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Post by boringgit on Jan 17, 2017 20:02:19 GMT
It's just dawned on me, that no matter how much I HATE the MX5 sometimes, I love it all the same.
For those of you who know me will know I've had to do a little bit of work on my car for this years MOT, namely a rusty sill and brakes and pads all round. The sill was very rusty and if I'd been paying a body shop to do it very uneconomical to repair and they'd have told me to jog on, or gave me a bill for £1 million pounds. Well that's all done now and I have a shiny bit of paper that says my car was just about roadworthy on the day it was presented.
Also, for those of you who know me you'll know my car is disgusting. It currently has old brake parts, an arch liner and Autolink receipts in the passenger footwell, the boot is full of tools and one wheel arch/sill is painted in primer (Lacquered so don't panic!).
So WHY do I love the MX5?
I love tinkering with things. I can spend hours taking something apart and putting it back together again, that's another reason I love the MX5. If I didn't have an MX5 I probably would never imagine tackling the jobs I'm fine with now doing on cars.
It always succeeds in putting a smile on my face, I've just nipped out to the shops and I put the roof down. It's bloody cold but it still made me smile.
It's an old car now and sometimes bits wear out and need replacing - But I still smile whilst doing it.
It's not the most practical car - But it still makes me smile when I squeeze a 7 foot Christmas tree into it.
I think you get the picture.
But the very best bit about having an MX5? The community. I've made lots of really good friends through owning an MX5, people you can call good friends and people you can rely on. All because of our love for rusty old Japanese cars, Who'd have thought it?? Top that of with two cracking driving holidays, one round Europe 4 years ago and one round Wales last year, a recipe for success.
You guys make having an MX5 the reason every time I want to scrap it, and buy a 2.5 Litre Vauxhall Omega Herear canoe that I remember, there isn't a community for 2.5 Litre Vauxhall Omega Herear canoe owners - and if there is it's probably a bit dead.
So, what makes YOU love the MX5.
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Post by Rickster on Jan 17, 2017 20:14:30 GMT
Great post
And absolutely spot on, I'm the same, love tinkering, and the car is so biddable- take things off, change em, stick stuff on- just doesn't care
23 years young and goes marching on!!!
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Post by boringgit on Jan 17, 2017 20:33:22 GMT
Great post And absolutely spot on, I'm the same, love tinkering, and the car is so biddable- take things off, change em, stick stuff on- just doesn't care 23 years young and goes marching on!!! They are bullet proof - now I've taken a sill apart and watched/helped it being put back together I know everything is fixable, it is just TIME. I'd never welded in my life before I did a few very small bits on my new arch panel, I am tempted to buy myself a little MIG and practise practise practise on off cuts of metal, then have a bash at the other side myself. The one I had before this one had 280km on the clock, I did a cambelt change and brakes all round then took it to Bruges in 2015 with the other half. Then picked up another one for her on the way back.  |
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Post by Rickster on Jan 17, 2017 20:38:07 GMT
Yup - get a little welder, I went halves on one with my mate who has a 5 and an off road Defender so we both really need it
Like you say - time is the key - if it goes wrong, do it again, my welding doesn't look good but it's strong and a grinder, filler and paint does the job👍🏼😀
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Post by Horney on Jan 17, 2017 21:12:46 GMT
Same here. It's also why I sold the Yeti and bought the mk3. I just love driving MX5s.
I get warm fuzzy feeling that this place is also providing a home for us addicts.
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Dewi
Chats A Bit
Posts: 103
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Post by Dewi on Jan 17, 2017 21:19:16 GMT
What makes me love the MX5? Doing stuff like this in the Video. It's a different model I have now (Mk1 RS - my 4th MX5) but doing stuff like this is what makes the 5 a cracking wee motor and so much fun to own.  |
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Post by Meerkat on Jan 18, 2017 10:31:49 GMT
Hear hear Boringgit! I've owned a fair number of cars over the years and have always joined their respective forums, but I can honestly say I've not connected with any of them in the way I have with the MX5 groups.
Perhaps it's because it takes a certain type of person to appreciate an MX5: Someone who is comfortable with who they are, who isn't too bothered by the "gay" and "hairdresser" comments and has a sense of humour, who enjoys tinkering with cars and can simply appreciate a great driving experience without needing to constantly prove themselves against everyone else. If you're someone who constantly needs your ego massaged, you're not going to be comfortable in an MX5 - you'll want a big expensive car that screams LOOK AT ME AND HOW IMPORTANT I AM. The MX5 is the exact antithesis of this - it's a simple car that provides a simple joy, and that is becoming rarer and rarer in cars these days because it contradicts the ever-increasing narcissism of the western world.
As for the car itself, the reason I love my MX5 so much is because it feels like a friend. It's loyal, willing and up for a laugh, even if it does annoy me from time to time with it's leaky roof. After two years I'm still regularly thinking up excuses to go for a drive, even though in most cases it would be more logical to use our more practical daily-driver. When I sit in the driver's seat and turn the key, I immediately feel that excitement of being teenager whose just got their licence and can't wait to get out on the road on their own.
The designers of the MX5 said that concept of the car was to achieve "unity of man and horse", and in my humble opinion they completely nailed that. The car feels like an extension of your body when you're driving it, and you can predict exactly how it's going to react. When the back steps out it feels completely natural. In fact, the car actively encourages you to drive it enthusiastically. You laugh like a kid, and then you look down at your speedo and realise with satisfaction that you haven't even been speeding! All the fun, and at sensible speeds.
