Thinking about changing the mx5, suggestions?

saitrix

saitrix

saitrix

Soldato
Joined
2 Jun 2003
Posts
8,950
Location
Nottingham
Hi,

I am wanting to swap the mx5 for something new. The reason I am looking at swapping is due to combination of getting a little bored with it plus extra space would be helpful for my RC cars and planes.

I am looking at spending up to £5k on a new car. I do ~7000 miles a year with over half done on country road so motorway cruising isn't really that important to me. I am not fussed whether it is fwd, rwd or 4wd. The main thing to me is that it is fun to drive. I have so far thought of the dc2, mini Cooper s and Clio 182. If I am honest reliability I do worry about with the Clio as I know someone who killed their engine. I haven't test driven any yet, I am just trying to make a list of what to try. So do people think I have missed any possible cars in that price range?
 
If you do go for a DC2, make sure you get one that's been fully rebushed, engine mounts and had regular oil changes

The boot is surprisingly big, and with the rear seats down, I managed to get in 4x alloys in boxes and 4x new tyres, with a fair bit of room to spare
 
Boot in the Mini is a total joke, i'd be looking at something bigger like an older Accord Type-R or ST220 if you can get a good one for 5k.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Boot in the Mini is a total joke, i'd be looking at something bigger like an older Accord Type-R or ST220 if you can get a good one for 5k.
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Tbh I wasn't really wanting/needing to go that big. If the seats go down in the mini then it will be big enough. I had looked at a scoob but the insurance seems silly. The rx8 was in the back of my mind but the running cost I would have to fully work out first.

Isn't the ep3 just a worse version of the dc2 though?
 
saitrix said:
Tbh I wasn't really wanting/needing to go that big. If the seats go down in the mini then it will be big enough. I had looked at a scoob but the insurance seems silly. The rx8 was in the back of my mind but the running cost I would have to fully work out first.

Isn't the ep3 just a worse version of the dc2 though?
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DC2 is B18 powered and a raw experience but is a hatch so has decent space for stuff. Probably along the lines of a Bilstein fitted MX-5 in terms of ride comfort.

EP3 is K20 powered with a 6 speed gearbox. Probably one of the best manual gear changes out there for us mere mortals, nice driving position and really easy to drive on the limit without being too harsh. I really miss mine. That said it has 17" wheels and is fussy on tyres so £200 a pair is the norm. Servicing is average though, £150 for your usual fluid and spark change at a reputable dealer/specialist. Only one major issue on them and that is the steering rack. Cars in your budget would have suffered that issue a long time ago if it was to happen however.

If you're considering the Clio it's worth trying the EP3. Just make sure you get it all the way to 8.2krpm ;)
 
Well thats lucky isn't it as my mx5 has Bilsteins and I find the ride comfort totally acceptable. :p

Will have to have a try of a dc2 and an ep3 I think. Only issue is finding a dc2 to test drive!
 
Well I am already signed up, I suppose I should really make a thread on there! DC2 if I am honest is a car I have liked for many years.
 
Deff get a test drive in an EP3 when it's actually being rev'd and not pottered around in. Few other things I found when on the type r owners forum:
1. If there is lots of interior noise then the windscreen isn't in properly, tis a common fault even from factory apparently.
2. Crunching into second gear is a common thing aswell apparently, some do it really early, others never do it!

Definitley get a test drive in a DC2 though, sexy machines!
 
DC2's are awesome but they are getting on a bit now so finding a decent one might be tricky. Plenty of EP3 type R's knocking around though and would probably be where I would be putting my money for this criteria.
 
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