My 'new' Mk2 Mx5 1.8iS
Discussion
Collected it the other week, and I lufs it I do!
1.8iS, 140bhp, Torsen diff, PAS and ABS, Rota wheels and ducktail spoiler.
Needs a little bit of work - new roof (now fitted); new interior trim as the wood veneer is just gross and cracked; needs T&T in April, and some general tidying up!
When I collected it:
Past and present...
Took it to Jack Smith's Trimmers in Swansea and bagged myself a green mohair hood with glass window for £260 fitted.
Pics:
I'm chuffed to bits with it. Very different handling to the Cabriolet, I've had a scary RWD-Twice-the-power-of-the-old-car moment already, so I'm taking it easy for now.
We now have two little sports cars, unfortunately this is the only pic I have of them together before I got the new roof fitted!:
PowWWWWWAAAAAAAAHHHHH!
1.8iS, 140bhp, Torsen diff, PAS and ABS, Rota wheels and ducktail spoiler.
Needs a little bit of work - new roof (now fitted); new interior trim as the wood veneer is just gross and cracked; needs T&T in April, and some general tidying up!
When I collected it:
Past and present...
Took it to Jack Smith's Trimmers in Swansea and bagged myself a green mohair hood with glass window for £260 fitted.
Pics:
I'm chuffed to bits with it. Very different handling to the Cabriolet, I've had a scary RWD-Twice-the-power-of-the-old-car moment already, so I'm taking it easy for now.
We now have two little sports cars, unfortunately this is the only pic I have of them together before I got the new roof fitted!:
PowWWWWWAAAAAAAAHHHHH!
Edited by CatfishCKY on Sunday 11th April 01:19
You won't be disappointed.
If you're nervous about driving a RWD, may I recommend a Mazda on Track day - http://www.mazdaontrack.co.uk/trackdays--car-contr... I did one last week. £80 for a whole day of learning to control your car in a safe environment, the guys are great and very helpful. I paid an extra £75 to get the chief instructor at Silverstone to teach me how to drift my car. I failed in that mission and had to replace my tyres, but the whole day was a fantastic learning experience on how to not crash!
If you're nervous about driving a RWD, may I recommend a Mazda on Track day - http://www.mazdaontrack.co.uk/trackdays--car-contr... I did one last week. £80 for a whole day of learning to control your car in a safe environment, the guys are great and very helpful. I paid an extra £75 to get the chief instructor at Silverstone to teach me how to drift my car. I failed in that mission and had to replace my tyres, but the whole day was a fantastic learning experience on how to not crash!
It's not mine, it's my fiance's - believe me when I say I tried to put him off it! He's not a petrolhead in the slightest though - it was either an MG TF or a Hyundai Coupe! :S Honest Guv, I tried!
Thanks for the info, MissTrackside I am a bit nervous - it seems a lot twitchier than the MG even with the diff, I presume that's to do with the very different engine positions though! I will give it a thought - just concerned about the tyre replacement cost haha
Thanks for the info, MissTrackside I am a bit nervous - it seems a lot twitchier than the MG even with the diff, I presume that's to do with the very different engine positions though! I will give it a thought - just concerned about the tyre replacement cost haha
Thanks all
Planet Claire/wackojacko > Slight lowering is on the agenda, along with new dash trim and maybe a different exhaust system!
Also, Planet Claire - your 10AE is goregous!
Rob > Thanks I actually had to barter this one down, as it needed a new roof, and T&T runs out in April! I'm sure you'll find a decent one soon enough! What's your budget, if you don't mind me asking?
Planet Claire/wackojacko > Slight lowering is on the agenda, along with new dash trim and maybe a different exhaust system!
Also, Planet Claire - your 10AE is goregous!
Rob > Thanks I actually had to barter this one down, as it needed a new roof, and T&T runs out in April! I'm sure you'll find a decent one soon enough! What's your budget, if you don't mind me asking?
Edited by CatfishCKY on Wednesday 10th March 22:33
ScottishSamurai > Thanks! It is very relevant indeed! I'm one of the 'Alliance Diehards', you might say
Rob287 > There should be some fairly decent ones for that budget? I believe rust is the main issue on both the Mk1s and Mk2s! Have you browsed the owners forums? There's some fairly well looked after ones there for sale, I'm sure? Maybe travelling is the only answer
hora > Thanks! The mileage is almost 98k which was a bit higher than I wanted, but it's ok! Planet Claire is right - The tyres are Toyo Proxes T1Rs!
I suppose now we have the cars, we should think about setting up the hairdressing business!
Rob287 > There should be some fairly decent ones for that budget? I believe rust is the main issue on both the Mk1s and Mk2s! Have you browsed the owners forums? There's some fairly well looked after ones there for sale, I'm sure? Maybe travelling is the only answer
hora > Thanks! The mileage is almost 98k which was a bit higher than I wanted, but it's ok! Planet Claire is right - The tyres are Toyo Proxes T1Rs!
I suppose now we have the cars, we should think about setting up the hairdressing business!
CatfishCKY said:
Thanks for the info, MissTrackside I am a bit nervous - it seems a lot twitchier than the MG even with the diff, I presume that's to do with the very different engine positions though! I will give it a thought - just concerned about the tyre replacement cost haha
Thats odd - is the suspension in good nick and tyres at a decent pressure? My wife had a TF135 for 3 years (sold start of last year) and I'd have said that was twitchier than an MX5. Any 5 I've ever driven (both mk1 & 2) has always been extremely confidence inspiring with tons of feel and feedback.Get yourself on a carlimits day - (www.carlimits.co.uk) either a full day with 4 people for loads of 1:1 tuition or an activity day with about 30 people for fraction of the cost. You'll learn a heck of a lot about how to control your car and how to feel what the cars doing when you're getting it both right and wrong. Andy Walsh who runs the courses is an ex benetton F1 test driver and his car control skills are fantastic.
Well I have a track day coming up in July, which might help
it feels light at the higher end of leptons which is a bit scary - not what I am used to!
The tyres are about 30 psi all round, tread is still very good but I've thought the tf seems a bit more planted? Maybe I should give it a drive again and compare my findings!
it feels light at the higher end of leptons which is a bit scary - not what I am used to!
The tyres are about 30 psi all round, tread is still very good but I've thought the tf seems a bit more planted? Maybe I should give it a drive again and compare my findings!
CatfishCKY said:
Well I have a track day coming up in July, which might help
it feels light at the higher end of leptons which is a bit scary - not what I am used to!
The tyres are about 30 psi all round, tread is still very good but I've thought the tf seems a bit more planted? Maybe I should give it a drive again and compare my findings!
Have you got a front lip? You don't have any shots taken low down from the front so I can't tell. On the mk2 it's set back a bit front the bottom of the bumper. I say that because mine got damaged a while back and it felt a lot lighter without it; I was glad to get a new one put on.it feels light at the higher end of leptons which is a bit scary - not what I am used to!
The tyres are about 30 psi all round, tread is still very good but I've thought the tf seems a bit more planted? Maybe I should give it a drive again and compare my findings!
Also, have you tried different tyre pressures? Mazda recommend 26psi, I usually have mine at 28.
Just noticed that Mrs Trackside already recommended MazdaonTrack Car Control days - I didn't see her post sandwiched inbetween all the photos at the top!
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