How do you find the performance / acceleration...

[pbirkett]

Of a standard Mk1...

I'm going back to standard with mine; before I have a supercharger running at 5 psi and some basic fuelling (powercard) and retarded timing.

Its made me curious as to how a standard one really performs, or more importantly, not figures, but subjective feelings...

Mine seems pretty short geared (1.8 RS Ltd), so even though I am going to be down a few ponies, I'm guessing it shouldnt feel too bad, but it feels positively asthmatic at the minute running without the belt (supercharger is still attached, but is running with no belt as tensioner has broken), but I'm guessing the retarded timing and airflow restriction is going to be making a very negative impact at the moment.

I know it wont be fast, but it should still FEEL lively, yes?

How is it on motorways in 5th?

What about overtaking punch on A+B roads?

Edited by pbirkett on Tuesday 22 December 12:04

[J-Tuner]

If its running sweet a standard 1.8 on the boil is still good good fun.. as you know its all about momentum for the most part...keep it in the sweet spot and the car comes alive. Off the mark is reasonable with a good start...

Overtaking punch is just about adequate but be prepared to wring its neck to get past quickly

Edited by J-Tuner on Tuesday 22 December 12:49

[Gizmo!]

It's not the punchiest of cars, and on motorways I tend to drop to 4th leaving 50mph roadworks, that kind of thing. But get it revving, keep it on the boil with the gearbox, you'll be going quite quickly enough.

[snotrag]

They are fine.

My previous car was much more punchy - ~ 170bhp, loads more torque, 6 gears.

Thus my Roadster did initially, feel slow.


But now, the only place I am ever left wanting is in those awkward situations where you want to overtake someone but they are only going a bit slower than you want to.


But really, on a fun road, when your driving it right (holding onto those gears, 2nd and 3rd!) I cant really see why you would need more power.

It would be nice to have, purely for outdragging people and pub banter, but I'd much rather spend the money on the chassis.

Put it this way - how many cars can you pull out of a T-junction, give full throttle acceleration through 3 gears - without being very, very, very illegal?


It sounds fast, it feels fast, its fun...who cares what the numbers on the speedo say?

Edited by snotrag on Tuesday 22 December 13:12

[J-Tuner]

snotrag said:

It sounds fast, it feels fast, its fun...who cares what the numbers on the speedo say?

Pretty much sums it up. I have had more fun in this than i ever did in my 280BHP 200sx. Inside the car its frantic, extreme polishing of the wheel and looking through the passenger window, whilst going a mere 30mph

[pbirkett]

Thats re-assuring then.

I dont mind keeping it on the boil TBH - my last car was an ITR, and even though it had a good 60 bhp more than this will now end up with, you still had to keep that on the boil.

I'm more interested that car still "feels" quick, as you all say I'm not bothered about what the numbers say, its the sensation of speed from inside the car...

And TBH, even with the SC @ 5 psi it still wasn't exactly going to beat that many cars in a drag race...

[hornetrider]

pbirkett said:

I know it wont be fast, but it should still FEEL lively, yes?

How is it on motorways in 5th?

What about overtaking punch on A+B roads?

There's not much in the way of 'punch' - the moral of the story is to plan ahead. Drop back prior to a corner leading onto a straight etc.

[J-Tuner]

You may initially miss the extra poke but you will re-adjust once its back to standard and learn how to extract the most from it. It'll probably make you focus a bit more on your corner speed entry, positioning, and exit.. It did with me

Part of the joy also is driving around standard, knowing that everything is relatively straight forward to sort..

[pbirkett]

J-Tuner said:

You may initially miss the extra poke but you will re-adjust once its back to standard and learn how to extract the most from it. It'll probably make you focus a bit more on your corner speed entry, positioning, and exit.. It did with me

Part of the joy also is driving around standard, knowing that everything is relatively straight forward to sort..

Do I take it you used to be charged? (ETA your probably talking about your Nissan?)

Yes that reason also part of it for me, the being straightforward to sort... also it'll be nice in a way to have an understressed car that I don't have to worry about breaking if I thrash it too much - I was always a little worried about that with the charger, no matter how unlikely it may have been in reality.

Edited by pbirkett on Tuesday 22 December 16:19

[J-Tuner]

pbirkett said:

Yes that reason also part of it for me, the being straightforward to sort... also it'll be nice in a way to have an understressed car that I don't have to worry about breaking if I thrash it too much - I was always a little worried about that with the charger, no matter how unlikely it may have been in reality.

Yeah my reference point is my old s14a 200sx..but that was Turbo charged, running about 14psi. Was very similar to the MX5 in the fact that its RWD with no aids other than ABS. The straightline acceleration/speed was impressive (Was just as quick as a Cayman S) but the handling just didnt do anything for me. A standard '5 is superior in every way as far as i am concerned. I daren't modify it for fear of ruining the balance of the car

There is a lot to be said for keeping it standard - i think in the long run its better for your enjoyment of the car. I know i appreciate its simplicity more than ever now i have come from a highly modified car. Drive it like you stole it

[thewildblue]

When I want some acceleration I jump on my ZX10R.....hehe

I dont find the mk2 lacking much and will happily pull 6th from 45mph....

[OnlyMX5ives]

A non turning M45 must be a fair restriction as is the retarded timing.

I'd guess you maybe 10 - 20bhp down at the minute.

[pbirkett]

OnlyMX5ives said:

A non turning M45 must be a fair restriction as is the retarded timing.

I'd guess you maybe 10 - 20bhp down at the minute.

Thats about what I'd guess... certainly feels like barely more than 100 bhp at the moment. It has virtually no pick up at all in 5th.

[MX-5 Lazza]

pbirkett said:

OnlyMX5ives said:

A non turning M45 must be a fair restriction as is the retarded timing.

I'd guess you maybe 10 - 20bhp down at the minute.

Thats about what I'd guess... certainly feels like barely more than 100 bhp at the moment. It has virtually no pick up at all in 5th.

The SC will spin anyway - powered by the air being pumped through it. You can reduce the restriction though by tying the bypass open - you should do that when you remove the belt anyway.

[pbirkett]

Ah OK, I'll do that then, cheers for the advice

[MX-5 Lazza]

Not saying that will add much to the performance but it will help a small bit and will be healthier for the charger.

[Howard-]

My 1.6 goes rather well, but then it's not quite standard

When it was stock I always was impressed with how it went for what it is but obviously I craved more

[pbirkett]

Howard- said:

My 1.6 goes rather well, but then it's not quite standard

When it was stock I always was impressed with how it went for what it is but obviously I craved more

Stop rubbing it in, you!

[Howard-]

Sorry


Are you going back to standard just because you prefer the rev-happy nature then? If so then that's fair enough. It's a shame though that perhaps what was a not-so-well set up installation has put you off forced induction

You know you want to make it work properly

[pbirkett]

I've gone back because I lack the mechanical skills to put things right myself, and basically, every time I take it anywhere, I seem to end up with more problems than I've started with. And I've ran out of money (big debts).

I've come from revvy cars anyway, so it wont be too much of a culture shock, albeit slower, but then, possibly the most fun car I've had thus far (but almost certainly not the BEST car) was my Mk2 Golf GTI 8v, and that most certainly wasn't quick either, so it proves a car doesnt have to be quick to be fun.