Towing

[crofty1984]

Right, if anyone's seen my what car threads recently, I'm convinced an MX5 suits my needs apart from 1.

Dou you think a 1.8 MK1 MX5 could tow a wee speedboat?
Something like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/15FT-PICTON-SPEEDBOAT-WITH-7...

I worry about it being too light to tow and/or it getting dragged into the water when backing down a slipway.
Probably at least twice a moth during summer, for a distance of possibly 40km each way.

I know there's going to be a bias, but if you tink I'd be better off looking at something else, please say so.

Dan

[snotrag]

MX5's, despite having mounts for a towbar underneath, are not approved for any kind of towing in the UK I beleive. So if you crash, you'll be un insured I beleive.

[MX-5 Lazza]

I believe it's because the max allowed towing weight is marked on the info sticker inside the door. On UK MX-5s this is blank which means the max allowed towing weight is zero. On Jap imports however the story is different as the towing weight isn't marked on the sticker so you can get away with using one for towing.
I have no idea what weight you'd get away with towing though as they only weigh around 1000Kg and the suspension isn't really set up for towing.

[Munter]

I thought it was OK on the MK1. I've certainly seen several MK1s with towbars, and one towing a sailing dingy. So a bit lighter but I dont think it'll be too much of a problem if you keep the load really light.

[MX-5 Lazza]

If that Mk1 was actually a Eunos Roadster yes

[kevham]

It's legal to tow with an MX-5 provided it was registered before a certain date (I can't remember what that is). Basically, if the VIN plate is 'E' marked, you cannot tow because Mazda did not specify a towing weight when they sought EU type approval.

For cars without the 'E' mark (for example Eunos and Mazda Roadsters), provided they were registered before 1 August 1998, you can fit a tow-bar. Cars registered after that date need a type approved tow-bar and you cannot buy such a thing for the MX-5/Roadster.

The maximum you may tow with an unbraked trailer is 750 kg. The towing vehicle must have a kerbside weight at least twice the maximum weight of the trailer. So for an MX-5, the max weight you could tow would be about 500kg.

For more info see: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/...

Edited by kevham on Saturday 6th September 14:49

Edited by kevham on Saturday 6th September 14:51

[Raffles]

I am also considering getting a tow bar for my mk1 for my sailing boat. It would only ever be small trips so think it should be ok. I have read this thread with interest, thanks for the info.