Will a Mark 1 feel slow after a Clio 182?
Discussion
I'm putting myself over to the assembled wisdom of PH MX5'dom here as although I love my 182 to bits, it is starting to annoy me and the MX5 idea keeps coming up! 
I've spent the value of a good mark 1 MX5 in unplanned repairs (new exhaust, lambda sensor, rear brake disc etc) in the past 2 months and although it is amazing to drive, the costs are getting silly!
I'm seriously considering something cheaper to run for the next 6 months or so (tax, insurance for a 23 year old, more reliable but still lots of fun been the main conditions!)
I recently drove The Tea Boy's MX5 and have spent plenty of time sideways in it recently and my MX5 itch wants scratching!
My questions are firstly how slow would an early 1.6 or 1.8 feel compared to a 190bhp lightly modded 182? Also for anyone who has done a similar swap from a more powerful hatchback, did you notice any other problems? Last thing is that it'll be my only car over winter with commuting and living outside on the drive to contend with. I do enjoy the cruise controlled, heated, comfy 182 when it's freezing cold so will the MX5 be hard to bear on a -3 degrees morning or will the fun and extra bank balance be worth it?
I've spent the value of a good mark 1 MX5 in unplanned repairs (new exhaust, lambda sensor, rear brake disc etc) in the past 2 months and although it is amazing to drive, the costs are getting silly!
I'm seriously considering something cheaper to run for the next 6 months or so (tax, insurance for a 23 year old, more reliable but still lots of fun been the main conditions!)I recently drove The Tea Boy's MX5 and have spent plenty of time sideways in it recently and my MX5 itch wants scratching!
My questions are firstly how slow would an early 1.6 or 1.8 feel compared to a 190bhp lightly modded 182? Also for anyone who has done a similar swap from a more powerful hatchback, did you notice any other problems? Last thing is that it'll be my only car over winter with commuting and living outside on the drive to contend with. I do enjoy the cruise controlled, heated, comfy 182 when it's freezing cold so will the MX5 be hard to bear on a -3 degrees morning or will the fun and extra bank balance be worth it?
Edited by v15ben on Tuesday 1st December 14:30
As the 182 is a good handling car, the MX-5 will certainly feel a bit slower. That said, it's more fun to drive and the low down position coupled with the tight, short gear shift will put a bigger grin on your face!
The mx-5 wasn't built for comfort but they have industrial heaters so you should never fill cold, even with the roof down!! Lol
The difference in your bank balance and the fun factor will more than make up for it!
So man up and go for it!!
The mx-5 wasn't built for comfort but they have industrial heaters so you should never fill cold, even with the roof down!! Lol
The difference in your bank balance and the fun factor will more than make up for it!
So man up and go for it!!
After a 182, any standard MX5 is going to feel slow. But, as said...MX5's are enjoyable to drive at low speed too.
I had a 182 a few years ago, and although it was a great car, I couldn't help feeling it was a bit boring if you weren't 'going for it'
I owned the Clio at the same time as a mk2 MX5 (albeit supercharged). It was always the MX5 that was chosen, if just a "drive" was on the cards...
I had a 182 a few years ago, and although it was a great car, I couldn't help feeling it was a bit boring if you weren't 'going for it'
I owned the Clio at the same time as a mk2 MX5 (albeit supercharged). It was always the MX5 that was chosen, if just a "drive" was on the cards...
I've got a 94 1.8 Eunos, and a Leon Tdi FR 170
The Leon is quick, comfortable, climate controlled, cruise controlled.
The mx5 is slower, more uncomfortable, slightly damp at the moment, and the car i choose to drive every time unless i'm just hitting the motorway for the slug to work.
Mine lives out on the drive, doesn't have a hardtop or anything and copes pretty well with the weather. The only problem seems to be condensation rather than water actually getting in anywhere and its not used alot at the moment as i'm working lots of hours.
