Saying hello again from NE Scotland which is nice and bright today!
I have a Phoenix 2.5 that I was given by my son after he moved away and didn’t have a space or the time to use it so I didn’t refuse. It was in very good condition with solid front chassis rails and an immaculate underneath. I have had it 5 years now and early last year I saw signs of the rear sills rusting so I had both sides done and the rear arches replaced as part of the panel.
I’m retired now and I have done part time detailing for friends and neighbours so I have the equipment to keep on top of my car so most of my time is spent looking for dust…or a finger print!
The car is on Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs, I chose Bilstein because I have always used them on my old rally car and I didn’t need coil overs because I knew the height and ride I wanted without guesswork. It has “fast road geometry” and although I don’t intend to track it I will be taking it to Paul at Rodissons on my next trip to Yorkshire (homeland) for a bit more aggressive set up.
The MX5 wasn’t my first classic car love but it is now burned deep in my heart and I cherish the car but I don’t treat it as fragile. On the right roads and the right time I have some fun!
I did think about upgrading the power as it is much slower than my old rally car was but I actually love it the way it is and it’s such fun to drive. I love driving along with a big 4x4 or similar up my backside and then not braking for the next corner and watching them disappear in my rear view mirror only to scramble to catch up on the next straight! Is that a bad streak I have developed??
Looking forward to joining in and learning more about the MX5 with fellow enthusiasts.
Thanks, Brian
Not at all.
Best Mx-5s ever made in my personal opinion until some NDs were let loose.
Terminal rot asides…
With your experiences you will know your chassis is as involved with overall performance as the claimed 140-odds BHP we have. ( Which is nonsense!) Most of the “speed” in my 2002 Sport lies in the Big Bakes they fitted back then, and a very good tip top nick chassis & boots… when aligned.
It separates years of hard wired- in driver instincts from the weekender “boys”.
You either just “drive” a Mk.2.5 VVT however quite well.
Or you wear it like a pair of tight Levis.
Non owners will never know…pity.
BHP & Chassis Uprated ND’s…now…they are something else too I gather.
At last!
Hiya mate, thanks for the welcome!
That’s a lovely car you have there and obviously the right model to have! It’s the same year as mine too.
I’ll refrain from slagging other models off until they know me better you can obviously get away with it!!
The joy for me is that they are so much fun and you can get so much out of that chassis for very little money. Even a great alignment can transform the car and you can’t say that about many makes.
Welcome Brian, we have all sorts up here though only one 2.5 (an Arctic) that’s regularly seen, my 1st MX-5 was a NB FL so a VVT, moved it on at 4.5 years old when the quarter panels started bubbling… good to see yours still going strong!
You’ll be welcomed to any of the events we hold up here if you choose to come along, we like to maintain momentum legally and embarrass Chelsea barges too…
Welcome from the other end of the country (on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire) from another MK2 owner! Only a MK2, not a 2.5 - still love it though, and have owned it for ten years now!
JMK
Thanks Ian and thank you once again for sorting out my ID for the Forum.
If I remember correctly you had/have a red ND? I have much more free time these days so I will be sure to come along to any runs or meetings. Touching wood but the front chassis rails are good…for now.
Yes it’s fun keeping it on with a corner you know and watching them retreating…
A great looking car in a great colour too. I hate black and Mazda black is the softest paint I have encountered…but red when it’s polished is fantastic.
Is your car rust free or did you have to get any sills etc. done? When I got the car I was paranoid that it would fall apart on me on a roundabout with all the tales I read of rust!! So far so good.
and Oh what a problem to have! I like any colour other than black…
I know very little about ND’s but I am sure I will learn more here.
I have run out of pics now so I will save you all the pain of a new guy showing off his car!!!
My little red MK2 is totally original and has never been welded or painted. I treated it with Waxoyl and cavity wax when I first bought it, and have carried on doing that since (and I try to avoid using it when there is salt on the roads if possible!)
It has had a fairly easy life, and so far it is holding up really well for a 22 year old car.
Long may that continue - fingers crossed!
Enjoy your lovely car!
Great to have another 2.5 on board, wish I could keep mine as clean outside as you do yours inside, 50 shades of red Madge had all manor of work done before I got her some of it very badly, but it has all been put right now and if she starts to rot again I have no doubt I will just have the work done again. I am absolutley addicted to driving her whenever and whereever possible. Hope to vist the bonny part of our Isles again before the year is out
Hi Art…I gave you a love for your post cos you do love your car!! It looks like you use it too.
It’s obvious to everyone that the 2.5 is the One to have and I feel for those driving lesser cars. Oh well it’s nice to be amongst the select few!
I’ve had mine 5 years but I also had another classic car which I sold 3 years ago and since then I have really got in to my little car. I drive it and hard sometimes but I treasure it too.
I’m sure we will have a few more conversations as we go along…enjoy your car and stay safe mate.
Brian
A warm welcome from a fellow Yorkshire man, Roddison is a great choice for alignment.
I also fitted Bilsteins B6s to my 2.5 Sport as I do with all my cars. Unfortunately my 2.5 crumbled beneath me an now own a true red 3.5 2.0 Sport, on “proper” Bilsteins of course.
One up on me with the detailing though, I’m one of those who drives the car very often but cleans it rather less.
I’ve been using Bilsteins since the 70’s and I had already fitted Eibach 30mm lowering springs to my std shocks. The car is low mileage so they worked fairly well and it had the perfect ride height so I just fitted Bilstein shocks and they recommend the Eibach’s anyway.
I know I’m the odd one out but I didn’t want coilovers, I don’t need adjustable heights, rebound and damping.
I don’t know Paul except I use his pads front and rear but I did speak with him recently to ask how much notice he needed to do an alignment and he said about 3 weeks so I will combine it with a trip back to the Dales to see my pals.
Enjoy your 3.5 mate!
Paul is a mate of my son’s, they race together or against each other.(together in Citroen C1 endurance).
Very local to me and he set my geometry. Very happy, he’s definitely the go to man.
I’m with you on the coilovers although if I could afford it would fit Ohlin.
Really enjoyed my 2.5, never come across anything with better steering and once you got used to revving the nuts off it it went quite well.
Enjoy!
Have to admit if I could afford Ohlin’s I would!
I love the way the car rides though and it has Fast road settings but I would like a bit more camber at the front. It has AD08R’s on it and it grips quite well.
I like your genuine recommendation for Paul and I look forward to meeting him!
“I love driving along with a big 4x4 or similar up my backside and then not braking for the next corner and watching them disappear in my rear view mirror only to scramble to catch up on the next straight!”
My lovely 2.5 is still bog standard, but I also can not brake for the next corner - and that gives a special thrill! Even if they catch me up again more quickly on the next straight!!
Although I’ve had my MX5 for almost 6 years now I have only just got to really use it and enjoy it for what it is…a great fun car that puts a smile on your face every time you drive it.
I had another classic car but I have sold that now and am realising how much I cherish this little car!
I see you are another one that has the best version of the lot!
you can obviously get away with it!! 
