Another convert...
Discussion
Well, not quite yet at least...the other week I was fortunate enough to take out a MK3 MX around Millbrook’s Alpine course and suffice to say I'm hooked, I want one.
Not a MK3 however, I am working on a tight budget. I have an upper most limit of 1.5k, so will be looking at early MK1's, not that this bothers me, they have always been the better looking ones in my opinion.
I am, however, just wondering whether A) I am posing an impossible task in trying to find a decent/ tidy-ish one on the budget I have? It's going to be parked in London for 90% of the time, so immaculate bodywork isn't an issue (I've seen the way people treat cars in my street), but I would ideally like one that isn't sporting more rust than a barn find.
Also number B) What are they like on motorway journeys? I've read that the earlier (115bhp) 1.6's are the one's to have as they are a little more revvy and that there's not much differential between them and the 1.8's etc. But are they ok on longer runs? With the nature of my job (and the girlfriend living over 150 miles away) it'll be predominately used on the motorway, there's not many B roads I know of around Chiswick...
Basically, what I'm asking is can someone lie to me enough to convince me it's a good idea? Or at the very least point me in the direction of a good forum or buyers guide for them on what to look for etc?
I'm not very knowledgeable on them and I'm not going to pretend to be otherwise, so any help at all will be greatly appreciated,
Many thanks,
John
Not a MK3 however, I am working on a tight budget. I have an upper most limit of 1.5k, so will be looking at early MK1's, not that this bothers me, they have always been the better looking ones in my opinion.
I am, however, just wondering whether A) I am posing an impossible task in trying to find a decent/ tidy-ish one on the budget I have? It's going to be parked in London for 90% of the time, so immaculate bodywork isn't an issue (I've seen the way people treat cars in my street), but I would ideally like one that isn't sporting more rust than a barn find.
Also number B) What are they like on motorway journeys? I've read that the earlier (115bhp) 1.6's are the one's to have as they are a little more revvy and that there's not much differential between them and the 1.8's etc. But are they ok on longer runs? With the nature of my job (and the girlfriend living over 150 miles away) it'll be predominately used on the motorway, there's not many B roads I know of around Chiswick...
Basically, what I'm asking is can someone lie to me enough to convince me it's a good idea? Or at the very least point me in the direction of a good forum or buyers guide for them on what to look for etc?
I'm not very knowledgeable on them and I'm not going to pretend to be otherwise, so any help at all will be greatly appreciated,
Many thanks,
John
Just to add, £1500 should be able to get you a decent one if you look hard enough. You wont get a car perfect in your price range, but if you can get a non rusty ones then I'd aim for that as priority, and things like new servicing / brakes / tyres / paint touch ups etc are not as important.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Speak to FrancisMX5 in that thread.Sounds like a good car to me!
Speak to FrancisMX5 in that thread.Sounds like a good car to me!
I can honestly say motorways have never bothered me in such a car.As I mentioned before, it all comes down to what you are used to, what you expect and what you don't mind putting up with I guess.
Much like the Westfield, I just enjoy the fact I am in something a bit different and quite enjoy the potential minus points!.Mine is a lot louder now than it was standard and the adventure has begun all over again, as I can't resist 'blips' under even the smallest of bridges
I find it just as comfortable to use over long distances as anything else I have been in to be honest.
Much like the Westfield, I just enjoy the fact I am in something a bit different and quite enjoy the potential minus points!.Mine is a lot louder now than it was standard and the adventure has begun all over again, as I can't resist 'blips' under even the smallest of bridges
I find it just as comfortable to use over long distances as anything else I have been in to be honest.
I asked a similar question about motorway travel on this forum before i bought my Mk1 S Special. Yes the ride is harsh (because i'm still riding on the original Bilstiens and they are knackered) and its very noisy but, i'm finding motorway travel to be fine. Its easier on the ears and sanity to listen to my i-pod with headphones in. Six weeks in and i'm really gettingt to know the car and am enjoying it more and more.
Digby said:
JohnoVR6 said:
Thanks for the heads up! Just dropped him an email now 
Let us know how you get on and get some pics up if you buy.I'm a bit of a fan of black S models 
Never got a reply
Still on the hunt, signed up to a few forums now and working through the classifieds on those as well!