Infact this weekend was the first time in three weeks i got to take it out. Started first time, despite not being even turned over for three weeks, and was an amazingly good fun drive.
Depending on what your commute is i honestly don't think you'd miss the Clio at all.
The Leon is quick, comfortable, climate controlled, cruise controlled.
The mx5 is slower, more uncomfortable, slightly damp at the moment, and the car i choose to drive every time unless i'm just hitting the motorway for the slug to work.
Mine lives out on the drive, doesn't have a hardtop or anything and copes pretty well with the weather. The only problem seems to be condensation rather than water actually getting in anywhere and its not used alot at the moment as i'm working lots of hours.
Infact this weekend was the first time in three weeks i got to take it out. Started first time, despite not being even turned over for three weeks, and was an amazingly good fun drive.
Depending on what your commute is i honestly don't think you'd miss the Clio at all.
v15ben said:
Sounds like what I thought to be honest
It's just getting rid of the 182 after spending so much getting it vaguely close to being right seems a shame! Roof down, heater, woolly hat and scarf on and a decent winter's sunny day do sound very appealing though
I had an MX-5 before my 182, and I'm back in one after I sold it - they aren't as quick, but the power comes in lower down so it feels a bit more progressive. It's just getting rid of the 182 after spending so much getting it vaguely close to being right seems a shame! Roof down, heater, woolly hat and scarf on and a decent winter's sunny day do sound very appealing though
When I owned my Clio 182 I took a MK2 1.8 out for a test drive, and I'll be honest, I felt underwhelmed - it felt very slow in comparison, and with rubbish brakes.
However, it still managed to get under my skin just enough for me to revisit some day, and I am now currently driving a supercharged Mk1 RS LTD.
This car is a different kettle of fish to the one I drove last time. Handling is sharper and better, and the supercharger gives it the shove it should have had to start with. Between 0-80 its about as quick as the 182 was, but it feels faster due to the low down torque and rawness. Its in a completely different league for fun.
That said, I'd probably even take an NA Mk1 now over a 182. The 182s, like many hot hatches, are quite one dimensional in that they are FWD, and have to be driven like hooligans to deliver any satisfaction, otherwise they just feel like the shopping karts that they are. With the MX5 you're getting a perfectly balanced RWD chassis, with the handling benefits it brings, open top motoring, and a proper sports car driving position. It conveys speed better and is more fun, more of the time. Also cheaper to run.
Go for it.
However, it still managed to get under my skin just enough for me to revisit some day, and I am now currently driving a supercharged Mk1 RS LTD.
This car is a different kettle of fish to the one I drove last time. Handling is sharper and better, and the supercharger gives it the shove it should have had to start with. Between 0-80 its about as quick as the 182 was, but it feels faster due to the low down torque and rawness. Its in a completely different league for fun.
That said, I'd probably even take an NA Mk1 now over a 182. The 182s, like many hot hatches, are quite one dimensional in that they are FWD, and have to be driven like hooligans to deliver any satisfaction, otherwise they just feel like the shopping karts that they are. With the MX5 you're getting a perfectly balanced RWD chassis, with the handling benefits it brings, open top motoring, and a proper sports car driving position. It conveys speed better and is more fun, more of the time. Also cheaper to run.
Go for it.
pbirkett said:
That said, I'd probably even take an NA Mk1 now over a 182. The 182s, like many hot hatches, are quite one dimensional in that they are FWD, and have to be driven like hooligans to deliver any satisfaction, otherwise they just feel like the shopping karts that they are. With the MX5 you're getting a perfectly balanced RWD chassis, with the handling benefits it brings, open top motoring, and a proper sports car driving position. It conveys speed better and is more fun, more of the time. Also cheaper to run.
You summed up exactly what I missed about my Mk2.5, while owning my 182, in that paragraph. Glad I'm not the only one!Best mate owns a late 182ff +both cup packs.
