Compare mk2-mk3, and engine choice?

[vexed]

Last spring i fancied a convertible, so with minimal effort/planning I picked up a mk2 MX5 with the plan of keeping it a few months. I have become utterly besotted with the car and now plan on keeping an MX5. I still find it hard to believe that such a fun car could be had for so little (purchase price and running costs).

I am now wondering whether to stick with what I have- 2004 Mk2.5 1.8. Love the heated leather seats and the lsd!
Or: swap to Mk3 with a 2.0 engine. LSD would be an absolute must. Heated leather would be nice.
I'm not really interested in tuning (although I have considered swapping the anti-roll bars to eliminate a little of the body roll)

Reasons for swapping would be to avoid the rust issue on a car I am planning on keeping more than a year- mine has a little on the sills at the real wheel arch; and the increased power of the 2litre engine.

I love revvy engines- is the 2.0 as revvy? and reliable? Is it still made by mazda or imported from another OEM?
I wouldn't swap for more power if the character of the car and enigne was lost.
Does the mk3 avoid the rusty sills issue?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

[ecotec]

i'm pondering almost the same question so will be interested in the replies, I drove a 1999 model over the spring and summer and loved it so much i'm looking for a 2.3/3 now. From what i've read (but happy to be proved wrong) for a MK.3 a 2.0 litre is a must for the LSD.

this was the best post i've read - Blanes half way down:
http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/290390-six-or...


Anyhow hopefully soon there will be a few more for sale

[Flip Martian]

Mk 3 avoids the rust problems the Mk2 and 2.5 had. Whether it has AO kind of rust problem I don't know - don't think so. I have a fully loaded 2 litre soft-top Mk 3. My Mazda 3 2.2 Sport is more powerful - but the MX5 feels quicker at lower speeds. Its definitely revvy - doesn't seem to get a shift on unless its at 3500rpm. Nice cabin, very comfortable - hugs you in the seats. Top is easy on and off, seats are heated (!). Really, its horses for courses I suppose. I've not driven a 1.8 2.5 but I guess (with the soft top version at least) the 2.0 is more powerful - but not by a huge amount. The electric roof version will be carrying more weight, too.

[MattS3]

I went from MK2 to Mk3 and the difference in terms of refinement is night and day.
The leather heated seats (Sport model), decent radio, steering wheel controls and better roof all help the car feel much more modern.
That said, I've still only driven 700 miles in it in the last year since MOT, but having now sold my S3 sportback and moved into a Discovery 4, the MX5 might well get a bit more use this year as it will be polar opposite to drive than the Discovery.

[Bewilderedtoo]

I swapped a Mk2 1.8S for a Mk3 2.0 Sport last year. I was surprised just what a different car the later model is. Although a slightly bigger design it does feel quite a lot bigger, maybe because you sit lower & there is more elbow room.
The performance is better, as it should be with a few more horses. The 6 speed box gives more relaxed main road driving & when you're just cruising it will pull 5th gear at 40mph quite happily & still pull away if needs be.
The hood is a better design & even easier to use if that is possible. Hardtops are still a fortune & the fittings for them even more so. The boot is bigger but you don't get a spare wheel.
Do I prefer it? In some ways yes but it hasn't the character of the Mk1 & 2.
I hope this helps but do realise the MX5 never was about out & out speed, other cars do that better.