Another which MX5 thread

[sparkyhx]

OK, so i'm seriously wanting to scratch 2 seater itch.

Time of life, kids gone, other cars available etc etc.

I currently own a Lexus IS300h daily and a BMW 330ci Convertible for fun/track days.
Having become a recent convert to convertibles I am sticking with this.

I have two basic choices -
- replace both cars and give myself a budget of circa £16k
- replace the BMW and give myself a budget for circa 2.5-3k

The problem with Option 1 is the latest 2L (180bhp) version is out of price range. Having owned a 300+hp Nissan 200sx and the BMW 330 i'm worried the 158bhp 2L will feel hideously slow. I don't mean straight line & corner speed, I mean overtake safely speed.

Similarly reading about the 1.5 vs (old) 2l, owning the 1.5 doesn't bother me in comparison, but the 1.5 vs the (new) 2l does pique my interest much more and I suspect a significant difference between the 1.5 and new 2l.
So at my budget I'm tending towards the 1.5 unless I can be convinced the 1.5 is pants at overtaking and the 'old' 2L is miles better.

Whats peoples view on the overtake safely, how do the 3 options compare in the real world 1.5, old 2L, new 2L do I need to be concerned. Compared with the lardy BMW and its creamy smooth delivery (god I would miss that straight 6) (nothing will ever compare with the Nissan, it was brutal, so I'm not going to try). The BMW comes in at 145 bhp/ton so not a million miles from the 1.5 or old 2l - as with 0-60 times it only tells a small part of a story, but they are indications.

There is of course one sub option and that is to wait for the 180bhp to come down in price in a year or two and continue to enjoy the BMW, who knows prices might start rising on those.

Option 2.
I looked at NC's (may have been a late NB) when I bought the BMW and found the seating position too high (with leather being worse than cloth) . Although I am relatively short 5ft 8, I have a long body for my height and found the top of the windscreen in my vision and also couldn't put a helmet on with the roof up. So realistically Option 2 doesn't have a solution unless I forgo the track days. If I'm wrong and it was a NB with the seat height problem, then I would choose the 2L as I've not heard great things about the 1.8.

I know I ultimately need to drive them, but a quick test drive isn't really going to cut it especially if I'm going to go down the Option 1 route and I have to live with the car day in day out. Its a bit different if its a 2nd car. Handling will be a given irrespective which model, straight line speed and cornering will be plenty enough to get into trouble no matter which model, the question mark is the overtaking/acceleration, there is nothing worse than being on a run out than being stuck behind something doing 40mph, that will suck any enjoyment out of any car.

So I'm looking for peoples real world views/experience

Thanks for listening

[Shaw Tarse]

What do you mean by "overtake safety speed"?
As a fellow short arse I never had a problem driving an NC, also short legs , but no helmet

[Nick67]

Have you considered the PCP route that will get you the latest ND?

[sparkyhx]

Shaw Tarse said:

What do you mean by "overtake safety speed"?
As a fellow short arse I never had a problem driving an NC, also short legs , but no helmet

Sorry meant overtake safely. ie. spend as little time as possible on the wrong side of the road ...……..all overtakes are safe if you have enough room/time, but on the twisties the available room/time is dramatically reduced.

As for height its more the body proportions. I actually found it easier to get into the ND when I tried a couple (soft and hard tops) than both my Lexus and BMW, I was quite surprised.

I wouldn't be tracking an ND, cant afford to lose it, the BMW and the Nissan I could.

Edited by sparkyhx on Friday 6th September 14:09

[sparkyhx]

Nick67 said:

Have you considered the PCP route that will get you the latest ND?

no - my Lexus currently has 6k left on it (personal loan not car loan, so technically its not 'on it')
I would be looking at a straight swap (no extra cash) if I was replacing both, and I would just keep on paying the personal loan. I don't think a PCP would be a goer, but I could look at it. I suppose I could look at PCP

[MRichards99]

sparkyhx said:

Shaw Tarse said:

What do you mean by "overtake safety speed"?
As a fellow short arse I never had a problem driving an NC, also short legs , but no helmet

Sorry meant overtake safely. ie. spend as little time as possible on the wrong side of the road ...……..all overtakes are safe if you have enough room/time, but on the twisties the available room/time is dramatically reduced.

As for height its more the body proportions. I actually found it easier to get into the ND when I tried a couple (soft and hard tops) than both my Lexus and BMW, I was quite surprised.

