Any mx-5 owners?

scorchisio

scorchisio

scorchisio

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Rotherham. S.Yorks
Hi guys

i really want an old mx-5 but my budget is only 1k i dont want anything on finance. Can anyone who owns a fairly old one give me any tips what to look for etc?

many thanks
 
Something I wrote a while ago:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=25477468&postcount=3

I know quite a lot about MX5s, but loads of other members do too and have done different repairs than I have.

The first question is which generation MX5 are you after? It really is down to preference. The MK1 has less 'modern' bits but is more retro.
My view is certainly Mk1>Mk2.
 
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Buy Mine :P

Check sills very carefully for rust. Use an endoscopic camera if possible to check the inside as they rust from the inside out.

There was a good buying guide on the OOC website that is quite good.
 
Nursie said:
Buy Mine :P

Check sills very carefully for rust. Use an endoscopic camera if possible to check the inside as they rust from the inside out.

There was a good buying guide on the OOC website that is quite good.
Click to expand...

I imagine most would look rusty inside the sills as it is very much a 'when you see rust from the outside, they are ******'.

I bought a car that was imported in 2006 and have no idea how much original sill is there. I garage it over winter though and never use it on salted roads.

The UK vs Import arguement is the same as most cars:
UK = More service history and less likely to be damage repaired.
Eunos = Massively less rusty on average as Japs do not use rock salt. Insurance can be higher but some people say no difference. I see 2005 UK MK2.5s with more rot!

You can read all day long on the MX5, but 99% of ones that get scrapped are due to rust. All other bits are very easy and cheap to fix. Afaik the MK2.5 used thinner steel and is the worst for rust.
 
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My race car donor was from Japan and had great sills on it and I paid 700 quid for it, however several of the other cars we had did have crappy sills and it is a real problem that needs checking. The imports have some advantages too, not least an LSD which I do not believe the UK cars got (?) so if you plan to track it that might be a consideration.
 
You find a lot of MX5 love on here (What?! Gay!).
There isn't really anything else out there that has the same blend of fun, purchase cost, ease of fixing, reliability and general running cost.

The engines are a turbo engine, without the turbo, so in short they are massively stronger than they need to be.
Who cares if you run out of oil and the engine siezes when a new engine and gearbox costs £150.
 
this is exactly why im after one mate, i have a peugot 206 at the min and someone drove into the side of it so its a real eyesore with a massive dent in the drivers side back passenger area. only had 1 lady owner and 50k miles so i was hoping to get a couple years out of it.

Since i became single a couple years ago ive always wanted a 2 seater roadster and the mx5 ticks every box for me.
 
I bought a 98 Mk2 in December for £950

Sills are a must to check on both the mk1&2. On the Mk2 you also need to check the front chassis rails as they are also prone to rot. Engines however will go on forever with regular oil changes although theres acouple of weakspots in the cooling system. So far Ive had to replsce the waterpump inlet pipe (£100 plus a couple of hours to fit) and both heater matrix hoses (~£25 for genuimr Mazda items and around 15 mins to change)

Most hoods if vinyl will be past their best due to shrinkage

A mk2/2.5 iS or Sport model will come with Bilstein suspension, LSD, 6 speed gearbox.
 
new boy said:
:eek::eek::eek:

I admire your insanely in-depth car check procedures.
Click to expand...

Mine looked fine form the outside when I bought mine. A year later they needed doing, they'd been patched up before without really cutting all the rust away.


For a £10 you could save yourself a lot of money.
 
You need to decide a budget!
£2400 is 2.4 times your OP budget!
If I spent that on a MK1 I woulk expect a supercharger conversion or for it be absolutely immaculate. A FB group called Roadster Society has good ones frequently for under £1000 and MX5 Nutz does too.

My 1992 import has had loads done to it, including but not limited to:
Four good tyres.
Full respray.
Hard top.
Gearstick gaiter gaskets (always knackered)
Cam cover gasket (always knackered)
Various service jobs.
No dents.
No rust.
Any surface rust underneath shaved off with dremel then waxoyled.

I'd probably get £1500 for the car and £350 for the hard top.
Sadly I can't see what a dealer price really gives you over a private sale here. It is a very old car. It will rattle and make funny noises from time to time!
Even if the whole ECU dies a replacement one is a tenner. A 5 speed gearbox is £20 (no joke).

Two years ago I bought a late MK1 for a friend (good nick side from it needed £500 sill/arch work) for £450.
 
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OpenToSuggestions said:
You need to decide a budget!
£2400 is 2.4 times your OP budget!
If I spent that on a MK1 I woulk expect a supercharger conversion or for it be absolutely immaculate. A FB group called Roadster Society has good ones frequently for under £1000 and MX5 Nutz does too.

My 1992 import has had loads done to it, including but not limited to:
Four good tyres.
Full respray.
Hard top.
Gearstick gaiter gaskets (always knackered)
Cam cover gasket (always knackered)
Various service jobs.
No dents.
No rust.
Any surface rust underneath shaved off with dremel then waxoyled.

I'd probably get £1500 for the car and £350 for the hard top.
Sadly I can't see what a dealer price really gives you over a private sale here. It is a very old car. It will rattle and make funny noises from time to time!
Even if the whole ECU dies a replacement one is a tenner. A 5 speed gearbox is £20 (no joke).

Two years ago I bought a late MK1 for a friend (good nick side from it needed £500 sill/arch work) for £450.
Click to expand...

Where did you get this car, or other Jap imports? Looks like a bargain!

To the OP I'm also looking for an MX5 for my next car, getting a bit tired of this W reg fiesta..
 
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