MX5... to buy or not to buy?

Gamble19

Gamble19

Gamble19

Associate
Joined
19 Jun 2012
Posts
190
Location
Liverpool
Hey guys, just about to turn 22 and still at uni but need a car, passed my test nearly 5 years ago now and have been drawn to the mx5 by a few people....

have around 2500 to play with and dont really think i need the 5 seats so this seems logical, best bang for buck,

Insurance isnt a problem just have a few questions.

What Model should i be going for? mk1/2/2.5

im just looking for the best options to look for such as heated seats/ac etc any others you'd suggest??

what problems should i be looking for and what things should have been done on the cars? im looking around 70k-80k miles in my range?

and are there any mods i can do such as exhaust, Roll bar, or things similar what makes of parts should i keep an eye out for...

thanks guys
 
Mk1's are a little bit more raw feeling and I prefer the more classic looking cabin layout and exterior looks.
Mk2's are a little bit more refined and feel more modern when sat behind the wheel. They are also a little bit easier to live with as a daily car from a comfort point of view.
Mk2.5's are another step up with the interior and comfort.

As for what you should get... you pay your money and take your choice basically. I went for a mk1 myself.

Whatever you get it needs to be as solid as possible, this is far more important than the mileage. Same with spec, don't get hung up on it just concentrate on the car you are buying and bring it up to the spec that you want.

AC probably won't be working anyway despite the seller insisting it "just needs a regas" so I'd not get hung up on that.

The number one thing you need to look out for is rust. Look for rusty marks around the seam of the sill. Feel the underneath of the sills, I looked at a "rust free" one that the sills felt mushy when gently pressed because they were rotten under the paint. Bubbly rear arches are often shrugged off as being minor by owners but it is what hasn't come through the paint yet that I'd be worried about. Other than that if it runs well, shifts smoothly and rides ok you should be set to go.
 
lordrobs said:
Mk1's are a little bit more raw feeling and I prefer the more classic looking cabin layout and exterior looks.
Mk2's are a little bit more refined and feel more modern when sat behind the wheel. They are also a little bit easier to live with as a daily car from a comfort point of view.
Mk2.5's are another step up with the interior and comfort.

As for what you should get... you pay your money and take your choice basically. I went for a mk1 myself.

Whatever you get it needs to be as solid as possible, this is far more important than the mileage. Same with spec, don't get hung up on it just concentrate on the car you are buying and bring it up to the spec that you want.

AC probably won't be working anyway despite the seller insisting it "just needs a regas" so I'd not get hung up on that.

The number one thing you need to look out for is rust. Look for rusty marks around the seam of the sill. Feel the underneath of the sills, I looked at a "rust free" one that the sills felt mushy when gently pressed because they were rotten under the paint. Bubbly rear arches are often shrugged off as being minor by owners but it is what hasn't come through the paint yet that I'd be worried about. Other than that if it runs well, shifts smoothly and rides ok you should be set to go.
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I like the look of the mk1 but i will need the practicality of the mk2,
guessing there is a problem with the AC on most of them?

are there any mods you have done to your mk1? and by spec i mean the 1.6 or the 1.8?

and i shall be bringing my mechanic friend with me so rust should be picked up when he has a look at it,

dont suppose you have any pics of your car you could put up?
 
AC may be ok on a mk2 or 2.5. When I was looking at mk1's the aircon had either seized up or was otherwise not working due to old age.

Mods wise my one has a K&N panel filter and a stainless cat back exhaust. The exhaust is a little bit too loud really but I do love having it barking away behind me when having a bit of fun down the country lanes! It also has a wind deflector which I wouldn't be without because even at motorway speeds having the roof off is a joy. This was all done by the previous owner. All I have done is some servicing work and swapped out the original cassette deck for an Alpine CD head unit we had kicking about.

Early 1.6's are ok but don't get a 96(IIRC) onwards 1.6. TBH there are plenty of nice 1.8's so I wouldn't bother with a 1.6.

On a mk2 the front chassis rail is rusting BADLY on a lot of cars. My mk2 knowledge is a bit limited but I believe there is an engine cover that needs to be removed to get a look at it.

As for photos of my one-


MX5 by Rob Stirling2012, on Flickr


MX5 by Rob Stirling2012, on Flickr
 
lordrobs said:
AC may be ok on a mk2 or 2.5. When I was looking at mk1's the aircon had either seized up or was otherwise not working due to old age.

Mods wise my one has a K&N panel filter and a stainless cat back exhaust. The exhaust is a little bit too loud really but I do love having it barking away behind me when having a bit of fun down the country lanes! It also has a wind deflector which I wouldn't be without because even at motorway speeds having the roof off is a joy. This was all done by the previous owner. All I have done is some servicing work and swapped out the original cassette deck for an Alpine CD head unit we had kicking about.

Early 1.6's are ok but don't get a 96(IIRC) onwards 1.6. TBH there are plenty of nice 1.8's so I wouldn't bother with a 1.6.

On a mk2 the front chassis rail is rusting BADLY on a lot of cars. My mk2 knowledge is a bit limited but I believe there is an engine cover that needs to be removed to get a look at it.

As for photos of my one-


MX5 by Rob Stirling2012, on Flickr


MX5 by Rob Stirling2012, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Suppose you dont really need aircon,
I need to choose between the mk1 and 2 :/, Ive found a few and just need to know the problems that i need to look for, I have been told rust in the sills, and thanks to you the front chassis rail,

suppose its just finding the right one... would you recommend anywhere to look for one?
 
