MX-5 Advice

Platinum Pete · 5 Jul 2007 at 19:16

Hi

I'm looking for a MK1 MX-5 and have been to see a few-

I saw one today (98 1.8i) that looked nice and it seemed like a good clean example but i have a few questions over some concerns that I have before i make an offer.

the gear box seemed a little stiff in the lower gears- there was no problem with them going in it just wasnt as smooth as i imagined it should be- is this just because it was cold or could it be the start of a more serious problem?

When i revved the engine in neutral there was a very low (volume) metalic hissing sound as it it came down the revs. it seemed to be coming from behind/ below the car so i would assume it is diff or driveshaft related, is this normal??

Also the car wasnt as fast as i expected the claimed 0-60 is 8.3 but it definately didnt feel that fast- how long does the engine take to warm before it is at optimum?

Lastly there seemed to be a bit of evidence of welding on infront of the rear wheels could this hint to other problems??

EDIT: sorry i meant on the skirts infront of the rear wheels

sorry for the long post- I appreciate that the questions i have asked are pretty specific but if there is anyone who has experience in these cars and is willing to help that would be very helpful

Thanks

Pete

.:MBK:. · 5 Jul 2007 at 19:23

i know bugger all about mx5s so probably will sound silly but that car, to me, doesnt sound that healthy, maybe look for another example? (especially if thats some post accident welding there)

Matthew.M · 5 Jul 2007 at 19:41

Platinum Pete said:
Hi

I'm looking for a MK1 MX-5 and have been to see a few-

I saw one today (98 1.8i) that looked nice and it seemed like a good clean example but i have a few questions over some concerns that I have before i make an offer.

the gear box seemed a little stiff in the lower gears- there was no problem with them going in it just wasnt as smooth as i imagined it should be- is this just because it was cold or could it be the start of a more serious problem?

When i revved the engine in neutral there was a very low (volume) metalic hissing sound as it it came down the revs. it seemed to be coming from behind/ below the car so i would assume it is diff or driveshaft related, is this normal??

Also the car wasnt as fast as i expected the claimed 0-60 is 8.3 but it definately didnt feel that fast- how long does the engine take to warm before it is at optimum?

Lastly there seemed to be a bit of evidence of welding on infront of the rear wheels could this hint to other problems??

EDIT: sorry i ment on the skirts infront of the rear wheels

sorry for the long post- I appreciate that the questions i have asked are pretty specific but if there is anyone who has experience in these cars and is willing to help that would be very helpful

Thanks

Pete

The gears being stiff is normal. It gets a little better as the gear box warms up but is certainly not a fault.

The hissing sound seems a bit dodgy, try doing it again but with you foot depressing the clutch pedal very slightly. Mine made a whining sound when the clutch was fully released, but it was just the clutch fork vibrating. It would go away with the slightest bit of pressure on the pedal. I fixed it be reaching in through a wheel arch and blobbing some grease on the fork. Took me 2mins and no tools required! If it doesn't go away with pressure on the clutch I've no idea what it is.

Speed wise, just test drive another to compare, but they arn't *that* fast. Doesn't mean they arn't fun though.

The welding on the sills infront of the rear wheels is normal and is certainly not evidence of any crash. They rust there if the drain holes get blocked and water builds up. Just be glad its been sorted, and look up on some owners forum how to keep the drain holes clear. Water from the roof drains through the inside of the car and out the bottom of the sill. These get blocked with rubbish (as you would expect!) then it never drains and is free to rust away.

Hope this helps

Platinum Pete · 5 Jul 2007 at 19:55

Cheers Matthew M that was very useful

I didnt have the clutch depressed when i was revving the engine so that may be the prob I think i may have blown the "hissing" sound out of proportion- it was kind of a whine I will test it again on saturday if the car is still available.

I was also going to have a look at an "1.8i S" model at the weekend do you know if that is significantly different to the standard 1.8i as i it make a large difference on the insurance. (cheapest 1.8i quote is £350 1.8i S is £535)

Matthew.M · 5 Jul 2007 at 19:59

Platinum Pete said:
Cheers Matthew M that was very useful

I didnt have the clutch depressed when i was revving the engine so that may be the prob I think i may have blown the "hissing" sound out of proportion- it was kind of a whine I will test it again on saturday if the car is still available.

I was also going to have a look at an "1.8i S" model at the weekend do you know if that is significantly different to the standard 1.8i as i it make a large difference on the insurance. (cheapest 1.8i quote is £350 1.8i S is £535)

Even if it was a little whine make sure you identify it before you buy it, could be anything! And there's no shortage of MX5s out there so hold out for one that ticks all the right boxes.

I think the iS model has a LSD which makes them more drift-happy on wet roundabouts. I'm not entirely sure though so I wouldn't take my word for it.

I was thinking a bit more about the speed issue, and remember you have to really rev these engines to get them going. Low down the rev range it's a normal boring 1.8 engine, but get those revs high and don't let them drop

It feels fast to me because it's the fastest car I've driven on the road!

Platinum Pete · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:21

yeah i noticed that you needed to get the revs up- probably wasnt the best time to test it- at rush hour.

I have a pretty good idea of what fast feels like because i used to test cars as part of my job- dont get me wrong it wasnt slow, it just didnt feel like 8.3secs to 60 fast. i think i'll take your advice and test a couple more cars (and that one in dry conditions) before i put my cash down.

mattpc · 5 Jul 2007 at 22:34

Ok, here is my 2p worth. I'm not a mechanic, I may be incorrect in my opinions blah blah but I have owned one for 1.5years and driven lots in it. It is also high mile and I have compared it with a similar mk1 with half the mileage....

Seems slower than 8.3 0-60... Well you have to rev it hard to get the most out of them. They are designed to be driven like this so it's not a problem...

Whine in neutral. There is some wierd common issue where they seem to whine/chatter when the revs are dropping in gear. It is a diff related noise. It is well documented on mx5ocforum.co.uk Doesn't seem to be a problem.. However, if the whine occurrs when you are acclerating in gear then that's a different story. The boxes are built stiff. Gear change should be firm but they should be easy to pop in to gear and not notchy, just firm.

The welding is probably where the rear sills have rusted due to the drain channels getting blocked and water getting stuck. People cut metal out and weld new bits in. This is also very common and in my opinion not something to worry about.

mattpc · 5 Jul 2007 at 22:39

btw the diffence between a base model 1.8i is that as standard the 1.8i has no power steering, abs, electric windows, mirrors or LSD. The 1.8IS should have all of these features. However, if you want a really nice mk1 that will hold it's value then go for one for the really nice special editions like the Gleneagles. There were various special editions which came with very nice leather trim and special colours etc etc.. These command a premium but are the most collectable and in recent years have held value very well and in some cases appreciated slightly.

Platinum Pete · 5 Jul 2007 at 22:53

Cheers Matt that puts my mind at ease-

I'm going to go over tomorrow when it is dry and check it out again- if its all clear i'll make offer.

Thx again for all of your help