Mk1 to a Mk3 2.0 Sport - calling Mk3 owners advice please

General Discussion Forums MX-5 Chat
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I have copied this from the old forum as I had only just posted it.......[:D] 

"Hi Check out my tidier version below  [;)]

I hope it helps…  martin"

 
Nice But
Posted: 14 Nov 2008 11:10    Post subject: Mk1 to a Mk3 2.0 Sport - calling Mk3 owners advice please
Next year SWMBO and I are moving to south devon and have decided to rationalise our car ownership.

Great I thought, she will sell the A4 cabrio and get what she wants, I will ditch my Accord Tourer and keep my Mk1 MX for tooling around between Brixham/Torquay/Kingswear etc........

Here's the problem, my other arf doesn't like driving the Mk1 as there is no TC/ABS/DSC, which the Mk3 does have. Now I do like the look of the Mk3, especially the sport with the 17's, but is it the best drive of the mk3's? I love the driveability of the Mk1, it's predictable in corners, has excellent steering feedback and just puts a huge grin on my face  .

So the question is, is the 2.0lt Sport the best model to go for because it is the better driver or does the 1.8lt give the better feel? It would be an 06 to 07 reg.

Thanks for your help, I am going to test drive both of course but just thought a response from the people who drive them would help.

Cheers

Tim
 
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martin
Posted: 14 Nov 2008 11:21    Post subject:
Are you talking about a new car purchase ? In which case you could be buying the NC Facelift, due out in the spring, and any opinions now may not then apply...
and of couse according to the Mazda blurb it will then be a better car so worth waiting for, although no doubt just before its launch there will be some fantastic bargains on the current MK3...
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Nice But
Posted: 14 Nov 2008 11:26    Post subject:
Martin sorry, forgot about that. It would be an 06/56 probably........ I lost 9 grand in 18 months on my RX8 so I'm going back to my old philosophy of but them a year ish old.

I'll amend the post.

The new one looks 'orrible, IMO.
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gwalton
Posted: 14 Nov 2008 12:55    Post subject:
Shirley SWMBO will want her own car  Buy her an SLk and keep the Mk1.....you know it makes sense Rodney



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Titus
Posted: 14 Nov 2008 13:08    Post subject:
Nice But wrote:

The new one looks 'orrible, IMO.

I tend to agree!

But regarding your purchase of a S/H Mk3: you mention a 1.8 or a Sport, as if they were the only choices.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with the 1.8. You will miss out on a lot of non-retro-fittable features, ranging from DSC (which your co-driver may be concerned about) to the extra airbags, as well as some power, speed and low-down engine torque - in exchange for not much fuel saving and a not-much-lower cost.

I reckon the non-sport 2.0 litre offers the best value, and I don't say that simply because that's what I happen to have; I could have bought a Sport but I bought my OP (that is, non-Sport) after a lot of research and careful thought and consideration and I have never, ever regretted the choice.

Nothing wrong with the Sport at all, but remember that although it is more expensive it is no faster and no more powerful than the non-Sport. I've never even heard any claims that it handles signifcantly better. (An OP - a non-Sport - with its geometry corrected will definitely handle vastly better than any uncorrected Sport ever will!) The main differences with the Sport are the (unnecessary) 6-speed close-ratio gearbox and the (harder-to-clean, multi-spoke) large diameter wheels with lower profile (less comfortable, much more expensive) tyres.

If you want these features, then go for the Sport by all means, but otherwise consider the 2.0 litre OP as an alternative, and possibly get better value. And whatever you get, unless the previous owner has already had it done (unlikely!), get the geometry sorted ...

Good luck in your search!
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pclifton2004
Posted: 14 Nov 2008 16:11    Post subject:
I too had the choice of 2.0 Option Pack and 2.0 Sport and elected for the Option Pack for the following reasons:

1) Although it may (touch wood) be losing relevance now, the emmissions bracket, hence tax, is better
2) I didn't enjoy driving the 6-speed gearbox and there have been a few reported problems with them

I do love the 17" wheels on the Sport, but these can be had on Ebay (without tyres) for about £200 so I am considering them as a future upgrade.

Very happy with my choice thus far!
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Nice But
Posted: 14 Nov 2008 19:04    Post subject:
Cheers for the info so far, just the sort of answers I need. I have only just started to look as it will be next year before I will buy.

It wasn't the wheels that was swaying me just the possibility of a better handling package...... doesn't the sport have Bilsteins? or am I better to go for the OP and add aftermarket boingies and lower slightly?

Cheers all and keep the info coming.

GW - nice thought, but she can have the sensible car....
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James Huggins
Posted: 15 Nov 2008 10:13    Post subject:
We have the Sport and would recommend it.

You get a few extra bits and pieces and the wheels look much better (don't think they're difficult to keep clean either).

