RE: Shed Of The Week: Mazda MX-5
Discussion
I miss mine sorely and I sold it in 2012 
I would have another in a heartbeat if I could buy a mostly rust-free one for a grand or less, but alas most of them nowadays are either cheap because they're rather rotten, or ridiculously expensive on account of their sellers considering it an "appreciating classic". Which is sort of true I guess.
There's literally nothing else that you need to worry about with these when buying one, other than rust, and the usual wear and tear.
I would have another in a heartbeat if I could buy a mostly rust-free one for a grand or less, but alas most of them nowadays are either cheap because they're rather rotten, or ridiculously expensive on account of their sellers considering it an "appreciating classic". Which is sort of true I guess.
There's literally nothing else that you need to worry about with these when buying one, other than rust, and the usual wear and tear.
Howard- said:
I miss mine sorely and I sold it in 2012
I would have another in a heartbeat if I could buy a mostly rust-free one for a grand or less, but alas most of them nowadays are either cheap because they're rather rotten, or ridiculously expensive on account of their sellers considering it an "appreciating classic". Which is sort of true I guess.
There's literally nothing else that you need to worry about with these when buying one, other than rust, and the usual wear and tear.
If you want to avoid the rust then you can always track down a newer one that's been garaged and pay a bit more. There are plenty out there, something like an early Mk3 ought to be out there for modest money and still sufficiently rot-free to be able to be preserved rather than restored.I would have another in a heartbeat if I could buy a mostly rust-free one for a grand or less, but alas most of them nowadays are either cheap because they're rather rotten, or ridiculously expensive on account of their sellers considering it an "appreciating classic". Which is sort of true I guess.
There's literally nothing else that you need to worry about with these when buying one, other than rust, and the usual wear and tear.
battered said:
If you want to avoid the rust then you can always track down a newer one that's been garaged and pay a bit more. There are plenty out there, something like an early Mk3 ought to be out there for modest money and still sufficiently rot-free to be able to be preserved rather than restored.
I know I can pay more for a newer one, but my point is you used to be able to buy a cheap mk1 that might be a bit leggy but is still mechanically sound and rust free (a few years ago someone at work spent about £700 on a 170-something-thousand KM imported mk1 and it was a bit sheddy but it had no issues with rust and drove nicely) - this doesn't seem to be possible anymore 
.Rust is key on these cars, condition is all you look for over age/mileage.
Would also be checking to see if this is a short nose or long nose crank as its an early 1.6. Short nose ones cranks have been known to develop a wobble.
Also check for water in the sills, make sure the drain holes are not blocked. Check front chassis rails and the underside for rust.
Other than those issues the engines and electrics are very reliable, a friend has put 40,000 miles on his in 2 years and has had no problems at all with it. To clarify, he does not take it easy on the car at all, hard launches, hitting the red line and track work annually. The car has not missed a beat and the only problem was a split rubber hose which on a 23 year old car is amazing.
Would also be checking to see if this is a short nose or long nose crank as its an early 1.6. Short nose ones cranks have been known to develop a wobble.
Also check for water in the sills, make sure the drain holes are not blocked. Check front chassis rails and the underside for rust.
Other than those issues the engines and electrics are very reliable, a friend has put 40,000 miles on his in 2 years and has had no problems at all with it. To clarify, he does not take it easy on the car at all, hard launches, hitting the red line and track work annually. The car has not missed a beat and the only problem was a split rubber hose which on a 23 year old car is amazing.
Keep thinking about selling mine, but a step up from an MX5 is always so much more money. If you want two-seat convertible that adheres to roughly the same ideals as the '5, where does one go? Elise? Great car, but a decent '5 is £2k or so, whereas decent Elises are £10k... Nevertheless, I'm thinking about an Elise next year, and be damned, but my head tells me I'm a fool and that I'd be better off getting the '5 absolutely perfect and turbo charging it...
