Hi all, I’m in the market to buy an MX5 but I’m torn between buying a 2010 Sport Tech RC or a 2011 Kendo RC, the two I’m interested in are both beautiful cars, if I won the lottery I’d buy them both
By the look of the specs on paper they are pretty similarly specced except for the gearbox (and possibly suspension?). Is the sixth gear that much of an advantage over the 5 speed box, are the six gears closer together or is the sixth gear a higher cruise gear than 5th?
They are both around the 80,000 mile mark, is this still reasonable (both have FSH) or is it starting to get a bit on the high side for these little cars?
They’re both on 17" alloys, the Kendo is a beautiful dolphin grey colour whilst the Sport Tech has an equally beautiful aluminium paint finish…
Are there any other differences which would help me make a decision one way or the other?
I don’t have any experience of the Kendo as mine’s a Sport Tech but for some bizarre reason you will pay more road fund licence with a 6 speed than a 5 speed. I wouldn’t have thought the mileage would be much of an issue if they’ve been looked after properly. You’re right in that only the Sport Tech has Bilstein suspension but frankly unless you are planning to drive it pretty hard I doubt it would make much difference, it’s more important to check the alignment is where it should be.
The Kendo 2.0 has only a 5-speed box, but the top ratio is actually a bit ‘taller’ (i.e. less rpm/mph) than the 6-speed IIRC.
A bit more relaxed at motorway speeds, but not the absolute ultimate acceleration if you red-line it through the box.
The Kendo’s light leather seats are a pig to keep clean - don’t wear damp blue jeans on 'em!
And don’t be surprised if you get called ‘Kendod’ in the Kendo!
(Or so my mate who owns one says; but then, she loves it - esp the PRHT.)
;-))
Thanks every-one for your comments, so I’m now the proud owner of a 2011 Kendo RC (now christened ‘Susie ZoomZoom’), most of my commute is dual carriageway so a taller top ratio works out better for me, I’m not intending to thrash her so a six speed box and sports suspension, although nice is not really necessary, and cheaper road tax is always a bonus
As for the high mileage my OH was more worried about it than I (“it’s done a lot of miles, it’s bound to break down etc etc”), but my daily driver is an Audi A6 with 197,000 miles on the clock and has been quite reliable so far (touch wood ha ha ), but the OH is still of the mindset that the closer to 100k a car gets the more likely it is to go bang…so double bang for the Audi…
Conratulations, and welcome to the addiction!
I’m sure you’re going to love it - but try to keep the salty mud off Susie zoom-zoom’s bottom! They don’t like it…
80k is not that great a mileage overall, and at that mileage it’s likely that many of them will have been M-way miles, which are the best kind.