Discussion
Ah yes sills - they'll need some attention.
However broadly speaking, it's pretty bloody good. The engine and box are tight and the drive is nice. Everything works (bar the air con) and the MOT runs through to next summer - it seems mechanically excellent (brave words, but it's clearly been looked after) and whilst the body needs some TLC, the tan leather interior is in great condition (there's a nice alpine cd radio too). The rear callipers and discs are new too.
It's an early 1.6 mk.1 (1991) and whilst I've had a number of UK MX5s, this is my first import. Pics to follow.
M
PS - I'm wondering if it's a 'V Spec' ?
However broadly speaking, it's pretty bloody good. The engine and box are tight and the drive is nice. Everything works (bar the air con) and the MOT runs through to next summer - it seems mechanically excellent (brave words, but it's clearly been looked after) and whilst the body needs some TLC, the tan leather interior is in great condition (there's a nice alpine cd radio too). The rear callipers and discs are new too.
It's an early 1.6 mk.1 (1991) and whilst I've had a number of UK MX5s, this is my first import. Pics to follow.
M
PS - I'm wondering if it's a 'V Spec' ?
|http://thumbsnap.com/8Z9ZrQxK[/url]
Yes it is a V-Spec - only way to get a green car in Japan for about 4 or 5 years, and longer for the UK.
Had mine since 2000. Now on close to 190km, had a super charger on it for about 15k-20k miles (removed when I got the RX7 about 11 years ago), also did ~2k miles on track days, maybe more. Not been washed since ~2006, peeling paint all over, but the only rust in on the trim at the top of the passenger door. Having said that the gear box has been going for a while and is getting worse and I had a second user diff put on to replace a seized one about 4 years ago. Been saying for at last 8 years that I'll keep her until I get a pending bill for more than she's worth but she keeps soldiering on (aside from that one time with the diff, which was repaired for under £500 including garage bills).
In 15 years she's failed just 2 MOTs, the first for some minor reason, and last year's (April 2014 ?) when the head lamp wiring needed redoing as they had become too dull.
As someone else has said - you've got yourself a bargain. Tatty ones are now starting to go for close to a grand, which is worrying me as I've been assuming a bill for £500 would get me to call it a day. Oh and despite the peeling paint I still occasionally get asked by passer buys if I'm willing to sell her.
Had mine since 2000. Now on close to 190km, had a super charger on it for about 15k-20k miles (removed when I got the RX7 about 11 years ago), also did ~2k miles on track days, maybe more. Not been washed since ~2006, peeling paint all over, but the only rust in on the trim at the top of the passenger door. Having said that the gear box has been going for a while and is getting worse and I had a second user diff put on to replace a seized one about 4 years ago. Been saying for at last 8 years that I'll keep her until I get a pending bill for more than she's worth but she keeps soldiering on (aside from that one time with the diff, which was repaired for under £500 including garage bills).
In 15 years she's failed just 2 MOTs, the first for some minor reason, and last year's (April 2014 ?) when the head lamp wiring needed redoing as they had become too dull.
As someone else has said - you've got yourself a bargain. Tatty ones are now starting to go for close to a grand, which is worrying me as I've been assuming a bill for £500 would get me to call it a day. Oh and despite the peeling paint I still occasionally get asked by passer buys if I'm willing to sell her.
Edited by dapprman on Monday 27th July 20:51
Thanks everyone, and thanks PH - 15 minutes of fame… sort of. 
The sills are now a work in progress - there's not a huge amount of rot, although it's clearly been done once already on the offside.
Rather like the MG, my plan is to make good use over the summer and see where we get to. It's a **much** better drive than the 'F', far less tired and genuinely good to drive so I'm looking forward to it. I've had a good number of of MX5s, including a '91 Le Mans, but there's something about an honest, cheap and well maintained Mazda that's really quite endearing.
Talking of well maintained, here's something I didn't expect to find in the boot - a 2 inch thick folder of receipts, MOTs and hand written maintenance logs:
The sills are now a work in progress - there's not a huge amount of rot, although it's clearly been done once already on the offside.