I own a 99 mk2 sport 1.8.
The clio is a touch faster and the engine *feels* much torquier, but when both throttles are pinned and they're driven through the gears there really isnt that much in it... certainly not as much as you'd imagine if you drove both seperately. I absolutely adore his 182, but my mazer didnt have failed rear dampers after ten laps of the ring, it hasnt got the exhaust rust issues, the lambda light doesnt flicker on/off, it doesnt make random noises or have an alarm system that beeps on locking 1 in 10 times, usually when the clio senses that it is late and you're trying to keep quiet or any other of the little clio's issues. I believe he is looking to sell his soon to get something cheaper having been scared by the quote on a big service + cambelt.
As I said though, the 182 is epic, but it is only a bit quicker in my experience and lacks the mazers charms. The roof down experience is great, the gearbox the finest I've ever used, the control weighting just so and with a decent exhaust, it even sounds much better (though it is an unfair comparision as he has a stock 182.) It just drives right somehow, even if you're not driving it sideways everywhere. Oh and tyres are 28 quid a corner, a cambelt service is under 300 quid at an indy, the brakes are cheap, pretty much every part is cheap etc etc... If you want to downsize costs, its a good move - my sport was circa 3k, his 182 circa 6k, they're pretty evenly matched all things considered.
At the ring they were quite comparable, I believe he had about 5mph on the longest straights, but its not a massive difference. Even the trip there and back they ran almost exactly the same fuel consumption. The 182 felt less wallowy, but I am on 4x4 stock suspension and as a result the karrussel was rather more pleasant in the mx5!
I love my Mazer! Not sure I'd want anything less than a mk2 1.8 though, certainly not for a daily driver, I think the mk1 1.6 would lack a little lower down and probably not be quite as comfortable?
Edit: Oh and the heater in mine is very impressive, though I reckon you will miss the cruise control... Im not sure whether this is just something my mates car does, but renault cruise control seems a little erm, hilarious?! It does the usual CC thing, which is what I'd like in the Mazer, but it seems like its pretty much flooring it whenever you increase the cruise control speed.
I really like that, the car just BAAAARRPS forwards! Great cars, I'll get one someday, wouldnt swap my mx5 for it though.
I own a 99 mk2 sport 1.8.
The clio is a touch faster and the engine *feels* much torquier, but when both throttles are pinned and they're driven through the gears there really isnt that much in it... certainly not as much as you'd imagine if you drove both seperately. I absolutely adore his 182, but my mazer didnt have failed rear dampers after ten laps of the ring, it hasnt got the exhaust rust issues, the lambda light doesnt flicker on/off, it doesnt make random noises or have an alarm system that beeps on locking 1 in 10 times, usually when the clio senses that it is late and you're trying to keep quiet or any other of the little clio's issues. I believe he is looking to sell his soon to get something cheaper having been scared by the quote on a big service + cambelt.
As I said though, the 182 is epic, but it is only a bit quicker in my experience and lacks the mazers charms. The roof down experience is great, the gearbox the finest I've ever used, the control weighting just so and with a decent exhaust, it even sounds much better (though it is an unfair comparision as he has a stock 182.) It just drives right somehow, even if you're not driving it sideways everywhere. Oh and tyres are 28 quid a corner, a cambelt service is under 300 quid at an indy, the brakes are cheap, pretty much every part is cheap etc etc... If you want to downsize costs, its a good move - my sport was circa 3k, his 182 circa 6k, they're pretty evenly matched all things considered.
At the ring they were quite comparable, I believe he had about 5mph on the longest straights, but its not a massive difference. Even the trip there and back they ran almost exactly the same fuel consumption. The 182 felt less wallowy, but I am on 4x4 stock suspension and as a result the karrussel was rather more pleasant in the mx5!
I love my Mazer! Not sure I'd want anything less than a mk2 1.8 though, certainly not for a daily driver, I think the mk1 1.6 would lack a little lower down and probably not be quite as comfortable?
