MK1 MX-5 as a Daily Driver?

Meatball · 11 Jan 2011 at 10:01

I use my MK1 Berkeley as a daily driver, absolutely love it! Even during the cold months with no hard top as the heater is very good! Definitely keep your eye out for rust, especially on the front sills. I discovered hidden rust behind the bottom of my front O/S wing yesterday. Dirt had built up between the wing panel and the chassis which obviously had salt mixed in.

MeAnBoY · 11 Jan 2011 at 11:27

First one is the knees of the bees, minus the silly bonnet riser kit.

As for using one as a daily driver, I don't really see a problem with it, espcially if your not used to more refined cars. I drive my mr2 in the summer to work and that is a 50mil roundtrip mainly on dual carriageways, even with the fart can exhaust it's nothing that bothers me.

nintenjo · 11 Jan 2011 at 20:32

Serpantine said:
snip

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2366334.htm

snip

Weird.. that's my old car

and about the same price I sold it to the current owner back last winter. The sills were the only issue it had at the time although they needed fixing is true.

Shame really as I really miss the car, and really want it back as I spent £££ on it over the 4 years I owned it. Infact i need to update my sig

If you want any more information on it i can gladly let you know all the work ive had done to it over the years i owned it although it might be too late.

Glad you got yourself a 5 as they are fantastic cars. Every car i have driven since feels like a lumbering tank and never has that RWD light weight response that you get in an MX5.

aproctor · 11 Jan 2011 at 20:55

They are fine as long as you appreciate it is a 15-20 year old car that was designed 25-30 years ago.

It is unrefined and underpowered but bullet proof *touches wood*.

Rust can be sorted cheaply as can everything else.

Clutch fitted - £200-300
Cambelt & waterpump - £200-300
Front wings are £100 a pop new
New hood £150+

Vigoro · 11 Jan 2011 at 21:00

I think the bill for getting the new sills on mine was something like £180 for both sides, but that was only welded in and primed and not painted.

Serpantine · 11 Jan 2011 at 21:09

nintenjo said:
Weird.. that's my old car and about the same price I sold it to the current owner back last winter. The sills were the only issue it had at the time although they needed fixing is true.

Shame really as I really miss the car, and really want it back as I spent £££ on it over the 4 years I owned it. Infact i need to update my sig

If you want any more information on it i can gladly let you know all the work ive had done to it over the years i owned it although it might be too late.

Glad you got yourself a 5 as they are fantastic cars. Every car i have driven since feels like a lumbering tank and never has that RWD light weight response that you get in an MX5.

Small World, PM me your details I'd love to have a chat over msn about it - I've not got myself a 5 yet and I'm still very much undecided as to if I will, only because I have no garage to put it in and that I'd have to have it as a daily drive.

But hey, coming from a Shopping cart with a Taxi engine and 'sporty' suspension to a proper roadster can only be a good thing.

saitrix · 11 Jan 2011 at 21:09

I find it totally fine commuting 16 miles either way. And I have a louder exhaust, lowered suspension (running 300lbs front, 220lbs rear, with bilsteins) and to me it seems fine. I will admit I have one with A/C, electric windows, electric mirrors etc which does make it easier to live with. The only thing I do find is that it's a choice between hearing a passenger or hearing your music when on the motorway.

spoogle · 11 Jan 2011 at 21:11

Definitely a fun and cheap car to have as a daily driver, I had mine for about a year and I regret shifting it on, brilliant car even for more than 'just a daily'!

spoogle · 11 Jan 2011 at 21:12

And definitely check out Aviva for insurance with these things, when I had mine they saw it as a 'classic' so the insurance was considerably cheaper than other companies

aproctor · 18 Jan 2011 at 21:30

saitrix said:
I find it totally fine commuting 16 miles either way. And I have a louder exhaust, lowered suspension (running 300lbs front, 220lbs rear, with bilsteins) and to me it seems fine. I will admit I have one with A/C, electric windows, electric mirrors etc which does make it easier to live with. The only thing I do find is that it's a choice between hearing a passenger or hearing your music when on the motorway.

Do you still travel to Peterborough Saitrix?

saitrix · 18 Jan 2011 at 21:47

aproctor said:
Do you still travel to Peterborough Saitrix?

Nope sorry, will let you know if I am going over at all though.