Mx5 - Model/mileage/spec for best bang for buck?

craptakular · 20 Aug 2016 at 19:02

I pay my student loan off early next year so thinking about buying a cheap to run, fun, weekend car.

The mazda MX-5 seems to be the best bang for buck - cheap used prices, cheap running costs and great community it seems.

I'm not really a car nut, where do people think the sweet spot is?

1.8 or 2.0L model?
What is acceptable mileage?

mark 3 or mark 3.5?

What is a sensible budget is £6k enough for a looked after one?

scaza · 20 Aug 2016 at 19:46

I have a MK3 2.0 and I think it's great.
Came from an SLK and it feels so much more agile and nimble, overall a more fun car. Even though it's not overly quick, the feeling of speed is quite pronounced by the characteristics of the car.

I can't really give advice to what to buy as I bought mine on a whim for 3k, not really looking for an mx5, now I'm rather glad I did.

Doogles · 20 Aug 2016 at 19:50

I'd want the 2.0 for the money you are spending and under 60k miles.

thecremeegg · 20 Aug 2016 at 20:40

Get a turbo mk1

b0rn2sk8 · 20 Aug 2016 at 23:02

There is little running costs between the two, it really depends on what you want.

Almost everyone on here that is into cars will recommend either the 2L or 2L sport. In reality most normal people will not be able to tell the difference and would be more than happy with a 1.8. The chances are you will get a newer, lower mileage 1.8 than you will a 2.0. There will be more 1.8's that are low spec to pick through to find a decent one.

Test drive both and see if you can even tell the difference. Also test drive a soft and a hard top if your not sure as they have slightly difference characteristics and price.

hurfdurf · 21 Aug 2016 at 03:41

b0rn2sk8 said:
There is little running costs between the two, it really depends on what you want.

Almost everyone on here that is into cars will recommend either the 2L or 2L sport. In reality most normal people will not be able to tell the difference and would be more than happy with a 1.8. The chances are you will get a newer, lower mileage 1.8 than you will a 2.0. There will be more 1.8's that are low spec to pick through to find a decent one.

Test drive both and see if you can even tell the difference. Also test drive a soft and a hard top if your not sure as they have slightly difference characteristics and price.

Do you have a 1.8?

Nasher · 21 Aug 2016 at 08:42

Actually the best MX-5s are the mk1s. Lightest and handle the best.

The only 2.0 mk3 I've driven had awful power assisted steering which you could feel constantly adjusting. Oddly the 1.8 I owned didn't. They may have improved it later on though, it was an early one.

sovietspybob · 21 Aug 2016 at 08:54

2.0 then make sure you change the springs at the least and enjoy! The 3.5 is worth getting if you can afford it as it has quite a few improvements most importantly (well it would be to me at least) a higher rev limit at 7500.

Saying that i'd have our old 2006 2.0 sport back in a heartbeat it really was a fantastic car.

Also ignore anyone who will even entertain the 1.8 its just not worth it. I don't think you even get the 6 speed box with the 1.8?

Frozennova · 21 Aug 2016 at 09:57

Nasher said:
Actually the best MX-5s are the mk1s. Lightest and handle the best.

The only 2.0 mk3 I've driven had awful power assisted steering which you could feel constantly adjusting. Oddly the 1.8 I owned didn't. They may have improved it later on though, it was an early one.

WHile the mk1 is the lightest, you're completely wrong about the handling aspect, every generation has been a better handling car than the last. People just think that the rawness of the mk1 means it handles bettdr

Nasher · 21 Aug 2016 at 10:40

I don't agree with that. The mk3 and up are much less controlable if the rear end steps out. Where as the mk1 and 2 can drift pretty well with a stock setup

craptakular · 21 Aug 2016 at 12:09

Another option could be I lease a mark 4 for 3 years?

I won't need crazy spec. How is the 1.5L?

b0rn2sk8 · 21 Aug 2016 at 15:15

hurfdurf said:
Do you have a 1.8?

Yes, bought it for my wife and we test drive both and she couldn't tell the difference other the 2L was slightly faster when you "drive it like a tool" <- her words.

Like I said 'normal' people really don't care about 124bhp vs 158bhp, 6 speed gear box and a LSD. They really don't care if one handles better when you get the back end out.

What they actually care about is going about in a 2 seat sports car, MPGz and road tax.

