which is better 1.8 MX5 or 3.0 Z3?
Discussion
Surely that's under-priced?
asuppel said:
why would I need that?
a for the 944 it would be hard to find a good one of these for the money and are a bit more thirsty than a 3.0 Z. Also the parts and maintenance is silly on a 944 would rather go for a Boxster S if going down the P route.
There are loads of good 944's inside of your budget. Provided you avoid Porsche main dealers, the parts and maintenance are actually very reasonable- trust me, I've owned two! I'm not sure how thirsty a Z is, but a 944 is suprisingly good on fuel. Easily mid 30's to the gallon. a for the 944 it would be hard to find a good one of these for the money and are a bit more thirsty than a 3.0 Z. Also the parts and maintenance is silly on a 944 would rather go for a Boxster S if going down the P route.
A Boxster S, on the other hand, is way outside your budget if you're being sensible. I just thought a 944 was a good answer to the 'what looks good and handles better/like the MX5?' question.
TVR S-series is also a contender.
If it's a cab you want then a 944 S2/Turbo cab will be outside your budget.
I agree that 3k for a mark 1 sounds steep unless it's from a dealer. I bought my low miles import 94 1.8 for less than £2500 3 years ago.
It's a pretty easy car to buy IMHO. Check for rust on the sills, rust around the battery in the boot, make sure it doesn't rattle for more than 30 seconds on startup, and make sure the roof is good.
If it's a cab you want then a 944 S2/Turbo cab will be outside your budget.
I agree that 3k for a mark 1 sounds steep unless it's from a dealer. I bought my low miles import 94 1.8 for less than £2500 3 years ago.
It's a pretty easy car to buy IMHO. Check for rust on the sills, rust around the battery in the boot, make sure it doesn't rattle for more than 30 seconds on startup, and make sure the roof is good.
Not driven a Z3, but I do have a Eunos (MX5) RS-Limited.
Mainly because I wanted a cheap car - something that I can afford to run, and fix, while I am in debt.
Its the most fun car I've driven.
Slow? Well I can only speak for mine, but I'd say not really. Not mega fast for sure (mine is 950 kg and 133 bhp), but it does a decent impression of feeling quite fast, at least below about 90 or so. Above that and it struggles, but who cares? It certainly doesn't disgrace itself at PH meets that's for sure - it's probably surprised a few who thought they were slow cars. I won't kid you though, they aren't dragsters, but it'll hang on to the coat tails of an Elise on a twisty road.
If it needs to go faster, then there are plenty of options.
The handling is just brilliant. It just feels so balanced, nimble, and forgiving. I did, admittedly, come from a string of FWD cars, so I may not be best qualified to judge, but it certainly feels better than my old ITR, which was according to many, the pinnacle of FWD handling.
Running costs are reasonable - most components are very cheap, and readily available second hand. Tyres, being of 14 or 15" size are very cheap (as little as £28 for a Toyo T1R in 15" 195 spec). Insurance isn't too bad for a sports car. Fuel consumption is a little heavy for its size and power - I generally get between 25 - 30 MPG. Then again, it doesn't really seem to suffer too bad when you hoon it - mine seems to just about scrape 25 MPG even when its bounced off the rev limiter for 4 hours! It can do high 30s on a run, but that's not what they're for.
Very reliable cars. Extremely tough and well built. The engines are really under-stressed, which means you can give them utter death and you just can't break them!
I can't think of a better all round sports car for the money these go for. The Mk1 MR2 is a contender, but most have rusted to oblivion by now. And they are a better steer than any hot hatch type vehicle (not that this a consideration for you, I appreciate).
The BMW has a nice engine, and is a good looking car, but having known a number of folks with petrol head oriented models of BMW, they seem to come with high running costs due to parts wearing out at an alarming rate. Not sure that the engine alone would be worth the potential headaches that come with owning a classic performance BMW (unless you have deep pockets).
Mainly because I wanted a cheap car - something that I can afford to run, and fix, while I am in debt.
Its the most fun car I've driven.
Slow? Well I can only speak for mine, but I'd say not really. Not mega fast for sure (mine is 950 kg and 133 bhp), but it does a decent impression of feeling quite fast, at least below about 90 or so. Above that and it struggles, but who cares? It certainly doesn't disgrace itself at PH meets that's for sure - it's probably surprised a few who thought they were slow cars. I won't kid you though, they aren't dragsters, but it'll hang on to the coat tails of an Elise on a twisty road.
If it needs to go faster, then there are plenty of options.
