|
|
Sept 25, 2015 9:55:21 GMT
|
Can I just ask why you don't like pop up headlights? They are awesome lol. They are dated and they add to the wedge look I was trying to avoid with the GT. But with the new sports car project they don't bother me very much. To be honest, when it comes to the MX5 my favorite was always the 1st generation. It's a classic look inspired by British roadsters of yesteryear. I don't like the following generations with the non pop-ups. I don't think they fit the car. Just the very latest one, 2015 looks good. Because the lights are kind of built inside.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 10:00:12 GMT
|
Honestly the pop-ups are fine in the MX5 and wouldn't be a deal breaker. I would not mess around and spend money to change the lights. The big problem is no roof. The MR2s are too small. I have driven both MKI and MKII and they are a back breaker. If they had made a real hard top MX5 it would probably be perfect considering price and fun to drive. Are they reliable? Extremely reliable and tough little cars mechanically as far as I'm aware. Obviously if you get one that has been looked after etc etc etc. The Genuine Mazda hardtop are very good and transform the look of the car, you can pick up an excellent one for around ÂŁ400.....I'm guessing you mean if they built it as a hardtop in the first place? Yes, I meant if they had built it as a hardtop. An add on hard top is never really sealed. It's bad in the rain and in winter it's normally cold. At least all the ones I know. But have no experience with the MX5 in this regard. Great to hear they are reliable. I think Mazda in general is very reliable. I know somebody who has beaten a Mazda to an inch of it's life and never does any maintenance but the car refuses to quit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 10:07:57 GMT
|
Nissan S12 Silvia, Toyota AE86 (might be cheaper on the continent than they are here), should be a lot more Rear Engined Skoda Estelle/Rapid's in Europe, don't knock these, fantastic little cars. S13 or S14 Silvia's are quite cheap now but going up, and those 90's nissan 4 banger turbo engines are amazing, you might get addicted to spending all your money tuning that though when you realise just what stupid power figures are possible. but yeah, MX5... cheap, reliable and seriously good fun, just watch for rust... hmmm... no idea what prices 350Z's are going for now either, an older one of these could be good. Yeah, from all those the MX5 still the best option. I don't think a 350Z is going for what I would call dirty cheap yet. About the Skoda I want to avoid the Hot-Hatch look.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 10:10:53 GMT
|
if you find an mr2 too small you wont like an mx-5. I'm 6'4" and i cant drive one with a stock seat. not if i want my forehead to be behind the windscreen instead of above it anyways.... id say merc SLK, R170 shape. yeah they're more than an mx5 or the like but they have a proper retractable hardtop and engines with some power, especially if you pick up a kompressor version. This is what I'm afraid about the MX5. If it's too small. Do the SLKs have a rep of being a woman's car around where you are? Here they do. The MX5, Boxter and SLK are straight up women's cars in the USA too. Or at least were back when I went to university there. But here the MX5 doesn't seem to have that rep. But the SLK kind of does.
|
|
Last Edit: Sept 25, 2015 10:12:24 GMT by mickeym
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 10:14:29 GMT
|
your going to make luckyseven cry.... RX-7s with an LSx conversion make for a fantastic fast long-range car. It's not a cheap option to do it properly though. And you will, of course, go to hell for such blasphemy You know what? A gen1 RX7 could fit the bill. I had a gen2 turbo once and it was a lot of fun. But I doubt good gen1 cars go for cheap these days.
|
|
|
|
marinacoupe
Part of things
Marina Coupe, Triumph Stag
Posts: 178
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 10:17:50 GMT
|
Only just seen this thread Nissan 200SX (with or without hood ornament) Sorry if it's already been suggested and rejected. Not all have pop-up headlights.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 10:32:21 GMT
|
Extremely reliable and tough little cars mechanically as far as I'm aware. Obviously if you get one that has been looked after etc etc etc. The Genuine Mazda hardtop are very good and transform the look of the car, you can pick up an excellent one for around ÂŁ400.....I'm guessing you mean if they built it as a hardtop in the first place? Yes, I meant if they had built it as a hardtop. An add on hard top is never really sealed. It's bad in the rain and in winter it's normally cold. At least all the ones I know. But have no experience with the MX5 in this regard. Great to hear they are reliable. I think Mazda in general is very reliable. I know somebody who has beaten a Mazda to an inch of it's life and never does any maintenance but the car refuses to quit. The third generation (2007 onwards) MX5 has got a folding hardtop
|
|
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 10:48:18 GMT
|
Only just seen this thread Nissan 200SX (with or without hood ornament) Sorry if it's already been suggested and rejected. Not all have pop-up headlights. Those are not exactly dirty cheap. Maybe because they are popular with racers and ricers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 10:52:33 GMT
|
Yes, I meant if they had built it as a hardtop. An add on hard top is never really sealed. It's bad in the rain and in winter it's normally cold. At least all the ones I know. But have no experience with the MX5 in this regard. Great to hear they are reliable. I think Mazda in general is very reliable. I know somebody who has beaten a Mazda to an inch of it's life and never does any maintenance but the car refuses to quit. The third generation (2007 onwards) MX5 has got a folding hardtop But they are not dirty cheap.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 11:06:37 GMT
|
Well the next best option then, is a Mercedes SLK with the 6 speed box. Might be seen as a girly car where you are, but once modded will look the dogs danglies
|
|
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
|
|
|
EmDee
Club Retro Rides Member
Committer of Autrocities.
