MX5 Owners in here....bring your curling tongs

IC3 · 19 Jun 2018 at 19:07

With £2k, what sort of generation should I be looking at? My new job is 3 miles away, so lets say the mx5 was built purely for fun. Which would be better, newer or older gens?

Mr_Sukebe · 19 Jun 2018 at 19:52

For £2k, a mk2.5. Mk3s are more expensive and mk1s have jumped. You can get a mk1 for that price, but it's likely to be pretty ropey.

grudas · 19 Jun 2018 at 22:24

Mr_Sukebe said:
For £2k, a mk2.5. Mk3s are more expensive and mk1s have jumped. You can get a mk1 for that price, but it's likely to be pretty ropey.

Pretty much, mk2/2.5 probably for best condition overall but watch out for rust as they do rust worse than mk1s.

Frozennova · 19 Jun 2018 at 22:28

MK2.5s are generally just as rusty and 2.5s too (My mates 53 plate is just as rusty as my MK2 was)

IC3 · 19 Jun 2018 at 22:32

Which ones don't rust? Or rust less shall we say...

Frozennova · 19 Jun 2018 at 22:38

IC3 said:
Which ones don't rust? Or rust less shall we say...

Mk1s the least, but for 2k you'll struggle to find anything rot free.

You either pay a hefty premium or buy one in decent condition with rot and budget for having it repaired

IC3 · 20 Jun 2018 at 01:54

Frozennova said:
Mk1s the least, but for 2k you'll struggle to find anything rot free.

You either pay a hefty premium or buy one in decent condition with rot and budget for having it repaired

Mk1, 2 and 2.5 is 1600+ insurance wise whilst the MK3 is £700. In that case I could up the budget for an MK3 2.0 with LSD

lordrobs · 20 Jun 2018 at 10:05

Loving all the talk of mk1 prices being on the up

I don't plan on shifting my one yet but it isn't far off, couple of years maybe. At my current mileage it will still be <50k on the clock and should still be rust free and never welded... got to be worth £5k+

Fireskull · 20 Jun 2018 at 10:24

Mk3

It goes :
Mk1
Mk2
Mk2.5
------
Mk4

Cleisthenes · 20 Jun 2018 at 10:28

Fireskull said:
Mk3

It goes :
Mk1
Mk2
Mk2.5
------
Mk4

Have you driven a mk3?

Fireskull · 20 Jun 2018 at 10:35

Yeah the 2.0 sport, wasn't really a fan, obviously its vastly more refined than the older gens. I haven't driven the Mk4 yet though so might not like that either, but its vastly improved in the aesthetics department over the Mk3, imo of course!

Cleisthenes · 20 Jun 2018 at 10:46

Fireskull said:
Yeah the 2.0 sport, wasn't really a fan, obviously its vastly more refined than the older gens. I haven't driven the Mk4 yet though so might not like that either, but its vastly improved in the aesthetics department over the Mk3, imo of course!

I do agree that the mk3 is somewhat different in the style department compared to the others. Lowering helps a lot imo. I don't think I'd have bought one if it had been less refined that my hard top Mk3.5, it makes a decent daily because of it.

I'm not a fan of the looks of the mk2 but different strokes for different folks and all that!

Fireskull · 20 Jun 2018 at 10:55

So you have a mk3 and mk3.5 or had a mk3.5 and changed back to a 3?
I only drove the mk3, I have heard the 3.5 does improve the handling, and also the headlights look much better I think.

Cleisthenes · 20 Jun 2018 at 10:57

Fireskull said:
So you have a mk3 and mk3.5 or had a mk3.5 and changed back to a 3?
I only drove the mk3, I have heard the 3.5 does improve the handling, and also the headlights look much better I think.

Sorry, I wasn;t clear! I have a 3.5 and this is the only mx5 I've owned or driven. I've been in a MK1 but I didn't fit very well

grudas · 20 Jun 2018 at 11:29

Fireskull said:
Mk3

It goes :
Mk1
Mk2
Mk2.5
------
Mk4

3.5 is not bad but with folding hard top it screams heavy but then again, I haven't driven one so can't comment. Mk4 is supposed to be very much mk1s replacement, it's light, small etc.

IC3 · 20 Jun 2018 at 15:40

So... search on MX5 forums for a looked after MK1? I won't loose money on it, as they're appreciating, makes sense to go for it?

grudas · 20 Jun 2018 at 16:01

IC3 said:
So... search on MX5 forums for a looked after MK1? I won't loose money on it, as they're appreciating, makes sense to go for it?

Check Facebook too, eBay, gumtree, piston heads etc.

Well loose money depends on what state you get one! They're holding their value and clean mk1s are appreciating slowly.

Scottland · 20 Jun 2018 at 16:51

Good ones are appreciating, to keep them good you'll need to factor in perhaps some rust work or rust proofing plus maybe a roof too. So overall you'd perhaps end up spending the increase in value to keep it in good condition.

I would look at it that you'd lose a minimal amount overall, anything over is a bonus...

lordrobs · 20 Jun 2018 at 20:55

grudas said:
Mk4 is supposed to be very much mk1s replacement, it's light, small etc.

I totally agree with that. I stupidly took one out on a test drive and instantly wanted to buy one

It just felt like the original mk1 brief created as a modern car, it was awesome.

Scottland said:
Good ones are appreciating, to keep them good you'll need to factor in perhaps some rust work or rust proofing plus maybe a roof too. So overall you'd perhaps end up spending the increase in value to keep it in good condition.

I would look at it that you'd lose a minimal amount overall, anything over is a bonus...

I often joke about the prices going up but really what it means to me is that I can justify spending money on it. Yes it is a cheap car but at least it isn't a depreciating one so when it needed a new roof I was happy to throw on a nice mohair one for example.

My poor old girl got a trip to the coast with my mate in the passenger seat rather than my wife so instead of driving miss Daisy for the whole trip it was ragging it the whole way there and back

Mr_Sukebe · 21 Jun 2018 at 12:50

lordrobs said:
My poor old girl got a trip to the coast with my mate in the passenger seat rather than my wife so instead of driving miss Daisy for the whole trip it was ragging it the whole way there and back

What, you hit 60?

Sorry, only kidding. I like the fact that we get fun at sane speeds.

MX5 Owners in here....bring your curling tongs

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