I sold my Modified 1.8T Octavia elegance over a year ago. I wanted something totally different. After a lot of looking at MR2's and MX5's i purchased the latter.

It is an excellent car, (one of the best ever IMHO) very different to my octy, better handling for sure and in many ways more fun.

However i find myself still missing being part of the Skoda community.

I thought when i got my 5 that the owners club forum would be great. My experience of it has been the opposite. Many of the people are either unwiling to help if you need help or advice. They are a very "clique" lot in my experience. This has ended up with me missing my skoda and being part of the community in general.

When i see how much a vRS octy can be had for it is really making me think about coming back.

Recently i have found myself looking at various cars things like Porsche Boxsters and Honda S2000's. Which would be a logical "upgrade" from the 5. The downside is that those two both cost quite a bit to run and purchase in the first place.

I am now finding myself dreaming of a nice Octy vRS remapped to 220 ish BHP and still very affordably to buy and run.

Not sure if i will end up coming back to skoda for definate, originally i was not going to change my car for another year but once you start looking at prices i fear i may already be on the slippery slope.

Told you so!!! :P

Nice to see you back Rob.

S2000 and a diesel Octy runaround

Told you so!!! :P

Nice to see you back Rob.

S2000 and a diesel Octy runaround

Did you???

I really cant afford both. The wifes car will probably need replacing soon too.

If i was to get an S2000 i only want one that is pre 51 plate. The tax is only £185 a year......bargain lol.

I suppose if i could get a diesel octy for the missus next year that may be a possible option and i would be 50% there then

My sister has a MX5, and is also a member of the MX5 forum. She has also found the same, regarding the forum and its seemingly unfriendly atmosphere.

I still miss my first modified vRS, so we are kind of the same even though I now own a diesel one.

My local (now ex.) skoda dealer has an S2000 in the showroom, its a very nice car indeed but this one is up for £18,995.

One option i was considering was to super/turbo charge the 5.

A basic kit is around a grand though. Should take it from 140 ish bhp to 180 or 190 bhp. :eek:

That said, if i came across someone who fancied an mx5 then i would be tempted to do a part ex even.

I've found Brisky to be an unusually helpful and friendly forum compared to others.

I'd sooooo advise against upping the power on the 5 tbh.

I've gone the other way

sold my MR2 turbo last week, picking up my octy Vrs on tues from a club member

found both the MR2 & briskoda to be v helpfull; give yourselfs a pat on the back

I'd sooooo advise against upping the power on the 5 tbh.

There is a 5 that is turbo'd as standard you know. Welll not standard but a special edition. So it can be d one.

Putting the power down would be the hard thing i guess.

Mine has caught me out in standard form a few times in the wet though. lol

Edited 9 November, 200817 yr by Guest

The MX5 turbo never came to the UK though did it??

I'd rather put the grand towards a different motor really. If there were drive in, drive out turbo upgrades that ran like factory etc then awesome, but thats just not reality.

The MX5 turbo never came to the UK though did it??

I'd rather put the grand towards a different motor really. If there were drive in, drive out turbo upgrades that ran like factory etc then awesome, but thats just not reality.

Possibly not but my car is an import anyway. I see what you are saying though. Its not a simple procedure. Not like remapping an octy.

Though the 1.6 and 1.8 MX5 engines will readily accept turbo/supercharging without needing any modified internals, they are already tough enough.

If I had joined the Owners Club and had been fobbed off on the forum I'd ask for my subscription back as the whole purpose of such clubs is to offer help and advice. Shame as I have often thought of an MX5 as a second car. As a newbie thet should have welcomed you with open arms

Edited 10 November, 200817 yr by Matt Bodycombe

I know what you mean about the club spirit

You might be surprised at how much info you'd receive by asking MX-5 questions on this very forum

Steve

I don't know what your MX5 is worth but I would have thought you could get yourself into a Octavia vRS quite easily and enjoy the Skoda effect again.

After being a member of a few sites in the past -SXOC and C2 Sports Club for example - this forum makes a refreshing change. Instead of members arguing about which car is fastest, which body kit they have fitted innit? and how a big sub in the boot makes your car faster than anything else on the road, I find that on this site people are genuinely interested in their cars and motoring in general.

I nearly got rid of the vRS when we found out about the impending arrival of our second child - no reason really other than running costs. I was so miserable about even the thought of getting rid that SWMBO told me to keep it and cheer up.

It was like buying the car back again, all in my head, but it made me realise that at the moment I can't do without my vRS.

Combine this with the support and friendliness on this site and the whole package is complete.

Cue the soft focus and romantic music.....

Cue the soft focus and romantic music.....

It plays all the time in the background. Can you not hear it?

:grouphug:

Well I've got to say that I'm a member of both (I'm Garfield over there) and yes this is the friendlier forum. Don't know why but it is so I can only apologise on behalf of my fellow MX5OC members...

I would say though by way of explanation that the MX5OC has been subject to a bit on in-fighting within the committee and it's members and I think that has maybe spilt over into the forum. Many of the members are good though and will try to help wherever possible... albeit that they may never get as good as this one.

