Should i buy an MX5 as a daily?
Discussion
Im 22, about to finish uni ina couple of weeks. Sold my gti during uni due to running costs and currently run a 406 HDI as a ecnomical runabout whilst im living of peanuts. Need a fun car again, will have a little more in the pocket for a while but still not alot as im planning on just taking the summer and maybe a little longer easy and just enjoying myself until i jump into the real world.
Cant afford two cars just yet so wondering whether the little 5 will be okay?
Im considering the 1.8 as though i know theres not much in them i do still occassionally have to make some longer motorway trips and dont fancy reving the nuts of a 1.6 plus i also guess i just want every little bit of performance i can!
Any help appreciated,
Cant afford two cars just yet so wondering whether the little 5 will be okay?
Im considering the 1.8 as though i know theres not much in them i do still occassionally have to make some longer motorway trips and dont fancy reving the nuts of a 1.6 plus i also guess i just want every little bit of performance i can!
Any help appreciated,
Depends what you want out of a car!
I have a 1998 MK2 RS & love it. It's my only car & the insurance is too crippling to be able to run 2 cars...
If i could i would keep it as a weekend toy & have a daily run around though. Why?
- I want to keep the mileage to a minimum. I max at 400 miles a month at the moment.
- Running costs. I'm currently only getting 180 miles out of £45 of fuel which is an improvement on the 120 miles i was getting before i had a few things looked at
- The fact it does like going sideways and it was out of use during the few weeks of ice & things we had this year
On the plus side, it's comfortable, if a little noisy (my fault!). Runs very well, handles extremely well in the dry and is incredibly fun. Apparently easy to work on, not that i'd know, and easy to get parts for.
Sara
I have a 1998 MK2 RS & love it. It's my only car & the insurance is too crippling to be able to run 2 cars...
If i could i would keep it as a weekend toy & have a daily run around though. Why?
- I want to keep the mileage to a minimum. I max at 400 miles a month at the moment.
- Running costs. I'm currently only getting 180 miles out of £45 of fuel which is an improvement on the 120 miles i was getting before i had a few things looked at
- The fact it does like going sideways and it was out of use during the few weeks of ice & things we had this year
On the plus side, it's comfortable, if a little noisy (my fault!). Runs very well, handles extremely well in the dry and is incredibly fun. Apparently easy to work on, not that i'd know, and easy to get parts for.
Sara
My 1.8 Mk1 is also a daily driver. Have averaged about 2200 miles a month (
) since I bought it. It likes to eat consumables/service items fairly rapidly (I do an oil and filter change every 5k, or when the HLA noise starts, whichever comes first) and has had a few mechanical niggles mainly of my own doing, but it has never left me stranded at the side of the road. Absolutely bombproof in that respect. I can get about 220 miles out of £35 of petrol if in 'commuting' mode, significantly less if caning the tits off it. I usually get significantly less 
. In terms of smiles per mile, well, try one. 
Edit to add: Avoid rusty ones like the plague, and if you're keeping it through winter please please please please please please please check out the undersealing thread. Mine is in the bodyshop at the moment having both sills done. Most expensive thing I've had done to it so far, and first time it's been in a garage. Hopefully a worthwhile investment, though.
) since I bought it. It likes to eat consumables/service items fairly rapidly (I do an oil and filter change every 5k, or when the HLA noise starts, whichever comes first) and has had a few mechanical niggles mainly of my own doing, but it has never left me stranded at the side of the road. Absolutely bombproof in that respect. I can get about 220 miles out of £35 of petrol if in 'commuting' mode, significantly less if caning the tits off it. I usually get significantly less . In terms of smiles per mile, well, try one. Edit to add: Avoid rusty ones like the plague, and if you're keeping it through winter please please please please please please please check out the undersealing thread. Mine is in the bodyshop at the moment having both sills done. Most expensive thing I've had done to it so far, and first time it's been in a garage. Hopefully a worthwhile investment, though.
Edited by BonzoG on Wednesday 12th May 17:04
5harp3y said:
why the hell not!
i've just done that, mx5 replacing mk3 golf gti
My gti was a mk3 16v as well actually! p.s i love that on your profile you have a website called "no-rice" but you have just bought an mx5! i've just done that, mx5 replacing mk3 golf gti
What are they like for everyday driving mpg wise, im struggling to find info but seem to get the impression about 30mpg is normal?? ive got a heavy foot at the best of times but the 406 diesel has done a good job of reigning me in!
pbirkett said:
I'd be chuffed to get 30 MPG out of mine, its usually sub 25... but I do drive it as was intended
Really? That's bad! I get better than that supercharged! I'd suggest your car has a problem - water temp sensor/o2 sensor or something like that.It used to be supercharged yes? Are you sure the injectors are stock?
seismic22 said:
5harp3y said:
why the hell not!
i've just done that, mx5 replacing mk3 golf gti
My gti was a mk3 16v as well actually! p.s i love that on your profile you have a website called "no-rice" but you have just bought an mx5! i've just done that, mx5 replacing mk3 golf gti
Yeah used to / still am a Dub lover at heart, bit of a obsession with a mk1 golf for 6 years. always wanted an mx5 tho.
MX-5 Lazza said:
pbirkett said:
I'd be chuffed to get 30 MPG out of mine, its usually sub 25... but I do drive it as was intended
Really? That's bad! I get better than that supercharged! I'd suggest your car has a problem - water temp sensor/o2 sensor or something like that.It used to be supercharged yes? Are you sure the injectors are stock?
The car gets driven at over 4000 rpm almost all of the time when hooning, and regularly driven around town and at 0.9+ leptons on the dc/mw, so I think given all that, <= 25 mpg is hardly surprising; it'll do 35+ on a run but I don't have much self restraint
MX-5 Lazza said:
pbirkett said:
I'd be chuffed to get 30 MPG out of mine, its usually sub 25... but I do drive it as was intended
Really? That's bad! I get better than that supercharged! I'd suggest your car has a problem - water temp sensor/o2 sensor or something like that.It used to be supercharged yes? Are you sure the injectors are stock?
I never got anywhere near down to 25MPG before it was 'charged, and I do like to hoon it like a loon Well I have to say I'm feeling rather smug this morning.
My Sport Tech has just gone over 400 miles on this tank - fuel light came on about 15 miles ago! I'l do the math when I fill her up but that's got to be getting on for 40mpg!!
That includes about 200 miles cruise controlled at 80-85, 100 miles of hoonage, and about 100 miles of pottering about/town driving.
My Sport Tech has just gone over 400 miles on this tank - fuel light came on about 15 miles ago! I'l do the math when I fill her up but that's got to be getting on for 40mpg!!
That includes about 200 miles cruise controlled at 80-85, 100 miles of hoonage, and about 100 miles of pottering about/town driving.
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