Posts: 5,932
Club RR Member Number: 108
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 11:12:20 GMT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 11:53:08 GMT
|
I will pass on the SLK, thanks.
The Camaro is not dirty cheap here. Maybe in the USA.
So far MX5 still seems the best option. How is the hardtop for leaks in the rain and carwash and insulation during winter?
|
|
|
|
PHUQ
Part of things
Posts: 861
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 11:54:11 GMT
|
My other half has a Mk2.5 (so non pop up lights, but the hardtops & related bits of the body are the same) that she drives every day, rain or shine and with the hard top on it's fine. Stays dry inside, heated rear screen etc and in my opinion they actually look better with the hard top on than with the soft top up (look best with the roof down of course!). Oh and she sets a lot of store by being warm, the heaters are great and there's not much space to heat with the lid on so it scores fine there.
Only issue seems to be increased wind noise, which I think is from the back of the windows where the hard top steps out in width- but it's a sports car, who would want it to be quiet? She doesn't complain anyway, and although she's into cars she's no masochistic out and out petrolhead. Great engine, lovely "snicky" gearbox if you like that sort of thing, and dirt cheap at the moment so if you want a toy why not? And if you don't like it, don't keep it, simple as that.
You'll want to sit in one though as they are a bit claustrophobic with the standard seats if you are on the tall side.
|
|
Last Edit: Sept 25, 2015 11:58:58 GMT by PHUQ
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 12:15:05 GMT
|
I found the seats in the MX5 okay for me, and I am 6ft 5in tall
|
|
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 12:20:37 GMT
|
My other half has a Mk2.5 (so non pop up lights, but the hardtops & related bits of the body are the same) that she drives every day, rain or shine and with the hard top on it's fine. Stays dry inside, heated rear screen etc and in my opinion they actually look better with the hard top on than with the soft top up (look best with the roof down of course!). Oh and she sets a lot of store by being warm, the heaters are great and there's not much space to heat with the lid on so it scores fine there. Only issue seems to be increased wind noise, which I think is from the back of the windows where the hard top steps out in width- but it's a sports car, who would want it to be quiet? She doesn't complain anyway, and although she's into cars she's no masochistic out and out petrolhead. Great engine, lovely "snicky" gearbox if you like that sort of thing, and dirt cheap at the moment so if you want a toy why not? And if you don't like it, don't keep it, simple as that. You'll want to sit in one though as they are a bit claustrophobic with the standard seats if you are on the tall side. I wouldn't mind the extra wind noise at all. Like you said, it's a sports car not a GT. All the great stories and recommendations for the MX5 is making it look like it will be it. Unless something else steps out of the shadows. If the hardtop is dry and warm then it will be fine. Because I will leave the top on 90% of the time. It also doesn't fog up in rain or cold being a small space and all? Even if two people are riding? By the way, are you in the UK or USA? If UK, does the MX5 have a rep of being a woman's car there too like it does in the USA? Just asked because you said your better half has one. Anyway, the MX5 has a fantastic reputation and this is great. Wish the XJS had the same. I wouldn't hesitate in buying one for a manual conversion.
|
|
Last Edit: Sept 25, 2015 12:21:36 GMT by mickeym
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 14:26:16 GMT
|
While looking for pictures of the MX5 hardtop I found this:
|
|
|
|
Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 16:25:23 GMT
|
Pretty sure that's a kit you can buy and add to your mx-5. I've seen a fair few Japanese cars with them.
|
|
|
|
PHUQ
Part of things
Posts: 861
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 16:34:03 GMT
|
I'm in the UK. They used to have a bit of a reputation for being a girly car but the Mk1 is becoming increasingly less so I'd say.
It tends to huff up a bit when two damp people get in a cold car, but the blowers are good so it's no big deal. I think that's a function of it being small space as opposed to the roof seals etc making it damp inside.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 16:58:50 GMT
|
Suzuki cappuccino.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 25, 2015 17:07:44 GMT
|
Daihatsu Copen (folding hardtop)
|
|
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
|
|
|