New car options for around £5k (Mazda MX5?)

ScarySquirrel

ScarySquirrel

ScarySquirrel

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Joined
13 Jan 2004
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South East
Hi all, firstly I apologise for two things; creating another 'spec me' thread and my lack of car knowledge.

Some background information. I'm 24, and I currently drive a beat up old Corsa Sport 1.4. The paint is faded, the bumper is a bit broken (smashed into a concrete sign when it snowed), and things have slowly started going wrong. Basically, if a car could get a sexually transmitted disease, my car would have AIDs. I feel that now is the time I got a new (by new, I mean old and used!) car, something I can enjoy while I'm relatively young, and something which I am not embarrassed to drive.

I have fallen in love with Honda S2000's. I just love everything about them. I convinced myself that once I turn 25 in June I would get one as the insurance will be a little cheaper then. However, being realistic, I simply think the running costs are too high for me. Besides I would have to pay about £8k+ for a decent 2000-2004 model. This is all a bit too much unfortunately.

So, alternatives. I have started looking at the Mazda MX5. I generally don't really like the look of these cars. As standard, I feel they look a bit feminine (this is just my opinion). Then I saw this picture:

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u206/carnut787/Doppelganger_SSR_03.png

Now, I know this is a huge extreme, and is probably worth a hell of a lot, but it looks awesome. It got me thinking, if I could pick up a decent(ish) MX5 for about £2,000-3,000 and then spend a further £2,000-3,000 making it.......well, better! I'm not one for 'pimping' rides, but I have seem some really nice subtle bodykits which make the car look a bit more masculine.

I know I'm probably going on a bit now, so I'll just ask the question. How is my logic? Is it realistic to expect to get a decent MX5 for the price mentioned about, maybe purchasing a subtle body kit and getting it painted and fitted by a professional? Maybe new alloys with some good tires. Then some other subtle aesthetic modifications?

How is the MX5 in terms of running costs? Insurance, petrol (I do about 200-250 miles a week) etc.?

Then, the obvious question, what else could I do for this budget?
 
Plenty of fun stuff for 5k, including MX5s, but you can spend as little or as much as you want on an MX5 and it'll still be a decent car :D

Fancy a hot hatch or something (Clio 182 etc) or are you set on a coupe/convertible?
 
All I know is that a decent respray will cost you @ £2k. Alloys you may as well add on another £1k.

That's without the inital buying cost of the car. IMHO you're best of getting a car you like from the start rather than wasting the money on bodykits, new alloys, etc. even with all this added you then have to think of the fact that a used car will go wrong and need work doing at some stage.




M./
 
So your total budget is around the 5-6k mark?

Quite a few chaps in here with MX5's of in varying states, and states of tune. Im sure one of them will chip in their 0.02p
 
We recently just picked up a mk2 mx5 1.8 icon (so it has a lsd and 6 gears) for £1850 a full set of toyo t1r tyres for the standard alloys were £124 inc delivery and came the next day. Its been a hell of a buzz driving it recently.

Have a look here for some prices on some kit http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/index.php
 
mx5s are great little motors, there's so much out there for them accessory and tuning wise you could quite easily make it different to the majority of them with very little work. My step dad has one and it's ridiculous how much he has done to his. So many little things you can change it's a great car for modders.

Also 5-6k is a great budget to get you started. I can see somebody catching the modding bug very soon lol.
 
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Howard said:
Plenty of fun stuff for 5k, including MX5s, but you can spend as little or as much as you want on an MX5 and it'll still be a decent car :D

Fancy a hot hatch or something (Clio 182 etc) or are you set on a coupe/convertible?
Click to expand...

I've been considering a hot hatch of some sorts. But I do like the idea of a coupe more.

m4cc45 said:
All I know is that a decent respray will cost you @ £2k. Alloys you may as well add on another £1k.

That's without the inital buying cost of the car. IMHO you're best of getting a car you like from the start rather than wasting the money on bodykits, new alloys, etc. even with all this added you then have to think of the fact that a used car will go wrong and need work doing at some stage.

M./
Click to expand...

I didn't mean a full respray, just the spray of exterior styling parts to match the colour. I also wouldn't spend £1k on a set of alloys. I know they can get very expensive but I couldn't justify anything more than about £400-500 on them.

PiKe said:
S2000's are the manliest convertible you can buy :p
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I want one :(
 
When I see a girl in a MX5 I think it looks hot.

When I see a dude in a MX5 I think what a QUEEN.
 
Slight tangent, but if you had 8-12k£ and lets say Squirrel decided on an S2000, what year would you aim to buy and what is there to look out for in buying one?
 
Hutchy said:
Slight tangent, but if you had 8-12k£ and lets say Squirrel decided on an S2000, what year would you aim to buy and what is there to look out for in buying one?
Click to expand...

www.s2ki.com your questions will be answered there.

I would say you'd get an 05 for that kinda money, you don't want anything past an 06 though as the tax is double.
 
7.4s to 60 at best, top speed 130, S2000 is 5.9 to 60 and 150mph top speed.

S2000 does nearly have 100bhp on the MX5 though.
 
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