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Post by quinvy on Jan 18, 2017 11:05:55 GMT
Hear hear Boringgit! I've owned a fair number of cars over the years and have always joined their respective forums, but I can honestly say I've not connected with any of them in the way I have with the MX5 groups. Perhaps it's because it takes a certain type of person to appreciate an MX5: Someone who is comfortable with who they are, who isn't too bothered by the "gay" and "hairdresser" comments and has a sense of humour, who enjoys tinkering with cars and can simply appreciate a great driving experience without needing to constantly prove themselves against everyone else. If you're someone who constantly needs your ego massaged, you're not going to be comfortable in an MX5 - you'll want a big expensive car that screams LOOK AT ME AND HOW IMPORTANT I AM. The MX5 is the exact antithesis of this - it's a simple car that provides a simple joy, and that is becoming rarer and rarer in cars these days because it contradicts the ever-increasing narcissism of the western world. As for the car itself, the reason I love my MX5 so much is because it feels like a friend. It's loyal, willing and up for a laugh, even if it does annoy me from time to time with it's leaky roof. After two years I'm still regularly thinking up excuses to go for a drive, even though in most cases it would be more logical to use our more practical daily-driver. When I sit in the driver's seat and turn the key, I immediately feel that excitement of being teenager whose just got their licence and can't wait to get out on the road on their own. The designers of the MX5 said that concept of the car was to achieve "unity of man and horse", and in my humble opinion they completely nailed that. The car feels like an extension of your body when you're driving it, and you can predict exactly how it's going to react. When the back steps out it feels completely natural. In fact, the car actively encourages you to drive it enthusiastically. You laugh like a kid, and then you look down at your speedo and realise with satisfaction that you haven't even been speeding! All the fun, and at sensible speeds. You have nailed it right there mate. My thoughts exactly, well said. |
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Post by minty on Jan 18, 2017 13:00:32 GMT
I love all the rattles and the crack in the dash, and the paint chip on the front arch etc etc. They're so pretty even a fairly ropey one looks great. But most importantly LIGHTS GO UP LIGHTS GO DOWN LIGHTS GO UP... I was without one for 6 years, and that sucked. |
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Post by boringgit on Jan 18, 2017 14:28:22 GMT
I can echo everything Meerkat has said too. If you are the sort of person that needs a brand new car with a reversing camera, automatic lights and a thousand electrical things that can go wrong... you aren't ever going to like an MX5. (As an aside, who wants any of that rubbish - I hired a 308 for a day on holiday last year, reversing camera!!! It's not exactly a big car is it!). Most of my non car friends don't understand it. I got my first one at 21 and now 7 years later I've had 3. I miss the second one most, a nice little V-Spec import which I got cheap and was going to sort the rust issues, but a mate had a MK2 coming up for sale cheap so here I am with a car I've grown attached too. I feel like I have an attachment to them, I know the wheels aren't going to fall off because I did the nuts up, I know the engine won't leak oil because I changed the seals, I know the brakes are going to stop me because I changed them. I think you get to know the noises they make, and know when they are noises of pain. My other half sometimes tells me hers is making funny noises, then I have a listen and it's just THAT MX5 NOISE. You know the one. |
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Post by josho on Jan 18, 2017 16:34:06 GMT
I get warm fuzzy feeling that this place is also providing a home for us addicts. Hi I'm Josh and I'm an Mx5aholic. There are many reasons I love my Mx5, but I cant quite name any main ones, I just love it in its entirety, its mismatched colour hardtop, its manic acceleration and screaming itbs, its dented and scratched paintwork, the epic funtime flames it spits on gearchange, just everything really! |
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Post by striple on Jan 18, 2017 18:47:17 GMT
I love all the rattles and the crack in the dash, er not me, i hate all my mk1 rattles, especially as i know I'll never find them all however it's nothing revving louder cant fix! I've also never found narcotics anywhere... |
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Post by rustywheels on Jan 18, 2017 19:42:51 GMT
Why do I ,love the MX5?
It's just so easy on so many levels. Easy to drive, easy to fix, there is nothing complicated here. But the best bit? I can have a rubbish day at work, jump in the car, and the car being so visceral, I have a million endorphins in my system instantly.
Translated: I just get a great big grin from driving it!
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Post by Bilbo on Jan 19, 2017 13:07:25 GMT
For me it's because they're the entry level sporty RWD. People call them the names we've all heard before, but everyone who gets in loves it. Sure they're dinky, some call them cute, they're certainly not macho. But they have a retro feel to them, while still being bullet proof daily drives.
Almost 4 years ago I had the choice, Hyundai Coupe, or MX-5. I made the right choice.
The other factor is the social scene. So many car scenes are full of bellends, cliquey meets, and snobbery (not all, but you get my point). Almost everyone I've met at a 5 meet/show has been quality, and I've made some good friends. The specialists are also legends in my experience.
I've owned 4 cars, 3 of them MX-5s. That speaks for itself really.
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Post by quinvy on Jan 19, 2017 15:06:03 GMT
I love all the rattles and the crack in the dash, er not me, i hate all my mk1 rattles, especially as i know I'll never find them all however it's nothing revving louder cant fix! I've also never found narcotics anywhere... Ha, ha, me too..............no drugs either. |
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le sigh