MX5

[GrumpyGregry]

"the British sports car experience", lit: "the sills have rotted"

But seriously: if I could justify the cost and had the time to drive it, I'd get one too.

Mazda have recreated the British sports car experience if that sports car was a water soluble TR6 or TR7

 

[Drago]

The TR7 was about as sporty as Les Dawson. It neither went, cornered, or looked even remotely sporty. Even the TR7 V8 and TR8 had the sporting credentials of Eric Pickles, despite BL trying to go racing with them.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I've never got the fast car thing.

I have. But I'm over it now.

 

[flake99please]

S2000 > MX5

 

[Markymark]

S2000 > MX5

Indeed. Great fast car.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

This is where the MX5 fits in so well - you can have fun without having to go to licence risking velocities, and it doesn't make any pretence of trying to look expensive or racy. There is no pretence, it is what it is.

It reminds me of the best bike I ever owned, the humble Honda CB500. The best at nothing but very good at everything and cheap as chips to run. Top speed means nothing on the public highway unless you don't care about your licence.

 

[MarkF]

Just noticed that car for the first time in my life about an hour when taking my mum's dog for a walk. It was a 55 plate, the black roof got my attention. I like the early TT's the more "normal" later models don't do it for me.

They only made 800 or so, and by all accounts is now an appreciating asset (possibly!).

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-germancars/audi-tt-quattro-sport-catch-it-while-you-can/30815

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I think the Fiat is lardy and ugly compared to the MX5, they are running a media ad with a pic of the new one with the old 124 Spider in the background, it's a daft idea as the old car is so beautiful that it makes the new one look daft.

 

[Cycleops]

If you can't get a MX5 one of these should fit the bill:

@Drago would appreciate the handling I'm sure.

 

[screenman]

The 1.6 Belend, a great goer with lots of grunts when pushing on hard.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Just noticed that car for the first time in my life about an hour when taking my mum's dog for a walk. It was a 55 plate, the black roof got my attention. I like the early TT's the more "normal" later models don't do it for me.



I think the Fiat is lardy and ugly compared to the MX5, they are running a media ad with a pic of the new one with the old 124 Spider in the background, it's a daft idea as the old car is so beautiful that it makes the new one look daft.

The old 124 spider is pretty, but 'of it's time'. You'd be very much in the minority in thinking the new 124 is "Lardy" and "ugly" it is an MX5, so if it's "Lardy" then so must the MX5 be. The aesthetics are 'marmite' but having driven the new MX5 and the 124 spider, I'd have the 124, because the bits Fiat have added make it more refined.

 

[oldfatfool]

Drain holes get blocked for hood very quickly causing massive condensation inside. Pain in winter, hat required in summer. Need the bollocks reving off them uphill. Kept ours for 2 years, the idea of owning another appeals the reality having owned one doesn't.

 

[Slick]

Anybody owned one?

And if so, any advice on what to look for when buying, common faults etc?

I'm selling my motorbike. After 20 years of firing myself through the countryside on sunny weekend mornings I think I've pushed my luck far enough and have lost all interest in riding.

I'd still like a toy for those crisp summer mornings or a bit of a bimble on a summer evening and after looking around I'd like to own a MX5 for a while.

Thought there may be someone here with some ownership experience. Thanks in advance for any help.

I'm not reading through all the other suggestions, but please, just no.

 

[MarkF]

The old 124 spider is pretty, but 'of it's time'. You'd be very much in the minority in thinking the new 124 is "Lardy" and "ugly" it is an MX5, so if it's "Lardy" then so must the MX5 be. The aesthetics are 'marmite' but having driven the new MX5 and the 124 spider, I'd have the 124, because the bits Fiat have added make it more refined.

I should have said "in comparison". It's all in the styling and they are very different, the Mazda looks lithe and agile, the Fiat lardy and ugly in comparison IMO, the fake power bulges being particularly irritating. I'll take you word that the Fiat is more refined, but I don't want a refined MX5 in the first place, that's why I didn't like the Mk3, I want a noisy, fun car.

 

[screenman]

The look of the new one is growing on me.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I've had one for a year and a half. Its a Mk3 2.0 Sport. I toyed with an earlier one, as I like the look of the mk2, but reading about chassis leg rust etc put me off. I love mine its the best 5.3 K I've ever spent. It took a lot of finding as I had a wide budget and looked at cars up to 12K. This one was the best as its been cherished, and low mileage. I've fitted RX8 yellow dot anti roll bars, which made a huge difference to the handling. I've also had the alloys refurbished in smoked chrome, fitted better tyres, as these cars hate sh1te tyres, got the alignment done. The 2.0 litre engine has loads of low down torque, and works really well with the 6 speed box, which is has very close ratios. Once you get used to it, it handles really, really well, and is the best B road car I've ever owned. Always puts a smile on my face when I drive it.

People may mock them, they've obviously never drove one. I toyed with the idea of a Honda S2000, price, availibilty compared to the 5 put me off. The 2.0 litre is plenty fast enough for B raods, the A roads are just a waste of time round here with traffic, so its the ideal motor. There's lots of choice when it comes to the Mk3, that's personally why I'd buy one, they are safer too. They rust, but not as bad as the earlier cars, I looked at some with loads of surface rust underneath, this was an 06 and an 08. The underbody rust protection is poor on Mazda's. Mine has hardly seen rain so there was no rust at all. I still rust proofed it though, the most horrible job I've ever done. Just take your time, walk away from any sh1tters, I looked at eight, a mixture of MK3's and MK3.5's. just take your time and look for a cherished one, they do exist at all ages. Problem is they are pretty cheap to buy, and run, so a lot are not looked after, I saw loads with tatty body work, scuffs, scratches.

I had a look at an Mk4 RF in the showroom, they look way better with the roof down, I actually prefer the look of the soft top MK4. I can understand why people would prefer the look of the 124 spider, once you get used to it, I think its pretty. The Mk4 MX5 looks like a BMW or something to me, which I personally don't care for, sure it looks more modern, but lacks the charm of the earlier cars to my eyes, which remind me of a Lotus Elan, Triumph Spitfire etc, not a BMW. Everybody to their own though. The MK4 was ok, but certainly not worth 6 x value of my MK3, stuff that...