Daily driving an MX5

speed freak · Postby **speed freak** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:50 pm

I use my mx5 as a daily driver and my weekend fun car. Sometimes though when using my mx5 daily you feel vulnerable with the whole small car vs big car. It doesnt help that I go to work and come home with all the tradies so big 4x4's, utes, trucks etc plus all the other halfwits in between.

I love driving my mx5 every single day, it makes even the most boring journey fun and exciting but sometimes I wish I had a bigger (not huge like a 4x4 just bigger) for the daily commute as Id feel safer. Not that I feel unsafe driving my mx5 but when your next to a big 4x4 or truck and you look out your window and all you can see is wheel nuts lol its a little overwhelming sometimes being in such a small car when everyone these days seems to drive big cars.

Anyone else feel like this that daily drive their mx5? Like I said I love my mx5 and really enjoy using it everyday but sometimes it would be nice to have a bigger car.

Postby **NitroDann** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:42 pm

Wanna know how I know you don'trun 25psi and semi slicks? :lol:

speed freak · Postby **speed freak** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:48 pm

Because I was inquiring about your turbo kits recently lol? Nah fair enough I could still outrun 90% or more though but I just cruise going about my business during the week. Even still I stick to the speed limits but even if I did 20 km over the speed limit Id still get numpties sitting an inch off the rear bumper. Its just a bit daunting sometimes being surrounded by big cars when your in a small one.

fastfreddygassit · Postby **fastfreddygassit** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:52 pm

a few of us here are cyclists and motorcyclists......we know all about being vulnerable.... :mrgreen:

zero00 · Postby **zero00** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:56 pm

Know how you feel Rhys, as you know my NB is the daily and every day I have jacked up rusted riddled 4x4's up my butt trying to intimidate me - they get over it eventually!! Most of the time all I see in the rear view is the rollbar cross brace and their rego plate and a bl**dy winch as well as an almost hidden 'P' plate!!

But it's fun!! 4.45am at 100kph to the Station what can be better? And coming home on a hot & humid day just drop the roof!!

As for pressures Dann, 36psi all round on 36's, nice soft ride and corners, NO 4x4 can stay with me thru the offramp curves!! Rhys, you know my exit from the M1 to Bribie, nice when being tail-gated by one of those 4x4's to just drop down to 4th, no dab of the brake and hold 90kph thru that sweeping left hander!! Love the look of the 4x4 at all angles when they realise they CAN'T do what an MX5 can!

Oh well, off to the garage to polish the 86!

CatchyD · Postby **CatchyD** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:02 pm

I get this completely living in an area that is basically run by tradies and road trains for all the warehouses and industries nearby. I commute 40 minutes each day on the M1/Pacific Highway to get to uni and being in a small little mx5 does get quite scary due to the fact as you said when you're next to a truck and you look out your window, your head's inline with the top of their wheel.

I still enjoy the drive none the less and much prefer driving the MX compared to my Lancer Sedan. I've been cut in front of, nearly squished, close to being run up the arse off all because of the size of the car, which yes is quite scary but I just do my best to drive appropriately to the size of my car so for example I give trucks a lane between us if I pass them on the M1, I stay out of everyone's blind spots and sit further back from them just to make sure they can see me and so on, helps reduce the feeling of being vulnerable

kazama · Postby **kazama** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:09 pm

i know the feel OP
i love the open top but sometimes when i drive i picture rolling over and it doesnt sit well with me. saving up for a roll bar next purchase should help.
i often find myself glancing in the rear view when i brake harder than usual to make sure a lifted 4wd doesnt run me over. similar to the way i am when im on my motorbike. i guess a bit of healthy "fear" or caution is a good thing

the nimbleness of the mx5 more than makes up for it imo

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:17 pm

"Anyone else feel like this that daily drive their mx5? Like I said I love my mx5 and really enjoy using it everyday but sometimes it would be nice to have a bigger car". Speed Freak.

Why join the navy when you can be a pirate?
Greg.

22Silver · Postby **22Silver** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:23 pm

Well.. Sometimes big Van's and such start to pull into me to change lanes after they look over the top of me...
Blast the horn and hit the brakes

Black_Penguin · Postby **Black_Penguin** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:20 pm

And this is why I'm not moving to the city any time soon, I'd go mad dealing with all the d-bags in traffic.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:22 pm

4WDs? I nearly had a cement truck roll over me just the other day!

I don't think he had any idea I was there and he just casually started changing lanes when I was right beside his left front wheel. Luckily I had enough grunt to just shoot out in front and I saw him swerve back into his lane when he saw me.

Vat · Postby **Vat** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:45 pm

22Silver wrote:Well.. Sometimes big Van's and such start to pull into me to change lanes after they look over the top of me...
Blast the horn and hit the brakes

That's one thing I've really noticed with the MX-5 - my daily commute was a '97 Mirage (yeah, I'm cheap...) so I'm used to the 'small light car vs ridiculous monster trucks" thing (plus I do a bit of cycling), but I've had four or five instances where bigger vehicles (including one GBFO coach) alongside have put indicators on and gone to merge on top of me. Cue one horn and brake manoeuvre.

Correct setting of the left hand mirror is one of my bugbears and it does highlight just how crap people are at it...assuming they're even looking, of course.

I've noticed with the soft top either up or down that there are much better aural clues as to where other vehicles are so that helps with awareness of where others are on the road, and with the roof down you can make it extremely clear to tailgaters that you think they're too close. Shaved head helps here.

Certainly learning a lot about doorhandles on other cars, though...

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:54 pm

Loud exhaust....people always know I'm there. Has it's down sides though.

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Kev05 · Postby **Kev05** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:29 am

Might help fitting a dash cam if you are unexpectedly involve in a collision. Very hard to argue against video footage.

Ignore the tailgaters, just drive your normal speed and they will eventually give up. Increase your stopping distance from the car infront to allow for the tailgaters time to react to any sudden braking. The best way to be notice is fit loud exhaust. For instance, we all seem to notice when a Harley rider is nearby.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:52 am

Coming from riding motorbikes you become very adept at situational awareness. When driving I think every other driver is an idiot and will do something stupid and hence I leave enough space or have an 'out' available.

It was funny a while ago my son and I were in our MX5's and my partner in the Amarok. Guess who was cut off all the time? It was my son and it did not matter if he was in front behind or in the middle. I formed the opinion that it was only because of his P plates that he was singled out. Same son now drives a commode (with p plates) and he gets treated differentley.... Weird.

I get frustrated when it is raining/wet and you leave space for extra braking and other drivers feel the urge to fill that space! Always drive at your own pace (obey speed limits) and not get forced into traveling faster than the conditions allow. Tailgaters if you slow down often enough will move eventually, nothing like a tap on the brakes and seeing the panic in their eyes to make you feel better.