Ready to be convinced

[Travelator]

Hey everyone, I signed up earlier this year and have been loving reading up on all things mx5 here and checking out some of the amazing garage threads. I've got to the point where I thought I'd throw it out to the community here to help convince me that I absolutely NEED a boosted mx5 in my life.

For a bit of background context, I currently drive a 2009 wrx (after owning a 2004 & 2000 wrx, 1990 turbo mr2 & a 4age powered corolla seca). The rex has a bunch of whiteline suspension goodies, MCA X-R coilovers and the usual intake, 3inch TBE and fantastic tune (by Michael South who is possibly the Nitro Dann equivalent in the Suby world) and now runs 195kw at all wheels with a shed-load of mid-range torque. It is rapid, practical and impeccably reliable and is such a well rounded day-today package that I'm not ready to part with her (just yet anyway). At the same time though I often find myself desiring to be in something smaller, lighter, lower and arguably "more fun". Which is why I'm entertaining the possibility of adding an SE to my garage as a weekender.

Trouble is, (confession time) I've never dríven or even grabbed a ride in an NB let alone a boosted one. So, I was wondering if anyone who has lightly modded SE somewhere in Sydney or surrounds (I'm based in Northmead) would be willing to take me for a spin and chat mx5 ownership with me? In return I'll offer excellent company, plenty of compliments on your ride and happily shout you a beer/coffee/whatever you drink (within reason!) to pepper you with questions over.

Keen also to hear from any previous owners of wrx's and mx5's on here around your thoughts on the driving experience differences between them.
Thanks.

[NitroDann]

Let's open this can.


You will be disappointed with an SE. Don't buy an SE.

[Travelator]

Dann I thoroughly expect that I would be disappointed with an SE in standarish form - both from what I've read on here, plus from the on paper stats. There does however seem to be well trod path to 150kws and I wonder if in a lighter car like the mx if that would be about right. I'm not necessarily looking for a weapon of a car - part of the fun factor I'm missing with the rex is that it is too fast for the street (my opinion).

I have read quite few of the threads on the whole modified SE vs turbo'd naturally aspirated NB, and understand that to make them properly sorted costs relatively the same amount of money - hence the argument to start with the cheaper (and lighter) car to begin with. Given the prices of SE's seem to be falling closer in line with what a tidy NB goes for, I wonder if some of the arguments around price difference are changing though. I'm a big carsales and gumtree bandit and the last 2 SE's which sold near me (in the past few weeks) were asking $12 & 13k!! It seems that tidy NBs are asking $10-12k and it also seems that turbo'd naturally aspirated mx5s have a bugger of a time trying to sell (which you have to factor into the price debate).

Anyways - as the subject states, I am totally ready to be convinced one way or another.

I'm not expecting to be convinced by being a keyboard warrior though - so initial ask stands: anyone willing to try convince me with a ride in their mx5?

[ManiacLachy]

A stock SE is disappointing.
A lightly modded SE (bolt-ons) is aggravating.
A properly modded SE (bolt-ons, injectors & ECU) is satisfying.

But for the same investment you could turbo an NB or NA and achieve better power, or just buy one from someone who's done all the hard work.
http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=73&t=73109
http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=73&t=70217

If you can, try a few variants and see.

[StanTheMan]

MOOOOOOOOO......



C.O.W alert

all te SE's I know are super fast.....

[ManiacLachy]

I'm not necessarily looking for a weapon of a car - part of the fun factor I'm missing with the rex is that it is too fast for the street (my opinion).

Have you considered just going "all-motor"? I realise we think turbos are the way to go, but if you want usable fun on the street without too much power. Maybe staying NA and milking it would be the best path in this case?

[Travelator]

Won't really consider going all-motor...I'm too much of a turbo fanboy and the all motor path seems to be an expensive one for the gains.

And yes - my preference would be to grab one where much of the hard work has been done.

[smy0003]

Buy BillyBunters for a ridiculously cheap price and proceed to defecate your trousers with every trip to the shops.

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk

[NitroDann]

This will be the thousandth time we have had people come and tell us all about how a 150kw SE will be great, and they arent, comparatively they suck.

Dont do it. Go drive a few.

Thats all I have to say.

[Magpie]

Won't really consider going all-motor...

I'm in Sydney soon so could have taken you for a drive with no boost

[billybunter]

if I were you i'd forget about this SE turbo idea and just go buy a nice ND

[ManiacLachy]

I'm in a modded SE, but I have come to think that a modded naturally aspirated motor is where it's at for legal street fun. A turbo will get you in to trouble real fast and you'll always be chasing more power. Which kinda describes your issue with the WRX, right? Why repeat?

[Nevyn72]

I have a 'lightly modded' SE in Sydney (South side) and would be happy to help you out.
If you haven't looked, check out my Garage thread, 'Selene' although most of the picture links in the first part are broken.

I have gone as far as 'Stage 1' mods, ie. intake/intercooler/exhaust, but not 'Stage 2', ie. ECU/injectors/tune.
Basically mine is at the really annoying stage Lachy mentioned earlier, a nice increase on stock but all the frustration of the limitations of the stock ecu/injectors.....

Unfortunately my roster doesn't resemble anything like what normal human beings encounter so send me a PM and we'll see if we can work something out.

[93_Clubman]

Keen also to hear from any previous owners of wrx's and mx5's on here around your thoughts on the driving experience differences between them.

There was someone on here relatively recently who'd either made the transition or was similarly seriously considering it - think it was also under the General Chat sub-forum.

[Travelator]

This will be the thousandth time we have had people come and tell us all about how a 150kw SE will be great, and they arent, comparatively they suck. Dont do it. Go drive a few.

Hanging in the background of the forum for months I've come to expect and appreciate your honest approach Dann! I know this has been covered a lot (I've read as many of those threads as I could find) and so my original ask was what you are suggesting - to experience some examples firsthand (or at least secondhand from the passenger seat) and make up my own mind. A follow up question though would be comparative to what? Comparative to other cars like my wrx; or comparative to a normally aspirated mx5; or a NitroDann turbo-charged NB; or an all out build like billybunters/ianR's?

ManiacLachy - appreciate you sharing your perspective (it's why I started looking at mx5s to begin with). Do you think though, having experienced the extra power, that you could go back and be satisfied?? My first car was perhaps comparable speed wise (100kw engine in a 1070kg kerb weight car) and I do wonder if I could be fully satisfied with that level of accessible acceleration again (or would the whole "drive a slow car fast" thing be fun enough?).

Magpie - as the thread suggests, I'm open to being convinced!!

Nevyn72 - generous of you mate...I'll pm you now and hopefully we can make something work.