I can't comment on the prior generation but I just love my 2020 MX-5 RF, it's a blast to drive even without being super quick by today's standards, but get it on a twisty road, give it some wellie and it really comes alive. I did put somewhat stiffer and lower springs and stiffer anti roll bars though to eliminate the rather excessive body roll.
Any love for MX5’s?
- Thread starter JezmondTutu
- Start date
Copperjacket
pfm Member
There’s a chap near Edinburgh who does a supercharger conversion for these producing north of 300hp.
JezmondTutu
pfm Member
Apparently taller people fit in NC’s! The n/a kits look interesting, up to 225 from BBR.
JezmondTutu
pfm Member
I bought a Mk3 MR2 for my wife. Nice car, this I guess has a few more creature comforts and a normal boot!
martin clark
pinko bodger
If I had one, and wanted 'more' - that's the kind of route I'd go.
You'll work harder, to find the opportunities, and to exploit the engine's top-end revs, and - that is my predilection, by far. Always has been - it's all about Engagement - not, 'Speed', not 'Fast' - more about fizzy fun.
But as I wrote earlier - 'big power' alone never-is very interesting, and it as a pursuit alone will readily ruin the Whole.
Someone in our neighborhood actually modded one to do off road racing / rallying. It was lifted and had a solid roll cage, not sure what else. I guess if you could rally a TR7 then an MX-5 is possible!This was the senior project of one of my wife's high school students. I'm not sure what it has to do with education.
Seeker_UK
Feelin' nearly faded as my jeans
MarkW
Full Speed & Pagan
I've had a couple - late Mk1 and a 2008 NC which I bought with only a few thousand miles on it, kept it for two years, and loved every mile in both. Never had any expensive issues (though I suspect the newer one needed some front suspension work by the time I traded it). I thought I wanted a Boxster before I bought the NC but the MX5 (2.0l Roadster with the suspension lowered just enough not to offend) was always fun, always eager and felt alive at road-legal speeds, and none of the Boxsters I've driven or been in felt engaging to drive until you were heading into problematic speeds. I am fairly sure the Mazda's cost me much less to own than any Porsche ever would.
Worryingly, I now have space on the drive for a second car...
Worryingly, I now have space on the drive for a second car...
Chris Tarling
Yellow Hound
My wife had three - all owned from new. One Mk1s and two Mk 2.5s. They are huge fun - we have so many great European trips in those cars.
The Mk1 is the one we remember with most fondness.
The Mk1 is the one we remember with most fondness.
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JezmondTutu
pfm Member
Having had an Elise with a 1.8t 20v I am inclined to agree. 260bhp/280lb in my view corrupted the balance of the car. It was quite exciting though!
This is just a cheap bit of fun and I think for the price jolly good value given its overall practicality.
There's a lot to be said for "less is more" with sports cars. It's very easy to go for "moar powaarrrr!" and end up with something that isn't any more fun, costs more and consumes more fuel. This is certainly the case for a commuter, a lot of the time you will be in top gear at 60 or 70 and looking at the car in front.
After my Honda DC2 I’d agree a good handling car with ‘enough’ grip and power to have fun at sensible speeds is a very nice thing. About 250bhp/tonne with some poise and handling allows you to wring the neck of the car (the DC2 was amazing if you could keep the engine about 6k rpm) without things getting too silly.
If I could get into an mx5 I’d be looking at a lightly tuned engine on throttlebodies and a rorty exhaust, the chassis would get a little bracing and better suspension (AST), bushings. I think that could be amazing fun without costing much.
The Toyota GT86 is good fun if you can get a go in one. Roof doesn’t come down though.
If I could get into an mx5 I’d be looking at a lightly tuned engine on throttlebodies and a rorty exhaust, the chassis would get a little bracing and better suspension (AST), bushings. I think that could be amazing fun without costing much.
The Toyota GT86 is good fun if you can get a go in one. Roof doesn’t come down though.
JezmondTutu
pfm Member
JezmondTutu
pfm Member
That’s really good to know! I drove a 986S of Eoin’s and while it was very nicely screwed together and the engine felt strong, I thought it was also a bit soulless.
