My first car, 1990 MX5
Discussion
Good afternoon Pistonheads, set up this account some time ago so I thought I should put it to good use for a change and introduce my beloved little Mazda to the community!
She's a UK-Spec 1.6 example bought a few weeks ago for £799 at 80,000 miles after spending the previous two months searching and test driving the bredth of the country for the perfect example at the right price. My mum had the pleasure of driving it for a few weeks while I gathered together the money for the insane insurance premiums of a 19y/o male and since finally setting it up yesterday afternoon I have covered my first 150 glorious miles. Suddenly, being skint again seems all worth it.
I have no intention of selling it on really, so my current plan is to slowly but surely upgrade/fix it (new wheels/tyres, exhaust, brakes etc) and keep a wee record of it in this thread. Hopefully, a year or two down the line, I will be in the position for a new car and will have this tucked up in a garage as a track toy, but for the time being, she's my daily drive and will probably replace the train on my 60 mile a day round trip to Uni!
She's a UK-Spec 1.6 example bought a few weeks ago for £799 at 80,000 miles after spending the previous two months searching and test driving the bredth of the country for the perfect example at the right price. My mum had the pleasure of driving it for a few weeks while I gathered together the money for the insane insurance premiums of a 19y/o male and since finally setting it up yesterday afternoon I have covered my first 150 glorious miles. Suddenly, being skint again seems all worth it.
I have no intention of selling it on really, so my current plan is to slowly but surely upgrade/fix it (new wheels/tyres, exhaust, brakes etc) and keep a wee record of it in this thread. Hopefully, a year or two down the line, I will be in the position for a new car and will have this tucked up in a garage as a track toy, but for the time being, she's my daily drive and will probably replace the train on my 60 mile a day round trip to Uni!
Well done fella. You're lucky you got the keys back from your mum. Enjoy the car and don't do anything foolish (like trying to learn to drift). Not just yet anyway. 
If you have some spare time perhaps do an auto maintenance course. You'll save a few quid, learn a few things and enjoy yourself.
If you have some spare time perhaps do an auto maintenance course. You'll save a few quid, learn a few things and enjoy yourself.Looks like an excellent first car.
One point. If you're planning on drifting do it on an airfield as it takes far more space to learn than you'd expect. A rollover bar wouldn't go a miss either.
Please don't stick big fat tyres on or lower it. These little light cars are best with skinny, progressive tyres and a compliant ride.
One point. If you're planning on drifting do it on an airfield as it takes far more space to learn than you'd expect. A rollover bar wouldn't go a miss either.
Please don't stick big fat tyres on or lower it. These little light cars are best with skinny, progressive tyres and a compliant ride.
Treat her well...Looks lovely! Just make sure you really look after it though, the below thread gives you an idea whats possible with one 
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Thanks for all the comments folks, I'm still smitten with it - I know it's not much but the smile it puts on my face every time i see it behind the garage doors will probably stay there for some considerable amount of time! 
Do you ever have any issues with the stick on number plate? I've been getting a lot of mixed opinions on the legality of mines from a few people I've spoken to but I quite like the way it looks and will probably be leaving it as it is if it doesn't cause any problems with the local plod!
ironictwist said:
Treat her well...Looks lovely! Just make sure you really look after it though, the below thread gives you an idea whats possible with one
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I enjoyed reading through that, yours looks very like what I aim for mines to be like when it's finished http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Do you ever have any issues with the stick on number plate? I've been getting a lot of mixed opinions on the legality of mines from a few people I've spoken to but I quite like the way it looks and will probably be leaving it as it is if it doesn't cause any problems with the local plod! St. Anger said:
I enjoyed reading through that, yours looks very like what I aim for mines to be like when it's finished Do you ever have any issues with the stick on number plate? I've been getting a lot of mixed opinions on the legality of mines from a few people I've spoken to but I quite like the way it looks and will probably be leaving it as it is if it doesn't cause any problems with the local plod!
Didnt have a single problem with the stick on plate throughout the 30k+ miles I did all over the UK...Go for it! Do you ever have any issues with the stick on number plate? I've been getting a lot of mixed opinions on the legality of mines from a few people I've spoken to but I quite like the way it looks and will probably be leaving it as it is if it doesn't cause any problems with the local plod! ironictwist said:
Treat her well...Looks lovely! Just make sure you really look after it though, the below thread gives you an idea whats possible with one
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
In the pics your MX5 doesn't look out of place next to the 355 and Exige. Says it all really.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
MGZRod said:
To echo the above how much for insurance and who from? Pm if you want. Wondering as I'm 19 and looking at these.
The cheapest (and trust me, I've seached everywhere!) I could find was an Admiral Multicar policy with my mums 1.6 Gofl. I'm 19, held my license for 11 months, not driven since passing my test (so no NCD) and the car is garaged overnight - payed £2038 fully comp with £500 excess. Ouch 
Good to see the comments about the stick on plate, was the only thing which concerned me and even then, managed to get me £50 off the asking price because I moaned about it.
St. Anger said:
The cheapest (and trust me, I've seached everywhere!) I could find was an Admiral Multicar policy with my mums 1.6 Gofl. I'm 19, held my license for 11 months, not driven since passing my test (so no NCD) and the car is garaged overnight - payed £2038 fully comp with £500 excess. Ouch
Good to see the comments about the stick on plate, was the only thing which concerned me and even then, managed to get me £50 off the asking price because I moaned about it.
Have you tried increasing the excess to £1000? My brother did that on his Chimera and reduced his price from £1600 to £600. So even if he had a shunt he'd have been no worse off.Good to see the comments about the stick on plate, was the only thing which concerned me and even then, managed to get me £50 off the asking price because I moaned about it.
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