looking at a high mileage mx5, am i stupid?

[hairy]

just been looking at a high mileage mx5 mk1 1.6 in white on an n plate, has done 144000 mot has just run out but has only done 400ish miles since the last one.

general condition is very good,some small rust bubbles on the wheel arches, hood and rear screen excellent, and has been stored under cover for a majority of the last 12months.

starts on the button, think there is some s/h with it.

£500!!!!!!

was gonna use it for a few months and then sell on before i get too attached to it, hopefully at a small profit?

your thoughts would be apreciated!!

cheers Hairy.

[skinny]

if it's been looked after, the mileage means nothing. i'd be much more weary of rust than miles carefully check the sills in front of the rear wheels, as they tend to go here. i'd say that a bit of surface rust on the arches was *probably* nothing to worry about.

[Scubasteve800]

I beleive mine to be on 192,000 miles and it starts runs and pulls just as it should do, burns a bit of oil but aslong as the level is checked often, no problem

[OnlyMX5ives]

Rusty, no MOT, low power 1.6 with high mileage.

I wouldn't give you £300 for it.

[rob0971]

Dont think i would touch this one. Might be hard to shift on with that amount of miles & the low powered engine. They say, buy on condition rather than mileage, but this has not got a lot going for it! £500 if not rusty may have been worth a look though.

[skinny]

oops, missed the bit about the n plate. if it's a uk car it's going to be underpowered, so avoid.

[hairy]

not that bothered about it being under powered, i thought that was the whole point of these cars!

is no rust on the sills, the patches on the arches a 20p sized, the only other downside of the car is the paint work needs a mop.

any work that needs doing is not really a problem as i am in the trade.

the mx5 has become an itch that needs scratching!

[JWH]

hairy said:

not that bothered about it being under powered, i thought that was the whole point of these cars!

is no rust on the sills, the patches on the arches a 20p sized, the only other downside of the car is the paint work needs a mop.

any work that needs doing is not really a problem as i am in the trade.

the mx5 has become an itch that needs scratching!

I suspect you're not aware what's being said about 'low power'. At that age on a UK car it's not simply a case of 115bhp 1.6 vs 130bhp 1.8; the 1.6 was detuned to 90bhp so you'll find it significantly slower than either a 1.8 or early 1.6.

[OnlyMX5ives]

If you only have £500 then you can't afford this one (it has no MOT)

If you can afford more than £500 buy a better one.

IIRC there is a white 1.8 on Ebay for £800

But as always buying an MX5 under £1000 go with your eyes open and wallet shut.

[crofty1984]

I'd not want that on the fact that it has the detuned engine (assuming it's not a eunos)
The mileage wouldn't put me off at that price, but I have a normal power 1.6 and I'd say the power is "adequate to be fun" at 115bhp. The 90bhp model I wouldn't bother with.

Then again, it's £500. potter about with the roof off and get some wind in your hair if you want to.
If you run it for 6 months then the ntire car explodes, it doesn't owe you anything. Just not for me with that engine.