Rather like the MG, my plan is to make good use over the summer and see where we get to. It's a **much** better drive than the 'F', far less tired and genuinely good to drive so I'm looking forward to it. I've had a good number of of MX5s, including a '91 Le Mans, but there's something about an honest, cheap and well maintained Mazda that's really quite endearing.
Talking of well maintained, here's something I didn't expect to find in the boot - a 2 inch thick folder of receipts, MOTs and hand written maintenance logs:
Looks almost identical to the £600 Eunos I bought at the start of the summer (except yours has 3 pedals). 180KM already on the clock, no sign of rust and an interior that looks like new. Even the same steering wheel. I've always knocked the MX-5 as a hair dressers' car, but bought it because my 5yo loved it. I've been eating my words so far. Drove it to Zurich and back last month. The only beat it missed was me leaving the lights on (damn Swiss tunnels) - but that's more my fault than its.
Been a busy week for the '5.
Next week is a big test - just as I did with the MGF, I'm going to commute it for a week - 110 miles per day on a mix of twisties, motorway and traffic… we'll see where we stand in 550 miles time. At risk of tempting fate, I suspect the little MX has a much better chance of making it without problems than the 'F ever did.
On a separate note, I rather like the 'in seat' speakers. In well over 100 cars and 22 years of motoring I've never come across this before - it's genius.
- 3 bad sills - cut out, new piece welded in, prepped and painted. (the 4th one can wait for now - that can be a winter job)
- Scabby A-pillar rubbed down, repaired and painted - wasn't all that bad really
- a good clean and a polish
- fluid check (all fine - I was going to do the oil and filter, but it's pretty new)
Next week is a big test - just as I did with the MGF, I'm going to commute it for a week - 110 miles per day on a mix of twisties, motorway and traffic… we'll see where we stand in 550 miles time. At risk of tempting fate, I suspect the little MX has a much better chance of making it without problems than the 'F ever did.
On a separate note, I rather like the 'in seat' speakers. In well over 100 cars and 22 years of motoring I've never come across this before - it's genius.
Edited by MattGTA on Saturday 1st August 16:50
Success !
517 mile this week with zero problems - four days of commuting to Canary Wharf and a Wednesday evening blat across Sussex for a pub dinner with a couple of friends.
There was, however, one harrowing moment - in the form of an extremely large splinter from the (otherwise delightful) Nardi steering wheel as I leant enthusiastically into a roundabout on the A21. A massive shard of wood came off the back of the rim and imbedded itself in my pointer (right next to the nail) as the wheel slipped through my hands. Rude words… but thankfully both my finger and the line I was taking through the roundabout were saved without lasting damage. Just.
So the next job is to work out how to re-lacquer the wooden wheel and restore it to it's former glory. Whilst I'm at it, I'll do the same for the hand brake, which is in similar condition. I'm also going to look for an original Nardi gear know. It feels more carpentry / decorating than car maintenance but how hard can it be…
517 mile this week with zero problems - four days of commuting to Canary Wharf and a Wednesday evening blat across Sussex for a pub dinner with a couple of friends.
- Total miles: 517
- Miles with roof down and shirt sleeves: 517
- Mechanical issues: 0
- Things I'm worried about: 0
- Worst Weather: Biblical rain, thunder and lightening on Wednesday evening.
There was, however, one harrowing moment - in the form of an extremely large splinter from the (otherwise delightful) Nardi steering wheel as I leant enthusiastically into a roundabout on the A21. A massive shard of wood came off the back of the rim and imbedded itself in my pointer (right next to the nail) as the wheel slipped through my hands. Rude words… but thankfully both my finger and the line I was taking through the roundabout were saved without lasting damage. Just.
So the next job is to work out how to re-lacquer the wooden wheel and restore it to it's former glory. Whilst I'm at it, I'll do the same for the hand brake, which is in similar condition. I'm also going to look for an original Nardi gear know. It feels more carpentry / decorating than car maintenance but how hard can it be…
Edited by MattGTA on Saturday 8th August 00:51
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