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Re: Mk 4 with lifeless steering

Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2017 9:34 pm
by Lazza
Way back in 98 I bought my first 5, a Mk1 1.8i Berkeley. I had to have the alignment done after a couple of months because, although it was fine in a straight line, it turned sharply left but very heavy right. Turns out I had negative camber one side and positive the other.
I was told that whether a new car gets a full alignment before sale (as it should according to their own check list) depends on whether the dealer has the equipment or not. Most don’t. I doubt it’s changed that much.

Re: Mk 4 with lifeless steering

Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2017 9:55 am
by Mazda Mender
Agreed ...never trust a car from anywhere...take her to a good place with alignment equipment that know what they are doing...get the fast road motorway settings on her and you will fell a major improvement.
M-m

Re: RE: Re: Mk 4 with lifeless steering

Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2017 9:38 pm
by F1 10AE
Mazda Mender wrote:They spent a lot of cash trying to get the electric steering to feel like the MK1's fluid steering, and to be fair when i test drove one it is not bad, there was a couple of things i would of designed different with the roadster, but other than that they have not done bad with the feel and position, the only major worry of mine was the underneath and box sections,,there is a lot of plastic under there and once removed there is a lot of pressed holes on the sections to save weight but are also water traps.
If you are thinking of keeping her for some time to come ? then invest in get her fully protected, sooner than later.
M-m
Totally agree Wayne but rather than considering future proof protection just if it's going to be a keeper for some time I would say for the benefit of any future owners and the longevity of the mark that all new owners should consider spending a few hundred quid from day 1 to get that all important cavity wax and underseal applied regardless of how long they plan on keeping the car...and find out how to clear any drain holes early on....with hindsight there'd be a lot more potential classics on the road today so given what we now know everyone should try and protect these little beauty's as they will potentially be tomorrow's classic.

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Re: Mk 4 with lifeless steering

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 9:12 am
by Shadgrind
Hmm, Mk4 lifeless steering, is that the one with the electric power steering? Never driven a 5 with electric steering. However, in my previous life as a driving instructor, I had the chance to drive a good few cars with that system. Tends to take the life out of the steering. More importantly why a 1.5? Surely a 2.0 would be better?

Re: Mk 4 with lifeless steering

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 6:33 pm
by Mazda Mender
I found it very close to the Mk1 and 2...alignment will make a massive difference...and to be honest...i personally would go for the 1.5cc...i found there was more character to the drive and feel than the 2.0cc...just like the early mk1 1.6cc..
M-m

Re: Mk 4 with lifeless steering

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2017 11:31 pm
by drumtochty
The 2018 cars will have a few mods. One is a new electric power steering map to improve feel, tweeks to the anti roll and as of the beginning of November 2017 production a version 4 gearbox. Version 1 was the original box. Versions 2 late 2016 and version 3 spring 2017 were for the 2nd 3rd gear problem and this months version 4 is for the first gear problem upgrade.

For the avoidance of doubt the gearboxes being used by Mazda UK to replace failed boxes are not version 4 boxes and in certain cases version 2 boxes.