Starting out, Somerset/Devon way

Whiz

Whiz

New Member
Hi all,

Really had a think about getting into some kind of motor sport recently and I landed on drifting, I'm drawn to wanting to learn the technique and how awesome it must feel to be able to have a car under control sideways.

I'm pretty much dead set on grabbing an MX5 to start as they're damn cheap, easy to work on and I've secretly always wanted one anyway :nod:

I will have it road legal but only use it for getting to and from, there were just a couple of questions I had after doing a google search and a read through some of the last few months of posts on here.

I take it at the start, a standard MX5 will suffice? Of course some suspension after a little while etc but for the first couple of times standard will be okay? (mechanically anyway, bucket seats etc aren't too pricey)

Also, I live in Taunton down in Somerset, I understand that I may have to travel a bit but i'm wondering if anyone on here may know some closer places down this way where you can turn up in your personal car, have a go on some beginner tracks and maybe have some advice from instructor's/veterans?

The place I have seen which looks to be just that is DWYB at Santa Pod, but it's just a bit of a distance. I thought some people on here may have more knowledge as I can't find what I'm looking for on google.

Apart from that, I just need to buy an MX5 and get going right, book a days drifting and start my road to learning?

Thanks if you've managed to sit through that wall of text...
 
Best intro post i've seen in a long time

You're correct, not much is needed to be done before the first day, but most importantly is the diff. Either think ahead and buy a model with a torsen LSD or bite the bullet a run a welded diff. Others with more experience can speak on the benefits of each (or you may have found the existing threads already)

Bang on with the bucket seat too. And if funds allow some coilover suspension is also worth while getting before the first outing. Due to low hp, having a stiffer setup from the outset means it will slip more than grip/body roll compared to stock suspension so you won't have to work the car or yourself as hard to get it going

To ensure your first day has it's best possibility of coming up Milhouse you want to do a full service: fluids, belts and filters at a minimum. If you have time, checking sparkplugs, waterpump, clutch engagement, handbrake engagement and steering links are next on the list
 
BenRice said:
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Haha thanks, I'm serious about getting into it and I've managed to round up about £1200 to get me going for now. Though if I wait until after Christmas that could go a bit higher.

After looking around, a welded diff would probably be fine and a cheaper option if I can't find one with an LSD? Especially as I'm just starting out. I've had a look through pro's and con's and a lot seems to be opinions and also talking about how your driving style changes depending on what diff you're rocking. As long as it's welded properly that is so it doesn't break.

Do you think some low springs would temporarily do the job on more of a budget or is it not worth it? Just saving up for the coilovers might be a better investment of money.

Noted, I'll be giving the car a good going over to make sure it doesn't destroy itself the first time I take it out.. that'd be pretty embarrassing :no:

Thanks for your reply, I wasn't sure if I was going to get one.

Now it's just to find places to drift and start looking for cars! One of the fun parts, spending hours a day prowling the net for a bargain :nod:
 
I was giving this a look see.. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201710300771744?radius=1500&price-to=1000&sort=price-asc&make=MAZDA&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&postcode=ta28fd&model=MX-5&page=1

It's around the corner from me, if I can get a little money off and then replace the belt and water pump, ignition barrel.. this is the kinda thing I guess I'd be looking for to start?

Of course depending that all that's wrong with it is what is stated in the Ad anyway..

Though I'm also looking for MX5's with marks and small damage to exterior bodywork as this'll bring the price down and it doesn't matter to me as it will be a drift car only.
 
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Welcome to the Forum dude,

I have just finished sorting my Mk1 MX-5 ready to go drifting. Infact, my first day out in it is this Sunday :)

https://www.driftworks.com/forum/threads/richies-na-eunos-practice-car.256652/https://www.driftworks.com/forum/threads/richies-na-eunos-practice-car.256652/

Although i have been on here an age, i have had very little seat time, but thats all changing with 2x days booked before the year is out and plans to do Driftland and Matsuri's later next year!

All I have done to mine so far, aside from sorting the Rot out, is just general maintenance for reliability's sake and a few basic mods to help.

She starts and runs spot on, but they are pretty bulletproof cars anyway.

Modifications, all i have done is swapped the small case Viscous LSD to a bigger 1.8l Torsen along with the Prop and Driveshafts. Also fitted some Powerflex Diff Bushes whilst it was all out.

Thats pretty much it, future plans are just eBay spec Coilovers, new Camber Bolts to re-set all the suspension geometry and a bucket seat and roll bar for when i start getting faster/more confident.

I think for the budget you have, you could get a pretty clean car, or get something cheap and keep the change for booking track time or future mods. Plenty of cheap cars about though, get yourself on the MX5 Facebook page, always stuff cropping up there :)
 
richie_k83 said:
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Hey, thanks man!

That paint job came out astonishingly well for a rattle can job. That's really similar to what I'm looking for, just hopefully without the need of welding or at least not much so I can pay someone else to do it as I'm not hugely mechanically apt let alone welding.

I'm looking for any MX5 really so i'll have to see what diff it has when I look at it, I hope so! There is quite a few around for the £6-700 mark which doesn't seem too bad and wouldn't need much if any work at all in terms of having mechanical issues anyway.

Think you did well for £300 considering you could sort out all of the rust yourself too, i'll keep an eye on that to see what else you do :thumbs:

I saw that there used to be drift days on here in Weston Zoyland which is literally 20 minutes from my house, but I can't find anything on it past say.. 2009 or something.

I'll get on the facebook pages! :)
 
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Unless it's a sports model or one of the few randomly named special editions, it'll be an open diff. However, that's not a bad thing, just weld that bad boy up.

