I like the idea of a 182, but not the mpg figures...

Aston Martin said:

I like the idea of a 182, but not the mpg figures...

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They are good looking cars that handle really well but the driving position lets them down. The steering wheel on them seems too big and the angle it sits reminds of a track's/van's driving position.

OK guys, I am always indecisive when it comes to selling any of the cars I have owned but I have now found a car I like so the Panda is back up for sale!
40,500 miles, FSH, Konis, all fluids changed, cambelt and waterpump changed, new tyres (Uniroyal Rainsport 3), £3900 ovno.

Go on what is it? and I'd better be jealous!

A supercharged MX-5 with LSD!

Have fun then! My son had one. Great roadsters in Colin Chapman style.

gr J

I test drove a mk3 Cosworth supercharged MX-5 with only 40k miles on the clock, yellow Bilsteins and LSD from factory and it left me totally disappointed.

Chris Harris couldn't have put it better, the car is **** and it's not a sports car at all.

On bumpy roads you can feel the chassis flexing, it's as if the front part of the car is disconnected from the rear.

The only good thing was that it pulled well and the engine sound.

Saying this it started with a blue smoke and the engine light was on with the code being "lean mixture".

On the other hand I loved the GT86 I test drove yesterday (imagine an engine that loves to be revved similar to the Panda's with more grunt, a perfect seating position and fantastic steering feel, RWD with LSD and lightweight so you can play at the limit safely, the perfect recipe of a sportscar) but I can't afford one for a while (I would love a Giallo).

So until then you guessed it right, I will be keeping the Panda

Is Chris Harris a god or what!
Dear BBC.......

I found with the gt86 that if it had 50 more hp it would be perfect. The chassis is awesome though, setup really well, nice balance to the car etc.

Cosworth have just released a supercharger for it and thatwill give you the horsepower its lacking.

They look lovely though

Daveb100hp said:

I found with the gt86 that if it had 50 more hp it would be perfect. The chassis is awesome though, setup really well, nice balance to the car etc.

Cosworth have just released a supercharger for it and thatwill give you the horsepower its lacking.

They look lovely though

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I've merely only sat in one at Croft last year.


Really liked it though, proper low slung, low down interior, great driving position, nice feeling controls. Dinky car too....and nice looking.


I would have loved to have had a drive, but...


a) I wasn't allowed


b) I think the BTCC chaps going round the track at the time might have had something to say about it

fpan said:

A supercharged MX-5 with LSD!

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IMHO the MK3 MX5 is too bloated, even with a cosworth charger.

I am lucky in owning a Panda 100HP and a mk2.5 supercharged MX-5 with LSD.
The MK1 & MK2/2.5 cars are much closer to the sports car ethos, and with a turbo or charger really are great fun.

Interestingly I looked at Clio 172 & 182 trophy/cups then bought the 100HP!

When I change the 100HP in the near future, it will probably be for a 500 TA 105bhp.
Drove one back to back with the 500 TA 85bhp & my partners 500 1.2 and by far the better car.

(She swapped hers for the 500 TA 85bhp.)

Rooflessdriver said:

IMHO the MK3 MX5 is too bloated, even with a cosworth charger.

I am lucky in owning a Panda 100HP and a mk2.5 supercharged MX-5 with LSD.
The MK1 & MK2/2.5 cars are much closer to the sports car ethos, and with a turbo or charger really are great fun.

Interestingly I looked at Clio 172 & 182 trophy/cups then bought the 100HP!

When I change the 100HP in the near future, it will probably be for a 500 TA 105bhp.
Drove one back to back with the 500 TA 85bhp & my partners 500 1.2 and by far the better car.

(She swapped hers for the 500 TA 85bhp.)

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I test drove a mk2.5 Sport a while ago and found it similar, wallowy ride and flexy chassis, people kept telling me to try another as that must have been a "duff one", who knows.

I have not test driven a mk1 so I can't tell what they are like.

Rooflessdriver, is your a custom/home made conversion?

After yesterday's trackday I was really surprised by the Panda!

fpan said:

I test drove a mk2.5 Sport a while ago and found it similar, wallowy ride and flexy chassis, people kept telling me to try another as that must have been a "duff one", who knows.

I have not test driven a mk1 so I can't tell what they are like.

Rooflessdriver, is your a custom/home made conversion?

After yesterday's trackday I was really surprised by the Panda!

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Does depend on how old they are and mileage.
I bought mine brand new as I upgraded from a mk1 and never had an issue with the handling.

Once I added the MP62 Supercharger & intercooler, I upgraded the suspension to Gaz Gold Pros and added ILM chassis braces (Front & Rear) and a Rollbar.
This was worth doing to keep the car manageable with 242Bhp.
(luckily my car came with the big brake kit & LSD as its a limited edition).

I took it drifting up at Oulton Park last month and it was amazingly flat and agile!
Havent done a trackday in the 100HP yet but very tempted.

Rooflessdriver said:

Does depend on how old they are and mileage.
I bought mine brand new as I upgraded from a mk1 and never had an issue with the handling.

Once I added the MP62 Supercharger & intercooler, I upgraded the suspension to Gaz Gold Pros and added ILM chassis braces (Front & Rear) and a Rollbar.
This was worth doing to keep the car manageable with 242Bhp.
(luckily my car came with the big brake kit & LSD as its a limited edition).

I took it drifting up at Oulton Park last month and it was amazingly flat and agile!
Havent done a trackday in the 100HP yet but very tempted.

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Your MX-5 sounds good, any pics of it?
I can't remember the mileage of the one I test drove, it wasn't a million miles and had yellow Bilsteins from factory.