Mx5 for me?

[BirdyNumNums]

Hey new here and would really appreciate some advice.
I'm looking at getting anew car.
Looking for some open top fun in a car that will put some fun back into my driving.
Budget is up to £25k
Current interest list is as follows,

- mx5 sport tech (I can get a good deal on a new car)
- BMW z4 2.0i (can get a year old low mileage car)
- lotus Elise S super touring 1.8 (5 year old very low mileage )

I'm open to suggestions on other cars.

Right this is where it gets interesting I guess :-/

I drove the mx5 a couple of months ago - and loved it.
Then this weekend I went to drive the z4, it felt like driving a 3 or 5 series . Great quality, comfy etc.
Straight afterwards I decided to go drive another mx5 to make a better comparison.
At the dealer they only had a 2 year old car (36k miles), so when they finally got it started (flat battery) we set off in the rain.
Off a bypass onto a sweeping slip road the car swapped ends and ended up in the ditch!
Clearly my fault, maybe a lack of rear wheel sports car experience.
However I'm sure the mismatched rear tyres (one with low tread, 3 different tyre brands on the car) didn't help.
The car gave no warning of letting go and it didn't feel like I was going too fast (obviously for this car I was).

My requirements from the car are as fun daily driver. and every couple of weeks i'll be heading south on the motorway 320miles each way.
I live near Glasgow and head north through the twisty b-roads often (to climb the munros ).

I love the mx5 but the way it spun out has shook my confidence in the car/own ability a fair bit.
The BMW felt sold but a bit boring.
Not driven the Lotus people say it works as an everyday car but I guess I'm concerned about kitcar quality and parking it outside overnight.

I'm hoping to buy next week but I'm changing my mind almost hourly.

Any advice, opinions or suggestions please?

[g40steve]

However I'm sure the mismatched rear tyres (one with low tread, 3 different tyre brands on the car) didn't help.

This is your problem!

I would be looking at a turbo mx5 from Roddo with your budget with cash to spare

[Petrolhead]

For me if its a daily driver I would discount the Lotus

I have had a Z4 3.0L which ran on run flats, I felt the ride was too harsh and the car not compliant enough of a bumpy B road.

I now have a MX5 Roadster 2.0 Sport. I love it, you can switch the tracking of and have fun without going silly speeds. I would assume the mix of tyres etc would be responsible for the spin and would suggest test drive another one

[MX-5 Lazza]

If it has mismatched tyres and 3 different brands then you can be pretty certain the alignment will be way out too. A decent set of tyres and a good alignment and these cars are as safe on wet roads as anything else.

For what it's worth, I have driven an Elise and been a passenger in one a few times and while they are undoubtedly great cars, they don't really give the feeling of being in a convertible any more than a hatch with a panoramic sunroof. If you want a great sportscar they are hard to beat but if you want that convertible feeling then look elsewhere. Also not sure I'd want to live with one every day...

[MegaMinion]

The way you said it just swapped ends with no sign suggests poor tyres and or something slippy like diesel on the road. MX5s are very easy to catch and control, so don't let that one experience put you off.

[BirdyNumNums]

Petrolhead said:

For me if its a daily driver I would discount the Lotus

I have had a Z4 3.0L which ran on run flats, I felt the ride was too harsh and the car not compliant enough of a bumpy B road.

I now have a MX5 Roadster 2.0 Sport. I love it, you can switch the tracking of and have fun without going silly speeds. I would assume the mix of tyres etc would be responsible for the spin and would suggest test drive another one

The first one I drove felt great (in the dry)
The second was 36k mileage and felt a bit thrashy.
Mx5 usable on a long motorway drive?

[Shaw Tarse]

From what I've read MX5s don't like mismatched tyres. I've had one for nearly 7 years & haven't had any problems,apart from in really bad weather.

[Pablo Escobar]

When I bought my MX5 it had mismatched el cheapo tyres on it and was always trying to murder me. Now it's got 4 new Yokohama Paradas on it the difference is remarkable. Not once has it attempted to murder me.

[vescaegg]

Doubt you would get any money off but a bit (ok quite a bit) of a budget stretch;

http://www.bbrgti.com/product_details.php?id=11677...

[roddo]

I'm an agent for BBR, I have a demo turbo car you can try/buy they are amazing little cars when set-up well
Feel free to contact me at Roddisons Motorsport

Paul

[BirdyNumNums]

roddo said:

I'm an agent for BBR, I have a demo turbo car you can try/buy they are amazing little cars when set-up well
Feel free to contact me at Roddisons Motorsport

Paul

Paul - where are you based?
Can the work be done to a new car if brought to you, and at what cost?

[threespires]

OP - I hope you get your MX-5 & turbo. I have an NA BBR @ c200bhp & love it. keep us updated

[roddo]

Sheffield.....
Please call me and I'll gladly talk you through the options

Paul

[MoelyCrio]

My first mx5 had mismatched tyres when I bought it. They're not pleasant, but only becomes dangerous near the limit.

I wouldn't have thought it would be an issue on a wet slip road on a test drive unless you were hammering it.

Is the 2.0 Z4 the turbo one?

[FarQue]

I have just purchased an 8 month old MX5 2.0 roadster for Mrs FarQue. It's on Bridgestone Potenza's and feels rock solid. Curiously, we wouldn't have even thought of a BMW Z4 as an alternative - they just seem big and cumbersome by comparison.

I was talking to a bit of 'expert' on Sunday who warned us how treacherous MXs' could be in the cold - his (mk3) had been sliding around that very morning. When I looked at his car, sure enough, Nankang tires all round...

[BirdyNumNums]

I have a Vw t4 transporter too so trips to ikea aren't a reason not too :-)

[elephantstone]

My mk3 Sport is fine in the wet, unless you boot it on a corner when the electronics kick in and stop it from going too far anyway. My car is on matching Potenzas and had full geo done at a decent place (blink Motorsport)

[Jafinkeesaurus]

FarQue said:

I have just purchased an 8 month old MX5 2.0 roadster for Mrs FarQue. It's on Bridgestone Potenza's and feels rock solid. Curiously, we wouldn't have even thought of a BMW Z4 as an alternative - they just seem big and cumbersome by comparison.

I was talking to a bit of 'expert' on Sunday who warned us how treacherous MXs' could be in the cold - his (mk3) had been sliding around that very morning. When I looked at his car, sure enough, Nankang tires all round...

Nankang tires should be illegal.

My MK2 had brand new Nankangs on it when I purchased it.

The grip, or lack of, in the cold and wet needs to be experienced to be believed.

I initially thought this was how RWD cars behaved, but after a few near misses (and near heart attacks) I realised this simply couldn't be the norm - the car was bordering on undriveable and I had zero confidence in its roadholding (although it could also be fun, in a sadomasochistic sort of way).

Swapped the rear tyres, and the transformation was incredible.

If anyone has them, I would seriously consider swapping them for something (anything!) less lethal.

[g40steve]

Jafinkeesaurus said:

Nankang tires should be illegal.

Your obviously are stuck in the 80's then!

These are the latest https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ns2r&client=...

Sticky is where it's at

[Jafinkeesaurus]

Yes, I can see they have pretty tread patterns.

The tyres I took off my car also had pretty tread patterns...didn't stop them being laughably bad in the cold/wet though.