Iāve owned my 2008 2.0 NC convertible for almost four years now and I love driving it, but - and itās a BIG ābutā! - Iāve become more and more dissatisfied with its spartan comfort and noisiness, particularly on my frequent longer motorway drives.
Having recently reached state pension age (!) I find now that I would prefer a much higher level of comfort, quietness and equipment than my MX provides. Itās a shame really because I love everything else about the car, including its appearance. And itās a great, involving drive on the ātwistiesā of course.
My dilemma is that Iām not quite ready for a āpipe and slippersā car yet and so Iāve been investigating other cars which, whilst still being thrilling to drive, are also much more ārefinedā than my NC. Apart from the driving side, Iād also like to be able to hear my beloved classical music with clarity and without having to turn the volume up to a deafening level!
ā¦Enter the Audi TT in its latest manifestation, which I recently tested in various configurations (I love the S-tronic option). The car is expensive of course but it ticks all the boxes for me and Iām very close to changing my MX5 for one. Having said this, Iāve pulled back from the brink in order to gauge the impartial (!) thoughts and opinions of you good people.Ā
Do what is right for you, no point in being a martyr it will only leave you feeling tired and dissatisfied after a long journey.Ā Must admit that at 71 I Ā went in the other direction, but then my journeys a relatively short, and most importantly. No motorway driving!Ā Good luck in whatever you decide.
Hi, have you tried the 3.5 sport tech power top, much more refined. Merc. SLK good cruiser and not expensive, seen 7k discount. No mx5 club though! But good cudos! BMs ok but found it bland. Mx5 great as fun second car love it, but as main car? Ps. Iām 77!
Keep the MX-5. and just go and buy something boring (and comfy) thatās a couple of years old for the motorway trips, youāll be quids in over buying a new TT, and with the best will in the world a TT is not going to do what an MX-5 can, Ā so it will be a compromise on all counts.Ā
I sometimes wonder if Iād enjoy an slk or z4 as I spend a lot of time in rush hour London traffic. However I fear that if I changed car the first country road I drove down would see me regret my decision.
Interesting one ! My wife had a z4 and now has a TT although last of previous model and coupe not roadster
we went to Italy last year in it and even though Iām a die hard mx5 fan having had all models and now ND sport nav 2.00 I think the TT engine with the dsg box is really good and if you want one car only then I think itās the best compromiseĀ
our mx5 has always been a āsecondā car because on the motorway they can be tiring . however it is a compromise the mazda is better and more nimble on the twisties
if our go for the Audi sell your mx5 privately and look at drive the deal .com for the Audi ,you can get big discounts ,we didĀ
Trading our MK3 for a 3.75 with cruise helped meāno more right leg cramp on m/way journeys.
A neighbour told me today he was trading his saloon for a 4x4 because it would be easier to get in and out,but I find that the need to get down lower to access and exit the MX is a useful discipline to keep moving all the āskeletonā,saves on Chiro costs too!Thank Good as she(the chiro) has just part exād her XK8 for an F Type!
As for noise perhaps youāre a bit young yet! it get less the older you are!
And after I passed my driving test in 1960 I drove T type MGās,Frogeyes,Midgets,Morgans and a Chain Gang Nash so the MX seems incredibly comfortable.
Iām 72,15 stone, 6ā2" and; have perfect hearing just donāt tell SWMBO!
try a PRHT Sport. Heated leather seats, and well insulated so can drive on motorways all day long listening to music. Alternatively buy a Jag XF diesel for Ā£10k as a second car, hits the pipe n slippers bit ; )
I second the comfort of the Mk3.5 sport tech PRHT.
However, I did change the wheels to 16" with fat tyres which gives a smoother ride with hardly any loss of performance that I can detect at my ripe old age of 78.
Hope that helps your decision making.
Cheers
Gales
Two different thoughts - Iāve had a passenger ride in an Audi tt and itās a great little car. Just my opinion, but I wouldnāt say different unless I thought so. More umph than a five, and a quieter ride too.
Second thought - noise? Get a hardtop, plenty of people want to sell one. A lot of noise comes into the cabin via wind on the roof with a sort top, a hardtop diminishes that quite a lot, as long it fits properly.
At 80 I drove down the French motorway at the limit and noise didnāt bother me one bit (I have a hardtop permanently fitted) - six hours. My son drove the second leg - another six hours. Long story, but the motorway was closed between Rouen and Le Mans. We got lost in Rouen - no detour signs, which cost us a lot of time. Also we stopped a few tines, for a break. Same on the way back, except it rained a lot as we got nearer to Paris and all the way to Calaisā¦ Only sounds that bothered me (eventually) were the windscreen wipers.
Frankly I love the sound of the engine, it sings as we go, so rarely use the radio or the CD player, despite the fact my favourite CDās are in the car. You donāt get that in an Audi! But then, Iām a petrolhead!
Same as above keep the MX5 I may be only 26 so no where near the age of the others above.
However, I still went down the two car route, my maths on the MX5 means it should just be over Ā£100-150 per month to keep really not worth selling on and provides more fun than the comfy car for everyday which toddles to work and around (although even that ended up being slightly āsillyā - BMW 640D Gran Coupe, just over 300 bhp for everyday).
I agree on the 2 car route, however, my other car is a little Hyundai i10 which is fine for shopping, 20+ mile runs to Chester , Shrewsbury etc, when necessary.
However, I do have an MX5 OC badge on the rear window which must puzzle anyone who notices it when parked in my local Sainsburys.
On Sunny dry days or trips to Spain My beloved Cariad is wheeled out of her snug to face the open road.
My wife has had a Mk1 Eunos 1.6 for 4 years & whilst it is good fun I cannot cope with the noise on a long run. At the time I had a 2000 Boxster S. The Boxster was great but expensive to run & too quick for UK roads, also too heavy for the twisties. So last October I part exed the Boxster for a PRHT Mk3.5. SO far been very happy, the MX5 has cruise, Bose & LSD & is much more fun & although a little slower than the Boxster is far more drivable.
2 car route definitely. I have a Mondeo to do the 60 mile round trip to work every day, do the shopping and when the family want to go out and the MX5 for fun.
I always think a proper roadster should be rear wheel drive, Audi TT is only front wheel drive or four wheel drive so not a proper roadster ( nice built car though). Only my personal opinion guys!Ā