MX-5 Info please

Peter Diffey · 3 Sep 2008 at 22:51

Hey,
I have started to look into getting a new (old) MX-5, im after an MK1 for about 1.5k. After doing a bit of research, I have concluded that I should buy an import with the 1.8 engine. Im not bothered about milage or age, just that its an MK1 in good condition.
I know there are some owners on here with these cars, but does anyone own the 1.8 Eunos on here?

If so, how old are you? how much did you have to pay for insurance?

I am only 21 with only 2NCB, is getting an import insured going to be painful?

Any info on buying appreciated

DIFF-E

EDIT: Im currently on a Bell policy

ganesh · 3 Sep 2008 at 22:59

Insurance shouldn't be too bad. I'm looking at getting one for my next car. I'm 23 and will have 1NCB and the cheapest quote i've found is £742 on a 1.8 mk2. Do yourself some quotes and see.

Peter Diffey · 3 Sep 2008 at 23:02

Was that an Eunos though? Ive heard UK spec are a lot cheaper to insure, some companies wont touch under 25's with imports.

ganesh · 3 Sep 2008 at 23:08

I'm not sure, i think i ran a plate of a eunos 1.8 mk2 i found on pistonheads, and the insurance wasn't much more, maybe £50. I'll have to run a few more.

EDIT
A mk1 1.8 eunos lowest was £440 with more than, the next highest being £650. A mk2 eunos 1.8 lowest was £620 next highest was £782.

excaliborg · 3 Sep 2008 at 23:31

There is hardly any difference in insurance between a UK and import MX5.

aproctor · 4 Sep 2008 at 01:00

excaliborg said:
There is hardly any difference in insurance between a UK and import MX5.

Its not about differences, its about the fact that there is no record of the car before it came into the country, could be stolen,write off etc.

Howard · 4 Sep 2008 at 08:28

excaliborg said:
There is hardly any difference in insurance between a UK and import MX5.

I disagree, if you're young with low/no NCB. The difference for me was quite high, but then I'm 21 and it's a second car so no NCB

mattpc · 4 Sep 2008 at 09:13

The imported 1.8 is a relatively rare beast. I would suggest looking at UK Mk1's as well. Especially with the small budget you have...

Matthew.M · 4 Sep 2008 at 10:23

excaliborg said:
There is hardly any difference in insurance between a UK and import MX5.

There was £400 difference for me at 19 with 2NCB, so there can be a large difference if your insurance is going to be a lot in the first place. The older and more NCB you have the smaller the distance becomes.

Just give your insurers a ring and compare the two cars?

I *think* Saitrix pays just under £1k on insurance with his import, but I pay £700 on my UK car. Both 1.8s, fully comp and we're both 20.

Skiddley · 4 Sep 2008 at 10:29

When I had my Mark 2;

6K p.a millage, 28, 5years NCB, 3 points, 320quid.

But that wasn't an import...

Peter Diffey · 4 Sep 2008 at 18:34

Matthew.M said:
There was £400 difference for me at 19 with 2NCB, so there can be a large difference if your insurance is going to be a lot in the first place. The older and more NCB you have the smaller the distance becomes.

Just give your insurers a ring and compare the two cars?

I *think* Saitrix pays just under £1k on insurance with his import, but I pay £700 on my UK car. Both 1.8s, fully comp and we're both 20.

Yeh I ran a quote and it came out as 700, so not bad really considering i pay 400 at the moment for a 1.2 10 year old clio.

Anything to check when buying 1.8's second hand? apart from the state of the roof and rust?

mattpc · 4 Sep 2008 at 20:38

Peter Diffey said:
Yeh I ran a quote and it came out as 700, so not bad really considering i pay 400 at the moment for a 1.2 10 year old clio.

Anything to check when buying 1.8's second hand? apart from the state of the roof and rust?

Hoods are more of a bargaining tool really. Nothing to worry about if it does need replacing as you can get a wide variety of new hood prices from something like £250-£500 depending on materials, quality and company. Check for rust on the rear sills. It's a very common problem.

The 1.8 may sound like a bag of spanners when started from cold. They often sound dog rough. Take it for a drive and listen to how it sounds when you return. It should sound fine. If it still sounds dog rough then walk. visit www.mx5ocforum.co.uk for comprehensive buyers guides or search for mx5 threads on the boards. Myself and several other users have posted guides in the past.

