The MX-5...and you., Dig into your inner auto enthusiast. Options

[SwissFerdi]

So, as we are all Celica owners, we all have the same baseline perspective to build on. What do you as 6GCers think about the Mazda MX-5? Would you consider trading your Celica for an MX-5 (specifically the NB - 2nd gen), and if you did, what would you consider to be the pros and cons of trading to an MX-5?

Thanks for the input.

[SwissFerdi]

Okay, I drove this example. Now, I was going to copy and paste the review I wrote somewhere else saying that I was slightly underwhelmed and blahblahblah, but it's since hit me that I really want to drive it again, and I really really really want to drive the piss out of it this time.

The shifter is just perfection...I don't regularly drive a manual and I was used to this thing within minutes. It doesn't even need a short shifter kit, it's perfect in OEM form. Clutch pick-up is predictable, travel is fine, although it could be a bit stiffer. But the throws are short yet perfect, and the whole thing just goes snick-snick-snick. It's awesome. The only slight disappointment is the body roll, but I do drive a lowered Celica after all, so I think some nice coilovers, light wheels, and sticky tires would fix that issue. It was comfortable in town, but nothing necessarily special until I took it in the turns. The steering isn't much more special than the Celica's, but the chassis is ultra-communicative. I'm not a pro driver by any means and I was able to wheel it around fairly well, mostly because the tires pretty much speak directly to the driver.

I'm going to try to drive as many as possible and look for a good example in the meantime. I liked this one for its new-looking top, clean interior, and mostly clean body. Dislikes were a faded rear bumper, peeling steering wheel, a few miscellaneous dings, and a missing cupholder piece.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Aug 31, 2010 - 4:03 PM

[Chhaos]

Okay, I drove this example. Now, I was going to copy and paste the review I wrote somewhere else saying that I was slightly underwhelmed and blahblahblah, but it's since hit me that I really want to drive it again, and I really really really want to drive the piss out of it this time.

The shifter is just perfection...I don't regularly drive a manual and I was used to this thing within minutes. It doesn't even need a short shifter kit, it's perfect in OEM form. Clutch pick-up is predictable, travel is fine, although it could be a bit stiffer. But the throws are short yet perfect, and the whole thing just goes snick-snick-snick. It's awesome. The only slight disappointment is the body roll, but I do drive a lowered Celica after all, so I think some nice coilovers, light wheels, and sticky tires would fix that issue. It was comfortable in town, but nothing necessarily special until I took it in the turns. The steering isn't much more special than the Celica's, but the chassis is ultra-communicative. I'm not a pro driver by any means and I was able to wheel it around fairly well, mostly because the tires pretty much speak directly to the driver.

I'm going to try to drive as many as possible and look for a good example in the meantime. I liked this one for its new-looking top, clean interior, and mostly clean body. Dislikes were a faded rear bumper, peeling steering wheel, a few miscellaneous dings, and a missing cupholder piece.

I agree with about the shifter. I've seen ones with short throws and it just looks ridiculous. They are very fun cars. When I test drove one I had the exact same response as you. It didn't stick on me much at first but I kept thinking about the car for like two weeks straight. I still wish I could have gotten it. I didn't really get to take it on the roads though so I didn't get too good of a feel of the handling. As for the steering wheel, my CRX's steering wheel had huge chunks missing out of it (weight reduction, not on purpose though). That and the fading seem like they can be kind of normal wear for a 20 year old Florida car. I'm honestly expecting to go outside one day soon and just see all the cars melted from the heat.