My New MK2.5 Sport and Some Questions

[TVR MAN]

After getting some good answers to my noob questions answered a couple of months ago here, I finally picked up a Racing Green Mica 2001 MK2.5 Sport on Friday.

I’d been watching the MX5 market since January and updating the newly listed cars on ebay every couple of hours (I’m that obsessive!) and so when I saw this one come up I knew it was a great price. Although I’m currently in the middle of my final university exams I decided it was too good a deal (in my ideal spec) to miss out on.

Bought it on Friday from a real petrolhead and I’m absolutely delighted with it! I’ve only driven it on the motorway into London (Already had a lorry driver shout “fking hairdresses car” at me) and I won’t be able to drive it for another two weeks because of exams!

The car has covered 63000 miles and was sold as a Mazda approved used car in February meaning it still has 9 months of Mazda warranty! It has no chrome on it which wouldn’t have affected my decision to buy but it is definitely my preference. As far as I can tell there is no real rust – checked sills, arches and in boot but nothing that I could see. It drives really well – very tight and feel some steering and the engine is really nice and smooth too. Gearbox is a little bit heavy but I’ve only ever driven my Mum’s 1.2 Fiat Punto so I don’t think there is anything wrong with it!

Insurance was £1300 with Elephant which I am quite happy with to be honest – aged 20, 0 No Claims.
Tried lots of specialists and brokers but none would quote because of my age. However Sky Insurance in particular were extremely friendly and I will definitely try them when I’m 21.

It is missing a screw from the passenger sun visor (found one on mx5 parts for 44p) and the light for the driver’s side heated seat doesn’t come on. That’s about all I can find that is wrong with it.

Also I’m not sure if the Cambelt has been changed or not. It was last serviced in March this year at 61000 miles by a Mazda dealer and they didn’t change it. It has no stamps in the book for the previous 4 years and 12000 miles.

Plans for the future are to detail it to the best of my inexperienced ability, consider adding rust protection, paint the calipers a nice subtle colour (black or silver) and then it will be perfect!

I won’t have a chance to clean it and take some pictures until I drive it home from London to Scotland in 2 weeks time so these will need to do for now!









Questions

I am planning on getting the cambelt changed asap and was thinking of going to Freelance Mazda (seeing as I am London just now anyway) as it seems a bargain at only £90. Has anyone used them before or can recommend them?

Is there anything else really worth getting replaced while the cambelt is being done?

If I am the unluckiest person in the world and the cambelt breaks on the 40 mile drive to get it changed, am I right in thinking it won’t damage the engine? I have heard the engine is “non-interference”?

What I think is the engine undertray has had a little bit of a smash slightly damaging the tray towards the front on the driver’s side. I would say there is a hole about the size of the palm of my hand where it curves upwards? Is this a problem?

What is the best oil to use if I want to treat it a little bit? I was reading about Fuchs ester synthetic 5w-30?

Is the fuel tank meant to be pressurised?

Tyres are a bit of a strange situation at the moment – a mix of cheap ones.
Front Left – Alpha Accelera 5mm
Front Right – Stunner Scudo 5mm
Rear Left – Matador Ultra Sport 3.5mm
Rear Right – Alpha Accelera 3.5mm

How bad is it having different tyres on both sides?! Dry grip seemed excellent to me!


Anyway, I’m absolutely thrilled with the car. Can’t believe people buy hot hatches when you could have one of these!

[Loopyleesa]

Hi, I've recently bought a Mk 2.5 s-vt, fantastic little cars.

I can't help you too much, although I'm sure someone will be along soon.

I know that the cambelt is safe if snaps as it's a non interfering with the engine.
I think if you change it, then it's worth changing the water pump.

As for tyres, I'm a bit anual when it comes to these as it's the only thing between you and the road, so I have to have 4 the same tread, or even 2 and 2, but that's up to you!

Hope you enjoy your car as much as I am mine

[MaxMX5]

I have a 2002 MK 2.5 Sport too and I love it. Have had it for over 2 years now and have enjoyed every drive in it. Check the bung holes at the side of the hood when it is folded down, when I got mine they were blocked up so water wasn't draining away. Be careful though and be gentle in what you poke down in them. As for tyres I have 2 Avon's on the front and Pirelli's on the back. Wouldn’t recommend the Avon's though and I’m not getting them when I get new ones next month. I haven’t had any problems with mine in the 20000+ I have done. Check the creases in the roof where it folds back over the driver/passenger windows as mine has started to crack very slightly. I think the fuel tank is pressurised, it always seem to hiss when I open it to fill up. I would recommend getting a K&N air indication kit; it makes it sound much better. Also a grill for the front, I can’t remember in the photo if you have one, as it prevents large stones hitting the radiator. I generally do an oil/oil filter change every 9000 miles.

I hope you love yours as much as I love mine. It makes me laugh when people call it a hair dressers car, especially when I ask if they have ever driven one (usually a NO) because if they had, they would understand that it handles fantastically and is a great joy to drive.

[hornetrider]

Four different cheap tyres? Crikey.

[TVR MAN]

Loopyleesa said:

I know that the cambelt is safe if snaps as it's a non interfering with the engine.
I think if you change it, then it's worth changing the water pump.

