Well this ain´t mine, altought I really want that to be!
This is my moms husbands summer car, which Ihad an opportunity to drive this summer (tho it didn´t feel that good, but lets just shh about it )
Here's my baby (10pts if you guess the track in the second one ).
I think Tristan is overstating the capabilities of the MX-5 a bit but I can recognise his enthusiasm! They are outrageously good fun and the handling is just perfect. It does all anyone could want a car to do. You don't drive them, they become part of you, like a big, metal suit of joy
I've seen worse wings, but thats as much as I'm going to say... :P
My opinions on the MX-5 are fairly strong, but I don't think I am overstating them THAT much. The balance is beautiful, and it's quite easy to keep up with stuff (if you're in the right mood) that SHOULD leave you for dead, simply because you know it will give you plenty of notice of it spinning.
But it needs a longer top gear (perhaps 6th in the 1800 is better?), and I wouldn't mind having the LSD from the 1800 version too. In fact, I migh just get one of the 1.8S versions soon(ish).
But you're talking about a point to point comparison on a public road which means practically nothing because the limits are not set by the car, but by the conditions, the ability/bravery/stupidity of the driver and the type of road you're on. You simply can't push a car hard enough on public roads to make a valid comparison because there are far too many variables.
It was won by the MX-5, but it's laptime is very average, especially compared to some of the cars you've rubbished. The only arena in which an MX-5 would outshine those cars (Caterham excluded) is on tight and twisty autotest courses, where it's brilliant balance allows you to chuck it around a lot.
Don't get me wrong, I love the car. I'm in the owners club and I've just been to the National Rally (did you go btw Tristan?), but where the car is truly special is not on paper, it's in the driving seat.
Why do you think it needs a longer top gear btw? It seems fine to me.
And if you're going to comment on my spoiler, I shall refer you to your style bars.
My Dad picked up his new toy yesterday. A 1964 TVR Griffith, with 4.7 Small Block Ford V8. We're not sure of it's exact state of tune yet (apart from the fact it's got straight trough pipes!), but I reckon 300hp is getting there. Maybe 320.
It's certainly quick - I had a little drive in it, and barely used half throttle (in a village) - I don't think I've gone past the village church that fast before!!!
I know it smokes a little, but we think one of the piston rings is a bit stuck. It'll probably free off in a few heat cycles, but my Dad wants to give it a bit of a checkover anyway. And fit silencers, cos it's not going to pass an MOT like that.
The camera does a poor job of picking the sound up, but I can tell you it's pretty deafening at 2000rpm :/
The zip file contains a little wmv file of it.
Mods - any chance of allowing wmv's to be posted directly?