Mum had a Mk2.5 1.8 for quite a few years so drove that a bit, I think they've always cried out for a bit more poke, not necessarily several hundred bhp but certainly a nice uplift. Not keen on the NC, I think I'd go for a launch edition RF with the nice BBS wheels and Recaros with either a N/A BBR kit or a supercharger, nothing crazy but enough to make it interesting.
I've had an MK1.5 MX5 (the 1998 restyled MK1) and is now in a Boxster since 8 years. The MX5 is GREAT FUN at any speed, as you say. But a Boxster is so much more rewarding, also at any speed. It feels more developed in some way, a precision instrument, so to speak. When I had the MX5 I was much younger and had to induce tire squeeeeel in all corners, or it was a missed opportunity. A much older me in the Boxster grunts every time being overtaken "They are driving so fast..." (Smiley for 'old fart' missing)
And, yes, the electric roof mechanism failed on the Boxster. The simple MX5 roof is much faster and doesn't fail.
If one do the engine conversion mentioned early in this thread you can forget all about Mazda's being dependable...
Also had an MR2 MK3 mentioned in the thread. Also great fun.
While I have never owned a MX-5 I have driven plenty and have owned an Elise, a Boxster and several S2000s. The most directly comparable of those three to the MX-5 is the S2000. I bought my first one when I had the Porsche. I did so as I found the Porsche a bit dull and heavy not to mention unreliable and the Porsche dealers locally were up themselves. Anyway I found the S2000 far more fun and being Japanese uber reliable. The MX-5 would be very comparable I feel. Just posting this to show how we all differ, just my opinion obviously.
PS Elise was epic on a track but difficult to live with as day to day transport.
alanbeeb
pfm Member
I've had three, currently got a 2.0 mk.4 (ND) soft-top current model. Have also owned the 1.5L version of the same, and a mk2.5 2L. Got shot of it just before rust began to show!
I would recommend anyone thinking of getting a recent one (ND model since 2016) go for the 1.5L variant - its lighter, feels more nimble and you have to engage more with it and get more involved with it. Result- its just more fun! The 2L has so much more power and torque so it becomes a much lazier and hence less engaging driving experience. Sure, its better and more confident for overtaking on A-roads, but its just not so much fun.
I also had a Honda S2000 - wish I'd kept it as its value has risen markedly in last few years! But TBH its chassis is not as good as any MX-5, its a bit like a brick with wheels to drive compared to the supple and alert MX-5. The VTEC was glorious when it came on song about 4.5k revs and it felt so willing..... but you could honestly see the fuel gauge moving down at that point - lucky to get about 26-27mpg average from it overall. Whereas the current MX-5 is giving me 44mpg average, the 1.5L was only a tiny bit better at 45mpg. Also the current MX-5 2L is just as quick as the Honda S2000.
I would recommend anyone thinking of getting a recent one (ND model since 2016) go for the 1.5L variant - its lighter, feels more nimble and you have to engage more with it and get more involved with it. Result- its just more fun! The 2L has so much more power and torque so it becomes a much lazier and hence less engaging driving experience. Sure, its better and more confident for overtaking on A-roads, but its just not so much fun.
I also had a Honda S2000 - wish I'd kept it as its value has risen markedly in last few years! But TBH its chassis is not as good as any MX-5, its a bit like a brick with wheels to drive compared to the supple and alert MX-5. The VTEC was glorious when it came on song about 4.5k revs and it felt so willing..... but you could honestly see the fuel gauge moving down at that point - lucky to get about 26-27mpg average from it overall. Whereas the current MX-5 is giving me 44mpg average, the 1.5L was only a tiny bit better at 45mpg. Also the current MX-5 2L is just as quick as the Honda S2000.
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andyoz
pfm Member
That's interesting about the engine. I did try an Mk3 and didn't like the engine and the obvious extra weight but it must have been before the engine changes.
I've noted early 1.5ltr MK4 are £8k...much lighter and that engine is a peach...Skyactive tech isn't just a badge