what faults do you forgive the mx5 for?

what faults do you forgive the mx5 for?

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Discussion

renaultgeek

Original Poster:

473 posts

156 months

Friday 9th May 2014
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There are things that drive me mad about the mx5, but on a nice spin I completely forget about them.

The brake calipers is up there for me, but as I said, on a spin, I forget that I've put 4 different calipers on it in 2 years.

Paintwork and rust may be taking the place of that soon though!

binnerboy

486 posts

158 months

Friday 9th May 2014
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any and all, provided I can hide the cost of fixing it ....

Patch888

701 posts

136 months

Saturday 10th May 2014
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Something that rattles/ vibrates on overrun. Annoys me when I think about it, but all is forgiven when out and about having a blast.

MaxMX5

387 posts

163 months

Saturday 10th May 2014
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Not really a fault but I find that when it is raining or I have water beads on the roof everytime I open the door to get in the water runs straight off the roof onto my seat. At best I end up with a wet bum at worst I shut my thumb in the door trying to stem the flow with kitchen roll.
Also the brake calipers, I had the front left seize up on my on the A3 last year so that was a 2hr wait for recovery. Now I check how hot they are every week or so to see whether they are getting sticky again.
I forgive it for the rust, it's not really its fault, stupid EU rules caused the changes from the Mk 1, so I guess I will just keep on paying to get it fixed.
My alloy wheels don't stay nice for long either, they tend to corrode pretty quick.

Andeh

810 posts

231 months

Tuesday 13th May 2014
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akaRob said:
Rattly noise from gearbox between 3-4k in 4th after I've been on a run.
What causes that bloody noise?

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

227 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
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If its only around 4k and 4th gear then its the 2nd gear selector resonating in the gearbox. Can be partly fixed with a new clutch. Doesn't actually cause a problem other than noise though
Other causes are a misaligned PPF, usually after a clutch, gearbox or dif swap, exhaust heat shield rattles or a broken cat.

trackerjack

649 posts

192 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
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The biggest fault is that they are so common if you threw a stone it would hit an MX5.
Strangely though they still look great especially the Mk1.

Another fault is the poor fuel consumption for a Jap engine they are guzzlers.

cianha

2,165 posts

205 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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Wind noise with the roof up, the farside mirror that won't stay in place, ineffective wipers at motorways speeds, rattles down the last stretch of road to the house, the cold spot on my legs no matter how high I turn the heating…

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

227 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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"the farside mirror that won't stay in place"
Sounds like it needs have the clamp/bolt replaced. It's probably rusted to buggery.

"ineffective wipers at motorways speeds"
Probably just needs new "spoiler" blade wipers. I've never had a probalm with them.

"cold spot on my legs no matter how high I turn the heating…"
Again, I've never had a problem with the heater. Quite the opposite in fact! It can be too hot at times! Are you talking top-down with no wind-blocker?

furtive

4,501 posts

287 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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Clutch judder

skinny

5,269 posts

243 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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being a bit wobbly and loud - although that's perhaps my fault with the exhaust.

i don't really want to forgive it for rusting to buggery, but as i've fixed it and will probably continue to do so, then i guess it does mean that i forgive it...

cianha

2,165 posts

205 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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MX-5 Lazza said:
"the farside mirror that won't stay in place"
Sounds like it needs have the clamp/bolt replaced. It's probably rusted to buggery.

"ineffective wipers at motorways speeds"
Probably just needs new "spoiler" blade wipers. I've never had a probalm with them.

"cold spot on my legs no matter how high I turn the heating…"
Again, I've never had a problem with the heater. Quite the opposite in fact! It can be too hot at times! Are you talking top-down with no wind-blocker?
Probably. It doesn't wobble or vibrate, but on the narrow lanes around my house, pulling in to let another car pass usually nudges it *just* off the line of sight I want.

I've a pair of standards on, I'll go to Bosch Aeros or similar next time. There's so much glass polish on the screen, the water generally beads an runs off fairly easily.

Top down, and only with the windblocker in place. Some sort of strange aero/vortexing going on. There's a draught that comes up from between the seat and the door, and settles on the tops of my legs. I think the windblocker is channeling air down behind the seat. Everywhere else is warm, it's just this one localised cold spot. I've found that lowering the driver's side window disrupts the draught, or a cloth down the side of the seat works too.

spoodler

2,194 posts

163 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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Interesting thread as I've been musing over the same recently... Sorry but I can't - it's just too bland to be forgiven it's failings... if it was more exciting, more interesting to drive or had some character then I could forgive the lousy packaging, naff interior and hood design. As it is it remains a fairly competent and likeable car marred by basic design flaws... as such twill soon be up for sale, I've given it best part of a year and it has failed to make the grade.
Mk1 Eunos Special - completely standard (and therein may lie the problem).

Not trying to start an argument as I know a lot of you love yours, simply a matter of perspective for me. smile

RacingBlue

1,432 posts

172 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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The engine.

I'm still not sure I can forgive Mazda for putting such an unwilling and harsh sounding engine in a great little sports car. It nearly spoils the whole recipie for me.

skinny

5,269 posts

243 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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the engine was designed to be charged. makes a lot more sense with a blower on it smile

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

227 months

Friday 16th May 2014
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Spoodler - have you ever had the alignment reset to fast road settings? If it hasn't been done at all or is just using standard Mazda settings then it might well feel a bit dull.

boobles

15,241 posts

223 months

Friday 16th May 2014
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For being an MX5! tongue out

J-Tuner

2,855 posts

251 months

Friday 16th May 2014
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Nothing really drives me mad about mine. Its one of the few cars i genuinely feel some kind of attachment to!

Xtriple129

1,162 posts

165 months

Friday 16th May 2014
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For not having enough room for both (biggish) dogs to sit on the passenger seat at the same time... one of them has to sit on the floor!

They both get to hang out of the window though.

I agree with the engine comments though: mine is a MK3 and is thirsty and not that quick.

spoodler

2,194 posts

163 months

Saturday 17th May 2014
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MX5 Lazza - thanks for the advice. I think in my case I just find it not special enough for a "special" car, and not useful enough for an everyday one - I tend to use my Subaru pick up in preference (always carrying something).
I have driven my mate's example which has been tweaked at some place over High Wycombe way and was the reason I got mine, for driving enjoyment there is very little between them - my mate bought his to replace his Bentley and has no regrets whatsoever. Me? Apparently I have a fairly eccentric taste in cars...