Gregory the NA8 II: Project Apache Thunder-Fist

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Tue Nov 08, 2016 1:42 pm

Ahhhh okay I'm with you.
Good call.

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 7:03 am

Someone on the mx5 Facebook page posted a link to a German ebay store selling handmade mx5 pins. Couldn't help myself, it arrived a couple of weeks ago.

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 2:47 pm

Picked up this thing yesterday

Still coming to terms with all the features and gizmos. I'll write up a little piece about how it stacks up against the other hot hatches I tried, and how it stacks up against a mighty NitroDann powered Gregory.

For outright pace it is much faster than a Civic Type R or even a BMW 130i. It can really push you back in the seat, however it seems relatively lethargic compared to the turbo MX5. Let me clarify, Gregory felt like it always had performance on tap, no matter the revs or throttle position. The Megane has good performance but needs to be up in the mid range with a fair amount of throttle applied to get the best out of it.

It rides and feels like a Japanese car. It feels like it wants to play compared to the absolutely solidity of the 130i. The ride isn't as harsh as the Civic type R, and far more comfortable than an MX5 on coilovers, which could feel skittish on bumpy corners.

In fact, it feels very Japanese overall. From the fairly plasticky interior to the light steering.

Compared to Gregory, the gear shifts and throttle response are lacking. This seemed to be a trait shared by all the options I test drove. Whether it's electronic throttle pedals and FWD gearboxes which cause this, I don't know. I suppose we are spoiled with MX5's in that the basics are so perfect.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 6:01 pm

Previous owner's name was CHRIS?

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 6:09 pm

bruce wrote:Previous owner's name was CHRIS?

You're the first person to actually pick that up. He wants his plates back so new plates will be put on tomorrow.

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 6:23 pm

What a great car. Serves your practical needs and your fun needs, while avoiding the same ol', same ol', run of the mill regular candidates. Good find :beer:

omx500 · Postby **omx500** » Sat Jan 07, 2017 12:44 pm

Hey man. Great thread. The detail of how someone else does something you are trying to do is always really helpful. Hopefully I'll get my similarish turbo conversion mobile soon. A few words of warning...I convinced myself to sell my NA and even as it was driving off I knew it was the wrong thing (for me) to do. I did a part swap with someone I knew (has become a mate) on his CC Lancer GSR (with built 4G63T). It took a while, but I eventually took it back as a part exchange on my Ford TE50 (stroker motor, T56 manual, big brakes etc). I don't even think about the effective cost of buying it back, but the bonus is it got a shiny new paint job whilst in his care. The work you did on the interior of your car was quite inspirational. Enjoy the Megane. They are supposed to be great.

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Sat Jan 07, 2017 5:11 pm

Thanks omx, with the weather being almost 40deg lately it's hard to miss a car without AC!
In all seriousness, while the Megane is great I miss the MX5s throttle response, steering and gearshift every time I drive. But yes, loving the air conditioned life!

In other news, a couple of months ago I sold my old bumper to another MX5 owner, he didn't waste much time fitting it.

How good does it look?!

BRG.NA8 · Postby **BRG.NA8** » Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:03 pm

smy0003 wrote:Thanks omx, with the weather being almost 40deg lately it's hard to miss a car without AC!
In all seriousness, while the Megane is great I miss the MX5s throttle response, steering and gearshift every time I drive. But yes, loving the air conditioned life!

In other news, a couple of months ago I sold my old bumper to another MX5 owner, he didn't waste much time fitting it.

How good does it look?!

Ahh you sold it?! I thought there was another silver NA going around with the same bumper you had! He was selling a set of 14x6.5 watanabe's and I noticed his front bumper more than the wheels and immediately thought of Gregory haha. Now it makes sense! Looks fantastic and so classy on a silver NA!

Great choice on the Megane RS mate. I helped a friend pick out an RS250 and he loves it. Can definitely feel the weight of the car compared to our MX5's but having said that, it's still very fun and quite chuckable through the corners, much more so than my old MK6 Golf R. Though the RS feels like it runs out of puff a little bit towards the higher end/redline, it's so much better and more fun at tackling the corners compared to its rivals! And yeah, A/C is something I dearly miss...gonna try and source one from a wreck this year and install it! It's so bloody hot

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Sun Jan 08, 2017 12:14 pm

BRG.NA8 wrote:Ahh you sold it?! I thought there was another silver NA going around with the same bumper you had! He was selling a set of 14x6.5 watanabe's and I noticed his front bumper more than the wheels and immediately thought of Gregory haha. Now it makes sense! Looks fantastic and so classy on a silver NA!

Great choice on the Megane RS mate. I helped a friend pick out an RS250 and he loves it. Can definitely feel the weight of the car compared to our MX5's but having said that, it's still very fun and quite chuckable through the corners, much more so than my old MK6 Golf R. Though the RS feels like it runs out of puff a little bit towards the higher end/redline, it's so much better and more fun at tackling the corners compared to its rivals! And yeah, A/C is something I dearly miss...gonna try and source one from a wreck this year and install it! It's so bloody hot

Sold it to my Dad. The little MX5 grew on him over the last few years of watching me drive one. It's now mostly stock bar the leather interior, but I have to say it still looks very nice. Dad says he gets stopped by MX5 owners semi-regularly asking if it's a Japanese import with the red interior.

Does your car not have AC? I thought being a fully kitted out (Leather and BRG) late model NA it would have it.

The Megane is a fun drive, but yes, the extra weight is instantly noticeable. I guess I saw that coming, though. It's quite amazing how it can deal with a twisty road, the suspension soaks up uneven surfaces mid-corner without any fuss at all and just let's you plough on like nothing happened. It's basically a French WRX!