Domza

I dunno Cromax, thers just something about it that i mean its a BRILLIANT car, but therse something that doesn't tick all those boxes, like there are many other cars out there that are uglier, slower and less reliable, but yet some how i would need convincing to buy *any* mx5.

I think its just too "cute". Thats is. Its just too cutesy.

Revolver

There's a guy in Melbourne with a bright red one that might change your view a little fellas.

Obviously not as practical as the 8 but they can be modded quite successfully.

They also make great track cars.

Domza

You know, if i was going to get a 2 seater convertible which i could track, id buy a 2nd hand Honda s2000.

That looks the part and sounds like it too once VTEC kicks in.

Domza

and the s2k is probably one of the best handling cars in the world.

Domza

it could fly him to the moon, it just doesnt do a whole lot for me. thats all im saying. and i have a feeling alot of other guys in the forum feel the same. It could be the meanest sounding, most bad ***, fuel burnign monster. But its got hte basic shape of an mx5, which is slightly, without disrespect to Stuart, well, girlie.

Cromax

You don't think the RX8 is a bit feminine?

EZZY

i'd still prefer a SW20T MR2 turbo FTW!!!!

yes the 5 is a girly hairdresser's car, and 8 is just a girly car

Cromax

Agreed ... LOL

However ... if you prefer going in a straight line, there's always this:



It was for sale again recently as well ... the guy was asking US$30k for it.

For those who haven't seen it before ... there's a writeup about it here http://paultan.org/archives/2005/07/...2-jet-turbine/

I definately reckon the MX5 could be a hairdresser's car (bloody rich hairdresser though) but not sure about calling the RX8 girly ... I wouldn't call the 8 a masculine car. I wouldn't really call it a girly car either ... it's more a lady's car or a sophisticated bloke's car. It's not bent wristed, and it's too dry on the pallate for chicks.

Domza

First off, the MR2 has apauling handling above 70kph. Because teh engine sits at the back, steering becomes totally vague, and when torque is applied with the spoiler on the back pushing the car down, with NO weight at teh front i.e. just the steering rack, it can break away from you at any time, which it did to a mate of mine.

Terrible.

Secondly, The RX8 is slightly feminine, but its got enough mascularity so that the guy driving it doesn't look like a ponce. And if it is girly, it is subtly, and doesnt scream it like the MX5. I see MX5 and think its too cutesy. Itd be the type of car I'd like my girlfriend to drive, because its kinda sporty looking but you know shes a semi sensible type. Odd i know, but its not that the car does nothing for me, it just does the wrong things for me.

Domza

btw MR2, also blows goats because its basically a FF flip around. garbage if you ask me.

Domza

Turbo FTW?

mate you're looking at the wrong car.

Nissan s15...
184kw? 11lb boost stock... from a 2.0L turbo with a big garret blower on it. (SR20DET)

If you wanna get super serious get a heart transplant into an s15 chassis, with the SR20VET, turbo, variable timing on intake and exhaust. in NA form, the SR20VET puts out something like 145kw? in FI config puts out close to 210kw? And teh s15 handles like a razor compared to the MR2.

nismo FTW.

EZZY

your mate must had the early gen mr2 and they are tail happy. it is an incorrect sw20t to get. have owned a 2nd gen sw20t for a few years and have driven both s2k and s15 (250kw@RW) on regular basis....(used to). the s2k vetc is okay, but nothing special, and s15 feels like a small skyline....

the sw20t is still my pick. such a fun car (even though it is a it is a pain in the **** to work on) and when you have all the power, you'd need the grip/traction from the weight of the engine.

each to their own i suppose. i have always liked & owned "weird" cars....

ILIV48

Ok I am out... Happy. Have been real busy lately after Danielle and I secured some land and decided to start building our dream home. Have been up all hours of the night drawing/designing up the plans, which by the way is something I have always dreamt of doing!

Now to the topic at hand... My god I drive a girly car with the name tubby Can it get any worse!!!

