Couple of toys added to the MX

Mr_Sukebe

Mr_Sukebe

Mr_Sukebe

Man of Honour
Man of Honour
Joined
23 Dec 2002
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10,191
Location
London
I usually keep well clear of doing anything to cars as typically it's just money down the drain, but couldn't resist adding an IL motorsports front strut brace to the car, particularly so as it cost all of £30. It's mounted under the engine, so pics are pretty pointless. Does help the handling though. Seems to quell some of the normal ride issues, which I guess were due to flex at the front end, resulting in more stability, particularly at higher speeds. Definite thumbs up for that.

Also added a TomTom1, which has the best MX option hidden under preferences, whereby you can ask it to "avoid motorways". Did that today on the way back from a trip up Norf. Ace fun down some much more interesting roads!
 
I was tempted to get a front brace/strut - but was worried what it would be on the dire roads we have in the UK, well London in particular... what's it like?
 
Freefaller said:
I was tempted to get a front brace/strut - but was worried what it would be on the dire roads we have in the UK, well London in particular... what's it like?
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It seems to have actually improved the ride quality, not quite what I was expecting. The side effect is that as already mentioned, has better control at higher speeds and feels better planted.
Frankly at the cost it's a bit of a no brainer. Here's a link:
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/361
 
Very very interesting, i'm in the middle of several upgrades myself (Cosmetic and Audio) getting onto the performance and handling side of things at a later date but i might be tempted to buy one of these now since its only £30.

Are these for the Mk1 / 2 / 2.5?
 
hehe, its a 5 love in :D

i'm actually pretty tempted by one of these too... think its mainly due to my slightly enthusitic driving by i'm suffering more understeer than i'd like and extra front ridgidity can't be a bad thing.

want to pick up some clear side reflectors and a new gear gate too at some point so might have to splash when i finally get payed....

edit: and did you fit it yourself and how easy is it to do?

& avoid motorways is great fun :) Will will agree with me its much more amuzing to take the back roads than the m4 for example :D
 
Siliconslave said:
& avoid motorways is great fun :) Will will agree with me its much more amuzing to take the back roads than the m4 for example :D
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Hell yeah! :D Well if it wasn't for some ******* BMW X5 drivers :rolleyes: ;)
 
Totally unrelated but I can drive my folks MX5 at the end of the month when I renew my insurance :) :) Looking forward to it!
 
MX's are great but I am finding driving one as my daily driver...difficult. I am getting 20 mpg combined!!! It's an evil car, makes you do naughty things. The worst thing is, mine seems a little poorly, making nasty squeaks and clunks - think new bushes are in order.
 
Ev0 said:
X reg 1.8s :) They've had it two years and it's spent almost all that time sat in the garage lol.
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:( That depresses me hearing that!

As for the 20mpg.. well I don't know what I get, but I do love hooning around with it - you can have so much fun with it at around legal speeds, it's hard not to want to have fun ;) I do love that snorty exhaust note, and when it comes up onto the cams it starts to sound very much more aggressive - it's addictive! :D
 
I didn't fit the brace myself, needs to be up on ramps so I took it to my local garage.
The reviews I've read rate the lower brace as being the most effective available for the 5.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Mine is usually revving between 5 - 7k cause it sounds sooo nice, have you got the VVT engine Freefaller?
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Mines the Mk2 - It doesn't have the VVT engine... it's just the standar in-line 4, with DOHC... I use the expression "getting up on the cams" a little loosely, it's more apprarent when driving the V8 Alfa which has a SOHC, so the cam lift is more noticeable and the engine note changes completely. :)
 
Freefaller said:
Mines the Mk2 - It doesn't have the VVT engine... it's just the standar in-line 4, with DOHC... I use the expression "getting up on the cams" a little loosely, it's more apprarent when driving the V8 Alfa which has a SOHC, so the cam lift is more noticeable and the engine note changes completely. :)
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have you noticied that when giving it some beans in first you seem to get a disernable increase in acceleration when you get past about 5k revs? almost like a vvti kick.... confuses me somewhat as i have the same engine as you :)
 
In mine when you get the revs above 5k it starts to pull much harder in any gear, Sam has the conran got the 140Bhp unit?

Added another toy to mine last night, Kenwood ipod interface, needed to rip the center console out so i took the opertunity to run a set of RCA + Rem wire down the car :)

Will post pics of all my changes soon since i'm keeping a log :)
 
Firestar_3x said:
In mine when you get the revs above 5k it starts to pull much harder in any gear, Sam has the conran got the 140Bhp unit?

Added another toy to mine last night, Kenwood ipod interface, needed to rip the center console out so i took the opertunity to run a set of RCA + Rem wire down the car :)
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yer, its the 1.8is basically so is running the 140bhp unit, it made pretty much spot on that at the RR iirc.

Where did you put the ipod interface? i managed to run the cables for mine just under the central console bit, placed the unit behind the bottom of the passenger seat, under the carpet and put the ipod connector in the arm rest storage thing, running the cable in via the boot/petrol release. Be aware however that the ipod will slide around a load in there unless you wedge it in or something. Think the Exeter meet killed my ipod due to this :( the ipod was sliding around all day while playing and getting really pretty warm. Might be worth putting some of that sticky anti slide stuff down or something....
 
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