Thinking of changing my Mx5 project into a drift car

MrMiata

I bought a little Mazda Mx5 project awhile back.
I was in an apprenticeship at the time so any money I got was going to be put into that.

I’ve since left the apprenticeship and I’m saving to go back college.
I couldn’t afford to insure or tax the car and go to college at the same time (I’ve a mk5 golf to run too)

I was planning on selling it but would it be worth making it into a drift car?
I’ve had offers of €1k on it so I don’t know whether to just go with that.

I’d need to buy a trailer so I don’t have to insure the car to drive it to and from events.

Or would it make more sense to sell it and buy something else and a trailer?

When I’ve the cash I’d love to put a lot of stuff into it and actually modifying rather than just aesthetic stuff, but I could get insured with that.

What do ye think?

colm_mcm

Would you be using the golf to tow the drift car or what?

MrMiata

colm_mcm wrote: »

Would you be using the golf to tow the drift car or what?

If I could, there’s also a 2l Q3 or a Skoda Yeti at home.
I’d have to go named driver though

colm_mcm

Look at your licence as well. A standard one won’t cover you.

mgbgt1978

Not true.
A Standard B Licence will cover him to tow anything with a gross train weight of 3,500kg or less. Also means that the Tow Car must be rated to tow the MAM of the Trailer

The golf is rated to tow 1,600kg, and has a max weight of 1,600kg

This Transporter has a MAM of 1,500kg (and a carrying capacity of 1,010kg);
https://www.trailerstuff.ie/brian-james-c2
A standard MK1 MX5 weighs 980kg, once stripped out for drifting (and allowing for some weight to be returned with a roll-cage) it will still be easily under 980kg.
So, Tow Car (1,600kg) and Trailer (MAM 1,500kg) works out at 3,100kg....well under the Gross train limit of 3,500kg allowable on a Standard B licence.
Below is taken directly from the RSA Site;
https://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Your-Vehicle/About-your-Vehicle/Example-of-non-Dup/Trailers-/Advice-and-Checks-for-Trailers-/



A category B driving licence authorises you to drive a car, van or 4 x 4 which has a maximum mass (as specified by the manufacturer) of not more than 3,500kg and is designed and constructed to carry no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver. You may tow a trailer with a maximum mass (again as specified by the manufacturer) not greater than 750kg, or where the maximum mass is more than 750kg, the combined maximum mass of the towing vehicle and the trailer is not greater than 3,500kg

colm_mcm

GVW on a Mk5 diesel would be more like 1850kg but yeah with the right trailer it’s doable.

Towing a car on a single axle trailer with a car is pretty interesting though.

mgbgt1978

No problems doing it here Colm. We are away at least twice a month to Autotests (Starlets) and Hillclimb/Sprints ('Cento or 205). I have a Brian James twin-axle and a Homemade single axle Transporter. This was made by myself about 18 years ago using a caravan axle (rubber-type suspension and auto-reverse brakes) and a modern-ish coupling.
I honestly prefer towing the single axle transporter. It rides better, the twin axle often starts a "yawing" motion especially on mildly bumpy roads. this causes a constant jerking on the car and is only going to destroy a DMF quickly.
The single axle (with a lightish nose-weight) tows perfectly. Apart from the weight when accelerating it is easy to forget it's even there .
BTW I am towing with an Octavia 1.6 tdci and the Son is using an F10 530D Auto (with his power he doesn't care what he has to tow). Both of us have B+E Licences.



All beside the point anyway regarding the OP's question. It's just that a lot of people jump in to say that you cannot tow more than 750kg without a B+E, when this is not the case.
To really answer the OP's question, it's very hard to lose much weight from an MX5. Much better to get a Turbo Kit (and an LSD) and increase the power if he wants it to Drift decently.
We did one here a couple of years ago. Took it on a few track days in Mondello until it ran a couple of Crank bearings. In fairness, it was a DIY Turbo conversion using a homebuilt MegaSquirt where the complete set-up came in at under €450.

MrMiata

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

No problems doing it here Colm. We are away at least twice a month to Autotests (Starlets) and Hillclimb/Sprints ('Cento or 205). I have a Brian James twin-axle and a Homemade single axle Transporter. This was made by myself about 18 years ago using a caravan axle (rubber-type suspension and auto-reverse brakes) and a modern-ish coupling.
I honestly prefer towing the single axle transporter. It rides better, the twin axle often starts a "yawing" motion especially on mildly bumpy roads. this causes a constant jerking on the car and is only going to destroy a DMF quickly.
The single axle (with a lightish nose-weight) tows perfectly. Apart from the weight when accelerating it is easy to forget it's even there .
BTW I am towing with an Octavia 1.6 tdci and the Son is using an F10 530D Auto (with his power he doesn't care what he has to tow). Both of us have B+E Licences.



All beside the point anyway regarding the OP's question. It's just that a lot of people jump in to say that you cannot tow more than 750kg without a B+E, when this is not the case.
To really answer the OP's question, it's very hard to lose much weight from an MX5. Much better to get a Turbo Kit (and an LSD) and increase the power if he wants it to Drift decently.
We did one here a couple of years ago. Took it on a few track days in Mondello until it ran a couple of Crank bearings. In fairness, it was a DIY Turbo conversion using a homebuilt MegaSquirt where the complete set-up came in at under €450.

Cheers, thanks for the input!

The main reason is I'll probably struggle to get insured on the mx5 nevermind the cost of keeping the golf and mx5 on the road.
Since the stuff I like about cars usually means - "Not a notion of insurance touching it", keeping it off the road seems like the best bet/most fun.

I'm going back to college and I originally bought it as a project while doing an apprenticeship so cash is tight, I'm hoping to get some fun out of it without serious money being put into it.
It has an LSD or so I'm told (not buy the guy who sold me it).

Main issue is theres a little crack/scuff on the door, and someone tried sanding the fender.
The car has a lot of little dings and scrapes, structurally sound but I'd want it resprayed somewhere down the line.. Which isn't cheap.

I was a little worried I'd have to get do another driving test, I just passed mine at Christmas and I hated it!

Interceptor

What year MX5 is it? I had mine on a classic insurance policy for €350. So long as you have a 'main car' policy you might get a quote.

MrMiata

Interceptor wrote: »

What year MX5 is it? I had mine on a classic insurance policy for €350. So long as you have a 'main car' policy you might get a quote.

1997, same year as myself!
I'm doubtful I'd get insured, I'm technically a named driver myself (only driving since xmas) and I'll be going in my own name this year.