The handling is just brilliant. It just feels so balanced, nimble, and forgiving. I did, admittedly, come from a string of FWD cars, so I may not be best qualified to judge, but it certainly feels better than my old ITR, which was according to many, the pinnacle of FWD handling.
Running costs are reasonable - most components are very cheap, and readily available second hand. Tyres, being of 14 or 15" size are very cheap (as little as £28 for a Toyo T1R in 15" 195 spec). Insurance isn't too bad for a sports car. Fuel consumption is a little heavy for its size and power - I generally get between 25 - 30 MPG. Then again, it doesn't really seem to suffer too bad when you hoon it - mine seems to just about scrape 25 MPG even when its bounced off the rev limiter for 4 hours! It can do high 30s on a run, but that's not what they're for.
Very reliable cars. Extremely tough and well built. The engines are really under-stressed, which means you can give them utter death and you just can't break them!
I can't think of a better all round sports car for the money these go for. The Mk1 MR2 is a contender, but most have rusted to oblivion by now. And they are a better steer than any hot hatch type vehicle (not that this a consideration for you, I appreciate).
The BMW has a nice engine, and is a good looking car, but having known a number of folks with petrol head oriented models of BMW, they seem to come with high running costs due to parts wearing out at an alarming rate. Not sure that the engine alone would be worth the potential headaches that come with owning a classic performance BMW (unless you have deep pockets).
Beat this mileage!
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/MAZD...
1991 MAZDA MX-5 1.6i 2dr Convertible Special Eds
Price: £4,500 ONO
17,783 miles, A rare opportunity to purchase an original UK ltd edition BRG MX5 with very low mileage. This car was bought new in 1991 by Jim Bowen (of Bullseye fame) and bought by my Dad two years later.I still have the original copy of V5. Since then it has only done 12000 miles. Serviced regularly, it was actually off the road and garaged for 6 years before it was given to me on my 21st birthday - the car is numbered 21 on a plaque on the dashboard! It is in excellent condition throughout with tan hide leather interior, SE alloys, CD multichanger in boot, central locking. MOT until March 2011. Good tyres etc. A great car which I'll be sorry to lose but I need a 4 seater. Currently on a private plate valued at £12K+ which is obviously NOT included in the sale. Strictly no canvassers or overseas buyers. £4,500 ONO.
less....
Private Seller:
Email address: Email Advertiser
Contact number: 079695 72044 or
01420 478686
"Thats SAFE!"
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/MAZD...
1991 MAZDA MX-5 1.6i 2dr Convertible Special Eds
Price: £4,500 ONO
17,783 miles, A rare opportunity to purchase an original UK ltd edition BRG MX5 with very low mileage. This car was bought new in 1991 by Jim Bowen (of Bullseye fame) and bought by my Dad two years later.I still have the original copy of V5. Since then it has only done 12000 miles. Serviced regularly, it was actually off the road and garaged for 6 years before it was given to me on my 21st birthday - the car is numbered 21 on a plaque on the dashboard! It is in excellent condition throughout with tan hide leather interior, SE alloys, CD multichanger in boot, central locking. MOT until March 2011. Good tyres etc. A great car which I'll be sorry to lose but I need a 4 seater. Currently on a private plate valued at £12K+ which is obviously NOT included in the sale. Strictly no canvassers or overseas buyers. £4,500 ONO.
less....
Private Seller:
Email address: Email Advertiser
Contact number: 079695 72044 or
01420 478686
"Thats SAFE!"
edo said:
Beat this mileage!
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/MAZD...
1991 MAZDA MX-5 1.6i 2dr Convertible Special Eds
Price: £4,500 ONO
17,783 miles, A rare opportunity to purchase an original UK ltd edition BRG MX5 with very low mileage. This car was bought new in 1991 by Jim Bowen (of Bullseye fame) and bought by my Dad two years later.I still have the original copy of V5. Since then it has only done 12000 miles. Serviced regularly, it was actually off the road and garaged for 6 years before it was given to me on my 21st birthday - the car is numbered 21 on a plaque on the dashboard! It is in excellent condition throughout with tan hide leather interior, SE alloys, CD multichanger in boot, central locking. MOT until March 2011. Good tyres etc. A great car which I'll be sorry to lose but I need a 4 seater. Currently on a private plate valued at £12K+ which is obviously NOT included in the sale. Strictly no canvassers or overseas buyers. £4,500 ONO.
less....
Private Seller:
Email address: Email Advertiser
Contact number: 079695 72044 or
01420 478686
"Thats SAFE!"
Ace mileage but wouldn't pull the skin off of custard - the UK 1.6 models were woefully underpowered with 90 bhp as opposed to the imports at 115bhp.http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/MAZD...
