Saturday 11 June 2016

Mazda MX5 Mk2 Roadster vs Toyota MR2 Mk 3 Roadster



17 comments:

Lola said...

Have you bought another one?

Mark Wadsworth said...

L, yes :-)

Lola said...

A replacement or a spare?

Mark Wadsworth (YPP) said...

L, I got one of each to do a long term fair comparison.

DavesWorld said...

Prefer the looks of the MR2 personally - A car programme called Wheeler Dealers bought a rusting MR2 & restored it looked like a future classic to me - I recall the engine vents allowed water to get into the engine bay causing the alternator to fail, thought you might be interested ?

Mark Wadsworth said...

DW, I can't get too worried about the alternator because I don't even know what it is, and what you don't know can't hurt you.

proglodyte said...

I've had an X-reg MR2 since 2007. Same colour. Done about 35,000 miles.

Nearest thing to karting I've driven on road (did some 'proper' karting many moons ago). Sticks to the tarmac - well balanced/stiff suspension - and hugely fun to drive. Not a high performance engine but, for the price, there's little that'll out corner it, rendering it's impracticality for everyday use a minor issue.

Anyway, Mazda's are everywhere.


Lola said...

Always good to have a choice of car. I always say, if you've got one you need two in case one goes wrong. Same applies to 'puters.

The Jannie said...

Have you seen Fiat's new "124 Spider"? Built by Mazda, looks like a touched up MX5 and will have aficionados of the REAL 124 Spider reaching for their sickbags.

ThomasBHall said...

My vote is for the MR2- if only because it has 3 pedals... I also prefer the layout, although in fairness I have never driven either in reality (an auto MX5 I would probably pass on however). Nice colour too!

DavesWorld said...

Alternator is driven by the engine via a belt & pulley system & charges the battery it looks a bit like an electric motor but if you aren't interested no probs

Mark Wadsworth said...

P, you do see MMX5s more often, there appear to be many more of them.

DCB, you are right, the new model looks like an MX5 but with the cabin pushed back about six inches. It looks out of proportion if you ask me, should have left the cabin where it was.

TBH, ta, I thought you would.

DW, thanks, so why don't they call it a "generator" if that's what it is?

Robin Smith said...

The MX5 is the best rag top value for money. The new Boxster S is the best rag top overall.

DavesWorld said...

Wikipedia explain itbetter than I can i.e " alternator is an electrical generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current"

Derek said...

There's two kinds of generator, Mark. An alternator produces alternating current, a dynamo produces direct current. Originally cars used dynamos because they need DC to charge the battery but with the invention of cheap, high=power, solid-state rectifiers which can turn AC into DC, it made sense for the car makers to change over to alternators because they are more reliable, more efficient and cheaper to make.

Mark Wadsworth said...

RS, I only like Japanese mass market roadsters in the £2,000 - £2,500 category. Pay more than that and you are paying for the fancy label, not the product. The ability to do 0-60 is three seconds or reach a top speed of anything over 80mph is irrelevant because I only drive on public roads and I can't and won't go faster than the car in front of me anyway.

DW and D, aha, thanks, I have learned something new today.

Robin Smith said...

@MW but the 'label' is what I want most. It signals I have money and people will admire me for that no matter how I got it nor what are my virtues. Granted, the MX5 has everything else one needs, just not the label.