I wouldn't be tracking an ND, cant afford to lose it, the BMW and the Nissan I could.

Edited by sparkyhx on Friday 6th September 14:09

As someone who dailies a 1.0 Yaris, getting in my 1.8 MX5 means I can do so many more overtakes than in my Yaris. Question of perspective I guess

[Swampy1982]

sparkyhx said:

no - my Lexus currently has 6k left on it (personal loan not car loan, so technically its not 'on it')
I would be looking at a straight swap (no extra cash) if I was replacing both, and I would just keep on paying the personal loan. I don't think a PCP would be a goer, but I could look at it. I suppose I could look at PCP

Can you track a PCP car - also worth looking into

[sparkyhx]

MRichards99 said:

sparkyhx said:

Shaw Tarse said:

What do you mean by "overtake safety speed"?
As a fellow short arse I never had a problem driving an NC, also short legs , but no helmet

Sorry meant overtake safely. ie. spend as little time as possible on the wrong side of the road ...……..all overtakes are safe if you have enough room/time, but on the twisties the available room/time is dramatically reduced.

As for height its more the body proportions. I actually found it easier to get into the ND when I tried a couple (soft and hard tops) than both my Lexus and BMW, I was quite surprised.

I wouldn't be tracking an ND, cant afford to lose it, the BMW and the Nissan I could.

Edited by sparkyhx on Friday 6th September 14:09

As someone who dailies a 1.0 Yaris, getting in my 1.8 MX5 means I can do so many more overtakes than in my Yaris. Question of perspective I guess

eh whats your point? I've already said what I own, both of which are 'faster' than the 1.8 on paper

[sparkyhx]

Swampy1982 said:

sparkyhx said:

no - my Lexus currently has 6k left on it (personal loan not car loan, so technically its not 'on it')
I would be looking at a straight swap (no extra cash) if I was replacing both, and I would just keep on paying the personal loan. I don't think a PCP would be a goer, but I could look at it. I suppose I could look at PCP

Can you track a PCP car - also worth looking into

As above, if its my primary car I wouldn't be tracking it, if it was replacement just for the BMW I would be.

[Benrad]

The 2l NC and ND all get an LSD as standard. 1.8/1.5 do not. I see that as a big bonus, far more than the extra power personally

[Mr-B]

Nick67 said:

Have you considered the PCP route that will get you the latest ND?

Can't order new cars currently, (i have tried recently) no one knows when that situation will change either. Might not be till the new year is a finger in the air guesstimate.

[Nick67]

Mr-B said:

Can't order new cars currently, (i have tried recently) no one knows when that situation will change either. Might not be till the new year is a finger in the air guesstimate.

Oh didn't know that
Are there none already in the system or sat in dealer showrooms

[MRichards99]

sparkyhx said:

MRichards99 said:

sparkyhx said:

Shaw Tarse said:

What do you mean by "overtake safety speed"?
As a fellow short arse I never had a problem driving an NC, also short legs , but no helmet

Sorry meant overtake safely. ie. spend as little time as possible on the wrong side of the road ...……..all overtakes are safe if you have enough room/time, but on the twisties the available room/time is dramatically reduced.

As for height its more the body proportions. I actually found it easier to get into the ND when I tried a couple (soft and hard tops) than both my Lexus and BMW, I was quite surprised.

I wouldn't be tracking an ND, cant afford to lose it, the BMW and the Nissan I could.

Edited by sparkyhx on Friday 6th September 14:09

As someone who dailies a 1.0 Yaris, getting in my 1.8 MX5 means I can do so many more overtakes than in my Yaris. Question of perspective I guess

eh whats your point? I've already said what I own, both of which are 'faster' than the 1.8 on paper

The only point I was making was that previous motoring experience really changes our perspectives on things. I think my MX5 is 'fast' while you'd think it's slower because you've had experience with faster vehicles.
If it was me, I'd go for option 2 and perform 'foamectomy' on the drivers seat - this will lower your driving position in the hope you could get a helmet on with the roof up. If you couldn't do this, most MX5 drivers do trackdays with the roof down - the only time I don't is due to heavy rain (you don't feel light rain on track when going at speed) and I have to unzip the rear window so I have some visibility on everyone overtaking me.

[drgoatboy]

If you don't fit in an NC I would be very surprised if you fit fine in a Nd. I'm 6ft5 and drive an NC but I literally don't fit in the Nd. Head much higher than the top of the window.
Earlier NC have a lower seating position than the later cars with the height adjustable seats, like a couple of inches lower.

