[quote=MX5imon]
So, how’s about an update report? I suspect I’m not the only one that’d be interested!
Thank you MX5imon for the ‘nudge’. I have been meaning to report back and now that I’ve had time with the modified car and added some 2000 miles I feel
I can now I hope give a reasonable review!
BBR GTi as a company need no introduction and their professionalism and attention to detail lived up to all expectations.
My Car looked fabulous on collection, washed, buffed and looking squat on its new koni springs and damper kit.
Neil talked about the conversion and advised oil changes at 5000 miles, and to allow the turbo to cool before switching the engine off after a fast run - usual precautions. He also explained that the new larger injectors (which are perfect for the 2.0), tend to overfuel a little on the 1.8 on start-up. Not a problem and the advice was to hold the revs at 2-3000 for up to 10 secs or so then it would all settle down.
I elected not to have the BBR Turbo badges fitted as I didn’t want to draw attention to the fact that this was no ordinary MX5!
The car had been dyno’d and the graph showed a nice smooth torque curve with max torque around 4000 rpm and a max of 234.5bhp - pretty good for a 1.8!
So, paperwork exchanged, bill settled and off I went.
Engine was warm, started and ticked over smoothly, no real change in engine sound. Immediately apparent was the effect of the suspension mod.
Steering was sweeter, more direct, smoother and the straight ahead lightness was gone which pleased me. Overall just feels meaty and ‘right’. Turn-in was
Go-Kart like, no rolling, no bounciness. I would recommend this mod even if you weren’t ever contemplating a performance upgrade.
Out on the open road the driveability was as before up to about 2500rpm. After that you become aware that there is something bigger pushing you along.
At 3000 the torque arrives and you are in no doubt that something is very different to before. Where there was a flatness in the power delivery there is now an increasing urgency. From 3000 the torque builds progressively and by the time you hit 4-4500 rpm it’s giving its all.
It’s hard to compare the feeling because the driving experience is different but the MX5 seemed to have the same sort of ‘in-the-back shove’ that you might get from a mk7 GTi or impreza turbo. Not bad.
I had expected more of a sudden transition or ‘kick’ when the car came on boost but a hallmark of the mod is the progressive nature of the power delivery.
This helps driveability because you can accelerate safely out of corners knowing that a massive and sudden dollop of torque isn’t going to spin you off and into the bushes!! In fact someone described the power as like the arrival of the life and soul to a party rather than the unwelcome drunken gatecrasher! lol
I had been concerned that I did not have an LSD but there have been no dramas, in fact, not having one makes the car safer in my opinion cos it is less prone to oversteer. Traction is good and I have had no scary moments, no spins, just a few deliberate low-key oversteery moments which are easy to catch.
I’m not a drift king but enjoy it when the back end loses a bit of control and I’m pleased that my instinctive reactions are correct.
On the right damp road on my winter tyres it is possible to spin-up the rear at about 60 in third so that shows the level of grunt available. I believe the 0-60 time
would be around 5.5 seconds if you abused your car in that way.
For me, the car is now a supreme overtaker and third is great from 40 all the way up to wherever! Coupled with the handling improvement, the car just feel exactly how you would want it to feel straight from the factory - it’s that good.
Cold starts are a wee bit petrol smelly - Neil was right, but it soon settles down after 5 mins of driving.
Insurance, well believe it or not, the mods meant I had to change insurance company and the new premium was £30 CHEAPER at £300! yes, cheaper. Apparently I am viewed as an enthusiast and being in the MX5OC helps.
I drive the car much as I did before, I don’t tear-arse around and use the Turbo for overtakes and where I feel it’s necessary. My commute is a 72 mile each way.
A road and part motorway trip and my MPG is averaging 34 (calculated) with a best of 36.9 and worst of 32.4 so overall, very little change.
Overall, very happy with the mods, no regrets. Would I do it again? yes, without hesitation but I’d use a 2.0 as a base which would give 260bhp! You can’t have too much power can you!!!
PS, I havent found speed humps to be an issue, not grounded out yet despite being 30mm lower!
Hope all that helps…
Dave