Legroom - Mark 2 or Mark 3

[fido]

This has probably been asked before - but if you're a slightly leggy 6ft2 chap, will the Mark 3 (2009/2010) be a better fit than the previous version? Every inch matters and not bothered about other parameters. Most likely going for a Roadster with electric roof.

[HorneyMX5]

MK2 is 98 - 2005 (one facelift during production)
MK3 is 2005 - 2015 (two facelifts during production)

The MK3 is bigger inside by quite a bit but they're still not th best for tall people depending on your body vs limb ratio. Go and drive some is the answer. Loads of late MK3s in dealers so you can always annoy a sales guy to see what one is like.

[fido]

HorneyMX5 said:

Loads of late MK3s in dealers so you can always annoy a sales guy to see what one is like.

Thanks - just about to get one booked.

[Actus Reus]

Mk.2 is slightly tighter than the Mk.1 and at 6ft1 the Mk.1 was a bit tight for me (normal leg-body ratio!). The main issue that I found was that I just sat a bit high in the car - not so much leg room, but was always a bit worried that with a roll bar my head might strike it in a collision. Buckets and harnesses would probably have solved that, but they create their own issues.

[fido]

Actus Reus said:

The main issue that I found was that I just sat a bit high in the car - not so much leg room

Yes, I am looking forwards to seeing how much headroom there is beneath the electric roof. Last time I sat in a roadster was an MGF and it did feel like sitting ON a car rather than snugly inside a roadster. Also tried an S2000 and couldn't physically get inside the car! Hence asking about the MK3 because it seems many six-footers have no problems with it ..

[GordonL]

6ft 1 here. I found some Mk3 variants were just not quite roomy enough for me. I think it was the different seats. In some of them I was just a fraction tight for legroom.

Had no issues with mark 1s or 2s though.

[The Tea Boy]

I've owned a mk1 and a mk2.5 and borrowed a friend's mk3
I'm 6ft 1ins and had no problem in either other than in the mk2.5 my head was a bit Korean vulnerable if I'd have rolled over.

My dad at 6ft 7ins looked like Noddy in my mk1

Matt

[Evoluzione]

fido said:

This has probably been asked before

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=1648998
Title is misleading....

I had the same problem, Mk3 is statistically larger inside. After asking and trying I did the sensible thing and read the guide up there ^^ which states it is and I found it to be so.

[Darryl247W]

I'm 6' 1/2" or so, and daily-drive a 2007 Mk3 Roadster Coupe. Height-wise I just get away with it. I found lighter footwear made me shorter in the leg department if you see what I mean, and helped me find both a better driving position and more 'feel' to the controls.

[fido]

Just as an update. I have now purchase a Mk3.5 (<- you see I am now au fait with the terminology. sad eh) - think the slightly higher redline and Bilsteins did it, if only to satisfy the inner nerd.

In case the salesman is reading this (quite likely as he seems like an MX-5 devotee) let's just say it was an 'entertaining' test drive. Fits perfectly with thin-sole driving shoes though I wish Mazda had made the windscreen 2cm taller.

Hopefully, get some miles on it over the summer. It might even motivate me to move somewhere with a garage again ..

[Darryl247W]

Have fun!
There are some who have fitted Elise seats. IIRC there are mounts to do this, but I suspect they're mostly for the Mk1 and Mk2 ???. Elise seats aren't cheap, but might get you lower and further back in the car.
Maybe re-thinking the seat runners on the standard seats might get you lower? If you're the only driver, a custom-built frame with no adjustment could save you some mm's?

[fido]

I have done 150 miles in the Mk3.5 now and getting quite comfortable with it - no need to fiddle with the seats. Struggling a bit with gear-changing (1st, and occasionally 2nd are a bit hard to slot into) and visibility, but on the plus side parking is a breeze (it's so small and manoevrable).

I was toying with getting a BBR 180 upgrade but can't justify the 2k outlay at the moment for a shiny new exhaust system. Also not sure if the apparent lack of torque below 2.5k is entirely due to the MZR engine or because I am fluffing the gear-changes and losing some rpm/momentum - will get the clutch adjusted at the next check-up. Or I may have got used to it by then.

Edited by fido on Tuesday 21st March 11:11

[JTSmith]

6' 5''er here, proud owner of a knackered 2001 Mk2.0 - Fits great, but I had to make a minor mod - the steering wheel!

Luckily I had a momo boss lying around and got the £40 offset steering wheel from drift works and now its totally perfect! I didnt even have to take any foam out the seats!

[SmilerFTM]

fido said:

I have done 150 miles in the Mk3.5 now and getting quite comfortable with it - no need to fiddle with the seats. Struggling a bit with gear-changing (1st, and occasionally 2nd are a bit hard to slot into) and visibility, but on the plus side parking is a breeze (it's so small and manoevrable).

I was toying with getting a BBR 180 upgrade but can't justify the 2k outlay at the moment for a shiny new exhaust system. Also not sure if the apparent lack of torque below 2.5k is entirely due to the MZR engine or because I am fluffing the gear-changes and losing some rpm/momentum - will get the clutch adjusted at the next check-up. Or I may have got used to it by then.

Edited by fido on Tuesday 21st March 11:11

If you are pushing on in an MX-5 the revs shouldn't get near 2500rpm apart from when slowing down, in traffic or cruising. Even in 6th 70mph keeps you above those revs

[MX-5 Lazza]

2500rpm? That's idle isn't it?

Seriously though, nothing happens below 4k. It's a sports car, not a diesel saloon.

[fido]

MX-5 Lazza said:

2500rpm? That's idle isn't it?

Had a slightly better run last night keeping the revs up. To be fair the last 2 litre NA car I drove was a Civic Type-R and you could gently pull away with 2000rpm - not quickly but it didn't just bog down which the MZR seems to do. Also tried adding 1/4 tank of the Momentum 99 (which seems to be a contentuous topic) - don't think it was my imagination but it felt better to drive. Got used to the clutch as well - though 1st still requires a second press of the clutch sometimes. Dealer suggested bleeding the clutch fluid (though it has just had a big service so will leave it until the MOT).

[MX-5 Lazza]

The red line is your friend. If you want to "make progress" then change up just before the limiter kicks in. It probably won't drop much below 6k. You can't break any of these engines with revs.

[SmilerFTM]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

The amount of times I've let someone drive mine and had to shout at them to "Go on, give it some!!!!"


And its a lot to do with most people jog around in the DD Diesels on the torque.

A lot of people irrespective of what type of car they have seem scared of revving car engines. I've seen people try to pull away at roundabouts into gaps quickly only to change out of 1st before they've moved ten yards and get bogged down at low revs in 2nd. It's all a bit weird but they are st scared of any type of quickness and/or braking the engine because they went above 3000rpm

[SmilerFTM]

Anyway back on topic I'm 6 foot and my seat is too high. Any taller and I wouldn't fit under my roof, if I push myself back in the seat and sit very straight backed then my head touches the roof. I noticed at a track day when pics were taken my head sticking out above the top of the windscreen when wearing a helmet. My arms and legs are almost at a perfect distance from the wheel and with the wheel raised up I have no issues with it, when I sit normally without trying to be upright I'm just below the roof and I hit the frame now and again over bumpy roads. If wearing a hat when the roof is down I need to take it off when I need the top goes up as it's squashed against the roof.

[SmilerFTM]

Only pic I can find quickly on my phone, I'm in the passenger seat on this one