Alternatively if it's just a toy you could get something with a silly seat like mine now has (a tillett b5).
Also some more mods for power, bbr 175 kit, a set of Meister's and some extra bracing and you have a relatively quick (180bhp+) and very competent little car.
I might even know of something just like that coming up for sale in a few weeks but it would be more than your £3k budget I suspect.

[sparkyhx]

drgoatboy said:

If you don't fit in an NC I would be very surprised if you fit fine in a Nd. I'm 6ft5 and drive an NC but I literally don't fit in the Nd. Head much higher than the top of the window.
Earlier NC have a lower seating position than the later cars with the height adjustable seats, like a couple of inches lower.

Alternatively if it's just a toy you could get something with a silly seat like mine now has (a tillett b5).
Also some more mods for power, bbr 175 kit, a set of Meister's and some extra bracing and you have a relatively quick (180bhp+) and very competent little car.
I might even know of something just like that coming up for sale in a few weeks but it would be more than your £3k budget I suspect.

like I said fit fine in an ND, in fact better than the lexus and BMW, so it must have been a late NB not an early NC I tried - I know I need to try both again to check.

[sparkyhx]

MRichards99 said:

sparkyhx said:

MRichards99 said:

sparkyhx said:

Shaw Tarse said:

What do you mean by "overtake safety speed"?
As a fellow short arse I never had a problem driving an NC, also short legs , but no helmet

Sorry meant overtake safely. ie. spend as little time as possible on the wrong side of the road ...……..all overtakes are safe if you have enough room/time, but on the twisties the available room/time is dramatically reduced.

As for height its more the body proportions. I actually found it easier to get into the ND when I tried a couple (soft and hard tops) than both my Lexus and BMW, I was quite surprised.

I wouldn't be tracking an ND, cant afford to lose it, the BMW and the Nissan I could.

Edited by sparkyhx on Friday 6th September 14:09

As someone who dailies a 1.0 Yaris, getting in my 1.8 MX5 means I can do so many more overtakes than in my Yaris. Question of perspective I guess

eh whats your point? I've already said what I own, both of which are 'faster' than the 1.8 on paper

The only point I was making was that previous motoring experience really changes our perspectives on things. I think my MX5 is 'fast' while you'd think it's slower because you've had experience with faster vehicles.
If it was me, I'd go for option 2 and perform 'foamectomy' on the drivers seat - this will lower your driving position in the hope you could get a helmet on with the roof up. If you couldn't do this, most MX5 drivers do trackdays with the roof down - the only time I don't is due to heavy rain (you don't feel light rain on track when going at speed) and I have to unzip the rear window so I have some visibility on everyone overtaking me.

which I've experienced in the
yeh fair point - in the 20+ track days I've done its only rain rained once, but at the time I was looking I wasn't aware of the 'over the top' ness of rain as I am now having had the beemer.

[sparkyhx]

Mr-B said:

Nick67 said:

Have you considered the PCP route that will get you the latest ND?

Can't order new cars currently, (i have tried recently) no one knows when that situation will change either. Might not be till the new year is a finger in the air guesstimate.

want to elaborate on that?

[Mr-B]

sparkyhx said:

want to elaborate on that?

Not much to elaborate on, it's just various rumours from various sources and all guesswork, even the dealers haven't been told anything and when they ask for an update it's "no new orders until further notice" There are various theories surrounding new manufacturers emissions targets starting next year and maybe Mazda are already working on a 2020 hybrid model or maybe a turbo model (can't see that myself, doesn't fit with the simple ethos of what an MX5 is) or maybe ditching it but the only consensus seems to be the hiatus is emissions related, possibly.

[sparkyhx]

Mr-B said:

sparkyhx said:

want to elaborate on that?

Not much to elaborate on, it's just various rumours from various sources and all guesswork, even the dealers haven't been told anything and when they ask for an update it's "no new orders until further notice" There are various theories surrounding new manufacturers emissions targets starting next year and maybe Mazda are already working on a 2020 hybrid model or maybe a turbo model (can't see that myself, doesn't fit with the simple ethos of what an MX5 is) or maybe ditching it but the only consensus seems to be the hiatus is emissions related, possibly.

How odd!, is that the same worldwide or UK or Europe - what about the MX-124 is that also affected?

[Mr-B]

Don't know if other countries are affected, the Fiat version was taken off sale (permanently) a while ago I think.