S2 Elise to Mk1 MX5 who's done it
Discussion
) I'm considering doing the above - anyone else here done it. Any regrets, or is it a world of bargain fun that you wish you'd discovered sooner?Yeah, I did that one for a while. The build/design issues of the Elise were getting on my nerves (partly because I was using it as a daily driver). The MX5 was a better thought-out design but also softer and slower than the Elise. At lower speeds I have to say the MX5 could be just as much fun, maybe more; although the Elise comes into its own on track.
Overall, it's difficult to compare the two - they don't have much in common. The Elise always felt more special and was dynamically the better car; but the MX-5 is more exploitable at lower speeds. It's also reliable and very well designed, not to mention far cheaper to buy.
Both very good cars but for different reasons.
Overall, it's difficult to compare the two - they don't have much in common. The Elise always felt more special and was dynamically the better car; but the MX-5 is more exploitable at lower speeds. It's also reliable and very well designed, not to mention far cheaper to buy.
Both very good cars but for different reasons.
Edited by Risotto on Saturday 16th August 14:56
As a 'relative' jump you could do worse; I haven't owned an Elise, but have driven the S1 & VX220T. Handling-wise, a good Mk1 MX5 is closer to the Lotus cars than mainstream cars in general.
Perhaps look at some of the Jap specials? I have an import Eunos S-Spec with strut-bracing & Bilstein suspension. It is not well-damped, crashy on poor surfaces, but it is throttle-adjustable and has good, but not Elise levels of feedback.
Part of the fun is screwing the tiny engine to the redline and extracting all of the available performance. You could do worse after an Elise, go for it!
Perhaps look at some of the Jap specials? I have an import Eunos S-Spec with strut-bracing & Bilstein suspension. It is not well-damped, crashy on poor surfaces, but it is throttle-adjustable and has good, but not Elise levels of feedback.
Part of the fun is screwing the tiny engine to the redline and extracting all of the available performance. You could do worse after an Elise, go for it!
I owned an S1 as a daily driver for a couple of years, suffered a lot of depreciation when I sold it. Last year I bought a J reg (17 year old) Eunos for about £1,800. I dare say that when I come to sell it will still be worth £1,800.
I’m hoping there is no depreciation left in the Eunos.
The insurance is around £150 pa 3rd party ,mpg is good and the running costs are relatively low although it is ready for a new hood.
Drive wise the Eunos is much more chilled out, but you can still leave work drop the top back and cruise home feeling much better off than anyone else in their £10k, £20k “Euro Boxes”.
Trawl the autotrader with a £2k budget and an old MX5 makes a lot of sense especially if you like your 2 seaters.
I’m hoping there is no depreciation left in the Eunos.
The insurance is around £150 pa 3rd party ,mpg is good and the running costs are relatively low although it is ready for a new hood.
Drive wise the Eunos is much more chilled out, but you can still leave work drop the top back and cruise home feeling much better off than anyone else in their £10k, £20k “Euro Boxes”.
Trawl the autotrader with a £2k budget and an old MX5 makes a lot of sense especially if you like your 2 seaters.
I went from a MK1 MX5 to a VX220 and now back in a MK1 MX5 to save money ect. The handling after the VX is abit boat like and it's alot slower! RWD convertable that costs nothing to run and cheap to tax and insure though! I think the handling is due to the shocks/springs being standard (might have to change these for some GAZ ones very soon 
)
)Edited by T5SOR on Sunday 17th August 13:33
I think lowering it helps and slightly wider rubber.
I've got 205's and lowering springs on an otherwise pretty stock early 1.6 Eunos, and can safely say it can really work the rubber.
Can't comment on how it would compare terribly well to the Elise (I've also driven an S1, alas it had been 'modified' supsension wise, how anyone believes a few quid lowering and stiffening a Lotus will see a better result than Colin Chapman's boys is beyond me) - - but its more akin to a 60's/70's roadster experience than ultimate track day pointedness and response. It is very accessible though and making use of the limited available power is VERY satisfying.
I've got 205's and lowering springs on an otherwise pretty stock early 1.6 Eunos, and can safely say it can really work the rubber.
Can't comment on how it would compare terribly well to the Elise (I've also driven an S1, alas it had been 'modified' supsension wise, how anyone believes a few quid lowering and stiffening a Lotus will see a better result than Colin Chapman's boys is beyond me) - - but its more akin to a 60's/70's roadster experience than ultimate track day pointedness and response. It is very accessible though and making use of the limited available power is VERY satisfying.
I'd say that 205s on a 1.6 was OTT. I have 205/40/17 on my road tyres and just 195/50/15 on my track tyres and have no problem with grip and/or traction on the road or the track even with all my power.
And yes, I know the RS came with 215 tyres but it also came with super-stiff Bilstein shocks and carbon fibre bucket seats so is more of a track biased car.
And yes, I know the RS came with 215 tyres but it also came with super-stiff Bilstein shocks and carbon fibre bucket seats so is more of a track biased car.
I went from a nicely set up S1 elise to a mx5. I had a mx5 before the S1 Elise.
