OV9

Mazda punches above its weight here, ‘A Caterham with CarPlay’

https://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph ... -220/45797

Ive been tempted by an alpine previously but the conventional roof, turbo and auto box in my mind don't really belong in a a lightweight car and I always felt that alfa had done it slightly better. Good to see another Super 220, even its its the wrong colour.

MikeHunt wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 9:09 am Mazda punches above its weight here, ‘A Caterham with CarPlay’

https://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph ... -220/45797

Ive been tempted by an alpine previously but the conventional roof, turbo and auto box in my mind don't really belong in a a lightweight car and I always felt that alfa had done it slightly better. Good to see another Super 220, even its its the wrong colour.

That MX5 had a huge amount of appeal to me (being a Mk1 owner) but the Alpine just doesn't do anything for me.

There’s a LOT I really like about the Alpine, and 300bhp makes it way more interesting than the 250bhp of earlier/standard cars.

4-pot and auto-box remain significant detractors for me.

I love the Alpine though would want the base spec for the proper experience.

But I'd definitely buy a 184bhp MX5 ND over it. Really it's just as bespoke a thing, but it's made in such greater numbers that it's half the price. No brainer.

I love the Alpine. And as per Simon - I'd want virtually the original spec. I will have one, it's just a matter of when really - I knew that much as soon as I sat in one at TLBS Live. It just felt so right.

I test drove an Alpine and it felt very nice indeed. But then the GR86 came along (though they'll be going for high £30ks for the foreseeable) with n/a and a manual gearbox. Can they put those upgrades on the hard top MX-5 RF?

JonMad wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 11:51 am Can they put those upgrades on the hard top MX-5 RF?

Yes, its virtually the same car.

Caterham with Carplay my arse. Just get an R400 and stop faffing with these other so called sports cars

I like the Alpine overall, nice little package just wish the arse end wasn’t so ugly.
The MX5 is probably a bit too slow for me for a sports car but at £30k and £60k I’ll pass on both

Mito Man wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 12:44 pm I like the Alpine overall

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314027566058

Mito Man wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 12:44 pm The MX5 is probably a bit too slow for me for a sports car but at £30k and £60k I’ll pass on both

I understand why your saying that as it has under 200bhp and zero torque, but I owned a standard 184 bhp mx5 at the same time as a Golf R and never felt it was slow. The super 220 actually has a better power to weight that the R.

The late 2019 cars are down below £20k now, not a bad price for a modern sports car with a decent level of tech and creature comforts.

mik wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 1:24 pm

Mito Man wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 12:44 pm I like the Alpine overall

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314027566058

I would also love to one day own an Alpine.

Not sure if it's a London thing, but I've see very few ND MX5s over the last couple of years - though haven't really seen many older ones here either. In Belfast it seemed like MX5s were everywhere.

I haven't found myself wanting more power, it pretty much hits the sweet spot in what you can utilise on public roads.

Do you have Ste's dad's BBR MX-5 ?

It looked great fun but can't remember anyone posting about it after buying it !

John wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:56 am I haven't found myself wanting more power, it pretty much hits the sweet spot in what you can utilise on public roads.

How are you finding the suspension travel, I felt it was a bit too soft and floaty on low/medium speed corners, hence the springs and roll bars.

Carlos wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 11:04 am Do you have Ste's dad's BBR MX-5 ?

It looked great fun but can't remember anyone posting about it after buying it !

Sold now, the performance was fun but it never seemed to run as sweetly as a standard one. Recently bought an ND RF 184.

MikeHunt wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 11:34 am
How are you finding the suspension travel, I felt it was a bit too soft and floaty on low/medium speed corners, hence the springs and roll bars.

It’s certainly floaty and you get a strange sensation when going up through the gears if cornering slightly. I’m considering the Mazda lowering springs which are an option on new cars. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s still a great handling car as standard.

Sat in the Skoda garage atm waiting for the Superb to be serviced and this is on the forecourt

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details ... obcid=soc3

I'm not a fan of the colour or the black wheels. It's like a muddy salmon pink in the sun.