JFReturns said:
Just in case no one has answered your question - theses cars are not good on motorways. I still recommend one in a heartbeat though!
That's the sort of answer I was hoping for...not brilliant but not enough to put you off getting one!Digby said:
I can honestly say motorways have never bothered me in such a car.As I mentioned before, it all comes down to what you are used to, what you expect and what you don't mind putting up with I guess.
Much like the Westfield, I just enjoy the fact I am in something a bit different and quite enjoy the potential minus points!.Mine is a lot louder now than it was standard and the adventure has begun all over again, as I can't resist 'blips' under even the smallest of bridges
I find it just as comfortable to use over long distances as anything else I have been in to be honest.
To be honest, I've had a variety of modified cars all sporting either rock hard suspension, bucket seats and harnesses or loud(er) exhausts so I'm accustom to little to no comfort and it doesn't bother me in the slightest!Much like the Westfield, I just enjoy the fact I am in something a bit different and quite enjoy the potential minus points!.Mine is a lot louder now than it was standard and the adventure has begun all over again, as I can't resist 'blips' under even the smallest of bridges
I find it just as comfortable to use over long distances as anything else I have been in to be honest.
It was more to do with the rev/mph ratio and fuel consumption than anything else, as fun as louder exhausts are, I don't want to be tone deaf by the end of the journey or filling up every 100 miles if the car requires being kept at the high end of the rev band to keep at 70...if that makes sense? May be a stupid question and a prolonged test drive would probably answer that, I just wanted to know before trekking off around the UK in search of a car!
iantek said:
I asked a similar question about motorway travel on this forum before i bought my Mk1 S Special. Yes the ride is harsh (because i'm still riding on the original Bilstiens and they are knackered) and its very noisy but, i'm finding motorway travel to be fine. Its easier on the ears and sanity to listen to my i-pod with headphones in. Six weeks in and i'm really gettingt to know the car and am enjoying it more and more.
Thanks for that bud, as I said, I'm than accustomed with low levels of comfort from previous cars and practicality, thankful, doesn't mark to high on the list of needs at the minute!Time to hit the classifieds again I think!
Fuel consumption has never been great on mine, but it kind of goes with the territory (even if it was a little unexpected).But then it's not up there with some of my older cars, so it's not exactly shocking.I have sat over long distances at motorway speeds and never given the revs a thought to be honest.Certainly with the standard exhaust, it felt no different to being in a 1.6 astra/fiesta/anything else to me in terms of engine noise and that relaxed pace feeling.
My Westfield had a mini clubman fuel tank and twin webers which liked to be fed constantly.Putting £40 in the MX5 and still being able to drive it a week later feels like a miracle to me.I could empty the Westfield tank in around 80 miles lol
My Westfield had a mini clubman fuel tank and twin webers which liked to be fed constantly.Putting £40 in the MX5 and still being able to drive it a week later feels like a miracle to me.I could empty the Westfield tank in around 80 miles lol
Digby said:
Fuel consumption has never been great on mine, but it kind of goes with the territory (even if it was a little unexpected).But then it's not up there with some of my older cars, so it's not exactly shocking.I have sat over long distances at motorway speeds and never given the revs a thought to be honest.Certainly with the standard exhaust, it felt no different to being in a 1.6 astra/fiesta/anything else to me in terms of engine noise and that relaxed pace feeling.
My Westfield had a mini clubman fuel tank and twin webers which liked to be fed constantly.Putting £40 in the MX5 and still being able to drive it a week later feels like a miracle to me.I could empty the Westfield tank in around 80 miles lol
Cheers for all the help guys, much appreciated!My Westfield had a mini clubman fuel tank and twin webers which liked to be fed constantly.Putting £40 in the MX5 and still being able to drive it a week later feels like a miracle to me.I could empty the Westfield tank in around 80 miles lol
Put a deposit on a 1.8 Uk Spec on Friday evening, picking it up in a few days! Straight into a motorway journey there after, so I'll find out the hard way whether it's any good!
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