Is a Mazda MX5 a girls car?

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by pmacc

The current shape i think is a bit more masculine than the previous MX5's but personally i think the Alfa Spider is the one to get

At least with an Alfa you'd be seeing a lot more of the scenic countryside as you stood beside it where it had broken down...


Bazinga!!!

[99AUXR]

Originally Posted by TZENU

Nope... A bloke around the corner from my joint drives one into work most mornings... Cage, TE37's (or copies - haven't looked at them closely enough), some nice camber and a front mount.... Looks tough...

Would I buy one... Absolutely.. They are an absolute weapon on the track..

I don't buy into the whole "It's a hatch or two door sports car, so it has to be a chicks car" arguement..

Okay slightly different, I thought we were talking stock form here. Yea a stanced MX5 would look sick most stanced cars do but in stock form no. I would own a GT86/BRZ anyday... Not an MX5 though, totally different class. (When I mean MX5 im talking about Pic in OP as the new model isn't half bad)

Yes they are fun to drive but looks play into it allot for me and I love my B-series turbo, IDC that some may say it handles like a boat. Set of sway bars, full aftermarket bush kit, slight change to wheel alignment and it will handle better than anything I can do legally through the gorges around where I live. And I don't have time or money to track at the moment.

[flappist]

I used to watch the MX5 brigade at Lakeside buzzing around and although they did not look fast nor roar like a V8 their lap times were less than all but the most track modified and expertly driven of the Falcons and Commodores.

As to whether they are a "girl's car", I suspect that only those who are unsure of their personal masculinity or sexuality or those who have absolutely no idea about performance other than standing on the go pedal of an automatic V8 or T6 for a very short period of time in a straight line would proffer strong opinions possibly to defect away from their own insecurities.......

[landau460]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

I've noticed the thing that anyone who regards the MX5 as a girls/hairdressers car or whatever has in common, is that they know very little about cars

So what do I need to know about mx5's so I can broaden my knowledge of cars. I didn't realise that if my opinion of a perticular vehicle was not the same as someone else that my knowledge suddenly deminished.

[66FAIRLANE]

As I said my wife owns one. I like driving it. For 5 minutes, then it sheeets me badly. The ride is harsh, its underpowered. people sit up ya clacker cause they can see over it, you can't see whats happening up the road.

It's got a body kit, BBS wheels, Koni adjustables. One of the better looking ones around. I prefer the hardtop on. Keep it zinging and on twisty roads it is a bit of fun. It's a go kart.

Came home from a few weeks overseas earlier than my wife. Decided to take the MX5 to the supermarket to restock the pantry to give it a run. I reckon I was one bag short of having to call a taxi to get the shopping home! Had it piled everywhere!

I actually dislike it much.

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by landau460

So what do I need to know about mx5's so I can broaden my knowledge of cars. I didn't realise that if my opinion of a perticular vehicle was not the same as someone else that my knowledge suddenly deminished.

Well as anyone who knows about cars knows, and as many have pointed out in this thread, the MX5 is a superbly balanced sports car in the true, traditional sense of the term.

Now there could be many reasons why one doesn't like them - you might not like the way they look, you might just not like Mazda's. That's fine, that's your opinion.

But to disregard one as a 'girls car' merely reveals an opinion based not on knowledge or facts, but ignorance. See Flappists post above for an excellent summation of why someone might come to such an opinion.

[MLR]

You need a depends in the poll, soft top is girls car whilst the hard top is not, a well set up MX 5 can be a fun little trackday car, the light weight RWD platform has a lot of things going for it, even in standard form they are a quick little car on tighter circuits.

My mates fairly standard one can do constant 1.11 around Wakefield park in supersprints, the suspension has been tweeked and it is running on semis but the thing is only putting out around 100 kwatw .

If you set one up well with some suspension mods and good (read: correct size for performance) rims and tyres you can get a fun car that punches well above its weight.

If I had more of a budget for my next toy a MX 5 would be high on the list.

Low cost, easy on tyres and brakes, parts readily available, its a winning package.

And if you want more power a turbo conversion can be purchased of the shelf or if your that way inclined a 13B or 20B.

As for a daily the limiting factor would be that it only a 2 seater.

Have a look on www.my105.com.au for some inspiration.

Finally the older ones are the one to get, the newer ones are much heavier and not as well balanced

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by MLR

You need a depends in the poll, soft top is girls car whilst the hard top is not....

Only thing is there is no such thing as an MX-5 hardtop...

[blackf6]

All girls cars are girls cars until they cop a v8 conversion. Then they are men's cars.

[EVLKNEVL]

These are not so girly:

[MLR]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

Only thing is there is no such thing as an MX-5 hardtop...

There was a hard top, only released to the JDM market in 2003, I was meaning with the removable hard top though as a JDM hard top is as rare as hens teeth.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by pmacc

The current shape i think is a bit more masculine than the previous MX5's but personally i think the Alfa Spider is the one to get

All good until you want to punt it a bit harder and then you realise why small sports cars should be RWD.

Unless you are thinking old school Spider.

