My MX5!

[sbridgey]

That's quite a good idea actually.

Are there any drift days you would recommend?

Look on the MSV site, the oulton park ones are always good.

 

[Euan94]

Changed the shift boots on this today, what a difference that's made!

I think its recommended to do when they get older and with this now approaching 100,000 miles i went for it, only took me an hour to do.

mid-way through taking them off

The old boots were completely ripped around the middle and in 2 pieces.

Put some fresh oil in the turret and replaced the small nylon cup these have at the base of the gear stick and put it all back together. The shift has improved quite a lot. Its noticeably tighter and better to use.

 

[Euan94]

This arrived today, hopefully I'll get it in at the weekend.

 

[Goodj]

400% rapist leather

 

[Euan94]

Haha. It's only vinyl

I'm to poor for leather

 

[Goodj]

Dude, you could have had a full leather OEM interior for the price of that seat!

Of course, that would mean less scene points

 

[Euan94]

Yeah that wouldn't do any good for my JDMness.

I have bought this for the right reasons though as I tend to find myself bracing to stop me sliding about.

 

[Euan94]

So the seat eventually got fitted a couple of weeks ago, I tried to mount them on the sliders from the original seat but once mounted it was sitting far too high so I plumped for some mx5 specific floor mounts.

Very happy with it, and its not that uncomfortable, did nearly 3 hours non stop and wasn't crippled when i got out.

Anyway, some terrible photos for the moment, which also highlight the plastidip coming away on the roll bar.

DSC_0249 by Euan94, on Flickr

DSC_0247 by Euan94, on Flickr

 

[danward]

Looking good bud.

 

[Euan94]

Currently deciding on this cars future, I've had it over 2 years now and whilst I still love driving it, I want something a bit faster in reality.

So I've given myself 2 options, get a different car that's faster, clio or Subaru wrx are contenders, but I still love RWD and I think I'd miss it if I got something FWD.

Or sink roughly 3k into the Mazda and turbo it with a setup capable of around 240hp. Although currently I'm only looking to go to around 200hp. Obviously this is a lot of money to put into a car worth half that, but I really do love driving it and would like not to get rid of it if I don't have to.

So that's a third option. Find somewhere to store it and turn the mx5 into a track car whilst getting something quicker for the road. But that seems very expensive.

Opinions are welcome, maybe someone can talk sense into me as I'm leaning towards the turbo option.

In the meantime I'm going to a trackday at Bedford on the 16th of this month whilst saving money to go down one of these routes.

 

[Philip.]

S-body? :smile:

 

[Euan94]

S-body? :smile:

I'd love one but I think I'd want one that had more power than standard and I think insurance would be too much. It's around a grand for a standard one, I'm only 20 at the moment you see.

 

[Philip.]

Dayum!

What kind of thing you thinking about? Japanese and RWD?

 

[Euan94]

Yeah, jap and RWD but with about the pace of a clio would be perfect!

 

[Philip.]

Altezza?

Tbf, i would boost the Mazda!

 

[Euan94]

Not that keen on altezzas really.

I'm very keen to turbo the Mazda it just seems like a lot of money to pile into a car worth about a grand!

 

[Philip.]

A mate of mine is going to turbo his MX5 this year, he got that for £450 quid!
Spent a fortune on it but it's really cool.

Ever thought about an RX8? They're becoming a bit more popular now they're so cheap.

 

[Euan94]

Never realised there were so many rx8s for under 2 grand! They scare me slightly so I've not really looked but maybe I will. Could be a good shout.

 

[Philip.]

As long as you look after them they'll be fine!

Not everyone's cuppa, but this appeared on DW not long ago.

Awesome spec!

 

[Euan94]

I'd look after an rx8 it's just the previous owner I'd be dubious about.

As much as I like that one above I just couldn't live with it.

 

[Philip.]

I agree, to live with the above would be a right pain!

I'd just look for one with FSH, lots of bills etc. A good owner will keep everything.

 

[Goodj]

RX-8 is your only cheap solution....to purchase and keep at a standtill. That said, a boosted '5 will do about the same MPG for fuel, but it wont burn oil half as fast.
I wouldn't trust the home-brew, fit-yourself / ebay special 2-3k turbo kits either.
If I had 3k to pour into listerine-
Throttle bodies & ECU
Flowed & ported head.
Light flywheel

Between them you should start nudging the 190hp mark if set-up and red-lined at 7.5k, with a much twitchier throttle. I'm assuming you have a sporty exhaust already,

 

[Philip.]

