mx5: drives like it's on rails?

[guitarman]

Hello all!

I have often read on the internet that people say mx5 drives like it's on rails. What do they really mean by that? is it to refer minimal body roll?

[NitroDann]

Stock ones have plenty of body roll, its about speed of response to inputs and razor sharp accuracy, even in flogged out 25 year old form.

It's a bit like riding a bmx bike, you and the vehicle are one, and every input is met by an accurate and immediate response.

Dann

[Magpie]

Refers to a car the feels fast but is in fact slow....

[Rocky]

A bit of a nonsensical phrase really, as no matter how good handling the vehicle it still requires a driver that is capable of the correct inputs.
e.g. - There is a windy mountain road that I occasionally drive and the MX5 handles beautifully WHEN I get it together. Bad lines and wrong speed/gear still produce a ragged result just as they would in a Toyota Hi Ace.
Nothing is "unstickable" given bad inputs.

[JBT]

..people say mx5 drives like it's on rails. What do they really mean by that? is it to refer minimal body roll?

It refers to its grip in corners, which can be tenacious or limpet like....given decent tyres and driver.

They also say that the gear change is "rifle bolt" (action) precise. If you've used a bolt action rifle, you'll know.

[Wolfgang]

It refers to its grip in corners, which can be tenacious or limpet like....given decent tyres and driver.

And proper alignment.

[Rocky]

They also say that the gear change is "rifle bolt" (action) precise. If you've used a bolt action rifle, you'll know.

I have never understood the "rifle bolt" description of the MX5 gearchange.
To me it is a reasonably competent gearshift but certainly not close to the best I have experienced.
Front engine rear-wheel drive FIATS and Alfas of the '70s had that distinction.

[Lokiel]

^
The original 5 speed gearboxes in the NA are highly regarded for their feel - in one of Mark Hammond's TopGear episodes on the NA he claimed it's one of the 5 best gearboxes of all time (that number seems quite apt).

The NB 6 speeds use the Aisin gearbox which is a piece of crap - even the NCs and latest 86's have issues with it.
Miata Roadster tall-angled SSK helps a LOT though.

To me, the phrase "Handles like it's on rails" means that the car doesn't lose grip when you "fang it" through "the twisty stuff" (unless you f-it up).

[JBT]

Yeah, the NA gearbox was ex 929 with modified linkages and worked beautifully.
I think the NC gear shift is excellent but the NB 6 speed was woeful.

[guitarman]

To me it is a reasonably competent gearshift but certainly not close to the best I have experienced.

What is/are the best gearboxe/s that you have experienced?

[Danny]

What is/are the best gearboxe/s that you have experienced?

S2000 Honda.

[Rocky]

As I said above, the 5 speed gearbox in the FIAT 124 Sport Coupe is probably the best I have experienced, and then maybe the gearbox in the Alfa 1750 GTV.

[ralt]

Hi.
The best I have experienced was the Lotus cortina ultra close gear set.

[93_Clubman]

105 Series was good, apart from weak second gear synchro, but NA6 was better, then again Elan was probably even better, certainly a shorter throw.

[hks_kansei]

I loved the 5 speed on the Mazda B2200 I rented when I moved house once.

it was hilariously worn, the play the stick had IN GEAR was more than the MX5 sticks entire range of movement when shifting.

It was an amazing piece of synchro crunching, bearing whining, floppy sticked harmony.




On a more serious note, the box in my old RWD 626 felt pretty good too, but I think that may have actually been an early iteration of what eventually became the MX5 5 speed.