You could always try MX5Nutz for a change - far more laid back and sarcastic (although sometimes there is too much of the latter and too many in-jokes for some...)

As Wardy says though there is actually a good wealth of MX5 info over here (ten years worth and counting here!) so you could always try us.

As for upping the power on an MX5 - Go for it - I've never heard anyone regret it and would look to do the same were I to have the funds and time to do it. The MX5 is pretty much bulletproof in that respect as the engine and internals are from the Mazda Familia Turbo, so will stand the extra oomph and be reliable with it (it is one of the few cars with off-the-shelf forced induction upgrades that doesn;t suffer under them). Only when You can get up above 200bhp and nearer 240bhp will you start to have issues on relaiability.

The MX5 turbo never came to the UK though did it??

Err... Yes it did actually but in limited numbers as it was a limited number production run.

In Mk1 form it came as the Le Mans special edition with BBR turbo power.

Mazdaspeed also introdcued light pressure turbo versions in the Mk2.5.

The main reason for not having a mass-produced non-mimited turbo option was that themarket for such versions was already well provided for by the arftermarket and because it went against Mazda's ethos of a cheap, light sportscar for the masses. It was nothing to do with reliabiility.

I had you firmly in mind with my previous comment Mark

Steve

I should point out that i am not a fully paid up member of the owners club. However when i have asked questions on the forum and had little or no response, i have asked if it is due to me not being a paid up member and the response was that it had nothing to do with it.

During my time on this forum i have paid and not paid to use this site and its wealth of information. Even without paying everyone on here is generally helpful and will do what they can to help.

When i got my 5 i thought the owners clubs/forums would be fantastic seeing as the car is well regarded and has sold in huge numbers.

However there is just not the comradeship (sp?) that there is on here.

I wonder if it is because Skoda's generally have had a reputation that is not deserved and we have seen ourselves as "underdogs" in some way?

Thanks for the suggestions of help with my 5. I may well ask some questions regarding a problem i have with it. Where would be the best place?

I guess i could maybe sell and come back. I am not doing anything til after xmas though i am pretty sure of that. Just worries me that if i ditch the 5 i may end up regretting that as it is an excellent little sports car.

Shame i can't have both. lol

I think you'll struggle to find a friendlier forum than Briskoda tbh. It really is one of a kind. It sure would influence my choice of car thats for sure, just don't be blinkered! :P

I should point out that i am not a fully paid up member of the owners club. However when i have asked questions on the forum and had little or no response, i have asked if it is due to me not being a paid up member and the response was that it had nothing to do with it.

During my time on this forum i have paid and not paid to use this site and its wealth of information. Even without paying everyone on here is generally helpful and will do what they can to help.

When i got my 5 i thought the owners clubs/forums would be fantastic seeing as the car is well regarded and has sold in huge numbers.

However there is just not the comradeship (sp?) that there is on here.

I wonder if it is because Skoda's generally have had a reputation that is not deserved and we have seen ourselves as "underdogs" in some way?

Thanks for the suggestions of help with my 5. I may well ask some questions regarding a problem i have with it. Where would be the best place?

I guess i could maybe sell and come back. I am not doing anything til after xmas though i am pretty sure of that. Just worries me that if i ditch the 5 i may end up regretting that as it is an excellent little sports car.

Shame i can't have both. lol

I think people are welcomed here no matter what they drive mate which is great:thumbup: If you were not a member you would think they would be as helpful as possible to get you to join. I am surprised at this attitude given the cars' cult status. Mind you if there is political trouble in the club....

:)Just read this thread, I'd have responded earlier otherwise!

How long ago was the poor response you got from the Skoda Owners' Club forum regarding your Octavia? I ask this because the Club hasn't had a forum for about 3 years. When there was such a forum there were a few arguments on there which turned out to be mostly caused by the then Chairman! He was then removed from the Club totally, and the forum carried on but not under control of the Owners' Club. The revised [non Skoda Owners' Club] forum has gone on to be more useful for owners of older Skodas, like Felicias, Favorits, RWD cars ect. The Owners' Club has carried on catering for owners of all Skodas old and new. There are more members with modern Skodas than old Skodas.

I'm very happy to say that the Owners' Club has moved on quite considerably from those darker [dodgy Chairman!] days I mentioned earlier!

I hope this is a helpful post and isn't seen as me dismissing a guenuine complaint. I'd obviously hate for people think that the Owners' Club that I've helped run since late 2005 is unwelcoming. I'd urge anybody that has a problem with the Club to tell a Committee member, in the same way that anyone that has a problem with Briskoda should tell admin or a moderator....otherwise we don't know and can't sort it out!

Feel free to contact me here, by PM or by email if you'd like to.

Thanks for the suggestions of help with my 5. I may well ask some questions regarding a problem i have with it. Where would be the best place?

Well ask me as a starting point ad if I don't know I will probably know a man who does or will at least be able to point you in the right direction!