Talk to me about the 1.6i Import MX5

Stinky · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:04

Going to look at one tomo.

i have read that the early ones with a cat are rubbish. and low powered?

the one i am looking at is 1.6i Import 1992, done 58,000 km

anything to look for etc?

Dogbreath · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:16

The Definitive MX5 Buyers Guide

SiHH · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:34

Wow thats great - am after one too for the Mrs.

Deanje · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:41

Yes, the mk1's with a cat are down on power; from what I remember, a '92 won't have a cat.

Stinky · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:49

any idea what power they are runnig?? from research i have found between 88bhp - 140bhp

Scottland · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:50

IIRC the 1.6's without a cat run about 110-115.

Deanje · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:54

Scottland said:
IIRC the 1.6's without a cat run about 110-115.

That sounds about right. The 88bhp figure will be the 1.6 with a cat, it's there or there about.

The 140bhp figure sounds more like the mk2 1.8 engine. The mk1 1.8 engine produces around 130, I think.

mattpc · 10 Apr 2008 at 13:03

Stinky said:
any idea what power they are runnig?? from research i have found between 88bhp - 140bhp

Unless it's turboed it very unlikely to be 1.6... Turboed the 1.6 is 150bhp, non cat non gay version 115bhp gay cat version 88bhp

the 1.8 mk1 is 130 and 1.8 mk2 with the VVT is 140bhp

Also I believe it is the very early Mk1 MX5 1.6 that did not have the CAT. Then when the 1.8 arrived they did the awful 88bhp version with a cat. Don't know about the Mk2 1.6 or imports tbh. Are you going to test drive this import? I think you will know if it is 88bhp because it will NOT feel quick whereas a 115bhp should feel "quite quick" not SLOW.

theNude · 10 Apr 2008 at 13:10

all 1.6 mx-5s should have a cat. my early 1990 car did as did my late 1993 import 1.6.

All Import 1.6 are the 120bhp model.

UK cars from 1989-1996 are 120bhp model.

after that the introduced a 88bhp (it has different compression and other bits) model to make the 1.8 seem better as tbh there isnt much in it between the early 1.6 and the 1.8.

you can run an mx5 without a cat if its an import if its less than a 93 i beleive.

my eunos was decatted and passed the mot no problem.

Dude.

mattpc · 10 Apr 2008 at 16:22

theDude said:
all 1.6 mx-5s should have a cat. my early 1990 car did as did my late 1993 import 1.6.

All Import 1.6 are the 120bhp model.

UK cars from 1989-1996 are 120bhp model.

after that the introduced a 88bhp (it has different compression and other bits) model to make the 1.8 seem better as tbh there isnt much in it between the early 1.6 and the 1.8.

you can run an mx5 without a cat if its an import if its less than a 93 i beleive.

my eunos was decatted and passed the mot no problem.

Dude.

UK cars from 1989-1996 are 120bhp model.

Is that correct?

Deanje · 10 Apr 2008 at 16:30

mattpc said:
UK cars from 1989-1996 are 120bhp model.

Is that correct?

I, personally, thought UK models started at '91-'92. No idea if that's correct though.

And I'm fairly certain the pre-'94 models did not have a cat.

jigger · 10 Apr 2008 at 16:37

Deanje said:
I, personally, thought UK models started at '91-'92. No idea if that's correct though.

And I'm fairly certain the pre-'94 models did not have a cat.

I think it was from 1989 m8, I had a G plate moons ago, pritty sure that was a UK car.

Capt Doufos · 10 Apr 2008 at 16:56

89 was the first year in the UK, definatley.

jigger · 10 Apr 2008 at 17:35

Ive had a few mx5's, and they all been very good cars but i have had a few niggles with them.

Have a very good look at the roof, it should be nice and supple, if its hard and dry it will need replacing before it cracks and leaks all over you, same for the rear window.If it looks new(the roof) make sure it been fitted right, around the parcel shelf there is a steel support that sanwiches the roof to the body check around it for any damp and a slight kink in the rear window means its not been fitted properly and the rain run off's might be letting water in. (- about 300-350 if it needs replacing )

Electric window cables can be a pain, and ive had one stick half way open, so make sure they are quite and smooth and they should be ok. ( - 100 )
Apart from the roof and windows which in all fairness get batterd every summer all mine have been great cars.

Firestar_3x · 10 Apr 2008 at 18:03

mattpc said:
Unless it's turboed it very unlikely to be 1.6... Turboed the 1.6 is 150bhp, non cat non gay version 115bhp gay cat version 88bhp

the 1.8 mk1 is 130 and 1.8 mk2 with the VVT is 140bhp

Also I believe it is the very early Mk1 MX5 1.6 that did not have the CAT. Then when the 1.8 arrived they did the awful 88bhp version with a cat. Don't know about the Mk2 1.6 or imports tbh. Are you going to test drive this import? I think you will know if it is 88bhp because it will NOT feel quick whereas a 115bhp should feel "quite quick" not SLOW.

Hi Matt,

Agree about the 1.6, the 88bhp version is horrid, your really need to know which bhp version you're looking at!

The 1.8 in the Mk1 originaly came in 130bhp trim then in the later Mk1 it was 140bhp, this was followed into the Mk2, the Mk2.5 then got VVT which pushed the Readline from 7,000rpm to 7500rpm and the power to 146bhp

theNude · 11 Apr 2008 at 09:32

Deanje said:
I, personally, thought UK models started at '91-'92. No idea if that's correct though.

And I'm fairly certain the pre-'94 models did not have a cat.

they had cats, plus its not like the cats massively slow them down. didnt notice anything when i removed mine.