MX5 MK3 / MK3.5 Owners

Sin_Chase said:
I would not call 4-5mm good. Legal, yes.

I look at changing the tyres on my S2000 at 6mm where wet performance starts to become a concern.

The rear is going to lose traction in damp conditions if you are giving it loads, fully expect TC to kick in.
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So you only use 2mm of tread depth then look at replacing your tyres?

Appreciate that you want to maintain the best performance, but that seems awfully inneffcient. Do you use your S2000 everyday, because I imagine you must go through rubber a rate of knots with that approach.
 
I doubt their are any mods available for these problems but I have a few comfort issues in the MX5
The handbrake position causes me to regularly bash my leg off it. Why didn’t they put it on the other side of the console?
The bonnet open switch I bump with my toes in certain shoes
And no I am not a giant 6ft tall with size 11 feet.
 
Amps said:
I doubt their are any mods available for these problems but I have a few comfort issues in the MX5
The handbrake position causes me to regularly bash my leg off it. Why didn’t they put it on the other side of the console?
The bonnet open switch I bump with my toes in certain shoes
And no I am not a giant 6ft tall with size 11 feet.
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I rarely find the handbrake lever a problem. In fact, I find its position perfect, both that and the gearstick are exactly under where my hand nturally rests on the console. If it was on the other side of the console, it would be harder to reach.

The bonnet switch...I did that a couple of times when I bought the car :p. I don't do it at all now, you soon get used to getting in and out.

Im also 6ft, perhaps a shade under, with size 12s.
 
I've managed to get my leg trapped between the handbrake and wheel before - felt somewhat silly.

It is a little odd its on the driver's side but when its on the other side it can be somewhat awkward when you have to brush passenger's legs to grab the handle...

I think there are some mods to lower the seat that might help I guess?
 
Sin_Chase said:
I would not call 4-5mm good. Legal, yes.

I look at changing the tyres on my S2000 at 6mm where wet performance starts to become a concern.

The rear is going to lose traction in damp conditions if you are giving it loads, fully expect TC to kick in.
Click to expand...

Lol what? 6mm? Really? Surely you rear tyres must have about 2000miles of life in them then?
 
Hi first post here so be nice. Non technical chap here. Re diff oil change curing odd handling.

I have a 2006 NC 2.0, LSD, 5 speed box 30,100 miles car purchased a year ago. At first I had been experiencing odd handling when cornering a bit like bobbling or bouncing from the back end, not severe but just not quite right. Also a vague wandering feel on the motorway. It felt skittish and nervous. No excessive noise though. I had the wheel alignment and geometry done on a Hunter set up so it was dead on, but it didn't really make a lot of difference. I lived with it right up until this week when I got my local garage to do the service. The gear oil and diff oil had never been changed. So quite overdue. I ordered the following from Opie oils. 5 litres 5w -30 synthetic, 2 x 1 Litre Mobilube 75w-90 gear oil, RED LINE Synthetic gear oil 75w-90 GL5 for the diff, and a K and N oil filter. I got the car back and got a big grin on my face. The handling has been transformed, it is like a little go cart now, it tracks around corners perfectly, it is quieter, smoother and just better overall, the engine pick up and pull is also better, so is the gear change. My guess is that the rear diff oil change cured some issue perhaps where the LSD diff was not working as well as it should? I used redline oils in an ageing series one that was very noisy in the gears and diff and it worked fantastic. Cheers. PS it is on good Yokohamas all round.
 
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My wife has a Mk3.5 Coupe Sportech.

1) Ive not noticed the diff noise. My GT3 had a ver pronounced diff noise when turning at low speeds, but then they all did, but I can't say I've noticed anything on the MX5 suchlike. I will take a listen when I drive it next.

2) Get the geo sorted as from the factory they are a little all over the place but the rear end should not really be looking to come unstuck, even in the wet really. Get the geo sorted and you should be able to hands off it down the road without too much trouble, though they are never settled but will run true and straight if set up properly.
 
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