Reason I went back to the mx5 was I didnt use it enough. I would like another elise at some stage with the honda conversion by maidstone sportcars.
Money wise and if you want a weekend track toy/burn out car the mx5 takes alot of beating.
Reason I went back to the mx5 was I didnt use it enough. I would like another elise at some stage with the honda conversion by maidstone sportcars.
Money wise and if you want a weekend track toy/burn out car the mx5 takes alot of beating.
Not sure if it will help, but I've gone from a bike engined kit car to a Mk1 1.6 MX5 and loving every minute.
Engine is NA, but has P5 shocks, fuly polly bushed and big brakes.
Lacks grunt on the straights on track, but the handling is very good.
It's also a right blast being able to drift round roundabout at 30 mph in total control.
Here's a clip of me at Donington:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDcMa9lpe88
Pat...
Engine is NA, but has P5 shocks, fuly polly bushed and big brakes.
Lacks grunt on the straights on track, but the handling is very good.
It's also a right blast being able to drift round roundabout at 30 mph in total control.
Here's a clip of me at Donington:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDcMa9lpe88
Pat...
I've had 2 S2 Elises and I've just got me a nice Mk1 Mx5.
The mx5 is obviously much slower and doesn't handle as well as the Lotus but not by as much as you might think!
I've got some Gaz Adjustables, 15x7 wheels and Yokohama rubber and I have to say in the dry it corners almost like my Elises did! The grip and handling is brilliant. You can really "chuck" the MX5 around in a way that reminds me of my old Mini Cooper i.e. it's like driving a big go-kart for the road. Quite Elise-like actually.
The Elise is an incredible car and theres no doubt which is the fastest round a track (mental modded mx5's excluded) but I'm having a hoot with my £1800 mx5 project and not even the Boxster S I had matches it for fun!
The mx5 is obviously much slower and doesn't handle as well as the Lotus but not by as much as you might think!
I've got some Gaz Adjustables, 15x7 wheels and Yokohama rubber and I have to say in the dry it corners almost like my Elises did! The grip and handling is brilliant. You can really "chuck" the MX5 around in a way that reminds me of my old Mini Cooper i.e. it's like driving a big go-kart for the road. Quite Elise-like actually.
The Elise is an incredible car and theres no doubt which is the fastest round a track (mental modded mx5's excluded) but I'm having a hoot with my £1800 mx5 project and not even the Boxster S I had matches it for fun!
chris7676 said:
Try an MR2. They are more similar to Elises.
I'd have to disagree there! I've had MK1 and Mk2 MR2s and while the Mk1 is defo the better car, I'd say that the MX5 feels more like the Elise to drive Especially is you upgrade the suspension. The MK1 MR2 was a Brilliant car but the on limit handling was a bit iffy in a way that the MX5 isn't.
The Mk2 MR2 is okay but it's way too heavy and doesn't handle as well or feel as fast as the original.
they're quite different. I went from an S2 and 340R to an Mk1 RS Ltd, and the MX5 isn't really a sports car - its an open top roadster that provides cheap RWD fun but with a lot of weight.
An MX5 has a little more power than a standard S2, but it weighs a hell of a lot more. It is more practical though - decent boot, good roof, starts every morning. Doesn't feel as special, doesn't do as good fuel economy, but a cambelt change costs less than half a C service :-)
An MX5 has a little more power than a standard S2, but it weighs a hell of a lot more. It is more practical though - decent boot, good roof, starts every morning. Doesn't feel as special, doesn't do as good fuel economy, but a cambelt change costs less than half a C service :-)
Tam said:
they're quite different. I went from an S2 and 340R to an Mk1 RS Ltd, and the MX5 isn't really a sports car - its an open top roadster that provides cheap RWD fun but with a lot of weight.
An MX5 has a little more power than a standard S2, but it weighs a hell of a lot more. It is more practical though - decent boot, good roof, starts every morning. Doesn't feel as special, doesn't do as good fuel economy, but a cambelt change costs less than half a C service :-)
Compared to almost every other car the mx5 doesn't weigh a huge amount more than a standard s2. And I'd have to dissagree with your opinion that the mx5 isn't a sports car. I'd actually argue the opposite, a proper sportscar doesn't need to be the fastes car in the world or set your hair on fire round the nurburgring, it just has to be built win the express aim of having fun and enjoying it for what it is.An MX5 has a little more power than a standard S2, but it weighs a hell of a lot more. It is more practical though - decent boot, good roof, starts every morning. Doesn't feel as special, doesn't do as good fuel economy, but a cambelt change costs less than half a C service :-)
That said it's true it's no Elise or exige.
My more or less standard when weighed mk1 1.8 S-Spec Eunos weighed 960kg wet, Elise S2 111S 860kg,.... so a fat passenger difference.
Edit to add, post turbo kit & roll cage weight went up to 1020Kg wet, but I lost the heating and carpets and got it back to just below 1000kg.
Edit to add, post turbo kit & roll cage weight went up to 1020Kg wet, but I lost the heating and carpets and got it back to just below 1000kg.
Edited by Herman Toothrot on Tuesday 19th August 10:32
Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff