Which mx5 budget 4k?

Author
Discussion

deltashad

Original Poster:

6,731 posts

196 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Bit of a strange one, but, my ex wants a convertible. She's decided on an Mx5.
Her budget is around 4k, she wants one with decent fuel economy and reliability. Thats the main criteria.

I'm not an Mx5 fanboy so have had no interest in them. (Shock horror!!).

So, we need help. 4k is the budget. Must be the reliable, economical one- which ever that is???

Help? please?


randlemarcus

13,507 posts

230 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Decent Mk1, tell her it cost 4 grand, and spend the other three on an AA card, and something for yourself smile

deltashad

Original Poster:

6,731 posts

196 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
randlemarcus said:
Decent Mk1, tell her it cost 4 grand, and spend the other three on an AA card, and something for yourself smile
Think I may like this room! Oh how i chuckled smile


deltashad

Original Poster:

6,731 posts

196 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Bump. There must be a huge amount of mx5 knowledge here.

Sbloxxy

120 posts

226 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
4k is an interesting amount. It will buy you a really ratty Mk1 (with about £3k left over), a Mk2 or 2.5 of varying quality, depending on how much of your 4k you blow or an early Mk3.

The problem with Mk2s is that they rust really horribly and in places that are awkward to repair. I know little about Mk3s but I know lots about Mk1s. One interesting option is to buy a recently imported Mk1. I'm utterly biased here as I sell (can you guess?) newly imported Mk1s.
Condition is usually exceptionally good with utterly rust-free undersides, suspension components etc. And I still reckon a good Mk1 is a superb handling car. Prices are firming up nicely so you shouldn't lose fortunes either.


skinny

5,269 posts

234 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
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£4k you have your pick of mk1, mk2, mk2.5 - all as reliable and economical as each other. don't expect much more than low 30's MPG tho. Buy on which one she prefers the look of, and condition. Rust is the worst thing that goes wrong with them. Drivetain is generally bullet proof.

mk3's are starting to come down into that price range with a little haggle too now.

deltashad

Original Poster:

6,731 posts

196 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
quotequote all
Nice one Skinny, thanks for the advice. There does seem to be a few MK3's for that sort of cash but the miles are a little in the high side. Good to hear there aren't really any bad models to chose from- should be easy.

Cheers again

Grant

Alapeno

1,391 posts

146 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
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I'd go for a recently imported and/or a very well looked after limited edition MK1. You'd have a really good choice of them for well under your budget and they are generally bulletproof and peanuts to maintain if you need to. I don't personally like the Mk2 shape or the early Mk3 so that'd be my choice. I bought a bit of a ropey one for summer fun and as a bit of a project last year and just can't bring myself to part with it.

deltashad

Original Poster:

6,731 posts

196 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
Oh, thats just put a cat amongst the pidgeons.

fat80b

2,242 posts

220 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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I would go for a Mk2 personally as it is slightly more refined than the Mk1 and looks nicer imho.

I chose a 1.8iS which has the 140bhp 1.8 engine and the Torsen LSD which I am sure is the main reason your Mrs is looking at MX5s in the first place.

Rust wise, they can have some issues, but there are loads around that are in good nick and they start at around £1K. Pay a bit more and you'll get a minter.
Focus on the obvious arch/sill problems but also on the inner sills which do tend to also rust badly.

People tell me that the Mk2.5 has slightly more of a problem with the inner sill rusting but the cost to fix any rust you do find isn't that huge (a few hundreds of pounds).

Engine wise, the 2.5 with the VVT is even more bulletproof than the others (according to a scrapyard owner I spoke to) - he had loads of VVT engines that he couldn't give away because they never break.


Bob

blueheron

461 posts

144 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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mk2.5 or mk3 - but she needs to sit in them really to get a feel for visibility etc - particularly if she is small. The mk3 has a lot more bulk when you turn to look over your shoulder.

JQ

5,691 posts

178 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Having owned a Mk1 and Mk2, I'd either get a freshly imported Mk1 with no rust or a Mk3. Don't worry about the miles on the Mk3, they are reliable and a rust free Mk1 should be the same.

I wouldn't get a Mk2, you will be fighting rust for the next few years, there's a reason they've dropped in price so much over the last few years. All MX5's rust, but the Mk2 has structural rust issues - the front chassis rails. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

If it was for me I'd get a freshly imported Mk1, if I was buying for my wife I'd get a Mk3 2.0 Sport.

Dalto123

3,198 posts

162 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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You should be able to get a nice MK2.5 for your money. Mine is a rust free example that I got for £2900 with 45K miles smile