15 years later, is the SP much chop?

[NitroDann]

Its literally an NB with an ok turbo kit a 'chip' and bugger all factory options.

Its not a one of 5 homologated Monaro GTS, or a special edition with rare unparalleled OEM race parts.

How does it stack up? Well its not bad, it has good grunt and its an MX5, but it doesnt even have an LSD.

Dann

[Mr Morlock]

Bigdog has the klm's on the clock and clearly has enjoyed his ownership i.e. a bloke that uses it. I thought it was very interesting to pick the SP over a Boxster - that latter car was about $100K and arguably not as well engineered . Stan also is right about an SP being something rather exclusive.

You can buy an SP at a reasonable price - homologated Monaros cost mega bucks. Many of the early cars had minor updates for them to wear a GT badge and today those cars would be blown off the roads by the family run about. After 15 years- what do you compare it against - a 1.5 litre ND ? Personally I would much prefer the older car.

[SuperMazdaKart]

In some cases an SP/SE could be the better buy rather then one with a turbo conversion. Some states like SA make it rather difficult & costly to have a road legal turbo conversion MX-5. ADR approved/engineered, sold through the dealerships & recognised by insurance companies like the SP/SE & ones that came stock with a turbo from the factory like the SE are worth going for if turbo is wanted.

[StanTheMan]

ha, ha....this is like going back in time.

The SP bashing discussions we used to have here.

the manifold bolts coming loose
the clutch supplied by Mazda was pretty crap.

then there were all these fights about SP vs SE...OMG. SP owners who are a pretty emotional; & passionate lot, defending hier purchase. SE owners saying they had a LSD.
NA owners with ƒü¢k all hp, stirring the pot.

Good times
N/A rules......
We used to call them COW's Mooooooooo!!!!!!

Can of worms

some words here are harsh. But true. Butr whatever rocks your boat is what matters.

I have no issues drooling over big dogs SP with towel in hand. Martin (the Martian) Is a beautiful car But then. There is all the original NA6's popping up of late. Id be in the very same state ....tragic really....

[StanTheMan]

In some cases an SP/SE could be the better buy rather then one with a turbo conversion. Some states like SA make it rather difficult & costly to have a road legal turbo conversion MX-5. So one that came stock with a turbo from the factory like the SE or one that's been ADR approved/engineered, sold through the dealerships & recognised by insurance companies like the SP are worth going for if turbo is wanted.

The way I understand it is,And this could be right or wrong
once you get to 20% more power. It needs to be re engineered anyway. To be legal.
Turbo or not. Becomes irrelevant.

However having said that. You are more likely to get away with big hp increases having a car with turbo from factory. But the boys in blue are unlikely to know about SE's & SP's

[SuperMazdaKart]

Could also leave it stock, or near stock & be satisfied. Though, some people will never be happy with stock power levels.

Was about after 6 years of ownership of the Familia GT-R that I had any additional power added to it, even then I don't have it running the extra power often though.

[Okibi]

The SP was $15k over a naturally asthmatic MX-5.

Back then an AVO kit, exhaust and engineering would have got you similar power for around $7k?

So $47.3k vs $55.5

So a similar car could have been built for 85% of the cost, but those MX-5s would have voided the factory warranty.

A modified turbo'd MX-5 was typically harder and more expensive to insure than the factory SP model (at the time some SP owners even managed to get standard MX-5 insurance rates because the SP model wasn't listed on the systems).

These days I think an SP would probably hold a premium over a 15 year old AVO kit so I don't think they've lost out.

The best thing about the SP is that it helped pave the way for the SE.

[Daffy]

..........The best thing about the SP is that it helped pave the way for the SE.

Although still unique, after the introduction of the SE, the SP could only ever be considered a 1st of a kind, not a one of a kind.

ha, ha....this is like going back in time.

......some words here are harsh. But true. Butr whatever rocks your boat is what matters...........

I never have and never will buy a car on the basis of what I can sell it for or what it can be compared to........its like that french barman in that old retro Johnny Walker ad who says, do you want the scotch you either pay for, or the scotch you either drink?

[Okibi]

I think the BBR turbos would be considered the first of kind in terms of MX-5 but Mazda had the 323s and the Ford TX3 to learn from.

[Daffy]

Too true when you put things into an evolutionary context (I was just thinking along the lines of the NB series)-
When considering what may be comming down the line, the future of high powered MX5 is looking good- check out what BBR are doing with a stage 1 turbo for the ND

http://www.bbrgti.com/news/bbr-launches ... o-upgrade/

[NitroDann]

Everyone always whines and moans about legality and insurance and here I am doing a fully engineered car every other week.

The ADRs are identical state to state so any of these 'but I live in victoria' excuses are false.

Additionally anyone with bolt ons on their SE or SP needs engineering jist the same as a bolt on turbo car does.

Those are all facts, but it won't change some people's way of thinking.

Dann

[bigdog]

That's true today Dann, but back in the day the SE and SP were the only easy way to be legally turboed in NSW.

I agree that building a turbo NB today would give you a superior car for less outlay than an SP or SE, particularly starting from unmodified versions of either. That said, most SP owners have sorted their cars over time with LSD's, ECUs, clutches etc, so sometimes they can be good value buying. They have held their value well over time when compared to stock NBs.

[madkeen]

Hi, I'm the OP. Thanks for all your great posts and passionate feedback.

And for my next question... who should, by rights, occupy the Gaza Strip??

[StanTheMan]

you sure started a COW

[NitroDann]

That's true today Dann, but back in the day the SE and SP were the only easy way to be legally turboed in NSW.

For what reason?

Even today people are 110% convinced that you cant turbo anything in Vic, but everytime someone starts a thread about it people chime in with details about how they did theirs, and its always the exact same story: Its the same as in every other state, you just have to do the leg work and get it done.

Dann