[stevanford]

I've always wanted one as a track car. I reckon an SP would be an absolute riot.

[barra240t]

Its really interesting. I asked my sister, do you think if I bought one of those (pointed at a 90's MX5 what would you think?) Her response was, if a guy pulled up in one of those to pick me up on a date I wouldn't want to get in. I was like it drives really well, cheap to run, etc but obviously looks mattered.

[barra240t]

I'd buy one, its RWD, 4 cylinder, cheap and built well. I'd have to go hard lid though.

The SP would be a load of fun.

[K_Man]

I would be curious to know if there is anyone out there who regards this as a girls car (no sarcasm, honest question), as the original mx5 was often regarded as the spiritual successor to this car:

[Franco Cozzo]

My cousin has a 96 model with rebuilt engine thats been stroked and compression increase, full exhaust and intake mods its a damn fast car.

[Nikked]

Great handling, RWD cars are girly?

[barra240t]

This looks tough

[mr smith]

Ace car.
I wouldn't worry about it being classed a girls car.
Joe public thinks men who drive loud V8 Australian sedans and utes partake in self love and have small willies. Hasn't stopped many on here driving them.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Great handling, RWD cars are girly?

Yes, apparently...don'tcha know you're supposed to drive an over-engined, lead-tipped-arrow of a car that has the chassis refinement of a horse and cart...but hey, it goes rooly rooly fast in a straight line!!!!

Once you've driven a smaller, light weight, superbly balanced car with "enough" power on a nice real-world twisty piece of road, you'll have your eyes opened.

[mr smith]

Current best bang vehicles. (Second hand)

Clio Sport
205 GTI
MX5
BA/BF turbo

[MLR]

If your worried about what people think about a car that that you like and disregard it on those assumptions then you are a sheep, if a girl didn't like my car I would not give 2 sexy times, I would say they would he more trouble than what they are worth and give them a wide birth.

Getting a car that you like and suits your needs is what its about, its like me and the falcon, I needed a car that I could fit the missus and 3 kids in with enough space for all the luggage that they need for a 2 day holiday, which is lots.

I did not buy it for its sporty performance as a 1800 kg 4 door sedan is not a performance car.

Yes its comfy and roomy but not what I would call a sports car.

Am I a boring family man because I drive a XR6 Falcadoore?

Is the Falcondoore a girls car because the missus thinks the color would make a nice nail polish color?

[wrongwaynorris]

Originally Posted by K_Man

I would be curious to know if there is anyone out there who regards this as a girls car (no sarcasm, honest question), as the original mx5 was often regarded as the spiritual successor to this car:

image

These cars are poles apart , it is NO secret that Mazda copied the Elan , but sadly they failed abysmally , too many compromises to comfort , practicality , longevity etc etc . To own an Elan is an emotional experience , a visceral experience and a true example of heart over head , by comparison the MX5 ownership is just bland and boring . I quite like MX5's but to even mention one in the same sentence as an Elan is a gross insult to the Elan . I am blessed to have owned an Elan S3 and miss it every day of my life . Apparently a house was more important than owning an Elan , so said my missus , can't bring myself to agree however .

[FGII-XR6]

another well thought out intelligent thread. what a waste of bandwidth

[ltd]

The later model is a much better car, convertible hard top and a bit more go. Looks more masculine too.
One of the guys at work has one and reckons its the perfect airport car.
For what they are they are an awesome little car, not something like a honda S2000, but something more fun that handles.
Best advice mate, try one and see what you think.

[MLR]

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

These cars are poles apart , it is NO secret that Mazda copied the Elan , but sadly they failed abysmally , too many compromises to comfort , practicality , longevity etc etc . To own an Elan is an emotional experience , a visceral experience and a true example of heart over head , by comparison the MX5 ownership is just bland and boring . I quite like MX5's but to even mention one in the same sentence as an Elan is a gross insult to the Elan . I am blessed to have owned an Elan S3 and miss it every day of my life . Apparently a house was more important than owning an Elan , so said my missus , can't bring myself to agree however .

Yes and no, the Elan is a classic, visually they are very simular through cloudy glasses, the Mazda was a budget affordable copy with lots of compromise like safety features, reliability and modern accessories.

The Elan is a classic, like the old Alfa Spiders.

[Xauterus]

Has anyone looked up Monster Miata? You can have your heavy V8 and a good looking sports car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2BSSy7fxOc

[mik]

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by flappist

I used to watch the MX5 brigade at Lakeside buzzing around and although they did not look fast nor roar like a V8 their lap times were less than all but the most track modified and expertly driven of the Falcons and Commodores.

As to whether they are a "girl's car", I suspect that only those who are unsure of their personal masculinity or sexuality or those who have absolutely no idea about performance other than standing on the go pedal of an automatic V8 or T6 for a very short period of time in a straight line would proffer strong opinions possibly to defect away from their own insecurities.......

I have seen a few at the same track at time attack. They love corners, braking later than the big heavy V8's and mullering most in the corner and by the time the V8 was back the next corner arrived and the MX5 was gone again, and it wasnt just MX5's doing it either.

Girls cars is a stereotype IMO.