Check the rear sills and arches really carefully, the mk2s are utter rust buckets nowadays. Looks good for the money though, as long as it's not rotten. Just bung it on cheap coilovers if you have the moneys, wadge in a bucket seat (especially if it has leather seats) and you're off.
 
My advice for anyone from the UK (where modification restrictions are basically non existent for road vehicles) is to buy an already preped car. You should not have trouble finding an MX5 that already has the seat, coilovers and welded diff, maybe even roll bar. This way he paid the big bucks and you get more for your money. Also, don't limit yourself with time. In a hurry you will buy a good car and then a better and cheaper one will come a week after. Winter time is here so I don't think it would be the worst idea to wait until spring. In the mean time (down season) plenty of cars will show up, as will parts.

Also, be a strong character and only buy what you NEED, not what you want or is nice.
 
In terms of places to go, I know they do events at Smeatharpe and Dunkeswell. Unless they were in Taunton themselves, I doubt you will get much closer ;)
 
The buying / selling groups for MX5s are usually buzzing with half-raped drift projects. That's some pretty solid advice, really. You'll definitely get a mostly-prepped one for £1000, then spend the rest on making it look less destroyed / shit.
 
I've always felt like i should steer away from already modified cars, with the suspicion that they have been ragged to death.. I mean.. it's probably not far off of what's going to happen once I get my hands on it either :D but I guess that was in terms of having it as a daily car.

I'll keep that in mind, I do see a few pop up now and again with some coiley's and a roll cage or something.

Also, thats probably great advice waiting a bit and seeing what pops up, problem is i'm such an impatient sod, when I bought my 220 I wanted one on the sunday and had bought one half way across the UK by the Wednesday. Safe to say I did slightly regret it after seeing some better ones go up for sale on the fabeook page a week later! There is one for sale up the road in Cardiff with some Cobra seats already installed which I've asked about too.

@mad.matt Thanks I'll try and look those up, I mean, it wouldn't be a bad thing if a new track happened to pop up in Taunton ;) haha

I drove past Weston Zoyland today while working and I could see some cones up in a couple of places. One set out like a course and the other just a big ring.
 
You were warned to not make our collective mistakes, the rest is up to you :)

The old cars can take much more beating than one might believe. The only concearn you should have with the car is rust, because that is something that isnt easily adressed by just anyone and costs a fair bit to do right. Everything else can and most likely will be uprated in the time of your ownership if you dedicate enough love (€€€).

Some of the components that wear out faster because of drifting are bushings, mounts and clutch. Those are also the ones that get uprated without much downtime at home for a cost you will be able to afford. Chances are at least some of them were already done because it is a drift build.
 
I see what you mean,

have been looking at this one and speaking to the guy for a while, https://www.gumtree.com/p/mazda/mazda-mx5-bucket-seat-omp-drift-lsd-harness/1273498891

Looks like the only thing it needs will be a bit of TLC and a set of coilovers? if I can get some money off the top I don't think this would be a bad start as I wouldn't have to change or weld the diff, already has seats and harness and a mom steering wheel.

I will still be looking about though, but I have just had a thought.. I may be too tall for an MX5, going to have to find a local one and have a sit. I'm about 6'3 or 6'4 and have only just realised that could be an issue?
 
That one looks good, definitely pursue it. Run it as is without coilovers, just throw 60+ psi in the rear tyres and you're away and laughing. The rims look bigger(?) so less sidewall flex will make up for soft factory suspension.

It may already have lowering springs and new shocks as it looks a touch lower than normal, and this is totally fine to start with. I just wouldn't fit lowered springs and new shocks instead of saving more for coilovers. If it has them already then leave them for the time being

I think the warning around already modified cars is a lot are done shoddily, especially when lifestylers get a hold of them lol.

Finding a car that has good parts on it and/or been done properly is a huge bonus and not often found

But the debate is good modifications vs clean and tidy base. Obviously both is the ultimate goal, but if you have to sacrifice one it'd be the modifications. Saving money for parts is better than saving money for repairs.

As for your height, have a search on here as a lot of people your height have found ways around it. From removing foam in the seat to bolting the seat to the floor. It may take a little fettling but not impossible
 
BenRice said:
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If I bought something like that though I would also have enough left over to chuck some coil overs on it too with the money I've saved and still have enough left over for booking sessions. They look bigger to me too but I'm not sure.

It is just on standard suspension atm.

That's very true and I'm going to have to go and view it before I make any decisions, it's a 5 hour round trip so I cant make it for a few weekends, hopefully he still has it by then. I wish I knew someone up that way who would take a look at it for me, for a drink so I could slap a small deposit down if it's nice and collect it at a later time.

I've just realised there's a guy 2 doors down that has an early 1991 MX5 so I may have a knock and see if he'll let me sit in it. If not i'll have to take a look at what you said about getting the seat bolted to the floor!
 
Depending your torso-leg ratio, you'll probably be fine in an mx5. I'm 6ft3 and a few of my friends who're over 6ft have had numerous mx5s. The foamectomy helps a lot. Leather seats hold you a bit higher up in the car, clothes ones usually have more give, so you sit lower.

Those rims are stock on the mx5 you posted, they're the lightish Enkei ones.
 
Ahh okay, so bucket seats would sit even lower than normal cloth ones correct? or maybe not?

I'll have a little knock at my neighbours anyway and see how it is. Your posts have made me confident that I could wangle a comfortable position in one though
 
Yeah, bucket seats can be mounted lower, or just bolt the stock set to the floor at a push.

It's worth having a sit in one anyway, so good shout seeing your neighbour. I've had 7 of them and am yet to not fit and that's across mk1s, mk2s and mk2.5s.
 
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