I have a mk2 myself and use it as a daily. Admittedly my commute is only just over 7 miles each way but for what its worth I find it comfortable enough.

I'd go 1.8 engine myself, just got a bit more grunt. :)

As said, look for rust, and also check the drainage holes at the base of the hood behind where the driver's/passenger's shoulder would be. If they are full of water it might suggest they have rarely if ever been cleared and rust could be occuring from inside to out.
 
I think the front chassis rails were more a mk2.5 issue to be honest.

£2500 should get you pretty much anything, keep checking the forums on MX5 nutz, there's always some very good cars going on there.

Gamble, check out Mazda Menders forum aswell. Loads of very knowledgeable people on there and theres a guy who runs it based in Wigan who can give you a lot of tips. He's really friendly to :)
 
Rilot said:
That's a lovely MK1 you've got there lordrobs. These have surely got to be a future classic.
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Thanks :) It has a few more door dings than I'd like but the original paint is still pretty good so I'm reluctant to get any bodywork done on it.

As for a future classic... I think they will be but there is a long way to go until that happens because they are simply far too common. I bought my one as a long term prospect and will be keeping it pretty original in the hope that it falls into that classic status one day. Then again my circumstances could change tomorrow and it may have to go.

Where to look for one... well. I found my one on the MX5 Owners Club but their for sale section is pretty sparse. It was also listed on Autotrader but I disregarded it straight away on it being massively overpriced. After reading the owners club ad I decided it was at least worth a look.

MX5 Nutz... looked at a couple of ropey ones from there. Rust free being the most inaccurately used term.

Had a couple to follow up on Car and Classic but good examples ended up being bodge it specials after a phone call.

Ebay had a decent selection and I had planned to look at one (which was half the price of the one I bought) but after seeing my one and knowing that I could happily spend that much I knew the other one wasn't going to stack up so I didn't contact them in the end.
 
I was recently looking at these (with a slightly higher budget available if required). The wife wanted a convertible sportscar so the MX5 was basically the default option.

We looked at a nice mk2.5 owned by a friend but in the end I found myself in a position where we didn't really have the time to spend trying to find a good mk1/2 amongst all the rubbish (part of the reason for purchasing was that my daily was dead and we needed a replacement pretty quickly) and the chassis rail issue scared me off putting the money into a mk2.5 that could potentially become worthless very quickly if the rot set in.

In the end we went for an MR2 roadster instead, seemed to be able to get more car for the money, the only rust issue to be aware of is on a crossmember which is a bolt-on part plus with my MR2 background and associated Toyota experience it generally made much more sense. Only real downside was the relative lack of storage space but we just use the other car if we know we need to carry anything substantial.
 
Marvt74 said:
I think the front chassis rails were more a mk2.5 issue to be honest.

£2500 should get you pretty much anything, keep checking the forums on MX5 nutz, there's always some very good cars going on there.

Gamble, check out Mazda Menders forum aswell. Loads of very knowledgeable people on there and theres a guy who runs it based in Wigan who can give you a lot of tips. He's really friendly to :)
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Thanks ill get on them straight away
 
Gamble19 said:
Thanks ill get on them straight away
Click to expand...

His username is mazda mender iirc.

Well worth a read:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18564732&highlight=mx5

The 1.6 pre 1994 is 115hp and thrashy and raw, the 1.8 is 130hp and smoother, torquier but heavier. They are both almost identical in terms of speed so try both and pick whichever. Avoid a 1.6 90hp (post 1994).

£2500 from the Nuts forum should get a good nick supercharged one. I'd love a supercharged/turbocharged one some day.

If you are spending £1500+ on a standard mk1 absolutely insist on ZERO rust. Paint defects and dents are fine, but walk away with rust. <£1000 expect a touch of it, but your budget demands good nick ones only!
 
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OpenToSuggestions said:
His username is mazda mender iirc.

Well worth a read:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18564732&highlight=mx5

The 1.6 pre 1994 is 115hp and thrashy and raw, the 1.8 is 130hp and smoother, torquier but heavier. They are both almost identical in terms of speed so try both and pick whichever. Avoid a 1.6 90hp (post 1994).

£2500 from the Nuts forum should get a good nick supercharged one. I'd love a supercharged/turbocharged one some day.

If you are spending £1500+ on a standard mk1 absolutely insist on ZERO rust. Paint defects and dents are fine, but walk away with rust. <£1000 expect a touch of it, but your budget demands good nick ones only!
Click to expand...

Well id be more than happy to get a decent mk1 as long as it has everything that id need it for, i just need a decent heater and windblocker really, and a solid little car
 
Gamble19 said:
Well id be more than happy to get a decent mk1 as long as it has everything that id need it for, i just need a decent heater and windblocker really, and a solid little car
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To be honest I found my MK2.5 windblocker awful. It was a genuine Mazda part so I sold it on Ebay. It really was poo.
The MK1 has a good heater :). The A/C never works though and will be completely shagged, so don't bother with a regas.
 
OpenToSuggestions said:
To be honest I found my MK2.5 windblocker awful. It was a genuine Mazda part so I sold it on Ebay. It really was poo.
The MK1 has a good heater :). The A/C never works though and will be completely shagged, so don't bother with a regas.
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Gamble19 said:
guessing the ac unit isnt replacable either?
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The type of gas used isn't available any more anyway :)
 
Merlot with grey leather is the best looking & find somebody who knows MX5's to go with you.
Where are you located as you may be local to an MX5 fan off here. :cool:
 
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