Help!....

[tjw2007]

I currently own a silver, '52 reg Mazda MX5 sport edition with air con - and I think I must be going insane...because I don't like it very much. How is it that everybody loves the MX5 and hails it as being one of the best cars ever made, yet I can't get on with it. Sure, it's got a great look and a lot of kudos, but I can't get on with the amount of noise, the bumpy ride and the awkward gear stick. I'm extra worried, because I'm actually entertaining the idea of replacing it with a Renault Megane (2.0 Dynamique VVT Turbo) - well it is faster on paper!

What am I missing here!?

[aswearing]

alot of the love came over from the first mx-5, not having the luxury of driving one yet i can't help much other than saying that sport suspension either agrees with you or aggrivates you.

and may i ask how you find the gearbox awkward?

[tjw2007]

it's the close ratio'ness of it, each gear seems to be a nano-millimetre next to another gear - the worst are the sixth gear and the reverse - which sometimes takes 2 or 3 goes to get it in. Would I be foolish to go for the Megane?

[aswearing]

close ratio gears are sought after by some, are you the sort of person who enjoys the sportiness or do you prefer practicality and comfort?

[HDi fun]

Close ratio gearing will usually give better performance as long as there are enough of 'em in the box. If you take a 5 speed unit and shorten 2,3,4 and 5 then a sixth on top as a cruising ratio is nice. Having said that, whenever I've driven six speeders I generally stay in 5 anyway as it allows more immediate acceleration if you need it.

Autos are also much better with more ratios asit makes up for the slight losses that even current automatic boxes still incur.

I think Lexus and Mercedes have up the EIGHT speed automatics now.

Another interesting one is the CVT with infinitely adjustable gearing. Nissan's effort was quite impressive the the Primera back in 1999 ish but it was crap when you drove it hard. Not that it didn't go - much the opposite but the bloody racket at 6500rpm whenever you shoved the pedal down was unbearable.

[aswearing]

some even have 2 gears for reverse!

whats that about!

[tjw2007]

ok, apart from the gears - am I totally mad for considering changing an MX5 for a Megane - albeit a fairly high performance one!?

[waynne]

The MX5 handling is fantastic but is a little underpowered - look into getting a supercharger fitted - this will radically change your whole opinion of the car.

[tjw2007]

Anybody know much about superchargers - cost, performance difference, mpg difference etc.?

Thanks

[waynne]

Theres a couple of articles in our tuning section under forced induction that should give you a bit more info but I don't know specifics of one for the MX5 and its mpg etc...