It's little things as well, Steve - like the U.S and Jap market cars having lower set suspension than the UK cars, so Mazda thought of that and put different trackrod ends on for each market. UK TREs on an Import cause a few probs, most of which is bump steer but it just shows how welll thought out the suspension on the MX5 is, it's infinitely adjustable but has quite a narrow tolerance to mods so In that respect it's almost in the same league as the Elan which inspred it.Entirely agree D, it still astounds me that so many 'knowledgeable enthusiasts' simply don't get the importance of keeping the offset, wheel&tyre width, corner weights for unsprung weight and the actual geo all within relatively standard trim and how moving away from these in any radical manner will simply trash the handling of any car. On the MX5/Eunos ranges we certainly have the luxury of massive adjustment to help pull geo back to where it should be but there are limits to what can be pulled back.If he tried one with wheels nearer the O/E offset spec, he really would be blown away. Those over wide wheels and stretched tyres are doing nothing for it at all. As for power, yes in standard form it's never going to set the world alight but you will keep your licence and the 1.8 does offer 25bhp more that the 1.6 which gives a bit more torque but the gearbox can be worked better in the 1.6 so it feels more "sporty". Horses for courses but i always preferred the 1.8 - it's a personal thing. Nice little review all the same and it's nice to see another convert in the motoring journo fraternity.
I'd also worry about the integrity of the car's structure if the windscreen moves as he says. Scuttle shake yes but the screen shouldn't move, maybe it's scuttle shake he means :blink:
It has to be the most underestimated sportscar ever made, and it's purely the numbers made that give the impression of it being mass produced so therefore must be crap If it had been a lower volume productuon car it would now be on a pedestal so high that none of us could ever aspire to it.