Howard- said:
I know I can pay more for a newer one, but my point is you used to be able to buy a cheap mk1 that might be a bit leggy but is still mechanically sound and rust free (a few years ago someone at work spent about £700 on a 170-something-thousand KM imported mk1 and it was a bit sheddy but it had no issues with rust and drove nicely) - this doesn't seem to be possible anymore .
You're probably right. I think the ship has sailed on the Mk1. They are all 20 yrs old and nothing lasts for ever. The good ones have had money spent and as they get scarcer people are reasonably enough asking decent money. A mate of my dad recently sold off a rotten old Eunos, no MoT, spares/repairs, for £600 and the phone was ringing off the hook. The Mk2s are available for that money, I know I found one for that and it's *mostly* OK. Just went through a test, but sooner or later it's going to need 2 sills and the front chassis isn't great when you get the covers off. I know that's a big repair, I suspect engine out. The snag here is that the Mk2 suffers more from rot than the Mk1 so a cheap one of them isn't the bargain it might seem. That's why I'd be toying with spending a bit more money on a Mk3 and concentrating my efforts on preservation and rust proofing rather than chasing the tinworm with a MIG, which is a hiding to nothing unless you have deep pockets and the car's worth it..
Blackpuddin said:
Had a BBR MX-5 for a while many years ago and it struck me as close to the ideal fun car.
If I go really crazy I can probably get the car to 250hp or so at the fly. In a car that weighs just a ton that's quite a lot. All I then want is new seats so I sit lower (Elise seats maybe?). I've already got better supension (Meister R Coilovers) and a brilliant roll bar (GCF)... But it's still 'just' an MX5 and part of me wants something more special. Bah. Decisions.
Actus Reus said:
If I go really crazy I can probably get the car to 250hp or so at the fly. In a car that weighs just a ton that's quite a lot. All I then want is new seats so I sit lower (Elise seats maybe?). I've already got better supension (Meister R Coilovers) and a brilliant roll bar (GCF)... But it's still 'just' an MX5 and part of me wants something more special. Bah. Decisions.
That makes it a rival for an S2000 at that point, I would have thought. It doesn't have the 9000 rpm redline though.Actus Reus said:
If I go really crazy I can probably get the car to 250hp or so at the fly. In a car that weighs just a ton that's quite a lot. All I then want is new seats so I sit lower (Elise seats maybe?). I've already got better supension (Meister R Coilovers) and a brilliant roll bar (GCF)... But it's still 'just' an MX5 and part of me wants something more special. Bah. Decisions.
A couple of members of the MX5Nutz site is working on v6 and v8 conversion kits currently.Jag AJ30 V6 from S type with 240BHP
1Uzfe v8 from Lexus LS/GS400
Replacing the iron block 4 cyl with an all aluminium engine, so it will weigh more but not a huge amount and from what i read the majority of the weight added sits behind the front wheels.
If you can put up with the looks and interior then this might help go some way to make it feel special!
Actus Reus said:
Blackpuddin said:
Had a BBR MX-5 for a while many years ago and it struck me as close to the ideal fun car.
If I go really crazy I can probably get the car to 250hp or so at the fly. In a car that weighs just a ton that's quite a lot. All I then want is new seats so I sit lower (Elise seats maybe?). I've already got better supension (Meister R Coilovers) and a brilliant roll bar (GCF)... But it's still 'just' an MX5 and part of me wants something more special. Bah. Decisions.
battered said:
I owned a Spit back in the early 90s, when it was a 20 yr old car. What a PITA, it was great as an occasional runabout but once I started using it daily I spent more time mending it than driving it.
I sold my Mk1 MX5 back in 2006 to some long-suffering Spitfire owners who were after the same thing but with reliability. culpz said:
I really need to drive an MX-5 and see what all the fuss is about i think. I certainly wouldn't buy one of these for a grand though and if the budget was to be upped slightly i just know i'd end up buying a Clio 172/182.
Clio is great, but it's a hot hatch. An MX 5 is an old school RWD roadster. Not as pokey, the 1.8 is 140bhp and the 1.6 less, but you can fold the roof down. It's a different experience. Different strokes.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff