Would £2,000 be enough for a low mileage Mx5?

[Monkey news]

I am thinking of becoming the proud owner of an Mx5 at 22 (despite what my mates have all said about the car). Since joining this website I have been bitten by the MX5 bug which seems to live on here .

The car will be used every day, rain/shine/snow (well maybe the 4x4 then), so I would like a lower mileage if possible. If not, is mileage an issue on these cars? The car doesn't seem to fit into the chav image, so I am hoping that they have been very well looked after .

In terms of running costs are they quite thirsty on the good stuff? Would the hardtop be better? I have heard there is no point in going for the 1.8, but I am not sure as to why.. Oh also rot, do these little cars rust?

Well if you any more information about the car I will love to hear it and yes I have searched. But I get carried away with looking at the pictures, instead of reading the text.

Thank you

[miniman]

At the £2k price point, you need to buy on condition, history and your gut feel for how the current owner has looked after it, rather than mileage. But yes, £2k will get you a very tidy Mk1 (the best of the bunch IMHO).

[mike9009]

I would buy on condition/ history and not mileage.

They can rust (check the sills and rear arches)

The 1.6 versus 1.8 argument has been discussed too many times. Just avoid a 1.6 UK model after about 1994. The power was 90 bhp and not the original 115bhp. Any import (Eunos) 1.6 will have the higher bhp.

Mike

[Gizmo!]

Today is my one-year anniversary of MX5-dom. 11,500 'play' miles so far - I don't commute in it - and it's still bloody wonderful.

As has been said, always buy on condition - there are 150k+ miles examples around and still going strong. Servicing costs buttons. Not the most economical, but in smiles per mile there's no better.

Never mind what your friends say. Take them for a ride - not one person has been in mine and not gone "oh - actually that's way better than I expected." And the ladies love them