Mk1 NA - 1.6 vs 1.8 Eunos Imports?
Discussion
Hi all, I've been looking for a 1.8 Eunos MK1 for 3 months now to no avail.
I'm having no luck and looking everywhere!
I'm wondering what the real world differences are in terms of feel and which is the better 'drive' rawness, etc.
I'll only have the 115bhp / 130bhp models.
Be very interested to hear from people that have driven both!
It might help me broaden my search if I can look for 1.6's too...
Cheers guys!
I'm having no luck and looking everywhere!
I'm wondering what the real world differences are in terms of feel and which is the better 'drive' rawness, etc.
I'll only have the 115bhp / 130bhp models.
Be very interested to hear from people that have driven both!
It might help me broaden my search if I can look for 1.6's too...
Cheers guys!
I'd look for 1.6 cars too and buy on condition. They say that the 1.6 revs a bit more freely and weighs less so performance is very similar. 1.8s have bigger brakes and more bracing I believe.
As I said, I'd buy on condition - I have a 1.8 and I'm very happy with it, but I was looking at both and was lucky enough to find a good 1.8 near home. Avoid the later UK-spec 1.6 cars though as they are only 90hp IIRC.
As I said, I'd buy on condition - I have a 1.8 and I'm very happy with it, but I was looking at both and was lucky enough to find a good 1.8 near home. Avoid the later UK-spec 1.6 cars though as they are only 90hp IIRC.
I've owned two Mk1 1.8's (one UK car, one Eunos) and driven many 1.6's. I don't know how the "1.6 revs better" argument came about but from personal experience there is absolutely no difference. The 1.8 feels exactly like the 1.6, just with a tiny bit more grunt for motorway driving.
The 1.8's weigh in a little heavier but they also have additional bracing/stiffening, better brakes and a better LSD on the Eunos models (Torsen vs Vicious diffs on the 1.6's which wear out).
Where have you been looking for MX5's? When you say your struggling to find an 1800 Eunos do you mean you can't find a good one or you just can't find one? There's a Mk1 1800 S-Special in the classifieds on here for very reasonable money if it all checks out in person.
Don't be afraid to travel for the right car. I did a 300 mile round trip to buy my Eunos and it's been worth every penny.
The 1.8's weigh in a little heavier but they also have additional bracing/stiffening, better brakes and a better LSD on the Eunos models (Torsen vs Vicious diffs on the 1.6's which wear out).
Where have you been looking for MX5's? When you say your struggling to find an 1800 Eunos do you mean you can't find a good one or you just can't find one? There's a Mk1 1800 S-Special in the classifieds on here for very reasonable money if it all checks out in person.
Don't be afraid to travel for the right car. I did a 300 mile round trip to buy my Eunos and it's been worth every penny.
No difference where it matters; namely chucking it down a B road. There isn't much difference in that scenario with the 90 bhp UK model, either. Owned them all (including a turbo)
The 1.8 simply felt like it needed less chance of a down-shift now and then, that was about it. Buy on condition etc.
The 1.8 simply felt like it needed less chance of a down-shift now and then, that was about it. Buy on condition etc.
I've had 2 1.6s (both 1992 imports) and currently have a 1994 1.8 import, and tbh there's no practical difference between them on the road (I've never been on a trackday so no idea about that). On the 1.6 there was quite a change in the engine character with the timing set to 14 degrees, it felt more powerful lower down and removed that "step" feeling where it hit the powerband, on the 1.8 I can't really tell any difference.
Unless you're a maniac I doubt you'll be able to tell between the brakes either on the road, I've not noticed the 1.8 stopping any better than the 1.6s, the tyres mattered a lot more - I had a very bad experience with Toyo Proxes, IMHO they ruined the car, now it's on Kumhos and is transformed.
I did feel that the 1.6 was a little more willing to rev, but unless you drove both back to back I can't say it really matters.
One of the 1.6s and the 1.8 have had the same MX5Parts twin exhaust on, both sounded the same, although the 1.6 changed sound with a cold-air induction kit feeding from the firewall below the wipers, it became a lot more "throbby"
which I liked, the 1.8 not so much.
On the 1.8 engine it's a pain in the neck to remove the inlet manifold, the 1.6 was much easier, every other aspect of maintenance/repair has been pretty much the same including engine removal / clutch changes etc..
My 2nd 1.6 was lucky enough to have a working LSD, I assume the 1.8s works although I've not checked it, but both were/are incredibly forgiving to drive even in the rain. I've not driven a 1.6 hard with a non-working LSD (the first one was pampered and mostly garaged while I drove the rusty 2nd one), so no idea if that changes the way it responds, but I believe the 1.6 diffs are more likely to not be working as LSDs at this age, I expect someone else can confirm.
I would buy on condition of the car and lack of rust rather than engine size, I'd happily have a 1.6 again after the 1.8.
Unless you're a maniac I doubt you'll be able to tell between the brakes either on the road, I've not noticed the 1.8 stopping any better than the 1.6s, the tyres mattered a lot more - I had a very bad experience with Toyo Proxes, IMHO they ruined the car, now it's on Kumhos and is transformed.
I did feel that the 1.6 was a little more willing to rev, but unless you drove both back to back I can't say it really matters.
One of the 1.6s and the 1.8 have had the same MX5Parts twin exhaust on, both sounded the same, although the 1.6 changed sound with a cold-air induction kit feeding from the firewall below the wipers, it became a lot more "throbby"
which I liked, the 1.8 not so much.On the 1.8 engine it's a pain in the neck to remove the inlet manifold, the 1.6 was much easier, every other aspect of maintenance/repair has been pretty much the same including engine removal / clutch changes etc..
My 2nd 1.6 was lucky enough to have a working LSD, I assume the 1.8s works although I've not checked it, but both were/are incredibly forgiving to drive even in the rain. I've not driven a 1.6 hard with a non-working LSD (the first one was pampered and mostly garaged while I drove the rusty 2nd one), so no idea if that changes the way it responds, but I believe the 1.6 diffs are more likely to not be working as LSDs at this age, I expect someone else can confirm.
I would buy on condition of the car and lack of rust rather than engine size, I'd happily have a 1.6 again after the 1.8.
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