Newby/returnee!!
Discussion
Having had several Mk1's many years ago and a brief flirtation with an early MK3 about 10 years ago I though it about the right time to reacquaint my self with all that is MX5.
On Saturday I bought a high mileage but well looked after Mk3.5 Sport Tech in dark blue. It has more 'luxuries' than I've experienced in a 5 with heated leather seats, a/c, cruise control along with an electric powered hard-top.
To say the least I am extremely happy with my purchase undiminished by a near 170 mile drive home in pouring rain late on Saturday evening meaning an eventual arrival at home of around 1.00am!!
I am going to enjoy it just as it is for the immediate future although I expect to eventually start to tinker with thoughts of moderate lowering (whether by springs or coilovers??) and a tubular manifold/re-map (think BBR 180 or similar??)
I would also like to add a Roll Bar for added protection and stiffness although are not sure as to whether this is possible given the folding hardtop (any info here would be gratefully received)
On Saturday I bought a high mileage but well looked after Mk3.5 Sport Tech in dark blue. It has more 'luxuries' than I've experienced in a 5 with heated leather seats, a/c, cruise control along with an electric powered hard-top.
To say the least I am extremely happy with my purchase undiminished by a near 170 mile drive home in pouring rain late on Saturday evening meaning an eventual arrival at home of around 1.00am!!
I am going to enjoy it just as it is for the immediate future although I expect to eventually start to tinker with thoughts of moderate lowering (whether by springs or coilovers??) and a tubular manifold/re-map (think BBR 180 or similar??)
I would also like to add a Roll Bar for added protection and stiffness although are not sure as to whether this is possible given the folding hardtop (any info here would be gratefully received)
Look at GC Fabrication for a roll bar, expect the worst level of service/communication you've ever come across and you'll be ok. The product is very good though.
What to look out for generally here: http://www.duratecnc.co.uk/?p=52
I would advise coilovers if it's still on the original Bilsteins, they don't respond to being lowered very well at all and if it's high mileage will be past their best anyhow.
What to look out for generally here: http://www.duratecnc.co.uk/?p=52
I would advise coilovers if it's still on the original Bilsteins, they don't respond to being lowered very well at all and if it's high mileage will be past their best anyhow.
Edited by Evoluzione on Monday 28th June 10:04
Evoluzione said:
Look at GC Fabrication for a roll bar, expect the worst level of service/communication you've ever come across and you'll be ok. The product is very good though.
What to look out for generally here: http://www.duratecnc.co.uk/?p=52
I would advise coilovers if it's still on the original Bilsteins, they don't respond to being lowered very well at all and if it's high mileage will be past their best anyhow.
Thanks for the link, from a brief look it seems to be a very useful resource.What to look out for generally here: http://www.duratecnc.co.uk/?p=52
I would advise coilovers if it's still on the original Bilsteins, they don't respond to being lowered very well at all and if it's high mileage will be past their best anyhow.
Edited by Evoluzione on Monday 28th June 10:04
I consider myself fairly well acquainted with the parts of a car but I've never understood exactly what people are talking about when they refer to "coilovers". I don't think I've ever seen a car without leaf, torsion bar or air springs that didn't have coiled springs over dampers, which is what I assume they mean by the word coilover. So why do people talk about getting coilovers when they very likely already have them? Why don't they just say "upgrading my suspension"? Perhaps it comes from people wanting to upgrade their 1960s-1970s American muscle cars which had leaf springs to something more modern? If so, it makes little sense here in Europe!
LunarOne said:
I consider myself fairly well acquainted with the parts of a car but I've never understood exactly what people are talking about when they refer to "coilovers". I don't think I've ever seen a car without leaf, torsion bar or air springs that didn't have coiled springs over dampers, which is what I assume they mean by the word coilover. So why do people talk about getting coilovers when they very likely already have them? Why don't they just say "upgrading my suspension"? Perhaps it comes from people wanting to upgrade their 1960s-1970s American muscle cars which had leaf springs to something more modern? If so, it makes little sense here in Europe!
Self contained strut/damper units which incorporate upper and lower adjustable spring seats, fitted with (usually) generic 2.5” coil springs. The term is bandied about far too much though and using a broader definition, an MX-5 already has ‘coilovers’.
Id definitely get some better suspension on it. I used to have a NC MX5 and on a backroad with the stock Bilsteins it used to bottom out on bumpy roads. I had ended up fitting coilovers on mine. Not sure about how the Bilsteins take the lowering springs but the car looks 100 times sportier when you remove some of that wheel gap.
ShinyPsyduck said:
Id definitely get some better suspension on it. I used to have a NC MX5 and on a backroad with the stock Bilsteins it used to bottom out on bumpy roads. I had ended up fitting coilovers on mine. Not sure about how the Bilsteins take the lowering springs but the car looks 100 times sportier when you remove some of that wheel gap.
On the other hand I kept mine standard, the suspension never bothered me, and I spent the cash saved on ... I wish I remember what. But anyway standard never bothered me, with the top down on a nice day, heading someplace in nowhere for lunch or on track. You can just enjoy them as they are if you like. 
Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff