avoid tbh.
Car owes me around £2500 and a Turbo conversion can be done for around £3000 so not silly numbers really.
Has anyone moved over from maybe a tuned Mx5 and can comment on the transition?
If I did buy the Lotus it would probably become my forever car as I’m now nearly 50.
I’m mainly a road driver and just enjoy weekend blasts on nice country roads.
The Elise S2 is on my car shortlist for a purchase sometime this year, have not really decided when as I’m holding back a little with the current financial climate, budget likely to be £20k to £25k.
I currently have a solid Mk 1 Mx5 sat in my garage which I’ve recently put back on the road and although it’s only a 1.6 I’ve kind of fallen in love with it!
I just feel it lacks a bit of sparkle, I’ve been thinking about adding an S/C or Turbo conversion and without going mad would be happy with around 170 Bhp, engine swaps I’d rather avoid tbh.
Car owes me around £2500 and a Turbo conversion can be done for around £3000 so not silly numbers really.
Has anyone moved over from maybe a tuned Mx5 and can comment on the transition?
If I did buy the Lotus it would probably become my forever car as I’m now nearly 50.
I’m mainly a road driver and just enjoy weekend blasts on nice country roads.
Alan16ac said:
Can't help with your dilemma, but I'm interested in what others think. I want a RWD car myself and can't make my mind up. MX5 seems the answer to all "what car" questions. I'd love an Elise too though!
All depends on your budget really and what you will put up with comfort wise.The problem with early Mx5s is finding one that isn’t rotten but they are a great car if you can live with the slightly hairdresser image!
I loved my mark 1 mx5, but it was pretty slow. I thought the BBR version would fix that, but that was underwhelming in the speed dept too.
A much more practical roof than the Elise of course. It lived outside but I drove it every day and sideways had the top down unless it was raining.
But to my mind nowhere near the driver's car that the Elise is.
A much more practical roof than the Elise of course. It lived outside but I drove it every day and sideways had the top down unless it was raining.
But to my mind nowhere near the driver's car that the Elise is.
Alan16ac said:
The problem with early Mx5s is finding one that isn’t rotten but they are a great car if you can live with the slightly hairdresser image!
^This. The Mk1 MX5 is genuinely lovely to drive but unfortunately looks like you’ve chosen it because it’s cute. An Elise is also lovely to drive, yet manages also to look like that’s why you bought it. It’s why I got rid of my MX5, and why I’d happily have an Elise now.67Dino said:
Alan16ac said:
The problem with early Mx5s is finding one that isn’t rotten but they are a great car if you can live with the slightly hairdresser image!
^This. The Mk1 MX5 is genuinely lovely to drive but unfortunately looks like you’ve chosen it because it’s cute. An Elise is also lovely to drive, yet manages also to look like that’s why you bought it. It’s why I got rid of my MX5, and why I’d happily have an Elise now.I've had 4 NA MX-5's now, had an S1 Elise and now an S2 Exige. I'd like to pick up another NA MX5 soon once I've sorted garage space but will have to be as well as the Lotus as that is going nowhere. I know it's a bit greedy to want two 2-seater sportscars but they tick very different boxes for me and both fully justify their place in the petrolhead universe. For me MX5's are at their best almost standard. Yes, they can feel a bit slow but in turn, standard ones can be endlessly thrashed without breaking or landing you a short driving ban. Everytime I've thought about upping the power of MX5's I always seem to read so many issues people have with turbo and SC set ups. I'm sure many are fine but it seems to create a risk from a car that is known for being bullet proof. I love that NA's are old enough to feel quite classic, especially with a wooden rim and the pop-up headlights filling your view yet are entirely usable. And, although they're not an S-Class, I could happily drive one everyday if need be, still even in a 30 year old example. They just offer good, cheap, simple fun, especially when the sun is shining. The Elise offers many of those ingredients but is a bit more 'serious' on the road, rewarding precision more than hooliganism. It is one of THE great driving experiences though. The steering alone is pure magic. It's obviously quicker too so you have to exercise a little more restraint at times. You can use one everyday but it's another notch or two down in terms of livability vs. an MX5 and I like leaving mine for special occasions.
If it were me, I'd either try to man-maths my way into having both, keep the MX5 as it is and just keep it well maintained and rot free or sell and get the Elise. I personally wouldn't go down the modded MX5 route.
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