Discussion
I am currently looking for a track car for under £1500. I have always owned Peugeots so I have mainly been looking for a 106 GTi or a 306 GTi6.
However after looking through another thread I noticed that the Mk1 MX5 is within my budget. I have never owned one but after looking through (pretty much every thread on) this forum I have noticed that they are highly rated. Can any one give me the pro's and con's of owning an MX5.
And I haven't used the search function as every thread mentions MX5
However after looking through another thread I noticed that the Mk1 MX5 is within my budget. I have never owned one but after looking through (pretty much every thread on) this forum I have noticed that they are highly rated. Can any one give me the pro's and con's of owning an MX5.
And I haven't used the search function as every thread mentions MX5
Rust is the main issue. The sills rust badly and as I understand it the rear arches. You need to find a car that is made of metal rather than rust.
Once you've got that, stick some sticky tyres on it, coilies and a roll bar if you're that way inclined and go big car hunting at a tight twisty track like Brands Indy.
Once you've got that, stick some sticky tyres on it, coilies and a roll bar if you're that way inclined and go big car hunting at a tight twisty track like Brands Indy.
Pros - everything mentioned above, plus they are a great introduction to RWD if you are used to FWD Pugs (I came from 206 GTi)
Cons - None really, other than its an older car so will need some money thrown at it to keep. But the parts are so cheap, for example cat back SS exhaust for less than £200 from mx5parts.
Cons - None really, other than its an older car so will need some money thrown at it to keep. But the parts are so cheap, for example cat back SS exhaust for less than £200 from mx5parts.
MarJay said:
Rust is the main issue. The sills rust badly and as I understand it the rear arches. You need to find a car that is made of metal rather than rust.
Bit of a major over-statement, that.You get the odd car with a small amount of rust, but it's not a major issue that will happen on every car.
I have an '89 Eunos, no rust at all, always been parked outside, etc.
The sills on an AlfuSud rust badly. The sills on a Mk1 rust very occasionally.
Obviously it's worth checking when buying, but it's not something to budget for.
Edited by maser_spyder on Wednesday 17th March 12:30
maser_spyder said:
MarJay said:
Rust is the main issue. The sills rust badly and as I understand it the rear arches. You need to find a car that is made of metal rather than rust.
Bit of a major over-statement, that.You get the odd car with a small amount of rust, but it's not a major issue that will happen on every car.
I have an '89 Eunos, no rust at all, always been parked outside, etc.
The sills on an AlfuSud rust badly. The sills on a Mk1 rust very occasionally.
Obviously it's worth checking when buying, but it's not something to budget for.
I owned a 205 GTi before my old MX5, so should be reasonably qualified to comment.
Hmm, where to start? Basically a sports car - even a very owner-friendly one like an MX5 is a different proposition to a hot hatch. There's something uniquely satisfying about buzzing along with the wind in your hair. It sounds very flowery, but it's true. It is a different sensation.
Performance wise they're probably about on a par; my 1.9 GTi was probably a little quicker than my 1.8 Eunos and the Pug was noticeably torquier, but it's not a huge difference. The MX5 probably sounded nicer with a classic raspy exhaust note bouncing off the hedges. Outright grip was probably higher with the 205 too, but a lot of that is down to tyres.
Practicality is much better with a hot hatch. Even the bigger sports car boots (which the MX5 isn't particularly) don't compete with folding seats in a hatchback. That said there's more space in the Mazda than you might assume.
Handling is subjective. I don't think my Eunos was the sharpest handling example so it's perhaps unfair to comment, but the steering feedback was marginally better on the Peugeot and it definitely felt more rigid than the slightly flexy Mazda. If you've driven old school Pugs you'll be plenty used to oversteer and the MX5 will oblige too. In the dry a standard car won't power oversteer that much unless you're very abrupt with it, but they're drift-tastic in the wet and very controllable. Even within the limits there's definitely something about rear wheel drive.
Erm, what else? In my case the MX5 beat the Peugeot hands down for reliability, but it's a bit unfair to comment on one example of each. It was also more economical (low 30s plays mid to high 20s in normal use), although I did seem to coax higher MPG figures out of the MX5 than most people. I must just drive like a girl.
Overall, they're equally satisfying (in rather different ways) if you're really on it, but I reckon an open top and a classic roadster feel would swing it for the MX5 if you were just cruising.
Hmm, where to start? Basically a sports car - even a very owner-friendly one like an MX5 is a different proposition to a hot hatch. There's something uniquely satisfying about buzzing along with the wind in your hair. It sounds very flowery, but it's true. It is a different sensation.
Performance wise they're probably about on a par; my 1.9 GTi was probably a little quicker than my 1.8 Eunos and the Pug was noticeably torquier, but it's not a huge difference. The MX5 probably sounded nicer with a classic raspy exhaust note bouncing off the hedges. Outright grip was probably higher with the 205 too, but a lot of that is down to tyres.
Practicality is much better with a hot hatch. Even the bigger sports car boots (which the MX5 isn't particularly) don't compete with folding seats in a hatchback. That said there's more space in the Mazda than you might assume.
Handling is subjective. I don't think my Eunos was the sharpest handling example so it's perhaps unfair to comment, but the steering feedback was marginally better on the Peugeot and it definitely felt more rigid than the slightly flexy Mazda. If you've driven old school Pugs you'll be plenty used to oversteer and the MX5 will oblige too. In the dry a standard car won't power oversteer that much unless you're very abrupt with it, but they're drift-tastic in the wet and very controllable. Even within the limits there's definitely something about rear wheel drive.