I have to agree with the guys though it is a very girly looking car standard but with the addition of some nice Enkei's and 3 inches of lowering it looks much better. Lowered like this it takes much better advantage of those nice pumped guards and now looks very low and wide, something the stocker does not! Girly car is something I do not hear about mine anymore!

Every professional racing driver who has driven Tubby on track have all said it is as close to perfection you can get in terms of chassis balance and handling and in terms of shear fun put it up there with the best.

The real downfall is power... It needs and deserves alot more! It has enough to make it fun but that's it. As a couple of the race drivers said give it another 50kw and it will be a real weapon on track. Luckily $3000 of simple bolt on NA parts will give it a proven 35kw and a $1000 computer plug-in will give it another 10-15kw. Or if you like put $6000 down on a very well tested supercharger kit and gain 100kw and loads of torque!

For me it is a superb little car. Very cheap to run as I can drive all the way to Winton and do a full day on the track and then drive the 2 hours home without any need to fill up! I did 25,000km of day to day driving and 8 track days all on the same set of brake pads and my track tires after 6 full track days still have well over half their tread all the while pushing it hard enough to be as quick if not quicker than most the RX8's on those days even though Tubby gives away more than 60kw's and straightline speed to them!

...But yes as I said at the start from the dealer Mazda could not make it more girly even it they were to put lippy around the front mouth! I saw the future potential Tubby held so could overlook the initial impression...

At the end of the day what the MX5 is about is the joy of driving. When I'm in that drivers seat its all just about the pure driving experience, and thats all I need... Simply brilliant!

Besides my ***** is already large enough so I don't feel the need of validation from others to justify my driving decisions!

timbo

hahaha ROFLMAO! Onya, Stuart. My Pog is girly, too. Probably driven by a lot of hairdressers, too (not that there's anything wrong with that ) But I enjoy it and DGAF

EZZY

Cromax

That's exactly what I said with my previous car ... but everyone still referrred to it as my extension!

Domza

you could have the biggest ***** this side of Peter North, but its still just such a cutesy car.

I want to go and pinch the cheeks of MX5 drivers grandma styles.

I know it comes down to personal tastes, but for me, given the choices it would be the s2k or the s15, with the s15 prevailing in the end.

timbo

S15! Time to move on, Domza

Domza

Timbo, i fell in love with that car, and i still am. Great piece of machinery.

EZZY

why didnt you go for the S15 instead....? they are everywhere and are quite cheap now.

Cromax

Yeah, but the interior is

EZZY

the s15 interior with recaro sr seats from DC5 is very un-comfortable to sleep in

Revolver

"Girlie" is in the eye of beholder. Anyways, I like looking at girlies.

Great post Stu. I'd have a suitably modded NC over an S15 or S2K anyday. The latter especially is a bit bland in looks for me whereas the NC can be made to both look and perform tough.

Totally agree too that lowering and rims make a huge difference to its appearance.

Domza

You said it, they are every where.

Second of all although I do like a bit of a hoon every now and then, when safety permits of course, driving an s15 is a perfect way to attract attention from the cops, as well as more shall we say, flagrant hoons who just want to drag you. I'm not really that type of guy. As well as that, in order to drive a s15 you constantly have to be switched on, because the thing barks at you no matter what time of day, or what condition you are, however, the RX8 has lots of safety in mind, and fits my golfclubs without breaking a sweat. The s15 i was going to buy was going to be fitted out with a subbie box with two 8" subs. No golf clubs could fit.

Alot of the s15s out there have had a fair bit of work done to them, which make them absolute weapons for not much buck, but they don't have the finesse or poise that the RX8 has. In other considerations, the last thing I need from my new boss is to be labeled a hoon, considering the line of work I am in, and the line of work I will eventually end. Theres alot to be said about image, and the way people perceive you, rightly or wrongly.

s15 = great machine, not so great aftertaste.
rx8 = spectacular machine, quietens down when you need it too.