Good to know

MaxMX5 said:

Check the bung holes at the side of the hood when it is folded down, when I got mine they were blocked up so water wasn't draining away. Be careful though and be gentle in what you poke down in them

Yup, that's on my list when I get back home.

MaxMX5 said:

I would recommend getting a K&N air indication kit; it makes it sound much better

Do you mean the cone type that costs a small fortune? If so I'd love one but I think its a bit expensive and I'd need to inform my insurers which would probably cost me another £50 or something.

Are the K&N or Pipercross ordinary air filters worth getting?

MaxMX5 said:

Also a grill for the front, I can’t remember in the photo if you have one, as it prevents large stones hitting the radiator.

Yeah, I'll look out for one of those. I'd like a black one to keep it subtle.

hornetrider said:

Four different cheap tyres? Crikey.

I've never driven anything particularly sporty before but the grip felt excellent! Planning to keep them on until the rears wear out then change all for something good. At least that way I will be able to notice when I upgrade the tyres!

[MaxMX5]

Yeah the K&N cost about £150 and added about £30 to my insurance. They are expensive but I am glad I have it.
I have a silver grill from MX5 Parts, cost about £70 and looks rather good. Also have added a silver fuel cap, which does nothing but look good.

[MX-5 Lazza]

If the rears have 3.5mm read left then they bare nearly dead anyway. Replace with a pair of decent tyres and it'll feel much better. They might feel ok now but it will probably be different if the weather changes!
Keep the decent tyres on the rear.

[MX5guy]

The tyres most MX-5 owners recommend is Toyo T-1R, normally Camskill are the cheapest. I was very close to being able to buy them from the UK, ship them to Norway for £60 and it still working out cheaper than the cheapest place here.

[gd49]

Good to see another 2.5 owner, I've got a 2003 Nevada.

TVR MAN said:

It is missing a screw from the passenger sun visor (found one on mx5 parts for 44p) and the light for the driver’s side heated seat doesn’t come on. That’s about all I can find that is wrong with it.

Mine's missing the same screw, clearly a common design fault! Nice to know where to get one when I finally sort it out.

TVR MAN said:

Is there anything else really worth getting replaced while the cambelt is being done?

In theory the Mazda dealer should have done the cambelt based on age earlier this year, but you'd expect it to be recorded in the service book. As others have said, it's worth doing the water pump at the same time as it's in pretty much the same place as the cambelt. Mine hadn't had any belts done on it when I got it 2009, it snapped its alternator belt after a few months so might be worth getting those done also?

TVR MAN said:

Tyres are a bit of a strange situation at the moment – a mix of cheap ones.
Front Left – Alpha Accelera 5mm
Front Right – Stunner Scudo 5mm
Rear Left – Matador Ultra Sport 3.5mm
Rear Right – Alpha Accelera 3.5mm

How bad is it having different tyres on both sides?! Dry grip seemed excellent to me!

Mine had different rear tyres when I first got it. All seemed fine until I put my foot down on a curve in greasy conditions - the back snapped away with no warning whatsoever. Luckily it was on a dual carriageway with no other traffic around so plenty of space to gather up the resultant tankslapper without hitting anything! I've got Toyo T1-Rs all around now, and the geo sorted, and any slide has been slow with plenty of warning.

As has been posted your rear tyres are barely legal anyway, I'd be careful with the right foot until you've got new tyres sorted.

[TVR MAN]

gd49 said:

Mine's missing the same screw, clearly a common design fault! Nice to know where to get one when I finally sort it out.

Surprisingly it does seem to be a common problem! Discussed here. Here is the link to the replacement screw http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

gd49 said:

In theory the Mazda dealer should have done the cambelt based on age earlier this year, but you'd expect it to be recorded in the service book. As others have said, it's worth doing the water pump at the same time as it's in pretty much the same place as the cambelt. Mine hadn't had any belts done on it when I got it 2009, it snapped its alternator belt after a few months so might be worth getting those done also?

Checked with the dealer and they didn't change it. Must have assumed it was done on a previous service but its missing the records for those. Booked it into Freelance Mazda who seem to be recommended on Nutz and they are doing cambelt and checking waterpump and replacing if needed.


Another thing I remembered about is the middle cup holder seems to have lost its spring so is a bit loose and flappy. The fix is explained here but it sounds like an awkward job.

[Loopyleesa]

Mines flappy too

[Bonefish Blues]

Loopyleesa said:

Mines flappy too

Mine too - I put a blob of blu tac under the front edge to weight it down, which seems to be working.

T1 Rs are probably the most frequently used single tyre on the 5, but plenty of people are looking elsewhere for better tyres such as Uniroyal Rainsports in my case.

MX5parts' single pipe exhaust is well worth getting IMHO - more so than an induction kit.

[LukeBird]

TVR MAN said:

Another thing I remembered about is the middle cup holder seems to have lost its spring so is a bit loose and flappy. The fix is explained here but it sounds like an awkward job.

Thanks for that.
Mine has been like that since I bought it as well!

Oh and do get the waterpump changed at the same time as the cambelt!