mx5cartalk.com

Low figures compared to what though? If you disregard the Honda S2000 and the Integra Type S, The enging in the MX5 is producing around the same, if not more that other 1.8L's in the market. With it's power to weight ratio, It even mows down the Commodore V6's and the Magna's etc. It does actually have quite a grunty little engine.

I'm no expert though, just my initial thoughts.

PS. I realise the S2000 is a 2.0L engine, but it's power figure is way above other N/A similar sized engines.

2 1/4\" full exhaust with CAI and aftermarket ECU will see you with high 90kw at the wheels which is pretty good.

Toyota Corolla - 92kw
Toyota MR2 - 103kw
Ford Focus 2.0L - 107kw
Honda Integra 2.0L - 117kw

So the 113kw of the 2001-2003 model 1.8L is actually quite good. All the above figures are from the manufacturer's websites.

94-97 1.8Ls are the 93kw i believe

98+ had some tinkering to improve the power & made the car faster then the same year MR2 Spyder

Sam_Q wrote:dont the latest corollas and mr2s use the 1.8L 2zz-ge engine rated at 140kw?

MR2 was discontinued last year and had 103kw I beleive. Only the Sportivo model Corrolla has 140kw but it use the 2.0 (or 2.2L) Celica engine.

Sam_Q wrote:BTW just to avoid any misunderstandings I mean atmo engines only

What is atmo?

well, it had SVT. the 2000 model i think?

sequential valve timing. another VV-T i guess

The Corolla Sportivo has 147kw, yet I mowed one down the other day with my meazley 1.8 turbo BP engine

Sam_Q wrote:
also most of those engines are not meant to be real sporty engines but thats just my opinion anyway.

And the BP is? Its a bloody 323 engine turned round the right way

Sam_Q wrote:oh so it does have it? do you know what type of VVT it has?

The 6spd MX5s had what Mazda called "SVT", which is basically just a device that rotated the intake cam. So cam timing could be altered, but the cam profile was the same (unlike say VTEC or Toyota's VVT-LI).

I'm not sure why Mazda never really pursued the ultra-high revving nat-asp solution. Mitsubishi did with its MIVEC, Toyota with VVT-Li, Honda with VTEC, even Nissan did it with VVL editions of its SR20.

It could be that Mazda never really had a bottom end that could withstand really big revs. IMHO even the current MZR series uis low-revving in comparison.

There are several reasons why the power output is low:

* The engine (MZR excepted) is based on mature technology harking back to the early-mid '80s. In that light, the output per litre is reasonable.
* Reliability - the engine is quite understressed, therefore making it last longer.
* Cost - Power increases insurance costs, running costs, purchase price (as factored in by marketing), parts price, servicing, brakes, clutches need to be bigger, etc...
* product placement & design intent. The MX-5 has never been the performance flagship (SP excepted) for Mazda. The concept was \"light, nimble sportscar\" with a focus more on handling and enjoyment than outright performance.

In other words: because Mazda chose it to be that way.

PT wrote:The Corolla Sportivo has 147kw, yet I mowed one down the other day with my meazley 1.8 turbo BP engine

i dont think you can compare cars by "mowing them down"
when i had my hsv every man and his dog would want to race me. i'd give them a short go before i knew i had them covered and then backed off so i wasnt being silly or speeding or anything. i did this to some people i knew of and before to long they were saying how they whipped me ass.

little did they know that i just didnt think there cars were worthy

glen73 wrote:

PT wrote:The Corolla Sportivo has 147kw, yet I mowed one down the other day with my meazley 1.8 turbo BP engine

i dont think you can compare cars by "mowing them down"
when i had my hsv every man and his dog would want to race me. i'd give them a short go before i knew i had them covered and then backed off so i wasnt being silly or speeding or anything. i did this to some people i knew of and before to long they were saying how they whipped me ass.

little did they know that i just didnt think there cars were worthy

Hmm, could the case with you, however not the case this time... I chatted to him after

Also, to stand up for the BP was the thread on skylines australia, I'll see if I can dig it up.

PT wrote:

glen73 wrote:

PT wrote:The Corolla Sportivo has 147kw, yet I mowed one down the other day with my meazley 1.8 turbo BP engine

i dont think you can compare cars by "mowing them down"
when i had my hsv every man and his dog would want to race me. i'd give them a short go before i knew i had them covered and then backed off so i wasnt being silly or speeding or anything. i did this to some people i knew of and before to long they were saying how they whipped me ass.

little did they know that i just didnt think there cars were worthy

Hmm, could the case with you, however not the case this time... I chatted to him after

Also, to stand up for the BP was the thread on skylines australia, I'll see if I can dig it up.

fair enough, i meant my post in a nice vibe.