1991 MAZDA MX-5 1.6i 2dr Convertible Special Eds
Price: £4,500 ONO
17,783 miles, A rare opportunity to purchase an original UK ltd edition BRG MX5 with very low mileage. This car was bought new in 1991 by Jim Bowen (of Bullseye fame) and bought by my Dad two years later.I still have the original copy of V5. Since then it has only done 12000 miles. Serviced regularly, it was actually off the road and garaged for 6 years before it was given to me on my 21st birthday - the car is numbered 21 on a plaque on the dashboard! It is in excellent condition throughout with tan hide leather interior, SE alloys, CD multichanger in boot, central locking. MOT until March 2011. Good tyres etc. A great car which I'll be sorry to lose but I need a 4 seater. Currently on a private plate valued at £12K+ which is obviously NOT included in the sale. Strictly no canvassers or overseas buyers. £4,500 ONO.
less....
Private Seller:
Email address: Email Advertiser
Contact number: 079695 72044 or
01420 478686
"Thats SAFE!"
If you're set on a UK car, go for the 1.8.
pbirkett said:
Also, it isn't a "cammy" engine like that in the Type-R so you don't feel like you have to drive in either granny mode or flat out, there is actually life in between.
Hi there. Sorry to hear about the issue's with the supercharger. Did you sell it or have you still got it, maybe for future use.Sorry to quote something out of your profile, but this comment sort of sang out at me. Quite a while back we had several debates about how an engine feels to drive. And this point you make, is exactly the same thing I was trying to get across at the time.
Glad that in the end, we both seem to have been saying the same thing
Happy motoring
Shirley it was only post 94 1.6s that had 90 bhp? My understanding was the 1.8 was introduced around 1994 and the 1.6 was then detuned to create a bigger gap in performance?
So I'm told, the best ones to go for are the 94-95 1.8s, which have the extra power, but were introduced just before they started piling on the pounds...
So I'm told, the best ones to go for are the 94-95 1.8s, which have the extra power, but were introduced just before they started piling on the pounds...
neil_bolton said:
edo said:
Beat this mileage!
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/MAZD...
1991 MAZDA MX-5 1.6i 2dr Convertible Special Eds
Price: £4,500 ONO
17,783 miles, A rare opportunity to purchase an original UK ltd edition BRG MX5 with very low mileage. This car was bought new in 1991 by Jim Bowen (of Bullseye fame) and bought by my Dad two years later.I still have the original copy of V5. Since then it has only done 12000 miles. Serviced regularly, it was actually off the road and garaged for 6 years before it was given to me on my 21st birthday - the car is numbered 21 on a plaque on the dashboard! It is in excellent condition throughout with tan hide leather interior, SE alloys, CD multichanger in boot, central locking. MOT until March 2011. Good tyres etc. A great car which I'll be sorry to lose but I need a 4 seater. Currently on a private plate valued at £12K+ which is obviously NOT included in the sale. Strictly no canvassers or overseas buyers. £4,500 ONO.
less....
Private Seller:
Email address: Email Advertiser
Contact number: 079695 72044 or
01420 478686
"Thats SAFE!"
Ace mileage but wouldn't pull the skin off of custard - the UK 1.6 models were woefully underpowered with 90 bhp as opposed to the imports at 115bhp.http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/MAZD...
1991 MAZDA MX-5 1.6i 2dr Convertible Special Eds
Price: £4,500 ONO
17,783 miles, A rare opportunity to purchase an original UK ltd edition BRG MX5 with very low mileage. This car was bought new in 1991 by Jim Bowen (of Bullseye fame) and bought by my Dad two years later.I still have the original copy of V5. Since then it has only done 12000 miles. Serviced regularly, it was actually off the road and garaged for 6 years before it was given to me on my 21st birthday - the car is numbered 21 on a plaque on the dashboard! It is in excellent condition throughout with tan hide leather interior, SE alloys, CD multichanger in boot, central locking. MOT until March 2011. Good tyres etc. A great car which I'll be sorry to lose but I need a 4 seater. Currently on a private plate valued at £12K+ which is obviously NOT included in the sale. Strictly no canvassers or overseas buyers. £4,500 ONO.
less....
Private Seller:
Email address: Email Advertiser
Contact number: 079695 72044 or
01420 478686
"Thats SAFE!"
If you're set on a UK car, go for the 1.8.
Go and stand in the corner. The LATER 1.6 models had 90bhp. The earlier cars ALL had 1.6 and 115bhp.
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