mx5cartalk.com

I have had a bit of a search, both here and elsewhere, but can't find the answer. (Please feel free to just give me a link if you know of one.)

Please don't take offence, but I am looking for an MX5 because I don't want to spend the money necessary for a good clubbie. I want an experience close as possible to a clubman, so I am thinking that a model without power steering would be better than one with. Is this right? If so, which models?

Thanks

A lot of it is personal preference.

I've dríven power steering NAs, non power NA, de-powered NA and NB, and own a power steer NB.


When it comes to feel, I find that alignment makes a lot more difference than he type.

Personally I dislike manual steer mx5s, I find they have less steering feel, to me it's like driving with a brick strapped to each wrist.

im totally the opposite to hks_kansey.
however i totally agree its a personal thing. i like feedback but find d with powesteeri g.....its dead. i feel devoid of any connection to the road.
Not all steering is the same either. NB8A is very different to NB8B, NA8 are different again.

my personal favourite is a depoweeed PS rack. it has a faster ratio.

you need to drive each & decide for yourself

Use?

Fat tyres and lots of city driving, I'd go for PS.

Skinny(er) tyres, weekend fun only, then dropping PS is viable. If the car has PS and you do a PS-delete, you will have a faster rack ratio which is nice, but heavier than the slower ratio manual racks.

I'd first choose your MX5, then decide whether to do a PS-delete if it has PS.



BTW, I hope you appreciate that a clubbie is a unique experience, and I doubt that any off-the-shelf MX5 is going to get within a bull's roar of that experience. However the MX5 has its own experience which is different but still highly satisfactory for us.

Forgiven wrote:want an experience close as possible to a clubman, so I am thinking that a model without power steering would be better than one with. Is this right? If so, which models?

Have both, but you'll do more kms in your MX5, so not a bad compromise, if a compromise at all. But like everything it comes down to personal preference.
Ref close as possible to a clubbie - clubbies are typically half the weight of an MX5 & tyres generally run at around 18 PSI. So steering is typically not overly heavy, & would equate to a non-PS MX5 NA6 running 30 PSI. Non-PS NA8 steering feels a bit heavier than I recall my old non-PS NA6 steering felt, but with 32 PSI (cold) it's fine for me around town & great on the open road.

To add more input, I put a factory manual steering rack into my na6 and I really enjoy the feedback it gives. Sometimes I forget its even manual steering because it really doesn't require much effort (im no popeye or anything)

I run 15x8" wheels with an aggressive offset and 26-28psi tyre pressure.

All preference really

Did the NA6 come with PS?

maybe the later ones?

I guess the OP needs to clarify "clubman"

Does he/she mean clubman as in the NA8 special model Mx5?

Or the Lotus 7 style kit car?

StanTheMan wrote:Did the NA6 come with PS?

maybe the later ones?

Early ones (Aussie) didn't.
Japanese ones did.

Not sure what year the change was, but my ex-housemates 93 Aussie NA had manual, so the NA6 may have never had power steer in Aust.

hks_kansei wrote:I guess the OP needs to clarify "clubman"

Does he/she mean clubman as in the NA8 special model Mx5?

Or the Lotus 7 style kit car?

I think he/she wants a Lotus 7 style car experience. But wants to get the Mx5 cause he doesn't want to spend the cash. That's how i read it.

My personal suggestion is.....Mx5 Clubman if he she decides against power steering.....or an NA6 both are pretty similar to drive with the 1.6 & 1.8 difference. I cant see how an NB or later would be closer. Its the rawness of an NA that perhaps makes irt closest to the Lotus 7 Style Clubbie

StanTheMan wrote:Did the NA6 come with PS?

They did, but not sure what year it started to become available in ADM. Recall Bwob explaining PS was a last minute decision, so a late implementation in the design process with the associated rush.

hks_kansei wrote:I guess the OP needs to clarify "clubman"

Think following indicates OP's intent, as an MX5 Clubman is still an MX5, even though many avoid them due to the Bilsteins & the premium these days is minimal for the usual ones for sale:

Forgiven wrote:looking for an MX5 because I don't want to spend the money necessary for a good clubbie.

I think NA6 got power steering in the final year of 93? The one with the BBS wheels I think. Eunos Roadster in Japan could have it from the beginning I believe & more often with the viscous LSD too.

I've probably dríven about a hundred MX5s, mostly on the track as part of teaching noobs track technique. I've got to say that after all that I have absolutely no preference towards PS or non-PS. Other factors about how the car is set up have much more impact on the driving experience.

Thanks everybody - very helpful.

good to know manga I plan on deleting my ac and PS shortly and wondered how it would feel on the track.

also FYI I have an early ADM PS car. I though PS was the plan all along for them?