Sell it to me.
Discussion
Im never going to be able to make my mind up from one test drive, i usually stick to reviews and peoples opinions to buy a car and usually do okay in that respect.
Ive had my current mk7 st180 modified to 240bhp for 3 years, its a great car but there is something missing and it doesent give me much of a buzz these days.
I want something that feels special to drive even just cruising around town, most of the roads near me are town style and motorway with the odd stretch of B road.
Will an mx5 NC 2.0 provide me with much more fun do you think, rwd, low to the ground, convertible etc.
Also is the nc 2.0 really as bad on mpg as ive been told? Been told 25mpg quite often which seems low for 160bhp.
Also i would want to fit lowering springs, would that cause any problems with speed bumps? I would also fit a cat back and induction kit, would that add any power at all?
Is it likely there will be much risk of rust looking at 11 plate onwards? Cheers.
Ive had my current mk7 st180 modified to 240bhp for 3 years, its a great car but there is something missing and it doesent give me much of a buzz these days.
I want something that feels special to drive even just cruising around town, most of the roads near me are town style and motorway with the odd stretch of B road.
Will an mx5 NC 2.0 provide me with much more fun do you think, rwd, low to the ground, convertible etc.
Also is the nc 2.0 really as bad on mpg as ive been told? Been told 25mpg quite often which seems low for 160bhp.
Also i would want to fit lowering springs, would that cause any problems with speed bumps? I would also fit a cat back and induction kit, would that add any power at all?
Is it likely there will be much risk of rust looking at 11 plate onwards? Cheers.
Petrolsmasher said:
Im never going to be able to make my mind up from one test drive, i usually stick to reviews and peoples opinions to buy a car and usually do okay in that respect.
Ive had my current mk7 st180 modified to 240bhp for 3 years, its a great car but there is something missing and it doesent give me much of a buzz these days.
I want something that feels special to drive even just cruising around town, most of the roads near me are town style and motorway with the odd stretch of B road.
Will an mx5 NC 2.0 provide me with much more fun do you think, rwd, low to the ground, convertible etc.
Also is the nc 2.0 really as bad on mpg as ive been told? Been told 25mpg quite often which seems low for 160bhp.
Also i would want to fit lowering springs, would that cause any problems with speed bumps? I would also fit a cat back and induction kit, would that add any power at all?
Is it likely there will be much risk of rust looking at 11 plate onwards? Cheers.
They do feel a lot more special to drive. Mainly due to seating position and being low to the ground. Definitely make sure you get a 2.0 litre sport one with the LSD. Ive had my current mk7 st180 modified to 240bhp for 3 years, its a great car but there is something missing and it doesent give me much of a buzz these days.
I want something that feels special to drive even just cruising around town, most of the roads near me are town style and motorway with the odd stretch of B road.
Will an mx5 NC 2.0 provide me with much more fun do you think, rwd, low to the ground, convertible etc.
Also is the nc 2.0 really as bad on mpg as ive been told? Been told 25mpg quite often which seems low for 160bhp.
Also i would want to fit lowering springs, would that cause any problems with speed bumps? I would also fit a cat back and induction kit, would that add any power at all?
Is it likely there will be much risk of rust looking at 11 plate onwards? Cheers.
If you’re doing a lot of motorway miles, get one with a hardtop/ folding hardtop.
Yes they really are pretty crap on fuel for the power.
They will probably feel pretty slow if you’re used to 240bhp. There are a few options now to increase power on the NC. Not cheap though.
Lowering springs are generally ok if you stick to sensible amount of lowering, 30mm drop max.
Rust generally depends on how it’s been used. It’s pretty disappointing that even the NCs can be pretty rusty. You’d think Mazda would have learned third time round. I wouldn’t go purely on age. Try and find one that’s enjoyed life as a weekend car instead of one that’s been commuted through every winter.
Edited by Gilhooligan on Tuesday 1st October 16:50
I have got nearly 40mpg out of mine on a motorway run and that's not nursing it at 60. 25mpg sounds like hooning it everywhere which is indeed tempting!
No real comparison to a hot hatch, the experience is totally different. Firstly light weight RWD reacts and drives differently. Secondly it is small, light and convertible. Personally the convertible experience adds a lot to the whole experience, it's not for everyone but personally feel driving down a good country road is so much more involving without the roof on.
Mine is quite modified for a bit more power and a really sorted chassis with extra bracing, coilovers, ARB etc which makes it even more fun. Pound for pound it's hard to fault...
Rust wise some early cars are starting to look tatty but there is a lot of pampered cars out there, mine is a 2007 but professionally waxoyled a few years ago so is as far as I know rust free.
There is a car very similar to mine for sale on the Facebook mx5 NC buy and sell pages at the moment, based in Hertfordshire. I'm sure the owner would be happy to show you why it's a special car to drive...
No real comparison to a hot hatch, the experience is totally different. Firstly light weight RWD reacts and drives differently. Secondly it is small, light and convertible. Personally the convertible experience adds a lot to the whole experience, it's not for everyone but personally feel driving down a good country road is so much more involving without the roof on.
Mine is quite modified for a bit more power and a really sorted chassis with extra bracing, coilovers, ARB etc which makes it even more fun. Pound for pound it's hard to fault...
