SP or SE

[Sean]

Kijima summed it up best SP>NC>SE

He almost summed it up

NA>SP>NC>SE

[PT]

Kijima summed it up best SP>NC>SE

He almost summed it up

NA>SP>NC>SE

No No no...

MR2>SE>NC>SP

[Okibi]

NA6 > NA8 > NA Clubman > NB8A > 10AE > NB8B > SP > NC > SE ?

[AJ]

NC = MR2²????

[Casey]

Wow - looking at the results there are clearly more owners of SE's then SP's around here (stands to reason I guess given the limited edition nature of the SP) and there are a lot who haven't compared both cars as most the SP owners have.

But don't take our word for it. Without stealing RJAstra's thunder too much, the 2002 PCOTY (SP) and 2005 PCOTY (SE) make an interesting comparison.

The 2002 PCOTY said of the SP: \"Stand up all you flag-waving Aussies, here's one to make us all proud.\"

\"But the handling is the big thing here, and destroying the balance is what supposibly has kept Mazda from upping the MX-5's power output in the past. That's until you realise that the delicate balance between neutral, to tail-out and back again to power-down are actually inspired by the chassis, not speed. The thing is, the SP does everything the MX-5 does, but fills out the straight bits in between a lot better. It isn't a wheel-spinning monster, but a thoroughly sensible and thoroughly entertaining little car.\"

\"Probably the car with the biggest fun quotent.\" [10 PCOTY Surprises]

\"Way too much grunt for the amount of grip. Chassis's good, but it lights up the inside back tyre too easily\" [Cam's Corner] A TorSen will fix that if you drive it on the racetrack.

The 2005 PCOTY said of the SE: \"Below 4000rpm or so, it's practically a standard atmo 1.8-litre four, with the low pressure turbo battling to gather enough fizz. Over 4000 revs the boost it tips in is a bit underwhelming.\"

\"That's not the turbo model is it? This was another disappointment. That's the first turbo car I've dríven that has lag at high revs. The chassis grip is good and the brakes are fantastic but it has no power. It's as if they put the turbo on it but didn't connect it.\" [Luffy's Corner]

FWIW in 2002 PCOTY the SP came 4th outright and beat the WRX STi (6th) and the Clio Sport (9th).

In 2005 PCOTY the SE came 16th outright and was beaten by the WRX STi (3rd) and the Clio Sport (6th).

[Boyracer]

The 2005 PCOTY said of the SE: \"Below 4000rpm or so, it's practically a standard atmo 1.8-litre four, with the low pressure turbo battling to gather enough fizz. Over 4000 revs the boost it tips in is a bit underwhelming.\"

\"That's not the turbo model is it? This was another disappointment. That's the first turbo car I've dríven that has lag at high revs. The chassis grip is good and the brakes are fantastic but it has no power. It's as if they put the turbo on it but didn't connect it.\" [Luffy's Corner]

This is the biggest crock of sh*t I have ever read...he must have been driving a Camry not an MX5.

[Casey]

The 2005 PCOTY said of the SE: "Below 4000rpm or so, it's practically a standard atmo 1.8-litre four, with the low pressure turbo battling to gather enough fizz. Over 4000 revs the boost it tips in is a bit underwhelming."

"That's not the turbo model is it? This was another disappointment. That's the first turbo car I've dríven that has lag at high revs. The chassis grip is good and the brakes are fantastic but it has no power. It's as if they put the turbo on it but didn't connect it." [Luffy's Corner]

This is the biggest crock of sh*t I have ever read...he must have been driving a Camry not an MX5.

Maybe it was an unfit one - they also complained that the gearbox changes had ruined the sweet shift of a normal MX-5.

Still, the comparitive assessments are interesting. The SP had the E46 M3 to contend with (1st) but that was missing in 2005. The Clio and STi made good benchmarks - which show the 2005 field wasn't as competitive as the 2002. All-in-all a great result for a great little car.

BTW the NB8A came third outright !!! in 1999 but I think they got so many complaints they rejigged the assessment system from then on.

[Bevan]

Wow - looking at the results there are clearly more owners of SE's then SP's around here (stands to reason I guess given the limited edition nature of the SP) and there are a lot who haven't compared both cars as most the SP owners have.

Errr, no. I'm sure people without them have voted too. I'd be extremely surprised if 41 people on here have SP's or SE's. Just cause your car didn't win, doesn't mean people didn't compare cars properly.

Yeah your car is good, so is the SE. Both are highly desirable, everyone should get over it.

[Casey]

Wow - looking at the results there are clearly more owners of SE's then SP's around here (stands to reason I guess given the limited edition nature of the SP) and there are a lot who haven't compared both cars as most the SP owners have.

Errr, no. I'm sure people without them have voted too. I'd be extremely surprised if 41 people on here have SP's or SE's. Just cause your car didn't win, doesn't mean people didn't compare cars properly. |

Have you dríven both? Anyone who is making comments like this and hasn't is just blowing hot air as far as I'm concerned. Do yourselve's a favour, drive both then come back and we'd all love to hear your informed opinions.

[StanTheMan]

I've voted. i have dríven both & don't have either. only because i can't afford it.
Exactly Bevans point.

but i will not reveal which as it will blow up in the usual C.O.W. manner.

[PT]

I've dríven both, yes the SP is fast, however the SE is more fun. It's got far greater turn in, cornering speed and ability to hang the tail. On top of that it's not a case of put your foot down and it goes, you have to drive the car, the car doesn't drive you.

[PT]

BTW Casey, you're inability to recognise the pro's and con's of both cars reminds me of a certain bunch of skyline owners.

And, I think there are more SP owners on here than SE owners.

[Casey]

BTW Casey, you're ability to recognise the pro's and con's of both cars reminds me of a certain bunch of skyline owners.

He he - I was thinking the same thing of SE owners I guess its all a matter of perspective

Believe it or not I was looking forwards to the release of the SE - I was toying with the idea of getting one to replace the SP and was even looking for a Mazdaspeed badge to replace the dinky SE one. But, like PCOTY said, it was such a dissapointment. I have heard it likened to the Camry Sportivo of MX-5's so Lou's Camry comment was quite profound.

BTW - I scoured the 2005 PCOTY article to find any positives about the SE but there weren't any - apart from the brakes which are the same for all NB8B/Cs. I guess this relates to the fact the SE was knocked out in the first round so there was comparitively little written about it, whereas the SP made it all the way through to the final six - therefore there was more type devoted to it

Also - speaking of handling ability - the SP (1:44:70 - Cameron McConville) was just a little quicker around Winton then the SE (1:47:00 - Ian Luff).

[Boyracer]

Some people like the SE so much they have 2 of them...does that me I can vote twice?

[Casey]

Some people like the SE so much they have 2 of them...does that me I can vote twice?

Cool. I saw the white Clubman for sale and thought two things:

1. someone is going to get a brilliant car; and
2. what's he up to now?

So is the new SE going to be a race car? The MX5 racing scene is getting quite interesting with all these SE and SP replicas fronting up