anzo Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Right, Looking for a new motor at the minute; all the usual shit with a Saxo VTR/VTS and to be honest they're pretty shit and two a penny. My mate just bought a Mazda MX5 and I do think its a nice car. Cheap, sporty and pretty decent looking - I've heard all the shit about 'hairdressers car' and all the bollocks, but I don't care....its a f**king fun car. But what are they like to generally own? I think I've seen here that one or two have one? Basically interested in running cost, part availability and cost, general problems and some good points too The biggest concern I have is the roof; is leaking a problem? And is it about minus 2000 degrees in the winter? Any general info would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavyn. Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 can't help you with the mazda but have you considered a mg tf? I think they look better, if you don't rag it should be reliable and they don't look quite as girly as the mazda. I wouldn't buy a mx5 unless it was a turbo one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzo Posted June 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Not really a fan of MG; I've driven a few and they generally feel a bit horrible - I did consider the ZR at one point. But I'd choose a mazda over an MG anyday. See, I don't really think the MX5 looks girly...or am I just not in touch with my femine side? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hI-OOPS-CAPS Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 toyota ( ... ) itll come to me - toyota mr2 anyway i think 5th gear done a review saying thats the car to have [MR2] out of all the competing cars. but the mx5 is japanese, and theyre quite common so you can just assume theyre reliable. availability of parts will be rather good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish-Finger-er Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 may be worth waiting for/pming jtm, hes got an mx5. dont get the mgf/mg tf, drove plenty in the last year or so, there a pile of crap, not that quick, not that fun. bmw 320/323/325/328? got the RWD fun of the mazda, few more creature comforts, might not be as fun at lower speeds. get an e46 one for peanuts these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbanPoet Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 (edited) f**k, .... yeah! ps, mx5's are ok. not a shade on the yaris's justified on request. Edited July 1, 2008 by UrbanPoet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 ps, mx5's are ok. not a shade on the yaris's justified on request. Explain yourself, squire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-Stop Junkie Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 I drove a Mk1 MX-5 to the Nurburgring last year, and they are cracking little cars! It made my Focus feel like a van. Sitting low, high (and short throw) gear lever, feels awesome bombing down country lanes especially with the top down. There's a good network of MX-5 specialists, and if you're looking for a Mk1 (with pop up headlights) then they're the lightest and most fun. The Mk2s are a little more comfortable and a little less driver focussed, but only a little. A new roof is £300 but specialists will often tweak them to fix leaks, they can be serviced anywhere, and you will not have as much fun in any other car for the money. If you have Ok, so they're not as practical as some cars, but it's about driving fun. Believe me, even round the Nurburgring, I can't recommend them highly enough. Oh, and you don't need a turbo. The MX-5 is about light weight and handling. You don't need a turbo (and hence you don't need big brakes and fat tyres) and you can take the car to the limit at normal (and legal!) speeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbanPoet Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Explain yourself, squire. Right, a friend wrote that, "Tom e" on here. I'm trying to decode what he meant... I'll have to ask him when he comes out of his coma His Dad's a Mazda sales guy (formally sold Toyota), so it might not have been total gibberish, but it's likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTM Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Go drive one. Seriously, try and spend a bit of time with one, and you wont want to give it back. Ive had 3 now, my current one being the most performance related being turboed etc. All I can say is it is the best car ive driven. If you like the topic of having fun and driving spirtetedly in a car, you cannot fail to enjoy it. Dont be put off by standard 1.6/1.8s Ive driven a standard (engine wise) 1.6 on track at cadwell park and was seriosuly the most fun Ive had in a car. They are plenty nippy enough. The 1.6 is the better engine that the 1.8 in mine, and many peoples opinion. More revvy and urgent. The extra weight of the 1.8 ofsets the extra 15bhp anyways. How much do you have to spend? If your THAT worried about a leaky roof, get a new one fiited for £250. But to be honest if your buying a softtop you have to expect a little leakage, theres a guy at my work with a TVR which cost neigh on 50k, still gets the odd wet leg. Its just part fo the charm of the car. In terms of being cold, I have my roof down as long as its not raining, this includes winter, a jacket and hat is all you need, the heaters are very good. Once you have driven with the roof down you will never want it up. As for the hairdresser thing, f**k them? Ive had all this, people calling it a gay car or whatever and frankly Im not 6 years old so im not that arsed! In terms of the competition, there is none imo. The mgtf is franly shite. No where near in the legue of the mk1/2 mx5. The mr2 is a good car, not as sweet a handler and not as progressive on the limit being mid engined. Also the mx5 is much cheaper to make go faster. The toyota lump is a good engine though ill admit that. These are cars which you can simply redline all day long, they beg for revs, throw about, are light, will return 35 mpg if you drive sensibly and will put a smile on your face everytime you drive it. Parts have to be the most readily available of any car ive had as they are so common and they really are very simple cars/engines to work on. Also they are massively reliable anyways. Oh, and if you turbo it, things get ALOT more interesting Get onto www.mx5nutz.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Im not 6 years old so im not that arsed! You might say your name's John and you're not arsed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzo Posted July 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Excellent info, thanks yall. I'm looking to spend about £2000...would push to £2.5k if I found something special. As I said, my mate recently bought one for £1800ish. I was expecting something a little bit battered but it really did suprise me when he pulled up in it, its been seriously well looked after - inc. new roof, exhaust and seats....pretty much puts a massive grin on your face when your driving it. ...now to dabble in the insurance department. JTM, do you have some photos of your motor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTM Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Insurance wise, imports (eunos roadster, exactly the same car with a square number plate) are a no no for me. Also if your getting a 1.6, you want one BEFORE mid 1993 as otherwise you will get the de tuned 90bhp engine, they did this to increase the gap between the 1.6 and 1.8. Yeah take a look in the car pics thread, ive got quite a few in there. Decide what you want, performance or nice interior etc. Cos if you want performance id say spend 1.5k and the rest on suspension upgrades and tyres etc. If you just want a nice car, 2.5k is plenty. Check that forum out, plenty of cars for sale on there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTM Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Heres a few I think you should take a look at. Remember, the less stuff it has, the lighter it is lol. 1 2 3 and 4 5 This is undoubtedly the pic of the bunch providing its all as advertised. Thats ALOT ALOT ALOT of car for the money and with throttle bodies you will probably have 150bhp at the wheels, amazing throttle response and ooooooooo the noise. Definately worth a look. Im tempted myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipsy Jock Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 I love how you call the VTR/VTS common and then suggest buying perhaps the most common soft top on the roads lol. There's a reason both are so popular you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Stig Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Mazda RX-7 Sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzo Posted July 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 I love how you call the VTR/VTS common and then suggest buying perhaps the most common soft top on the roads lol. There's a reason both are so popular you know. Pretty much everyone around here has a VTR/VTS - So finding a second hand one that hasn't been thrashed to f**k is going to be a challenge. Yes, MX-5's are common as soft tops, but how many people do you know with one...not many I'd imagine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-Stop Junkie Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 Here's a pic of my mate's freshly resprayed Mk1. I would have got more, but it promptly tipped it down just as I'd taken my second frame! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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