test drove mx5....

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

'08 plate, circa 50k, £5.9k

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266831679356

Guy let me have a go (accompanied, natch). Been wondering what these're like for a long time now. In fact, since me mrs's mate turned up in a dark green one with tan hide back around 2000. Think hers might have had pop ups, or was an early mkii.

Anyway yeah, had a go of that blue one in the link. 2L lump.

Didn't get to give it much, but enough to get a feel. What shit. Felt vague, imprecise, heavy, lacking feel, feedback and agility. Even seemed to wander slightly. Steering was heavy, but that's okay - I was prepared for that. But the lack of (high) power steering didn't seem to be translating to, well, anything really.

Massively disappointed. Plus side, there was power everywhere. Red line was about 5.5k, but no need to hardly get half that high.

What the hell. I would prefer a 1400cc engine in it that could rev to 7k, and a third less weight.

Absolute bollocks. My daily is more fun - my shed, my '05 ford focus 1.6 diesel that makes about 85bhp iirc. Having had new bushings a couple of years ago I can't scrap the bastard. On tough back lanes it feels plush but supple, loads of feel, such a piece of crap but what teeny servings of power it has are always there. Momentum overtakes are the only way, so timing is everything. I dunno. I think I just like old sheds?? Regardless, that mx5 was very bad. Maybe I would love the first gen ones that're lighter? * checking specs *

'05 mx5 2L = 1120kg

'97 mx5 1.6L = 980kg
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Nobby the Bastard]

I didn't realise that you were a hairdresser.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Polarbear]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Easy-X]

Classic hairdresser car: Audi TT convertible. Bonus points for Hot Pink paintjob/wrap.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/47/50/d3/4750d3b91e9ec03b738294e765b187e5.jpg
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

i like that idea - mainly cos 2+2, also quatro

never driven one though, so some engines could be as dull as the mx5?

can we turn this into a fun car for £4k thread? The smaller and lighter, the better.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Howling Terror]

Nissan 370Z?
Alpha Romeo Spider?
Unlikely to find many fun 2 seaters in decent nick for under 4 grand.
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The Harry Turner Project

[struan80]

Strangely enough I was talking to my mate. He had been looking at an SLK. I said, girls car. Better off with an MX5...maybe I'm wrong.

I used to have an MGF many a year ago. That car got rubbish reviews but I thought it was a great little car. It was mouldy inside due to it not being very water tight right enough. I could put up with that.

[stinkwheel]

[struan80]

I haven't seen one of those before. Small and light is best fun, even with motorbikes this is the case.

[struan80]

For cool two seater look at an early Radical SR3. I had one and it was so much fun. Had a Hyabusa engine and weighed about 500 kg.

I would love a road going Radical now.

[stinkwheel]

I went a long way down the rabbit hole of getting an S660 imported from Japan. Paperwork was going to be a nightmare and specialist import companies wanted £££ and it was still left kind of hanging at your own risk kind of thing.

Mid engine, RWD 660cc twin turbo. 6-speed manual or 7-speed CVT. 63hp, 830kg

https://www.torque-gt.co.uk/media/magefan_blog/DSC05214.jpg
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[to v or not to v]

i drove a mates Toyota MR2 back in the last millennium. the car handled superbly.

old man me would rather have the Nissan Figaro these days though.
https://i.imgur.com/VCSS0Qi.jpg
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current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
Moto Guzzi V7.

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

mystery solved?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T55zhS-nRhQ&t=8m20s
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Robby]

For me it would be another Smart Roadster. I had two of them, back when they were in production.

It's also the car that makes me feel old. To me, its still a new car that was a year old when I first had one. That feels like yesterday.

In reality, they aren't ULEZ compatible. Too old.

Very tempting to get one for an electric conversion in a few years.

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Kickstart]

[A100man]

[blurredman]

[UncleFester]

I dunno ... think you're missing the point. It's not a pin sharp race car, it's a nice handling RWD rag top that's generally pleasant to goof about in. That something 15 years old could do with a suspension and bush refresh isn't news.

Tbh I prefer the Sport NAV or whichever it is that comes with bilsteins, LSD and a 6 speed box. The current shape one is a lovely thing to drive, particularly the 1.5L rag top.

Kei cars are stupid money - cute but not 25K ( which is what a nice S660 will set you back) and as for the Figaro, it's basically a Micra in a two tone retro suit.

Best car i've ever owned was the S2000 and the current Del Sol I have gives it a close run for fun even if it's 100bhp down on power.
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2017 Z1000SX

[MarJay]

I went out in an Alpine A110S a few weeks back, and it sounds like just the opposite of the MX5. Precise, smooth and not over damped, it also went like I couldn't believe seeing as it's 'only' a 1.8. My 911 is faster, but really not by a lot, and that DCT gearbox counts for a lot when you put it in sport mode. I will not be replacing my 997 with one, but I did really like it.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[MCN]

I remember watching the Zipper-Head designer of the mx5 (mista in us/canada) talkng about the inspiration for the mx5.
People suggested that it resemblesld the lotus elan.
The designer must have been crestfallen by that idea.
He said that he did not know what "a Rotus Eran rooked rike."
Rike shit he didn't.

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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[stinkwheel]

It occurrs to me that you could probably pick up an Austin Healey "Frogeye" Sprite for under 5k.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Austin_Healey_%27Frogeye%27_Sprite_-_Flickr_-_exfordy.jpg/280px-Austin_Healey_%27Frogeye%27_Sprite_-_Flickr_-_exfordy.jpg
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[struan80]

So is the price 4k or 5k?

I could throw a few things in the ring when it comes to girls cars. I'm an expert on sniffing girl car seats.