Test drive both and make an informed decision, they are both good cars. Just mare sure it has AC so it de-mists quicker in the winter, you'll rarely use it in summer.

hurfdurf · 21 Aug 2016 at 15:31

It's funny how all 1.8 drivers claim there is no difference and yet anyone who actually had a choice picks the 2.0 because it's a far better car. Same used to happen with the mk1/2 and the 1.6 drivers insisting that their cars were just as good when reality they were very different.

Yes they are the same car, but the higher end models offer a much better driving experience, as with all things, at diminishing returns. How ever, id never have the lower spec or smaller engine version of any mx5.

b0rn2sk8 · 21 Aug 2016 at 15:54

hurfdurf said:
It's funny how all 1.8 drivers claim there is no difference and yet anyone who actually had a choice picks the 2.0 because it's a far better car. Same used to happen with the mk1/2 and the 1.6 drivers insisting that their cars were just as good when reality they were very different.

Yes they are the same car, but the higher end models offer a much better driving experience, as with all things, at diminishing returns. How ever, id never have the lower spec or smaller engine version of any mx5.

What I actually said was my wife could not tell the difference other than one was slightly quicker than the other when you drive it like a tool. I suggest you re-read my post.

The difference is you care about cars, 95% of the population don't. 95% of the population care how a car looks and how much it is going to cost. It is as simple as that. I don't really see how you can describe one as a much better driving experience, they are the same car other than 35bhp and its not like the 1.8 is under powered for normal people.

There are really only 2 reasons to get the 2.0 over the 1.8:
You are into cars
You want the extra power

Lets have a balanced discussion rather than thinly veiled personal attacks...

The OP clearly has not test driven either, how about starting there?

hurfdurf · 21 Aug 2016 at 18:24

b0rn2sk8 said:
What I actually said was my wife could not tell the difference other than one was slightly quicker than the other when you drive it like a tool. I suggest you re-read my post.

The difference is you care about cars, 95% of the population don't. 95% of the population care how a car looks and how much it is going to cost. It is as simple as that. I don't really see how you can describe one as a much better driving experience, they are the same car other than 35bhp and its not like the 1.8 is under powered for normal people.

There are really only 2 reasons to get the 2.0 over the 1.8:
You are into cars
You want the extra power

Lets have a balanced discussion rather than thinly veiled personal attacks...

The OP clearly has not test driven either, how about starting there?

I'm sorry you feel my post was a personal attack, it wasn't meant as such.

The guys posting on a car forum, once best bang for buck, and wants a fun weekend car. I can assure you from owning an several MX5 for 7 years or so, that the more powerful car with the better breaks, gearbox, and LSD, make the car far more fun a weekend car.

lordrobs · 22 Aug 2016 at 15:45

I can honestly say that in over three years of owning my MX5 I've never once driven it in a way that would have benefited from it having an LSD and that is a weekend only car. Doesn't stop me having fun every time I drive the thing. The only time I wish it had more power (and really I mean more torque) is on the motorway which is a minimal amount of the time for me.

hurfdurf · 22 Aug 2016 at 17:15

lordrobs said:
I can honestly say that in over three years of owning my MX5 I've never once driven it in a way that would have benefited from it having an LSD and that is a weekend only car. Doesn't stop me having fun every time I drive the thing. The only time I wish it had more power (and really I mean more torque) is on the motorway which is a minimal amount of the time for me.

I had a few hairy moments when following more powerful cars on a run out, when trying to over take something on a long straight doing 80/90ish, even in the more powerful version, if the person I was over taking got funny and put their foot down in a semi non poverty spec diesel company car, they caused me issues. I had one moment in particular that made me realise that if I wanted to keep up, I had to have more power for over takes.

Frozennova · 22 Aug 2016 at 17:28

hurfdurf said:
I had a few hairy moments when following more powerful cars on a run out, when trying to over take something on a long straight doing 80/90ish, even in the more powerful version, if the person I was over taking got funny and put their foot down in a semi non poverty spec diesel company car, they caused me issues. I had one moment in particular that made me realise that if I wanted to keep up, I had to have more power for over takes.

Completely agree, even with the extra 25bhp or so more in a 1.8 you still have to plan and execute overtakes with a fair bit of precision to get them over quick enough. Usually found myself dropping to third possibly even second.