Edit: Oh and the heater in mine is very impressive, though I reckon you will miss the cruise control... Im not sure whether this is just something my mates car does, but renault cruise control seems a little erm, hilarious?! It does the usual CC thing, which is what I'd like in the Mazer, but it seems like its pretty much flooring it whenever you increase the cruise control speed.
I really like that, the car just BAAAARRPS forwards! Great cars, I'll get one someday, wouldnt swap my mx5 for it though. Edited by BCA on Tuesday 1st December 21:32
I imagine the Mk1 will be.
Mine feels a bit slower than my Volvo. In reality it's a lot slower, but autobox/insulation/comfort take a lot of the feeling out of the bigger car so it doesn't feel as big a difference as it actually is. (If that makes sense.)
It is, however, more fun extracting what's there. One good prod of the throttle in the Volvo and you'd be scanning the horizon for camera vans. The same stretch of road in the Mazda and you've taken it to the redline in a couple of gears, felt like you've scorched round a few corners, and in general had a lot more fun.
I'm not sure whether it'd be quite the same coming from a hot hatch rather than a saloon car (and a relatively unsporting one at that), but you may find the chassis more balanced - longitudinal engine, rear drive, and double wishbones all round. There's certainly a lot of feedback.
Mine feels a bit slower than my Volvo. In reality it's a lot slower, but autobox/insulation/comfort take a lot of the feeling out of the bigger car so it doesn't feel as big a difference as it actually is. (If that makes sense.)
It is, however, more fun extracting what's there. One good prod of the throttle in the Volvo and you'd be scanning the horizon for camera vans. The same stretch of road in the Mazda and you've taken it to the redline in a couple of gears, felt like you've scorched round a few corners, and in general had a lot more fun.
I'm not sure whether it'd be quite the same coming from a hot hatch rather than a saloon car (and a relatively unsporting one at that), but you may find the chassis more balanced - longitudinal engine, rear drive, and double wishbones all round. There's certainly a lot of feedback.
well ben you know my thoughts on this topic. The best thing ive ever done is buy the 5! Your more than welcome to borrow it for a few days (although i Would be having your car too lol)
mate as said above you cant beat it for valuge and grin factor! I cant belive you even need to ask the question when youve been in my car for circa 600miles in the last month!!!!
Matt
mate as said above you cant beat it for valuge and grin factor! I cant belive you even need to ask the question when youve been in my car for circa 600miles in the last month!!!!
Matt
Ben - Before mine I had a 306 GTi-6. Perhaps not quite as brisk as the 182 in a drag but a very similar type of car in terms of its competencies.
I did lvoe that car - quick, and great to drive but comfy, compliant, great seats, all the toys, etc etc.
Now with a years experience of the Mazda - it is definitely a better car for 'enjoyment'. If oyu needed to transport kids or dogs or whatever then thats where a Hatch is great.
I think theres an awful lot to be said for owning a 'proper' sports car. They just dont feel as compromised. Everything is designed to be enjoyable. The feel of the steering, gearbox etc are all leagues ahead of any hatchback.
It will feel a bit 'slow' the first time you put your foot down. But once you get used to the way the power comes in, learn to drive it, and have the hood down on a winding road, you completely forget.
I did lvoe that car - quick, and great to drive but comfy, compliant, great seats, all the toys, etc etc.
Now with a years experience of the Mazda - it is definitely a better car for 'enjoyment'. If oyu needed to transport kids or dogs or whatever then thats where a Hatch is great.
I think theres an awful lot to be said for owning a 'proper' sports car. They just dont feel as compromised. Everything is designed to be enjoyable. The feel of the steering, gearbox etc are all leagues ahead of any hatchback.
It will feel a bit 'slow' the first time you put your foot down. But once you get used to the way the power comes in, learn to drive it, and have the hood down on a winding road, you completely forget.
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