Whichever one you buy lowering and alignment are essential for the true MX-5 experience.

Good luck, I'm sure you won't be disappointed whatever your choice.
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Nice But
Posted: 15 Nov 2008 14:17    Post subject:
Thanks James

It's the leather seats and some of the extras which are appealing to me. The wheels are not an issue either as I have Rota RB's on my mk1 and they are a b**** to keep clean.

How much is a line up at MIW if you don't mind me asking?

Tim
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gwalton
Posted: 15 Nov 2008 23:43    Post subject:
Nice But wrote:
Thanks James


How much is a line up at MIW if you don't mind me asking?

Tim

Max £100 and free reset***** miles later
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hornetrider
Posted: 16 Nov 2008 09:48    Post subject:
I'm considering the same move (R-Ltd > NC Sport), possibly the ZSport limited edition.

I think the NC Sport is the better car than the OP for reasons already mentioned here, plus it also has a LSD.
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pclifton2004
Posted: 16 Nov 2008 14:35    Post subject:
All the 2.0l have LSD, and DSC - the only non-cosmetic diff between Sport and OP is 17" wheels and 6 speed box  Bose stereo is an option only even on Sport, and most OPs come with leather seats and climate control.
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James Huggins
Posted: 16 Nov 2008 19:29    Post subject:
Nice But wrote:

It's the leather seats and some of the extras which are appealing to me
Tim


Yes, me too.

You can get the Option Pack with leather etc, but unless there's a big difference in price why not go for the "top-of-the range" Sport anyway?

Lowering costs about £300, but you may be able to save a bit by factoring it in to the purchase deal - especially in todays market, and Geoff was spot-on (as usual), WIM alignment is about £100
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Nice But
Posted: 16 Nov 2008 19:46    Post subject:
The Bose I'm not bothered with as I have some Audiobhan speakers to fit and having lived with the Bose in the RX8, with it's firmware iPod adapter issues, I'll live without. Soft tops don't lend themselves to audiofiles anyway.

I think the Sport has Bilstein shockers as well. Lowering will be compulsory as standard they are too high, same as the RX8  . The leather is a big + point for me as all the cars I've had for the past 10 years have had leather and I just can't go back to cloth, even when you burn your bum in the summer......
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£86 + VAT :slight_smile:

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Thanks Paul

Similar cost to guy up by me who did the Mk1 last year.  It was transformed I have to say, felt very planted and so precise in the corners.  Mind you he did a superb job on my RX8 as well.

I can feel a Sport coming on, just not sure which colour.  I love red, but the Copper Red is stunning in sunlight.  Still got a few months to decide and I’ve also got to sell my Mk1.

 

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Copied whole thread over again, us mods can do it a bit neater, so I hope that helps… [:D]

And hope I didn’t miss any bits.!

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Cheers Martin[Y]

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An alternative view…

In my opinion an mx-5 is a £15k ish car  (new) and brilliant at that price, I think if you pay much more than that you may be disappointed in the lack of toys, quality of interior etc. So my choice would be as folows:

  1. If you ever put a hardtop on your mx-5 go for the 1.8 roadster coupe.

  2. If you never put a hardtop on your mx-5  go for the 1.8 roadster.

3.If you really, really miss the extra power (and ask youself the last time you used it in anger - apart from track days) go for the2.0l option pack roadster.

4.If you really want all the bells & whistles go for the 2.0 sport roadster coupe, however you may find your other half doesn’t like the 6 speed box - definitely an acquired taste and probably more of a bloke thing. 

I’m on my 3rd mx-5 (mk1 1.8 no PAS leccy windows etc), (mk2.5 sport 6 spd box,  LSD, leather etc etc), (mk3 roadster coupe 1.8 option pack)

The only thing I really miss on the new car is the LSD, but in day to day driving it’s the best one yet.

Probably confused you enough now, so enjoy whatever you choose.

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David

Thanks for the insight from a serial 5 owner. I won’t be buying a new one as I can’t afford to take the heavy 1st year drop - Vat and new car tax - so will be going for a 56 to 57 plate. £13K is probably the nost I want to spend.

A 6 speed isn’t a problem as my RX8 had the same box, we want a softop as the Audi Cabrio is being sold as well, I agree with the LSD though, the RX had it and I loved it, so will be happy to go back to one - tried to get a Torsen for my Mk1 to no avail.

I will miss the basic driver skill of the Mk1, as in, get it wrong and nothing but your skill will get it straight again, but if we are to have 2 usable cars by both of us I have to go for a Mk3, the Mk1 scares her in the wet - I don’t know why as I have to try to get the back to break out…[H]. The extra grunt of the 2.0 is where I will look and also the Sport for the additional toys.

Thanks again though.

T