MX-5 Shopping This Weekend

[HereBeMonsters]

Right, I've done my overtime, almost sold my 2nd car and have a yearning for a convertible. Time to go MX-5 shopping!

I've had a quick look at the Wiki thread on recommended dealers, but didn't see any actual dealers in my area. Basically I want a cheap as chips Mk 2, preferably a 1.8, somewhere near Southampton. Will travel for the right car, but as close as possible to home would be great.
I have seen a couple of the local importers have Eunoses fresh off the boat, but they all seem to want £2.5k for a leggy mk1 1.6. Any specialists I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance for help.

[hornetrider]

Specialists will want more $ for their stock. Your best bet is to find a private sale if cheap as chips is what you're after.

[Shaw Tarse]

The wiki is aimed more at parts, repairs etc. As hornetrider said, your best bet is private sales, start looking at AT, PH classifieds etc.
It would also be worth you having a look on some of the MX5 websites & asking for help.

[HereBeMonsters]

Cheers, am going to set up some private viewings, but I'd like to see a couple at dealers as I always think you can be more nosy than with a private sale. Also good to compare the two.

[Furyblade_Lee]

If Mk1s are anything to go by, you can buy two or three MX5s private for what I have seen one advertised for at certain dealers!!! If you are talking cars for £2.5K, private sales are definately the best option as once the dealer has had is £750 there is not normally a lot of car left.... I am well pleased with my Mk1 Eunos private sale, cost me just £650 after selling on the unwanted hardtop. Had just about everything replaced in the last 18 months too. Painwork a bit scruffy in places, but that is my hobby. Good luck with your £2.5K!

[HereBeMonsters]

Furyblade_Lee said:

If Mk1s are anything to go by, you can buy two or three MX5s private for what I have seen one advertised for at certain dealers!!! If you are talking cars for £2.5K, private sales are definately the best option as once the dealer has had is £750 there is not normally a lot of car left.... I am well pleased with my Mk1 Eunos private sale, cost me just £650 after selling on the unwanted hardtop. Had just about everything replaced in the last 18 months too. Painwork a bit scruffy in places, but that is my hobby. Good luck with your £2.5K!

Cheers, I can assure you the budget is just that - not a target! Only going to pay top money for a top example.

[Odie]

I got my mk2.5 from a mazda dealer (this was 4years ago), I went in January when the weather was still bad and managed to knock get about a grand off the price (which I spent on a hardtop) and they gave me top whack for my W plate Polo S (I tarted it up and gave it a good polish before it went, it looked like it was in very good condition)

[HereBeMonsters]

As there didn't seem to be any decent examples around the £3k price mark, I've bought a cheaper one and will spend the rest of the budget freshening it up to how I would like it to be. New shocks and springs for sure, probably new rubber, new hood with a glass window and geometry sorted. Any recommendations for a place to get the geo done?







Pick it up next weekend. Can't wait!

[Shaw Tarse]

Have a read of the wiki, I had my geo done at WiM, would be happy to recommend them
If they're to far away, contact them & Tony may be able to suggest somewhere closer to home.

[Jonny671]

Shaw Tarse said:

Have a read of the wiki, I had my geo done at WiM, would be happy to recommend them
If they're to far away, contact them & Tony may be able to suggest somewhere closer to home.

Thats where my '5 will be going as soon as I get it, not too far luckily!

Very good buy by the looks of things!

[Gizmo!]

Another Japanese Racing Green one

Welcome to the fold...

[HereBeMonsters]

Gizmo! said:

Another Japanese Racing Green one

Welcome to the fold...

Thankyou. I'm already pricing up superchargers...

[Gizmo!]

HereBeMonsters said:

Gizmo! said:

Another Japanese Racing Green one

Welcome to the fold...

Thankyou. I'm already pricing up superchargers...

Yeah, that's a common affliction. See also "Which coilovers?" "Shall I fit a nicer steering wheel?" "How to make the stereo better?" and "Wow, tyre pressures make a difference!"

[Don Phil]

Gizmo! said:

HereBeMonsters said:

Gizmo! said:

Another Japanese Racing Green one

Welcome to the fold...

Thankyou. I'm already pricing up superchargers...

Yeah, that's a common affliction. See also "Which coilovers?" "Shall I fit a nicer steering wheel?" "How to make the stereo better?" and "Wow, tyre pressures make a difference!"

more overtime required...

[Davi]

I've just had a rather pleasant surprise from an insurer! quoting on a heavily modified MX5 - suspension, supercharged, bodywork, lightened, roll cage etc etc etc. Unfortunately that one is now gone but given the quote of £600 for up to 300bhp with no no claims bonus (well, sort of, I have NCB but on another car) I'm going shopping too I want one that is mechanically sound but bodily can be ropey as hell because I have no doubt I'll be shoving it into some armco relatively quickly

[HereBeMonsters]

HereBeMonsters said:

Pick it up next weekend. Can't wait!

Well after three weeks of to-ing and fro-ing with the fking dealer (whose plates I shall be replacing asap so they don't get ANY free advertising. The s.) they finally delivered the car to me this evening.

Paperwork done by half seven, on the road by 7:31. Two hours around the Hampshire countryside with the wife, swapped her for a mate out in Botley and took him for a spin. Held it sideways around some roundabouts for him, and left a nice big number 11 over a cross junction.

Even for a knackered (and it has had a hard life by the looks of things) 1991 import it's surprisingly well put together. No squeaks, rattles or bangs. It was a bit disconcerting actually, coming from years of Peugeots and Fiats! Only noise is a kind of transmission whine. Sounds a bit like a WRC rally car, especially when coasting in gear. Any ideas? Diff oil? Gearbox oil? Is there anything to lube on the propshaft itself?

Anyway, it's amazing. I can't believe I didn't buy one years ago.

[Jonny671]

Gizmo! said:

HereBeMonsters said:

Gizmo! said:

Another Japanese Racing Green one

Welcome to the fold...

Thankyou. I'm already pricing up superchargers...

Yeah, that's a common affliction. See also "Which coilovers?" "Shall I fit a nicer steering wheel?" "How to make the stereo better?" and "Wow, tyre pressures make a difference!"

Whats this about tyre pressures?

HereBeMonsters said:

HereBeMonsters said:

Pick it up next weekend. Can't wait!

Well after three weeks of to-ing and fro-ing with the fking dealer (whose plates I shall be replacing asap so they don't get ANY free advertising. The s.) they finally delivered the car to me this evening.

Paperwork done by half seven, on the road by 7:31. Two hours around the Hampshire countryside with the wife, swapped her for a mate out in Botley and took him for a spin. Held it sideways around some roundabouts for him, and left a nice big number 11 over a cross junction.

Even for a knackered (and it has had a hard life by the looks of things) 1991 import it's surprisingly well put together. No squeaks, rattles or bangs. It was a bit disconcerting actually, coming from years of Peugeots and Fiats! Only noise is a kind of transmission whine. Sounds a bit like a WRC rally car, especially when coasting in gear. Any ideas? Diff oil? Gearbox oil? Is there anything to lube on the propshaft itself?

Anyway, it's amazing. I can't believe I didn't buy one years ago.

Brilliant! Sounds like you've definately had fun.

I think theres quite a few of us '5ers in the Surrey/Hampshire area, maybe worth a meet up

[HereBeMonsters]

Jonny671 said:

I think theres quite a few of us '5ers in the Surrey/Hampshire area, maybe worth a meet up

Yeah, my sister's boyfriend has one, already planning to go to Beaulieu on Saturday with them!