Rotty · 4 Sep 2008 at 21:31

Had an email from the company we got the missus' car from

Contract hire on a brand new MX5 £169+vat a month :eek:

Who needs a used one

Griffo · 4 Sep 2008 at 22:05

Rotty said:
Had an email from the company we got the missus' car from

Contract hire on a brand new MX5 £169+vat a month

Who needs a used one

Why that's cheap as some really expensive chips! I have mixed feelings as regards the new shape though. Good engine/bhp?
Oh:

t adds up to a totally engaging drive every single time you take to the roads – whether you choose the spirited, 126ps, 1.8-litre soft-top or the potent, 160ps, 2.0-litre Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe, with a retractable hardtop that opens or folds in a record 12 seconds.

Gooduns

Peter Diffey · 5 Sep 2008 at 11:01

Ive started to look at the 1.6 litre ones aswell now, obviously the 114BHP type, in real world terms, how much slower does this feel than the 1.8? I know the 0-60 is something like 1.5 seconds less with the 1.6 (about 10 seconds 0-60), but just wondering if it feels slow at all?

Theres also the possibility of adding a turbo in the future to add a further 40BHP, which I beleive costs about 2.5K? Anyone on here got a turbo or super charger fitted to theirs?

mattpc · 5 Sep 2008 at 11:49

i dont know for sure about the good 1.6 engines but some people claim in real world terms there is very little difference between the 2 (obviously excluding the crappy 90bhp efforts from this). I can believe this having driven a mk1 mr2 with a 1.6 engine tbh which has very similar power although totally different delivery to the mk1 1.8 engine.

If in doubt, drive both. Many people complain you have to work the 1.8 very hard (doesn't bother me I just rev the nuts off it and enjoy every moment!)

I think in your situation you are better off looking for a good 1.6. Particularly since you are after a Eunos. You budget will also cover some of the very first UK cars which had the decent 1.6 engine. I know you are probably sick of hearing this but you need to get out there, try some cars, read the forums and get involved. Then you will soon know exactly what car is for you. The owners club national rally is coming up next weekend (not this weekend). Should get yourself down there and see what's happening, drive some cars.

Howard · 5 Sep 2008 at 12:03

The 1.6 in mine is great if you drive it properly

I've also heard that there isn't a lightyear's difference between that and the 1.8, the 1.8 just has more torque lower down.

Peter Diffey · 5 Sep 2008 at 12:36

mattpc said:
i dont know for sure about the good 1.6 engines but some people claim in real world terms there is very little difference between the 2 (obviously excluding the crappy 90bhp efforts from this). I can believe this having driven a mk1 mr2 with a 1.6 engine tbh which has very similar power although totally different delivery to the mk1 1.8 engine.

If in doubt, drive both. Many people complain you have to work the 1.8 very hard (doesn't bother me I just rev the nuts off it and enjoy every moment!)

I think in your situation you are better off looking for a good 1.6. Particularly since you are after a Eunos. You budget will also cover some of the very first UK cars which had the decent 1.6 engine. I know you are probably sick of hearing this but you need to get out there, try some cars, read the forums and get involved. Then you will soon know exactly what car is for you. The owners club national rally is coming up next weekend (not this weekend). Should get yourself down there and see what's happening, drive some cars.

Ah ok cool, I'll have a look into that owners club event, well the 1.8 totally does it for me

just got to try out a 1.6 to see if that does aswell

One of the reasons I want a cheap old one is so that I can do my own servicing/repairs without it harming the resale value of it, also that the MK1's are the best in terms of fun and handling!

MX5OC forum seems like a great place to learn about the 5's and pick up servcing and repair tips too, so very useful.

I have found this advert for a 5 through a member of the above forum, what do you think about it? (apart from it being over priced IMO and the lack of description in the ad)

http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/647267.htm

mattpc · 5 Sep 2008 at 18:17

Unusual and hideous colour in my view. Superficially the paint looks in good shape tho. Momo steering wheel is much better than the mazda UK airbag ones but the gear knob sucks. Depends on what its like in the flesh, whether there's any history etc etc really. The MX5 is easy to service and you won't halm the resale value. Just keep records of what you have done, date and mileage. It's worth spending as much as you can afford and buying the best possible example. Poor examples will only cost more money to put right in the long term.

Kitchster_uk · 5 Sep 2008 at 19:15

I spent £1900 on a Mk1 1.8iS, 106k, factory hard top, fsh, leather seats, 6 cd etc. Not the best example, most sub-£2k 1.8iS in particular won't be. Arches are prone to rust as are the sills.

Love mine to bits, great fun to drive and although it now has a new (and expensive) paint job, it is still worth the money in my eyes.