Grinning all the way to the bank

[Mus Musculus]

No pictures, as I haven't been anywhere special, but...

When I first bought this car (1998 1.9 Roadster) I was underwhelmed — not enough power (so I thought) and constantly battling the front end. Two things that changed my view of the car completely were, first, new brake callipers and disks (F/N/S had seized), and new front lower arm poly bushes. What a difference!

Granted, I seem to have spent more money in the last month than all previous owners did in the past 24 years, but that was worth. Every time I drive the car now reminds me of all the motorbikes I rode in the past — firm, assured handling. I still have a few things to tackle to get this car singing, but I am now happier with the prospect of spending the money.

I still love my Triumph Spitfire, but the Z3 is growing on me… Next will be a 2.8 or 3.0l.

Edit: Typos and nonsensical grammar.

 

[ExMX5owner]

No pictures, as I haven't been anywhere special, but...

When I first bought this car (1998 1.9 Roadster) I was underwhelmed — not enough power (so I thought) and constantly battling the front end. Two things that changed my view of the car completely were, first, new brake callipers and disks (F/N/S had seized), and new front lower arm poly bushes. What a difference!

Granted, I seem to have spent more money in the last month than all previous owners did in the past 24 years, but that was worth. Every time I drive the car now reminds me of all the motorbikes I rode in the past — firm, assured handling. I still have a few things to tackle to get this car singing, but I am now happier with the prospect of spending the money.

I still love my Triumph Spitfire, but the Z3 is growing on me… Next will be a 2.8 or 3.0l.

Edit: Typos and nonsensical grammar.

I know how you feel, I missed my MX5 for a short while, I miss it no more. The Z has really grown on me, a bit quicker than the Mazda, but does not handle as well , that being said I now prefer it over the Mazda that was dissolving before my eyes. My Z is only a 2.0 but more than enough for a spirited drive without risking my licence.

 

[Andyboy]

Most old MX5's are deathtraps now. Z3's can rust but cosmetically - I've seen 2000's MX5's where the chassis leg is so rotten it's pulling away from the inner wings and bulkhead. Plus sills, wings - if the wanted to recreate the British sports car they did it a bit too well.

Plus that nasty synthetic cocoon with all the smelly Japanese plastic and mousefur velour.

 

[DrWong]

Recently watched some YT vids on the Lights Up Lights Down channel. They're MX5 restorers and the state of the vehicles they get in would boggle the mind of Z3 owners, e.g. rebuilding the chassis from floor pan to outer sills on a mid-2000s car is pretty standard stuff for them. Fair play to the owners, as the cost of the work must be close to or more than the car's value in most cases

 

[Mus Musculus]

I thought about the MX5 as an option, but after talking to a chap who lives down the road from me, who's got two of them, I was put off. His cars are reasonably good looking, but the amount of work gone into them is just astronomical.

@Andyboy — I agree with the sentiment, but my 50 year old Triumph Spitfire is quite solid, with just a modicum of light surface rusting. The car's got a few paint work blemishes, but I think it adds character.

True story: when I bought the car I took it to a local Triumph specialist (mainly TRs) and he told me that when I phoned and told him I had a 1973 Spitfire, he was expecting a bucket of rust. He was quite surprised when I turned out with the car…

 

[t-tony]

Recently watched some YT vids on the Lights Up Lights Down channel. They're MX5 restorers and the state of the vehicles they get in would boggle the mind of Z3 owners, e.g. rebuilding the chassis from floor pan to outer sills on a mid-2000s car is pretty standard stuff for them. Fair play to the owners, as the cost of the work must be close to or more than the car's value in most cases

I had to do exactly that on my 1990 Euro, if I hadn’t been capable of doing it myself the car would’ve been scrap. I’ll add some pictures later.

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

When it comes to rust issues Triumphs are one of the best. On the other hand. Being monocoque design MG are probably the worst.

Tony.

 

[Andyboy]

I remember Spitfires being rotten at seven years old!

 

[t-tony]

Chassis or bodywork. That's the beauty of the Spit, you could at least split the two and carry out repairs, you can't do that with an MG.

Tony.

 

[Andyboy]

I have to say I hated them and every other Triumph with the exception of the 2000 saloons that were quite robust. I worked at a BL dealer as a youth and there was the standard joke about the Acclaim being the Triumph where BL forgot to strip and rebuild them with oil leaks. It was a Honda of course.

Stags, Dolomites etc were just garbage. MG's were mechanically far better although the 1500 Triumph engine in the later Midget was a retrograde step. The later 1275 Sprite and Midget were really well sorted and handled far better than a Spitfire although they were too cramped for me.

 

[t-tony]

I would grudgingly agree regarding MG mechanically slightly better than Triumphs but not by much, and we were talking about corrosion? Putting a Triumph badge on a Honda Bounty was a joke it's true but MG did similar things too. The Midget was too cramped for anyone above 5ft tall, horrible cars.
At risk of digressing at least neither dissolved in a year like the lovely Lancia Beta.

Tony.

 

[Ianmc]

The Midget was too cramped for anyone above 5ft tall, horrible cars.

Not so! We had a 1973 (round wheel arch)1275cc for over 10 years and i'm 6' 2". Also had two kids in the back for shows and rallies; not sure we would do that today!! Did rust a lot though, but nothing that couldn't be rectified. Traded it in for our first Z3 in 1997. Happy days!!

 

[Mus Musculus]

Stags, Dolomites etc were just garbage.

Well, I wouldn't say the Stags were garbage, but… Anyway, I do like my Spitfire, warts and all, but in hindsight I should have gone for a GT6 — much better engine.

Off course, if I had the money, I would love a Jaguar E-Type.