Modifying an SE

[Danny]

Yeah they have a bit of factory rice, different shocks and springs and badges and seat coverings too.

Dann

When I decided on the SE I understood it had the following (correct me if I'm wrong) on top of being turboed:

Biggest brakes
Best and strongest version of the non VVT motors (less fragile and better to boost?)
Stiffest shell with the most brackets, braces and other body stiffening bits of all the gen 1 and 2 models
Strongest gearbox
Bigger tailshaft
LSD (torsen) diff of later stronger type
Bilstein developed shocks, springs and sway bars to make it the best sorted oem suspension
Luxury kit with Bose front and rear sound, leather and other trim bits
Quickest R & P (2.25 turns L to L) and hand stitched Nardi wheel

Mates with Porsches, Lotus and even Fazzes have been amazed with how quick and easy it is to drive. A couple are even contemplating getting one.

Get an SE, spend $3-5k at MANIA and not much short of a powerful Elise or Exige will be more exciting on a winding road.

I forgot about the R & P and steering wheel, now added to the list. But like the other points I can be corrected on them too.

[Nevyn72]

Quickest R & P (2.25 turns L to L)

Unfortunately this is due to a reduced turning arc (to prevent the larger factory wheels from scrubbing) so you end up with a larger turning circle.....
The benefit is you have fewer issues with scrubbing when/if you replace the wheels with wider (8" instead of 7") rims and/or lower the car.

Another improvement over the base car you missed is the thicker/better radiator.

[NitroDann]

You are listing a lot of changes and calling them upgrades.

Many seem to fall into this trap.

[Nevyn72]

You are listing a lot of changes and calling them upgrades.

Many seem to fall into this trap.

Dann, not everyone is trying to make a road registered race car.......

For people like myself the 'upgrades' are actually an improvement on the base model. In style, performance and reliability.

[93_Clubman]

...now added to the list.

If you like lists: http://www.mx5cartalk.com/SP_SE_Comparison/

[NitroDann]

You are listing a lot of changes and calling them upgrades.

Many seem to fall into this trap.

Dann, not everyone is trying to make a road registered race car.......

For people like myself the 'upgrades' are actually an improvement on the base model. In style, performance and reliability.

A literal interpretation of your post reads.

"The changes aren't only in performance and I personally prefer the changes."

Dann

[Nevyn72]

A literal interpretation of your post reads.

"The changes aren't only in performance and I personally prefer the changes."

Pretty much!

That being said, there are improvements that can be made, I know, I've been doing them.....

[Danny]

That's a good list thanks.

Dann so what's it going to cost?

One of my mates buys a normal NB, instead of an SE with a Mania stage 2, and follows your route to turbo exstasy. The car needs to have suspension compliance and travel to work on our backroads in preference to the track.

[NitroDann]

It depends if the NB you buy is completely stock or not. Of it is, it will cost around 1000 more than building a stage 2 SE from stock, but with over 25% more performance, a LOT more useable torque and the money saved buying a base model nb8b gives a lot of money to replace things that you would most probably do on an SE anyway, like wheels and tyres, suspension components etc.

Dann

[davekmoore]

What Dann said - and I'm not biased as you'll see from my sig and the weedy performance presently being wrung out of the IHI turbo until I upgrade to a proper one.

[Danny]

It depends if the NB you buy is completely stock or not. Of it is, it will cost around 1000 more than building a stage 2 SE from stock, but with over 25% more performance, a LOT more useable torque and the money saved buying a base model nb8b gives a lot of money to replace things that you would most probably do on an SE anyway, like wheels and tyres, suspension components etc.

Dann

There's a problem. We can't find a non turbo MX that will match an SE for condition.

Blanket statement but most SE's are in pretty great condition. Must be the nature of the car and the owners. Normally aspirated of the same year, condition and mileage are only a grand or two cheaper. If the condition doesn't at least match he's not interested. How far back do we look to get the stronger shot peened 6 speed fitted to the SE?

He's pretty impressed with the standard SE suspension on backroads as well as the way the torsen works, which the non-turbos won't have. The only change on my car's handling are the soft 140 rated tyres.

When you say a 1000 more what does that buy? We're assuming you mean over the $5.7k for the stage 2 from mania.

[ManiacLachy]

Really? There should be plenty of looked after NB8Bs around $10k. Take a look at this one on the forum http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=73&t=66539 You even get some great wheels in the package! And at around $8k you'll have heaps in the budget to tubo it and put in a new diff.

Mind you, I'm an SE guy and I love it. If you want to maximise your power for buck, NB8B + turbo is the ticket. If you want an SE though, the only answer is an SE (or an SP, but they cost even more and don't have the LSD)

[93_Clubman]

There's a problem. We can't find a non turbo MX that will match an SE for condition.
Blanket statement but most SE's are in pretty great condition. Normally aspirated of the same year, condition and mileage are only a grand or two cheaper.

There were only 483 MX5 sales in 2004, of which 318 were NB SE. In 2005 there were 743 MX5 sales, of which 174 were NB SE & most of the rest were NC. So 2004 & 2005 non-SE NB8C are thin on the ground to begin with, & only slowly increasing as a percentage of MX5s for sale. May be try looking for 2002 & 2003 NB8C as there were 698 & 540 sales respectively in those years.

[NitroDann]

It depends if the NB you buy is completely stock or not. Of it is, it will cost around 1000 more than building a stage 2 SE from stock, but with over 25% more performance, a LOT more useable torque and the money saved buying a base model nb8b gives a lot of money to replace things that you would most probably do on an SE anyway, like wheels and tyres, suspension components etc.

Dann

There's a problem. We can't find a non turbo MX that will match an SE for condition.

Blanket statement but most SE's are in pretty great condition. Must be the nature of the car and the owners. Normally aspirated of the same year, condition and mileage are only a grand or two cheaper. If the condition doesn't at least match he's not interested. How far back do we look to get the stronger shot peened 6 speed fitted to the SE?

He's pretty impressed with the standard SE suspension on backroads as well as the way the torsen works, which the non-turbos won't have. The only change on my car's handling are the soft 140 rated tyres.

When you say a 1000 more what does that buy? We're assuming you mean over the $5.7k for the stage 2 from mania.

Lachy addressed the finding cars bit.

Many many NBs have the torsen, and in ratios that aren't useless. (Se has a 300+whp suited ratio)

6 speeds are all good for 350whp, don't buy into that marketing bs please.

Yes 1000 odd more than the stage 2.
It gets you a reliable fully supported 240whp and more torque that you will know what to do with in any gear and rpm.

[NitroDann]

Additionally, many would find the stock nb8b suspension to be very controlled yet compliant, it doesn't mean that it doesn't improve 5 fold with aftermarket components.