Comparisons

Amazingly, though it is nearly three months since I purchased the MX5 (still unnamed), it is only last week that I had the opportunity to drive it. My doctor has been very insistent that my ribs are well repaired before I run the risk of any sudden jerks or movements before I run the risk of driving. Consequently he banned me from any driving until my next appointment with him which was the 31st December. And even then that wasn’t a sure thing with his only statement being, “January.”

Thankfully he gave his permission on that appointment with the caveat that I was restricted to 25kms in one drive. So I have been getting “out and about” some since last I posted.

I have to say that the MX% is everything that I hoped it would be and it confirms what feedback I have been getting from my friends, many of them who are ex-motorcyclists, that the car is the logical follow-on from a motorcycle.

It may seem difficult to understand how this could be but, in so many ways, the little sports car is a lot like riding a bike. It is, of course, fast and the 6 speed gearbox means that there is plenty of driver input required to keep the thing “on the boil.” The gearbox ratios are well chosen with even the 6th speed being a direct gear rather than an “overdrive” as is the case with many manual gear boxes.

It is low to the ground, obviously, and the near 50-50 weight distribution means that it feels very well balanced. You don’t HAVE to row it along to keep it on the boil; around town I am tending to treat the gearbox as a 4 speeder and it has ample torque to pull you out of the slower corners.

Handling is superb, of course, though the lack of ability to see the extremities means that putting the car exactly on the apex of the corner is something that will require familiarisation.

One quirk I am still mastering is the positioning of the clutch pedal. Because the driver’s feet are effectively next to the engine, the pedals are a little offset to the right. I noticed this particularly today when I was topping up the windscreen washer bottle. The engine is set WAY back in the engine bay, the front of it being in line with the front wheel centre. That means that you are not pressing the clutch directly forward but to the right sometimes means that you are pushing down on the driver’s footrest rather than the clutch pedal. Other owners to whom I have spoken say that it can be a bit disconcerting at the beginning, but you do get used to it.

Even with the standard exhaust system the engine note is fruity and getting the engine into the upper rev range is plenty exciting enough.

Of course it doesn’t fall over when you stop which is a “plus” and getting in and out of the car is heaps easier than I was anticipating it was going to be. Even though my right leg has still not recovered from the operation in April, mobility hasn’t been the problem.

The local MX5 owners group seems very active and organises lots of events which I am anticipating will be enjoyable.

So, yes, it is VERY different from riding a bike, but, in some respects, it is rather the same. I am looking forward to getting out on the road and taking Helena to all the great places that I have explored during my extensive motorcycle touring days.

This month will see the introductions of the MotoGp teams, their new/different riders and colour schemes. Much interest is going to be in what happens to the KTM organisation. Despite their protestations that the racing team is independent of the other divisions, nothing that they have said is that reassuring, doubts are still hanging over the future of their racing efforts. Watch this space, as always. And, as usual, believe nothing of what you read in the media, especially the Italian sites who have the most amazing ability to make up extraordinary stories.

OK, that better do it, sitting up for longer periods still strains the ribs so best to keep it short. Happy new year to you all and I’ll catch you “on the flip side” as they used to say (and I still do).