RX-7 vs MX-5 - a suprise...

[flat_steve]

No this isn't a tale of how Mazda's rotary wonderkind got slaughtered off the lights by a '5... My daily drive is a lovely black RX-7 but for Christmas I bought my girlfriend a black MX-5 hoping to get her into 'nice cars'. Now I've obviously driven the '5 a few times and remarked to myself on its chuckability, but this week the gf has been away to Surrey on a works training course leaving me with the option of driving the '5 for a week. Given the fuel consumption (or lack thereof) of the rotary monster, and the nature of my job (driving around lots), I of course opted for the '5.

Now the suprise for me is just how amazing the MX-5 is. In every way. The handling is slightly understeery (but that's clearly due to Goodyear F1's at rear and Lidl's remoulds on the front) but it's just so much FUN to drive! And being able to drop the roof every time the sun comes down is great! I thought I'd find it kinda slow after the RX-7 but it's very, very nippy, has more lowdown torque below 2000 revs and is so much more plantable due to its lesser girth! In fact so good has it been that said girlfriend might be in danger of not getting it back! :-D

I've kinda cosseted the thing this week and it's had two coats of polish, she won't recognise the thing!





His 'n hers:

[Bill Carr]

What a lovely pair of motors. The MX looks like it's really been treated with the wax/polish! Tasty.

[mxdi]

That picture of the two together makes the 5 look drab (not your 5, just the shape)

[iaint]

Lovely cars - would get one for Petra but that'd make 2 cars with no back seats! I'd guess that it'd corner close to a well sorted FD and, due to the lack of power, be easier to get a hustle on in the twisties.

Had a nice blat down to Dorset via backwater A-roads yeasterday and, while the FD does exactly what I tell it to, I found myself being quite ginger with the loud pedal at some points.

Quick note to the MX5 driver who decided to put the roof up while travelling at 30 through a village on the A3 and then sat in the RHL when it went dual... the MX5 is a nice car but it's not fast you tt!

[egoboss]

this is the beauty of the mx5: you can drive it near the limit and derive great pleasure, even at modest speeds, in perfect safety. for my friend to obtain the same level of pleasure in his subaru wrx thingy he has to drive in altogether more intense manner which sometimes borders on the dangerous.

the road holding and handling of the mx5 is sublime. this is my 1st mx5, bought from new some 3yrs ago, i doubt i shall ever sell it.

and with spring definitely in the air - top down this morning - the mx5 is remarkable fun/value for money.

enjoy!

[flat_steve]

egoboss said:

this is the beauty of the mx5: you can drive it near the limit and derive great pleasure, even at modest speeds, in perfect safety. for my friend to obtain the same level of pleasure in his subaru wrx thingy he has to drive in altogether more intense manner which sometimes borders on the dangerous.

Very good point. The RX's limit is much higher than mine and it takes a great deal of skill to drive quickly, whereas the MX-5's limits are less stratospheric, which perversely makes it faster to the average Joe...

[egoboss]

flat_steve said:

egoboss said: this is the beauty of the mx5: you can drive it near the limit and derive great pleasure, even at modest speeds, in perfect safety. for my friend to obtain the same level of pleasure in his subaru wrx thingy he has to drive in altogether more intense manner which sometimes borders on the dangerous. Very good point. The RX's limit is much higher than mine and it takes a great deal of skill to drive quickly, whereas the MX-5's limits are less stratospheric, which perversely makes it faster to the average Joe...

i think you've got the best of both worlds with those 2 types of car.

my father had a norton wankel motorcycle - i have never been in an rx7 - if its engine is anything like the norton's it must be a pretty surreal experience.

have you tried an rx8 yet and compared the two? the rx8 looks an altogether "tamer" kind of car? interested in hearing comparisons between the two.

[flat_steve]

The guy I bought the rex off had an RX-8 - the engine is so smooth it's more akin to an electric motor. The RX-7 is still smooth but obviously with two turbo's and more BHP that was less of a consideration. An RX-7 with sports exhaust is a noise to savour.

[Pierscoe1]

obviously what you really want steve, is a later mk2, which are even better.. so I have a wonderful solution for you :

I can get hold of a lovely blue one, which I'm sure I could arrange a swap for for you mean and horrid and undriveable monster of an rx7....

then you'd be much happier.. don't you think??










P.S. yes, whilst the mx5 is great to drive, and everything else people above have mentioned... it's just TOO BLOODY SLOW.. and that's why the wonderful gods of mazda gave us the car or all cars.. the RX7!