Erm, what else? In my case the MX5 beat the Peugeot hands down for reliability, but it's a bit unfair to comment on one example of each. It was also more economical (low 30s plays mid to high 20s in normal use), although I did seem to coax higher MPG figures out of the MX5 than most people. I must just drive like a girl.
Overall, they're equally satisfying (in rather different ways) if you're really on it, but I reckon an open top and a classic roadster feel would swing it for the MX5 if you were just cruising.
I own a 306 Rallye and a Mk1 MX5 and would say the steering on the MX5 is phenomenal and through the bends it feels sublime. However, as a track car it is pretty gutless and far more suited to B road cruising than out-and-out performance.
The 306 is much more fun on the track because it packs so much more punch. To get the same feeling from the MX5 you'll need forced induction and the ~£2000 on top of the car price it'll cost to do it right.
Others will disagree but that's my opinion for what it's worth.
The 306 is much more fun on the track because it packs so much more punch. To get the same feeling from the MX5 you'll need forced induction and the ~£2000 on top of the car price it'll cost to do it right.
Others will disagree but that's my opinion for what it's worth.
maser_spyder said:
MarJay said:
Rust is the main issue. The sills rust badly and as I understand it the rear arches. You need to find a car that is made of metal rather than rust.
Bit of a major over-statement, that.You get the odd car with a small amount of rust, but it's not a major issue that will happen on every car.
I have an '89 Eunos, no rust at all, always been parked outside, etc.
The sills on an AlfuSud rust badly. The sills on a Mk1 rust very occasionally.
Obviously it's worth checking when buying, but it's not something to budget for.
Edited by maser_spyder on Wednesday 17th March 12:30
My previous car was a JDM DC2 ITR (98 spec), and I now drive a Eunos RS-Limited.
For me the Eunos is more fun. Wind in the hair, RWD, balanced handling, and a less "insistent" engine. The ITR would have been, on most tracks, a better track car IMO. A lot more rigid, an engine that was truly in its element being thrashed very hard, and when you did it simply had that much more pace and stability. On the road though, sometimes the Eunos feels the more punchy car, as it seems to give a reasonable thump of torque from about 3500 upwards, and on most B-roads and quite a lot of A-roads, you won't really appreciate the extra performance a lot of the time.
That said my RS feels quicker than other NA MX5s I've driven, but then it is a slightly more focused, lighter version of a normal 1.8... about 950 kg and 130+ bhp, so the PWR ratio isn't too terrible.
The MX5 isn't a fast straight line car, but if driven right it can keep up with more "capable" machines on a country road.
For me the Eunos is more fun. Wind in the hair, RWD, balanced handling, and a less "insistent" engine. The ITR would have been, on most tracks, a better track car IMO. A lot more rigid, an engine that was truly in its element being thrashed very hard, and when you did it simply had that much more pace and stability. On the road though, sometimes the Eunos feels the more punchy car, as it seems to give a reasonable thump of torque from about 3500 upwards, and on most B-roads and quite a lot of A-roads, you won't really appreciate the extra performance a lot of the time.
That said my RS feels quicker than other NA MX5s I've driven, but then it is a slightly more focused, lighter version of a normal 1.8... about 950 kg and 130+ bhp, so the PWR ratio isn't too terrible.
The MX5 isn't a fast straight line car, but if driven right it can keep up with more "capable" machines on a country road.
Mine is going on ebay at the weekend after a friend pulled out of buying it...
UK Car. 92/93 K plate in white with black wheels.
MX5Parts Dual Exit Exhaust
191k miles but still runs well
My plan was to turn it into to a track car but the little one is swallowing all my money and time!
Not so good bits:
No tax or MOT (MOT ran out in Feb) - I didn't bother doing either as I was planning on turning it into said track car
Could do with some new tyres (again was on the look out for some new wheels/tyres)
Small patch of rust on the rear arch
I also have a set of pads/lowering springs in the garage that will be included within the sale
Like I say the plan is to get some pictures taken and it up on ebay at the weekend so will post a link for you. Car is in Leighton Buzzard (nr Milton Keynes).
Cheers,
Phill
UK Car. 92/93 K plate in white with black wheels.
MX5Parts Dual Exit Exhaust
191k miles but still runs well
My plan was to turn it into to a track car but the little one is swallowing all my money and time!
Not so good bits:
No tax or MOT (MOT ran out in Feb) - I didn't bother doing either as I was planning on turning it into said track car
Could do with some new tyres (again was on the look out for some new wheels/tyres)
Small patch of rust on the rear arch
I also have a set of pads/lowering springs in the garage that will be included within the sale
Like I say the plan is to get some pictures taken and it up on ebay at the weekend so will post a link for you. Car is in Leighton Buzzard (nr Milton Keynes).
Cheers,
Phill
Edited by pmanson on Thursday 18th March 09:46
crofty1984 said:
maser_spyder said:
MarJay said:
Rust is the main issue. The sills rust badly and as I understand it the rear arches. You need to find a car that is made of metal rather than rust.
Bit of a major over-statement, that.You get the odd car with a small amount of rust, but it's not a major issue that will happen on every car.
I have an '89 Eunos, no rust at all, always been parked outside, etc.
The sills on an AlfuSud rust badly. The sills on a Mk1 rust very occasionally.
Obviously it's worth checking when buying, but it's not something to budget for.
Edited by maser_spyder on Wednesday 17th March 12:30
Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff