MX-5 Mk2.5 - LSD?

[Kingy]

Morning all,

It looks like my condemnation to a cash car is set to continue for some time, and my current steed is rotting beyond economical repair...

To that end the sensible but boring thing to do would be to bag a Mk3 Ghia X Mondeo, but I keep coming back to the MX-5...

I've never driven one, but I've read a lot of hype, so I'm willing to entertain the idea... Question is, which models to look out for?

I don't really understand how to spot an LSD, or really what it does beyond make things 'better' but I think I want one. I'd want as much power as possible, and a few toys (CD Player/Heated Leather/Electric windows/mirrors, and heated glass rear screen) as well...

In doing my research I see that the 1.8i S seems to fit the criteria, as does the S-VT, but I've read conflicting things about the Mk2.5...

I've found a couple of 1.8i Sports advertised cheaply (one that's covered 120k, the other has only done 58k but needs bumper resprays), these seem to have the 146bhp VVT engine, and 6-speed box, but I can't find definitively if they also got the bigger brakes, bilstein suspension, and LSD?

Was Air-Con standard spec kit? What about a wind deflector? Is the roof electric? What's the boot space like? What's the heater like? Is the stereo any good? Can the RC aerial be replaced with a stubby? Is the VVT a non-interference engine (ie, it's not as important if the cambelt has been done)?

Can anyone here help me fill in the blanks please?

 

[BinnsY]

I have a Mk 2.5 1.8 S-VT and its a cracking little motor. As you have said it has the blisterin suspension, bigger brakes than the 1.6 and the LSD. I havent driven a "normal" mx-5 so I Cant give a definitive comparison, but as I understand it the bilstein suspension makes the ride a little firmer, but in turn gives you a little sharper handling. The LSD I havent really had much experience of yet. The only time I have managed to feel it engage is when purposely planting the accelerator turning out of a junction. You kind of hear the clunk as it engages and feel the power going to the outside wheel to push you round instead of spinning up the inside. Its not needed for day to day driving, but its nice to know its there. The bigger brakes over the 1.6 have a pretty obvious purpose

In terms of your other questions, no air-con is not standard kit. I'm 99% certain all the mk2.5s have a wind deflector as standard, mine certainly does. Its a hard plastic affair mounted behind the rear seats that folds up and down. Most of the time you cant see it and its not very tall, it only comes maybe halfway up the headrests at most. It does make a difference for my girlfriend up to about 50mph, but with me being 6'2 I dont really notice the difference it makes. You can get bigger mesh ones for about £100 though. No the roof is not electric, but it literally takes 5 seconds to fold it down, and as long as you dont mind getting out of the car it only takes about 15 seconds to put back up. The boot space is not great, but its enough for a couple of weekend bags, certainly good for a car of this class. The heater is fantastic, and hugely overpowered with the roof up. If you get an s-vt with the leather seats they are also heated and get very toasty very quickly. The stereo..... its ok. I'm planning to change mine for a better one at some point, but it does the job as standard. I think the aerial can be replaced but personally I wouldnt, its electric and winds up and down on its own anyway. Yes the engine is a non-interferance type.

Hope this helps.

 

[paradigm]

You kind of hear the clunk as it engages

Sounds broken.

 

[sovietspybob]

You don't need to get out of the car to put the hood up, with the hood down put one hand behind each side of your drivers seat, grab and pull upwards.

Its surprisingly easy once you get the technique down and saves getting out to do it!

My wife can't quite manage to do it but i find it quite easy and makes putting the roof up about a 3 second affair. This works for the MK2 and MK3

 

[BinnsY]

Sounds broken.

My understanding is its a normal noise for a torsen LSD. Its certainly not loud or alarming, its just a noise I've noticed one time when being deliberatley daft to test out the LSD. As the car didnt light up its inside wheel i would say its working prefectly.

 

[BinnsY]

You don't need to get out of the car to put the hood up, with the hood down put one hand behind each side of your drivers seat, grab and pull upwards.

I might have to try that, I had been trying to use one arm on the handle which just doesnt work at all Thanks.

 

[Firestar_3x]

My understanding is its a normal noise for a torsen LSD. Its certainly not loud or alarming, its just a noise I've noticed one time when being deliberatley daft to test out the LSD. As the car didnt light up its inside wheel i would say its working prefectly.

Mine never clunked, when was the fluid last changed?

 

[BinnsY]

Mine never clunked, when was the fluid last changed?

I think you are all reading into this to much. Perhaps clunk was the wrong choice of words.

In regards to the fluid im honestly not sure. The car has only done 40,000 miles so I suspect it may not have been.

**EDIT**

From having a google around about LSDs and doing some reading on noises im wondering if the noise i heard even came from the LSD at all. I was basically doing a full throttle start and im wondering it was just simply something on the road. It seems like everyone with knocking, whiring, or grinding noises gets them either all the time, or consistently when maneuvering at low speeds. Mine is completley silent at low speed and that one full throttle start is the only time I can think of hearing that kind of noise.

 

[sovietspybob]

Plate type LSD's bang and clunk and sound like your wheels are going to fall off at low speeds.

Torsen ones are silent by their nature, i suspect your correct in that a stone hit somthing on our car or similar. As when a i had a gear type LSD fail in my DC5 there was a noticeable lashing/mild clunking sound when coming on or off the power.

 

[Kingy]

I have a Mk 2.5 1.8 S-VT and its a cracking little motor. As you have said it has the blisterin suspension, bigger brakes than the 1.6 and the LSD. I havent driven a "normal" mx-5 so I Cant give a definitive comparison, but as I understand it the bilstein suspension makes the ride a little firmer, but in turn gives you a little sharper handling. The LSD I havent really had much experience of yet. The only time I have managed to feel it engage is when purposely planting the accelerator turning out of a junction. You kind of hear the clunk as it engages and feel the power going to the outside wheel to push you round instead of spinning up the inside. Its not needed for day to day driving, but its nice to know its there. The bigger brakes over the 1.6 have a pretty obvious purpose

In terms of your other questions, no air-con is not standard kit. I'm 99% certain all the mk2.5s have a wind deflector as standard, mine certainly does. Its a hard plastic affair mounted behind the rear seats that folds up and down. Most of the time you cant see it and its not very tall, it only comes maybe halfway up the headrests at most. It does make a difference for my girlfriend up to about 50mph, but with me being 6'2 I dont really notice the difference it makes. You can get bigger mesh ones for about £100 though. No the roof is not electric, but it literally takes 5 seconds to fold it down, and as long as you dont mind getting out of the car it only takes about 15 seconds to put back up. The boot space is not great, but its enough for a couple of weekend bags, certainly good for a car of this class. The heater is fantastic, and hugely overpowered with the roof up. If you get an s-vt with the leather seats they are also heated and get very toasty very quickly. The stereo..... its ok. I'm planning to change mine for a better one at some point, but it does the job as standard. I think the aerial can be replaced but personally I wouldnt, its electric and winds up and down on its own anyway. Yes the engine is a non-interferance type.

Hope this helps.

Cheers for that...

I've read different things about the way the models were named. It seems to be that the were three versions of the Mk2.5 (LE models aside) 1.6i/1.8i/1.8i Sport?

Perhaps I've got the wrong end of the stick, but I'm getting the impression that in Mk2.5 form, the 1.8i Sport, the 1.8i S-VT, and the 1.8i S-VT Sport are all the same thing, but advertisers are getting the name wrong?

What I'm trying to establish is if an example is called an 1.8i Sport, and has the 6 speed box / heated leather (the obvious stuff anyone would notice), then it also has the LSD and Bilstein suspension, but the sellers just don't realise/mention that?

What's the fuel economy like? Or the cruising ability? I'm not expecting an S class, but I did 30k a year in a Z4. I'm not doing that many miles atm, but I would be using it for the 30 mile each way commute to the office...

 

[BinnsY]

I'm 99% certain you are correct and the're all the same. Apparently the vt is just to show it has the variable valve timing engine which all the mk2 1.8s have anyway. Anything with the s/sport/s-vt badge should have the bilsteins and an lsd, but at the end of the day if your not 100% sure ask the seller to check, there are plenty of mx5s to choose from so you can easily wait for the right one.

In terms of fuel economy i mainly do short trips, have the roof down most of the time, and make use of the heated seat almost constantly and im getting about 28mpg so its not too bad.

For cruising ability its not great. If your doing 30 miles of b roads it will be a blast. If its all motorway expect 3000rpm at 70 even in 6th gear. Lots of road noise, and an awful lot of buffeting if you have the roof down.

 

[B@Th*nG]

For cruising ability its not great. If your doing 30 miles of b roads it will be a blast. If its all motorway expect 3000rpm at 70 even in 6th gear. Lots of road noise, and an awful lot of buffeting if you have the roof down.

This is what i don't get, why have 6 gears and have the 6th gear as long as a regular 5th gear. It's totally pointless. I've considered an MX5 for a long time and this is the only thing which really puts me off.

B@

 

[lordrobs]

This is what i don't get, why have 6 gears and have the 6th gear as long as a regular 5th gear. It's totally pointless. I've considered an MX5 for a long time and this is the only thing which really puts me off.

B@

Because it allows the other 5 to have a closer ratio?

My car does about 3000 rpm at 70 and about 3400 rpm at 80, it is a non issue as the road noise still far outweighs any engine noise and the economy is still pretty good. I imagine the same will be the case for the MX-5, my bigger issue would be interior space (or lack of) for longer journeys.

I don't know how it compares to a mk3 but I was amazed that I barely fit into a mk3 with the seat all the way back and down to the floor. Basically my knees were against the bottom of the wheel

 

[Firestar_3x]

I'm 99% certain you are correct and the're all the same. Apparently the vt is just to show it has the variable valve timing engine which all the mk2 1.8s have anyway. Anything with the s/sport/s-vt badge should have the bilsteins and an lsd, but at the end of the day if your not 100% sure ask the seller to check, there are plenty of mx5s to choose from so you can easily wait for the right one.

In terms of fuel economy i mainly do short trips, have the roof down most of the time, and make use of the heated seat almost constantly and im getting about 28mpg so its not too bad.

For cruising ability its not great. If your doing 30 miles of b roads it will be a blast. If its all motorway expect 3000rpm at 70 even in 6th gear. Lots of road noise, and an awful lot of buffeting if you have the roof down.

Mk2.5's had VVT Mk2 engines didn't, The S/Sport/S-VT are basically different trim levels, i think they all feature the good bit's he's looking for.

If i was him i'd be looking for a Mk2.5 S-VT or a Euphonic.

 

[BinnsY]

Apologies, your spot on, I did mean the mk 2.5 for the VVT engines.

It looks like the confusion came because the trims were different on the Mk2s to the 2.5s. Essentially if its a mark 2.5 Sport it will have the bilsteins / LSD. All the 1.8 mk2.5s are "VT" spec. I think I'm correct in saying the easiest way of telling is popping the bonnet and seeing if it has a front strut brace. I'm fairly sure the non sports dont have it and wont have the other features either.