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The gearbox, along with RWD is one of the nice things about MX-5's. The VIN will be the giveaway between UK and import.
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Agree with Martin- the MX5 box is a delight- snick, snick, snick! They also seem to have found the ideal place for the stick. Your left hand just falls onto it.
Jap imports will generally come with more toys- a/c, headrest speakers and leather etc, and have advantages & disadvantages (toys are nice to have, but everything will be in Japanese!). Choose the one that is in the best nick for your budget, Jap or UK. Look for rust in the sills if it's an older car.
Great car, manaul or auto. Never tire of driving the other half's. Seems so modern compared to my MG (but it would, wouldn't it?).
A.
--
Dr Alex Mears
MG BGT 1971
If you are in a hole stop digging...unless
you are a miner.
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The gearbox action, the position of the lever and even the sound of the selectors moving is so reminisant of the 1960's Lotus Elan that they must have copied it in every detail.
It must be personal choice, manual or automatic, but apm (or Dr Alex, if he prefers-- ) is correct. It is a great car.
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It's rumoured they even copied the MGB diff whine.
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The 1960s Elans -- or at least my 1963 Series 1 -- used the Ford 2000E gearbox so it had relatively humble beginnings but was just right with the short Elan gearstick. People keep comparing the MX5 to the Elan but I have never had the chance to drive the Mazda and just can't believe that it is anything like as controllable as the Series 1, even on 13 inch skinny tyres that are not a patch on today's rubber. Unfortunately as it was an every day car and a pregnant wife couldn't fit behind the wheel, it had to go. Bet the MX5 has adjustable steering.
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Avantthere are lots of MX-5s around so make sure you get what you really want
I think you might be right - the auto I'm looking at is a _really_ nice car but the leather on the driver seat is cracking and the performance doesn't compare too well to my current Fabia :
parameter ... MX5 ... (Fabia)
0-62 ... 11.0 ... (11.5)
max speed ... 118 ... (115)
mpg (combined) ... 29.8 ... (56.5)
BHP ... 139 ... (100)
Of course, the MX5 drives much better, but it looks like most of the power is lost in the gearbox. The 146BHP 1.8i Sport does 33mpg, 126mph and 8.5 to 62 and costs the same to insure.
Manuals seem to command a premium over the auto but choosing manual gives a choice of every car in the country, except the one auto. The comments about the click-click-click and natural positioning of the gearstick ring true. I Took out a 1.8i Sport with the 6 speed manual tonight and the gearchange was excellent (but then it had only done 14000 miles)
Am thinking, looking out of the window, that this is the time of year to be looking at buying a cabrio so I'll give myself a few weeks to look around and get a feel for what there is out there.
Many thanks for the replies, I really appreciate the ideas and advice, it does help organezize my brain on these things, keep the ideas/comments coming.
Lee
-- You know, it\'s not like changing toothpaste
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Harmattan,
I had a 1965 series 2. My son has a Mk 2 MX5 (fixed headlights) It is a 1,6 ltr (110 bhp I think.) The standard Elan was 105 bhp. The Elan was lighter so comparing bhp/ton they are probably about the same. To drive, in my opinion, and relying on 30-year-old memory, they are very similar in feel. The performance is generally about the same. Son?s has power steering, which feels ok. The MX holds the road well and handles well, but ---
The suspension, compared to the Elan?s, is very hard and the wheels are wide alloys with low profile tyres. My Elan had 13-inch wheels with, I think, 155/70 tyres. On billiard table smooth roads, the MX5 is fine. In Gloucestershire there aren?t many of those. Typical road undulations, potholes, etc, upset the MX, it will hop and skip about. The size of the wheels means that suspension travel is limited, hence hard springing. If I had the choice of what to take for an entertaining drive, it would be the Elan. Relying on memory, again, I can?t remember it losing its composure in the way the MX5 does. It seemed to cope with undulations etc with ease. It would be interesting to re-jig the MX5 with softer springs, narrower wheels etc and see what happened. I tend to agree with you, the Elan has the edge on controllability.
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That is an excellent and useful comparison, mjm. I have seen lots of comments comparing the two cars but nothing of a back-to-back nature. I had my S1 in the late 80s so it could be coloured a bit. However, never before or since -- even with the Plus 2 -- I had later have I been able to four-wheel drift controllably in the way you could with the original Elan. And on Dunlop SP Sports I seem to recall. The two Loti and a Reliant Scimitar V6 coupé are the only 'modern' cars I have had where I could walk outside to do something and think 'No, I am going for a 10-minute drive through the woods and up a few hills just for the fun of it'. I am sure a Caterham, Ariel Atom, Chevron B1 and one or two others might have the same effect from current offerings.
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I think 185/60/14 tyres are standard, so I wouldn't class those as low profile, neither would I say mine hops and skips. It is said a 4 wheel alignment can make a world of a difference to perceived road holding. There are a number of 'alternate' values that reportedly increase road holding at the expense of comfort, along with many aftermarker dampers and springs. (mine is still on the 'comfort' settings).
Martin
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Another 'enthusiatic' Mazda dealer is www.mx5-mazda.co.uk/ but they didn't give the impression that they liked to 'deal', certainly not when we were shopping for Mrs V's Montana - Crikey - over 3 years old it is now!!
Anway, when I was doing the searching, you CERTAINLY could get some good value autos, if you lloked around. Also expect them to be well n truly toys, rather than regular transport - maybe the third car in the family, used by the lady once or twice a week, if it was sunny, type of use!!
BUT... you mention leather & hardtop. The Montana has both, the roof didn't come out of storage, other than to try it, during the first winter of ownership, so not worth the hassle, or extra £500 it's supposed to add to used prices (new list is around £1500!!)
& appart from my views on eating animals. or sitting on their skins, it seems a silly choice for a car that might get a lot of direct sunlight, on the interior. Colour fades & discomfort. Plus I think the cloth Mx5 trim FAR more comfortable anyway!!
Unless your desperate, for this car, do think again & find a manual & experience what the Mx5 was designed for & DRIVE IT!!
VB
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Martin, It wasn't meant as a real critisism of the car, just a comparison. Compared to how the 60's Elan was set up, the MX5 feels hard and a bit harsh. The car is on Pirrelli P6000 195/50/15's (genuine Mazda wheels).
The build quality, etc is excellent and it is a good all round sports car, lots of fun when I can get my hands on it.
I suppose I am getting older and used to Xantia ride quality!
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