What goodies dont i need!
Discussion
I really fancy a basic 2 seater and the MX5 is just so much better prospect than a rusty MG. Now i think i want a UK car for insurance purposes and i want a 1.8 to but what dont i need? i don't want an airbag and i don't want abs. I could live without leccy windows and central locking to but power steering is it a must have? I usually drive old landrover that dont have it so i think i'd be ok or has anyone brought a mx5 without PAS and really regretted it?
West4x4 said:
I really fancy a basic 2 seater and the MX5 is just so much better prospect than a rusty MG. Now i think i want a UK car for insurance purposes and i want a 1.8 to but what dont i need? i don't want an airbag and i don't want abs. I could live without leccy windows and central locking to but power steering is it a must have? I usually drive old landrover that dont have it so i think i'd be ok or has anyone brought a mx5 without PAS and really regretted it?
they are a very different car without it - much heavier. My little sister has one without, and while it's still a great car, it doesnt feel so darty, and is much harder to catch when going sideways! You don't need any toys with a 5, that's the great thing about them, the more raw they are the better IMO. Power steering isn't really an issue unless your a girly trying to park in a tight parking space. That said, I wouldn't buy one without p/steering, unless, it was the perfect car. The p/steering is nicely weighted, and there's no benefit in not having it. In my mind not having p/steering would be shooting yourself in the foot for no gain!!
So not a deal breaker, but I would go for one with p/steering..... hth
So not a deal breaker, but I would go for one with p/steering..... hth
Car was designed from the outset to have PAS, its better with it.
Also - i bet a lot of people who say they dont want it are comparing it with the PAS in modern cars, which you twirl about with your little finger. They feel the same as those racing wheels you get for your playatation - ie a plastic wheel turning freely in a nylon bush.
A roadster with PAS is nothing like that, its accurate and feelsome. Considerably different to a 'normal' car. Its a work of genius.
ETA regarding the rest of the toys - I wouldnt mind gym windows much but electric makes it a touch easier to pull the hood up without getting out the drivng seat.
A/C - had a number of cars with it, none of them worked. Ripped it all out of my Mazda cos its stupendously heavy pointless.
(Still got all the bits if anyone wants spares!).
Everything else is by the by. Not many early cars have central locking anyway, and lots dont have ABS (mine doesnt).
Also - i bet a lot of people who say they dont want it are comparing it with the PAS in modern cars, which you twirl about with your little finger. They feel the same as those racing wheels you get for your playatation - ie a plastic wheel turning freely in a nylon bush.
A roadster with PAS is nothing like that, its accurate and feelsome. Considerably different to a 'normal' car. Its a work of genius.
ETA regarding the rest of the toys - I wouldnt mind gym windows much but electric makes it a touch easier to pull the hood up without getting out the drivng seat.
A/C - had a number of cars with it, none of them worked. Ripped it all out of my Mazda cos its stupendously heavy pointless.
(Still got all the bits if anyone wants spares!).
Everything else is by the by. Not many early cars have central locking anyway, and lots dont have ABS (mine doesnt).
Edited by snotrag on Friday 15th January 12:01
My old '98 Berkeley did NOT have AC, ABS, CL, EW, EM, airbags but I loved it and didn't miss any of them except the lack of remote locking. They are small cars so unless you are a shorty you can unlock and wind down the window on the pax door from the drivers seat easily.
Having said all that, when I upgraded I wanted (and got) all of those things on my Mk2.5 Sport
I wouldn't buy one without PAS.
Having said all that, when I upgraded I wanted (and got) all of those things on my Mk2.5 Sport
I wouldn't buy one without PAS.
This grabbed my attention simple lightweight less to go wrong be using it for b road blasts and maybe track days not an everyday motor
[urlhttp://www.carandclassic.com/car/C96814/[/url]
or this one
[urlhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170429358314&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1052wt_1167[/url]
Then again this looks tidy is cheaper and local. although a 1.6 with leccy windows and PAS
[urlhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1993-Mazda-MX-5-Silver-SERVICE-HISTORY-LOTS-OF-STAMPS_W0QQitemZ250534142149QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item3a54ffa0c5#ht_1106wt_1167[/url]
or do i try to get my mate to give trhe one away in his barn! but thats a project motor
[urlhttp://www.carandclassic.com/car/C96814/[/url]
or this one
[urlhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170429358314&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1052wt_1167[/url]
Then again this looks tidy is cheaper and local. although a 1.6 with leccy windows and PAS
[urlhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1993-Mazda-MX-5-Silver-SERVICE-HISTORY-LOTS-OF-STAMPS_W0QQitemZ250534142149QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item3a54ffa0c5#ht_1106wt_1167[/url]
or do i try to get my mate to give trhe one away in his barn! but thats a project motor
A UK MK1 1.8 sounds like it will hit your requirements on the nose. Powered steering is the only luxury mine has - i quite like having the old school manual windows etc 
I will say though that now i have had a decent play with mine on and off track that its absolutely begging for a decent diff. And some eibachs. Thats about it really.
I will say though that now i have had a decent play with mine on and off track that its absolutely begging for a decent diff. And some eibachs. Thats about it really.
I've driven a PAS one and thought it was a bit 'lurchy' - might have been that example. I own a non-PAS and it's never a problem (and I'm a bit weedy).
One thing I would say, is that mine has an aftermarket hood with a heated glass rear window (the design that isn't removable). It's a good addition.
One thing I would say, is that mine has an aftermarket hood with a heated glass rear window (the design that isn't removable). It's a good addition.
I've driven plenty of both pas and non pas mx5s and while the pas cars certainly are a little easier to drive, especially around town or if you are a bit weedy or a girl, the non power steering versions have a wonderful feel once you get to a decent speed. The ability to place the car perfectly on a given line at speed through a series of bends is not be under-estimated.
bluetone said:
Personally I would not put PAS on your Must Have list. The 5 is so light, non-PAS steering only ever feels heavy at zero mph..
This is a valid point based on my experience of other non-PAS cars but from what i have seen with mine i don't exactly feel like the PAS is removing anything from 'spirited driving' either. Point and shoot 
I did without PAS when my supercharger tensioner broke so I took the belt off... I quite liked the weightiness off it, but I still prefer it with PAS. It doesnt seem to lose any "detail" but is much easier to steer and feels much more alive on the turn in. Much quicker and easier to change direction. I'd go with PAS too.
When I bought my Mk1 I tried a PAS and a non PAS car and preferred the PAS car for a few reasons. Firstly the PAS doesn't take anything from the driving experience at all, it's nicely weighted so you still get all the feedback you could want, it has a quicker rack and it also has a smaller steering wheel - important when you are 6 foot tall or over.
On the subject of aircon, you certainly don't need it and with the roof down I'd say it's completley ineffective. Where I have found it useful, however, is for demisting the interior when the weather is cold and damp so the roof is liekly to be up, i.e. - right now! I suspect that very few drivers generally (not MX5 owners, of course!) realise that aircon is a great wet weather tool and is not just for sunny days.
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