Honda Integra DC2 v Mazda MX5 Mk2 1.8is

[greenarrow]

Have been flicking through my old car mags this weekend and came across an old Autocar handling day article from 1998, held at Silverstone's National Circuit. Two cars included in the test were the MX5 and Integra R DC2. Obviously the ITR was a fair bit faster over the lap (2.9 secs), but being a car anorak and an MX-5 owner, I found the listed cornering speeds interesting,

Namely:

Copse: ITR 77 MPH, MX-5 77 MPH
Becketts: ITR 48 MPH, MX-5 48 MPH
Complex Left ITR 58 MPH, MX-5 57 MPH
Complex Right ITR 47 MPH, MX-5 48 MPH
Woodcote ITR 84 MPH, MX-5 82 MPH

In other words neck and neck through the corners apart from the faster woodcote turn where the ITR's power gave it an edge in entry speed.

Fascinated me as it shows once and for all that the ITR really could corner as well as a RWD car but also it showed that despite their comedy body roll and famed lack of rigidity, the early generation MX-5s were not as shabby as some people (I..e Chris Harris) would have you believe! Both cars in fact went through Becketts as fast as a Prodrive modded Impreza and a Lotus Esprit GT V8.

So, as someone who paid just over a grand for a Mk2 1.8 MX-5 two years ago, I'm pretty happy with that on a bangs per smile basis.....

Edited by greenarrow on Sunday 13th August 18:53