Rust wise some early cars are starting to look tatty but there is a lot of pampered cars out there, mine is a 2007 but professionally waxoyled a few years ago so is as far as I know rust free.
There is a car very similar to mine for sale on the Facebook mx5 NC buy and sell pages at the moment, based in Hertfordshire. I'm sure the owner would be happy to show you why it's a special car to drive...
I think once you have had the roof down you will have it down at any opportunity, I know I do! I use ear plugs for motorway stints.
But yes they are still fun with the roof up.
In my opinion you should try one mate, I would be willing to bet you will love it.
For price of mind you can pay for dust proofing from a specialist.
But yes they are still fun with the roof up.
In my opinion you should try one mate, I would be willing to bet you will love it.
For price of mind you can pay for dust proofing from a specialist.
I had a bolt on hardtop that pretty much never came off. Sacrilege I know, it didn’t stop the mx5 being any less fun imo. No need to feel self conscious on the motorway. Nobody pays any attention anyways...
Still great roof up. My first drive of my first 5 which cost me £700 was round the M25, on a Friday, in the dark and in the rain. I still had a huge smile on my face the whole drive. I have owned much faster, much rather, much more focused cars but as I said the smiles per £ of an mx5 is very hard to beat.
Still great roof up. My first drive of my first 5 which cost me £700 was round the M25, on a Friday, in the dark and in the rain. I still had a huge smile on my face the whole drive. I have owned much faster, much rather, much more focused cars but as I said the smiles per £ of an mx5 is very hard to beat.
TBH the question is more about you than the car. Broad generalisation time -
- hot hatches tend to be driven fast , MX5s don't.
- HH's attract younger buyers than hatches. More mature people broadly don't give a f
k about what other people think, and are not self conscious about driving top down in drizzle on the M1 .
- If numbers are important , if stuff like 'mine's got 280bhp but it's barely enough' comes up in conversation with your mates then an MX 5 is a big step.
But - and it is a big but - if you are mature enough to enjoy driving for its own sake, and can savour a corner well taken more than the cheap thrill of overtaking the tt in the Audi in front of you , or scaring dogs and OAPs with parps and bangs from your exhaust then do try an MX5 . RWD is the only way to enjoy cars as they really should be, and a dawn run, top down and heater on will give you a buzz you didn't ever even imagine, and can never get from a tin top . .
- hot hatches tend to be driven fast , MX5s don't.
- HH's attract younger buyers than hatches. More mature people broadly don't give a f
k about what other people think, and are not self conscious about driving top down in drizzle on the M1 .- If numbers are important , if stuff like 'mine's got 280bhp but it's barely enough' comes up in conversation with your mates then an MX 5 is a big step.
But - and it is a big but - if you are mature enough to enjoy driving for its own sake, and can savour a corner well taken more than the cheap thrill of overtaking the t
t in the Audi in front of you , or scaring dogs and OAPs with parps and bangs from your exhaust then do try an MX5 . RWD is the only way to enjoy cars as they really should be, and a dawn run, top down and heater on will give you a buzz you didn't ever even imagine, and can never get from a tin top . . MK3 MR2 look like a lot of fun but for me are even less practical than an mx5. Literally no boot space at all which for a daily proposition would rule it out for me (that and I don't actually fit in one)
My previous cars include scirocco, colt czt, Octavia vrs, astra coupe, vx220, 350z amongst a whole heap of others. The only one that was as near as fun as my current mx5 was the vx220.
My previous cars include scirocco, colt czt, Octavia vrs, astra coupe, vx220, 350z amongst a whole heap of others. The only one that was as near as fun as my current mx5 was the vx220.
Sorry for losing patience slightly here, but you’ve been nosing about, asking questions about MX5’s vs your Fiesta ST for a little while now. You’ve been given a LOT of very good feedback, imo.
Have you actually driven an MX5 yet?
If you haven’t (and, tbh, even if you have, the following question is still valid) why are considering sticking lowering springs on a car that you have sod all experience of? Just for aesthetics, presumably?
We can give you our opinions ‘till the cows come home, but the reality is that we’re all different, and there’s no substitute to getting out there and poking about the things. Drive a good few as well, because there's a decent variance between one that's been well looked after, with good geo and one that isn't.
Go forth and poke. Here endeth the sermon.
Have you actually driven an MX5 yet?
If you haven’t (and, tbh, even if you have, the following question is still valid) why are considering sticking lowering springs on a car that you have sod all experience of? Just for aesthetics, presumably?
We can give you our opinions ‘till the cows come home, but the reality is that we’re all different, and there’s no substitute to getting out there and poking about the things. Drive a good few as well, because there's a decent variance between one that's been well looked after, with good geo and one that isn't.
Go forth and poke. Here endeth the sermon.
TheJimi said:
Have you actually driven an MX5 yet?
Drive a good few as well, because there's a decent variance between one that's been well looked after, with good geo and one that isn't.
Yes, drive a few. A car with adjustable wishbones will depend on the set up.Drive a good few as well, because there's a decent variance between one that's been well looked after, with good geo and one that isn't.
A factory car thats hit a few potholes, a well maintained standard set up, a fast road set up, and a track set up, will feel feel totally different.
Personally I find "fast road" and 146 bhp the perfect compromise, but that's just me.
150 mph down a straight road isn't fun, but my mk 2.5 Sport with its fast turn in, on a twisty road is fun.
Paul G
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