Hello all:
I/we are are seriously considering buying either a new MX5 1.8S or MR2 and I am fishing for opinions, facts, thoughts, advice etc. We test-drive both cars on Saturday, virtually back-to-back, which will be interesting and we have both driven a couple of MX5’s before and liked them, though the 1.6 is a bit gutless.
The car needs to be convertible, fun, and reasonably inexpensive to run and will be used by one of us for our daily commute as well as for enjoyment at weekends and occasional longer journeys. I imagine that when the weather is fine my good wife will drive it her 20 miles cross-country b-road route to work, whereas in snow, fog and torrential downpours I will drive it my 35-mile mostly motorway journey. Should we decide to buy, we will keep our Mondeo as the main long journey vehicle.
I will list my thoughts on the 2 cars:
MX5 – Good points - More practical (luggage space), price and value including AC and leather in the £14.5k broker price for a proper UK car, easy RWD front engine handling. Bad points None?
MR2 – Good points - Sharper to drive (apparently), revvier engine, arguably fresher looking. Bad points – no luggage space, AC and leather not included in £15.5k broker price, mid-engined handling trickier?
What ideas do you lot have? Are there any alternatives I should consider? Any points I have missed in comparing the two, anyone driven both and bought one?…
Thanks,
Andy
Ps. Please don’t suggest a Griffith to keep in the garage for a 3rd car, she won’t buy that one, I have tried!
pps. I have, of course, read the car-by-car breakdown!
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Buy the Mazda. The MR2 does look sharper but will it still do so in a few years time? Which ever way you look at the Mazda, it is hard to see how it will ever date it, is a simple, classic shape.
Mrs Etchells opted for the Mazda over the MR2, reasons being the lack of any useful space, the rather dated interior - her opinion - and the clincher was the salesman having to virtually kneel on the roof get it to fit into the recess. Although to be fair it was Februrary and the vinyl was probably stiff, not an issue if you get a Mazda with a cloth roof.
We simply cannot fault the Mazda, it goes around corners on the proverbial rails. It is a 1.8 but not fully run in yet as it has only done 3k miles but it still feels reasonably eager and willing. Build quality is faultless.
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Dave:
Thanks for the thoughts, espec the roof. If we get a 1.8S the cloth roof is included.
Andy
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Andy - It has to be the Mx5! simply as it's what the soft to[p sports car is all about!
The MR2 looks good in some colours - other than that ...??
Also, don't bother with the broker/on line route, sure, get an idea of prices, but you'll end up doing a better deal in the local Mazda franchise.& as you're looking for some added options, thats EXACTLY how they like to deal - better than money off!
Beware of buying a standard Mx5 & adding your extras, you'll probably find a limited edition, waiting in the wings, with the toys you want! More car for your money, this way!
Coming soon..
Indiana - 1.8, leather, alloys, wood kit, pearlescent Garnet red, only 250 available £17000, bet you'd buy one for under £16000!
Facelift model, lots aluminium look inside, bigger wheels, Bose sounds,leather standard, prices similar to current model.
To save a few £$£$£ more, check out Mazdas own site (link from this site, Weekends Best Deals section, click on their dealers stocks & you'll find 100 or so pre-reg, only 10 - 100 miles & £2000 off list!!
Repoted clutch & foglight problems on 02/03 cars.
Don't forget to practice the Mx5 wave!!
VB
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Has to be the Mazde - I think they have a free years insurance offer at the moment. Autocar named them 'best handling car of 2003' over some very highly exotic machinery in a recent edition (to some concern from certain quarters).
Martin
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The crowd on the pitch... they think it's all over..... It is now!
A fairly conslusive win to the Mazda, methinks.
Have to say that I often debate the issue of a third car for "playtime" and it keeps coming down to a pre-owned MX5 or a Z3. Mx keeps winning through on so many levels!
Now I just need to decide. Third car in 18 months, or half shares of a 24' sportscruiser..... What would you do?
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I am just in the process of importing an "MX5" from Japan via a friend in the trade who regularly imports cars, mainly 4WDs. The car I have located is a one owner model in racing green with a manual box, hard top, air con, leather seats etc. It has done 31k kilometres and is around ten years old. Landed price in the UK should work out at around £3K. I have been interested for some time to have a go at importing and have received nothing but positive reports about the Eunos/MX5 so will be very interested to see how it works out. This is very much a substitute for a mid life crisis and will be used mainly by my wife for her short daily commute and as a toy at the weekend. Could be a cheap means of open top motoring if , like me , you are tempted - or an expensive mistake, time will tell!
