New Wheels
- Thread starter Capt Doufos
- Start date
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Is the MX-5 your daily driver?
As I'm trying to talk myself out of buying one, and the main reason not to is that I think it will be a bit restricting.
Thing is I brought a focus chic last year, as it was cheap insurance and a good car to build up NCB.
But as Direct Line now give Named drivers NCB I have got 2 years no claims to be used on an insurance policy.
Looking on Autotrader I could sell the chic for a few hundred more than I paid for it, or at least break even. Meaning I'd have about 6k to spend on a car and insurance.
So a 1.8 Mx-5 is seriously tempting at the moment.
Are they actually a fast car, or just feel fast? Also yours is a Mk2 which might just fit in my price range, are they considerably better than a Mk1?
Sorry for taking your thread off-topic, but as several MX-5 owners have posted it seems the perfect place to ask.
As I'm trying to talk myself out of buying one, and the main reason not to is that I think it will be a bit restricting.
Thing is I brought a focus chic last year, as it was cheap insurance and a good car to build up NCB.
But as Direct Line now give Named drivers NCB I have got 2 years no claims to be used on an insurance policy.
Looking on Autotrader I could sell the chic for a few hundred more than I paid for it, or at least break even. Meaning I'd have about 6k to spend on a car and insurance.
So a 1.8 Mx-5 is seriously tempting at the moment.
Are they actually a fast car, or just feel fast? Also yours is a Mk2 which might just fit in my price range, are they considerably better than a Mk1?
Sorry for taking your thread off-topic, but as several MX-5 owners have posted it seems the perfect place to ask.
Caporegime
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The Mk 2 is much better than the Mk1, i wouldn't touch an import since they can be very expensive to insure, you really need to increase your bugget to 7k to get a good s plate or up Mk2, you really want the 1.8i S its got loads more kit than the base 1.8i, finding a good un can be hard, make sure you get one with a FMSH, its technically one of the most reliable cars you can buy.
1.8 is quite quick they come in 3 bhp sizes, 130 / 140 / 146, the 146 is the new VVT engine which you won't get for your budget, you really want the 140bhp if you buy the right car it will do 0-60 in 7.7 and top 127mph, it pulls well in second and 3rd but you need to keep the revs above 3 - 4k.
1.8 is quite quick they come in 3 bhp sizes, 130 / 140 / 146, the 146 is the new VVT engine which you won't get for your budget, you really want the 140bhp if you buy the right car it will do 0-60 in 7.7 and top 127mph, it pulls well in second and 3rd but you need to keep the revs above 3 - 4k.
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MonkeyMan said:
It is my daily driver, I get a 10 mile trip down country lanes to get to work everyday.
I think the car is plenty quick enough for throwing around without much worry. It takes a lot of provoking to get the rear end to step out. Well on decent tyres anyway.
I would go for a Mk2 over a Mk1. However not everyone agrees with this. They say everyone has their favourite mk MX5.
Insurance wise I am paying £500 a year. I am 24 and live in a low risk postcode. I would agree it's more of pain to get insurance, but doesn't have to be more expensive. There are bonuses to having an import for instance mine has:
The 1.8VVT engine with a 7,500RPM Redline
6 speed gearbox
LSD
Air Con
Leather Steering wheel and Gearknob.
Heated rear windscreen.
As far as I am aware most of this spec wasn't avalible in the UK until the sport model was realised in 2000, and very few Mk2's have A/C.
I paid £6500 for it September 2004, with 40k miles on the clock.
Reliability has been very good, the only things that have played up have been the clutch slave cylinder (fairly common) That was very cheap to replace. The other was a Constant velocity joint, not so cheap put still only £140 fitted. As far as I can find I am the only person with a Mk2 to have one go! lol.
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So what are the main differences between the mk1 and mk2? Don't suppose you know a website with more info do you?
I don't think a import will be possible really, as insurance at 19 is high enough already.
So if I stick to my £6k budget, a late MK1 would be the better buy? I guess I could get a higher spec model, but there are a few cheap mk2's on autotrader. Are there any major problems they could be trying to hide, I've heard that mazda engines on the whole are pretty damn reliable, especially the MX-5's.
Also being RWD I would need to take it easy as I've only driven FWD cars, but your comment on the handling is reassuring.
I suppose i'll have to test drive a few, I rarely have more than 1 passenger (lol I sound like a loner now) so 2 seats isn't too much of a problem.
How's the softtop in the winter, I suppose it gets pretty cold? Worth looking for a hardtop?
With the hardtop you have the extra security as well, I can see someone putting a knife through the softtop to nick the radio.
Thing is I like the focus, but at my age I just want something more fun. So it's either change the car, or get a motorbike.... parents won't be keen on that though.
I don't think a import will be possible really, as insurance at 19 is high enough already.
So if I stick to my £6k budget, a late MK1 would be the better buy? I guess I could get a higher spec model, but there are a few cheap mk2's on autotrader. Are there any major problems they could be trying to hide, I've heard that mazda engines on the whole are pretty damn reliable, especially the MX-5's.
Also being RWD I would need to take it easy as I've only driven FWD cars, but your comment on the handling is reassuring.
I suppose i'll have to test drive a few, I rarely have more than 1 passenger (lol I sound like a loner now) so 2 seats isn't too much of a problem.
How's the softtop in the winter, I suppose it gets pretty cold? Worth looking for a hardtop?
With the hardtop you have the extra security as well, I can see someone putting a knife through the softtop to nick the radio.
Thing is I like the focus, but at my age I just want something more fun. So it's either change the car, or get a motorbike.... parents won't be keen on that though.
Caporegime
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Capt Doufos said:
How did you get it that cheap, you can't find one now for that price.
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Guess it was just because it was import, as such has no real documentation apart from the import docs, it had only been in the UK a few months. It was advertised on ebay, but I went to see it and made an offer.
You can get low spec early UK Mk2's for £5.5k.
I would say you don't need to bother with a hard top. That is what I used to think, however about 2 months ago the rear screen just shatterd, and I had no option but to buy a new hood. Only positive was I got an upgrade to the mohair one I wanted.
Bare in mind hardtops add little to the resale value, but to buy new are £1000. Only problem is storing them in the summer, they are pretty big.
You can get low spec early UK Mk2's for £5.5k.
I would say you don't need to bother with a hard top. That is what I used to think, however about 2 months ago the rear screen just shatterd, and I had no option but to buy a new hood. Only positive was I got an upgrade to the mohair one I wanted.
Bare in mind hardtops add little to the resale value, but to buy new are £1000. Only problem is storing them in the summer, they are pretty big.
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