An ebay jobby would be fine :wink:

Strap on the turbo and go!

 

[Goodj]

Strap on the turbo and go...

5 miles down the road, then call the AA to tow you home.

 

[Philip.]

5 miles down the road, then call the AA to tow you home.

I'm sure it'd manage 10!

 

[Goodj]

a set of these
+ Megasquirt (you dont need an S-VT controller so any will do)
and, if cash allows.....
this

 

[Euan94]

ITB's are tempting although mines only a 1.6 so I'm not sure I'd see quite that power from it. I'm looking for close to 200 really.

The turbo wouldn't be a cheap eBay jobey, either do it myself with the manifolds from a guy on mx5nutz (sturuvo?) who's sold loads and had good results or give it to another seeming new company to the turbo world, g19 engineering in Ipswich who I rang this morning and will do a full install with mega squirt and intercom let for just shy of 2k. I would supply the turbo and injectors so that bumps up the price a little and I've factored in a new clutch and the added insurance cost.

Interestingly g19 seem to be the people who did the manifolds for Chip who used to be in here's RWD nova so I think I'd trust them. They've been churning out mx5 turbos recently due to the low cost.

 

[Goodj]

RX-8 injectors from a breakers then.
Head work and ITBs will be about 170 on a 1.6, surely?
And the raw noise and response will make up for the wait....wait.....waaaaiit....BOOST. 200hp!!.. change gear. waaait.........
After trying a 200hp 1.6, that was my finding anyway.
Mind, I'm an NA fanboi, nothing but cubes and revs counts.

 

[Euan94]

The problem is, I have an itch for a turbo now. I need to go out in a NA tuned one for it to convince me I think. I'm all for ITB's tbh and love the sound they make. If it was a clip I'd go straight for them but its just the power that worries me.

 

[Goodj]

The problem is, I have an itch for a turbo now.

bloody ricers :wink:
Remember, unlike the Clio types, MX-5's dont actually need 200hp to feel significantly quicker than stock.
That's the joy of sitting on the floor :smiley:

My chief concern is how long a "budget" turbo setup will last at 200hp.

 

[Euan94]

I know but, I'm going to sound very much like a ricer here, I want to keep up with some other cars on the road. I wanted a faster car before, but recent developments mean it's also about bragging rights.

 

[Goodj]

Oh Christ.
You're a lost cause

 

[roryb]

Isn't the stock BHP for the 1.6 around 100? would ITB almost double to the BHP or did i read it wrong? lol

 

[roryb]

This might be a little obvious, wouldnt it be a little cheaper to sell your 1.6 and get a 1.8. Obviously putting your mods onto the 1.8 ? food for thought

 

[Goodj]

AHHH!
Yes, forgot about that.
The mk2 1.6 is a painful 99hp job. They reduced the power to promote the 1.8

Euan, have you thought about just getting an S-VT eqipped car? That would have 50hp extra straight away and you could retro-fit your seat and dildo as if nothing had changed

Anyway, yes, ITBs or even a turbo on the UK 1.6 is just pouring good money into a toilet.

 

[roryb]

Still though the 1.8 is around 130 BHP I have been really thinking about getting an MX5 to practice going sideways as a mate at work got one and he loves it. only problem, im 6ft 4/5 with the roof up i struggle to get out comfortably and not sure if i could actually drive it

 

[Goodj]

The pauper 1.8s are 130ish, yes
Later 1.8s with valve timing are 150ish, plenty to have civilised fun with. Not enough to do pink slips down the retail park 1/4 mile though, granted.

Roryb, just try it. I'be had 6.3 drivers in my old mk2. It wouldn't have been comfortable for a200mile hike, but enough to turn some lap times without rucking your neck or buckling an ankle

 

[Euan94]

I believe the mk2 got boosted back to 110hp instead of the 90 of the later mk1?? I think that's right anyway.

But yes I could get myself an SV-T and I have thought about it in th past I'm just not sure it would be enough. I might just be being greedy but I know I can get 200+ from mine and I think I'd be slightly disappointed.

 

[Goodj]

It did indeed.
A stock S-VT won't be enough to win kudos from the midnight club of Bedford, no. But it is enough to make an MX-5 squirrelly, even in the dry, if you drive it like you're trying to set lap times, instead of drift angles.

 

[Euan94]

It's certainly something to think about. I'm certainly not doing this to be the badman of Bedford.

The problem I have is I've got a target, that being a friends corrado vr6, and I just wonder if I'd always be left slightly disappointed. At the same time I shouldnt really care as In reality it's just about enjoying the car when I take it on track.