For what it's worth, I cant think it would be a mistake to go for a newer, UK one. They have been such a successful car over the years.
MGs
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The crowd on the pitch?
A fairly conslusive win??
In my defence, I currently have a number of stitches in the back of my right hand following an argument with an axe whilst splitting logs on Sunday evening. Normal service will be resumed as soon as the severed digital nerve in my thumb grows back. About 10 years, I'm reliably informed.
In the meantime, let the good typos roll!
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MX5 or a Z3. Mx keeps winning through on so many levels!
Absolutely! Despite what the FB in the Times thought this week. Third car in 18 months, or half shares of a 24' >>sportscruiser..... What would you do?
That's a more diffucult choice!
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Vansboy:
Thanks for some very constructive ideas. I had forgotten the 13999 pre-reg'd 1.8 Sports available and the current special offer of a free hard top with 1.8's. - more negotiating fodder for my local dealer!
I think I might have missed the news of the facelift. when is/was this and what's changed?
Thanks for your help
Andy
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Both cars are awesome. The Mazda is the classic, the MR2 is the "sportier". I like the Mazda very much, but personally I would opt for the MR2, because of the engine and well balanced weight distribution (50%-50% front-back).
Vagelis.
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Get the Mazda. If you were to go away for a long summer weekend in the MR2 you (or more likely your dear lady) would curse the lack of luggage space.
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Well. Thanks again for everyones input. We made a decision yesterday. Much to my surprise, we have gone for the MR2, paid the deposit and everything!
Why? Because the cars were not like we expected. The MR2 was SO much less blustery than the MX5 with the lid down, even with the Mazda's wind deflector in place. This will make it far more bearable for occasional longer journeys involving lots of motorway. I am also really too tall for the MX5 - my head touches the roof and the top couple of inches of my head are in the wond stream above the windscreen. 4 or 5 inches to spare in the MR2 with the seat right down (no height adjust on MX5).
Whilst the MR2 was sharper and felt more directly connected to the road, it was nowhere near as uncivilised as I expected. It demanded more input than the MX5 over the same horribly rutted and potholed B-road test route, but was never anything less than fantastic fun. The Mazda's handling is beautiful though! You can get the back out (just slightly!) and feel everything. I imagine you could get really leery on wet roundabouts quite safely with some practice!
The looks of the facelifted MR2 also won us over and we are confident of our colour choice - Sable Grey- which we were not with the MX5.
Other smaller considerations - the MX5 clutch problems don't seem to be solved, the test car we drove was slightly juddery. Also the stereo in the MR2 sounded much nicer. We also preferred the Toyota dealership in general.
Now we just have to wait 12 weeks for delivery!!
Andy
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Forgot to say (if anyone's still reading). The final piece to the story of yesterday ocurred at about 1745 as we were about to leave the dealership.
The sales manager walked in looking rather sheepish. "I think we will have to lend you a car" he said. He had reversed his Landcruiser into the front of our Polo (p/x price already agreed!) damaging bonnet, bumber, rad grille, surround and a headlight.
So we now have a Yaris on indefinite loan!
If anyone wants to buy our Polo, 1997 1.9DCL, 110k miles, FSH, new bonnet, bumper etc, around December 19, I will advertise nearer the time!
Andy
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Forgot to say (if anyone's still reading). The final piece to the story of yesterday ocurred at about 1745 as we were about to leave the dealership.
The sales manager walked in looking rather sheepish. "I think we will have to lend you a car" he said. He had reversed his Landcruiser into the front of our Polo (p/x price already agreed!) damaging bonnet, bumber, rad grille, surround and a headlight.
So we now have a Yaris on indefinite loan!
If anyone wants to buy our Polo, 1997 1.9DCL, 110k miles, FSH, new bonnet, bumper etc, around December 19, I will advertise nearer the time!
Andy
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for driving always go for the MX5, for comfort pick the MR2
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See if I care, that you don't want an Mx5 ;-))
But if you do have to REALLY wait 'till December 19, you'll be £$£$£ in, at P/X time, if you hang on & get it 01 Jan 04, registerd instead.
Offer to pay for it & take delivery, in December, just keep it in the Garage, for a few days n sit in it n polish it n smile !!
VB
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& what sort of deal & freebies did you get?
VB
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Go on then, I'll tell you.
£600 off list price, MR2 mats, 12 months tax and a full tank of fuel. I think not a bad deal really considering.
Can people really not see that a car registered 01 Jan 04 is identical in every way and therefore worth the same amount as one registered 31 Dec 03?
Andy
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