Decisions! Which MX5?
Discussion
I know I want an MX5, I just don't know which one to get. 
At the moment, I have a 1995 Mitsubishi GTO TT. After experiencing some somewhat pricey issues with it, and coming to the conclusion it is a bit too big, not a huge fan of the way it handles etc, I have come to the conclusion it probably needs to go. I do like the straight line oomph of it though.
The decision I have to make at the moment is, do I either keep the GTO and get a cheap cheap MX5 to play with or get shot of the GTO and get a Mk3/Mk3.5 as my only car?
I don't commute to work by car, the GTO is a weekend car so I dont really need 2 cars at all. It would really make more sense to get the newer car which is less likely to have mechanical issues keeping me off the road, but I am a little attached to the "pretty" of the GTO..lol
I do kind of prefer the look of the newer MX5, but after reading multiple posts here and at mx5nutz, I get the impression the Mk1 is the better car? Not sure I want to buy a car as old/older than my GTO though, since quite a few of its issues are age related.
The other thing is, I am not hugely mechanically minded (although I want to learn), and the GTO is a bit too complicated for me to learn on, whereas I suspect the Mk1 is a bit simpler and easier to mess with (plus cheaper), but something reliable would be nice.
Ok..so that was a bit of a ramble.
Sine I dont plan on modifying it anytime soon, how much performance difference is there between a newish Mk3 2.0 and a Mk1 1.6?
So, decisions! Any advice/suggestions the Mx5 PHer's can give would be much appreciated.
At the moment, I have a 1995 Mitsubishi GTO TT. After experiencing some somewhat pricey issues with it, and coming to the conclusion it is a bit too big, not a huge fan of the way it handles etc, I have come to the conclusion it probably needs to go. I do like the straight line oomph of it though.
The decision I have to make at the moment is, do I either keep the GTO and get a cheap cheap MX5 to play with or get shot of the GTO and get a Mk3/Mk3.5 as my only car?
I don't commute to work by car, the GTO is a weekend car so I dont really need 2 cars at all. It would really make more sense to get the newer car which is less likely to have mechanical issues keeping me off the road, but I am a little attached to the "pretty" of the GTO..lol
I do kind of prefer the look of the newer MX5, but after reading multiple posts here and at mx5nutz, I get the impression the Mk1 is the better car? Not sure I want to buy a car as old/older than my GTO though, since quite a few of its issues are age related.
The other thing is, I am not hugely mechanically minded (although I want to learn), and the GTO is a bit too complicated for me to learn on, whereas I suspect the Mk1 is a bit simpler and easier to mess with (plus cheaper
), but something reliable would be nice.Ok..so that was a bit of a ramble.
Sine I dont plan on modifying it anytime soon, how much performance difference is there between a newish Mk3 2.0 and a Mk1 1.6?
So, decisions! Any advice/suggestions the Mx5 PHer's can give would be much appreciated.
Mk3 2.0 vs Mk1 1.6 = Mk3 2.0 all day long regarding straight line pace, comfort (although mk1 may have air con, ooooh...), reliability (it is new afterall!!)
HOWEVER, would you want to buy one for a weekend car...? is it not a bit too refined for a weekend hooon here and there if thats all you'll use it for? My opinion, save yourself £7K - £8K and buy a mk1, still very capable (my daily driver & only car)
Repairs/Replacements wont cost you much, just dont click here (unless you need replacement stuff) as thats where the spending starts!
Edited as i cant read!
HOWEVER, would you want to buy one for a weekend car...? is it not a bit too refined for a weekend hooon here and there if thats all you'll use it for? My opinion, save yourself £7K - £8K and buy a mk1, still very capable (my daily driver & only car)
Repairs/Replacements wont cost you much, just dont click here (unless you need replacement stuff) as thats where the spending starts!
Edited as i cant read!
Edited by Don Phil on Thursday 15th July 13:08
Well, part of the decision may have been made for me, one of my backboxes fell off last night, looks like a whole new exhaust system for my GTO before I can even think about selling. Joy.
My mechanic only last week said I would need a new one in a year or so. That year came about faster than I expected!
My mechanic only last week said I would need a new one in a year or so. That year came about faster than I expected!
I would say stay away from the Mk3, build issues with cheap components are a major worry. My wife's Mk3 has been a nightmare from the start and she is sorry that she bought it.
The car have only covered 23,000 miles and is 4 years old. Brake discs all round was replaced this morning with the originals being pitted and laden with rust, we have changed the lower front stableiser lower link arms three times even the original wiper blades only lasted a year before splitting.
We will never buy another Mazda although an old Mk1 we had years ago was the complete opposite faultless to the end however, lacks the power of modern cars.
Options; you mentioned the S2000, we have one and yes an incredably fast motor that you would not be disappointed with performance wise however, typical rust problems and the rear loves to slide at every given opportunity not to be driven in the wet.
Have you considered a SLK? I have one that is now 10 years old and the build quality has been superb along with the performance R170 models go quite cheapy and performance with the R171 model is good although I'm not disappointed with my R170 3.2
The car have only covered 23,000 miles and is 4 years old. Brake discs all round was replaced this morning with the originals being pitted and laden with rust, we have changed the lower front stableiser lower link arms three times even the original wiper blades only lasted a year before splitting.
We will never buy another Mazda although an old Mk1 we had years ago was the complete opposite faultless to the end however, lacks the power of modern cars.
Options; you mentioned the S2000, we have one and yes an incredably fast motor that you would not be disappointed with performance wise however, typical rust problems and the rear loves to slide at every given opportunity not to be driven in the wet.
Have you considered a SLK? I have one that is now 10 years old and the build quality has been superb along with the performance R170 models go quite cheapy and performance with the R171 model is good although I'm not disappointed with my R170 3.2
Edited by cen on Monday 19th July 16:07
About 8 years ago myself and some friends had a trip up to Scotland for a week-long hoon. We had 4 MX5s (all unmodified) and an SLK 3.2.
It has to be said that the Merc did sound nice and the roof was very clever but it just couldn't keep up whenever the road got a bit twisty. That big engine in the front was great for tearing up open roads but killed any chance of flinging it around the sorts of twisty roads we were driving. Horses for courses. I'm sure it shines in other conditions (like the drive to/from the south up to Scotland) but not so much on the roads I want to drive.
It has to be said that the Merc did sound nice and the roof was very clever but it just couldn't keep up whenever the road got a bit twisty. That big engine in the front was great for tearing up open roads but killed any chance of flinging it around the sorts of twisty roads we were driving. Horses for courses. I'm sure it shines in other conditions (like the drive to/from the south up to Scotland) but not so much on the roads I want to drive.
After looking through the forums on mx5nutz a bit more thoroughly, the idea of an FI'd MX5 has quite a bit of appeal. Not sure it would be much more reliable than the GTO though.
I suspect I am cursed somewhat with cars, they do seem to hate me, and decide to break even more when I start to think about straying. lol
In any case, slightly on hold now until I have sorted exhaust and worked out final cost (looks atm to be around £700 all in, which takes a hefty chunk out of potential sale profit!). Unfortunately, all the helpful suggestions here havent done much to make my mind up.
I had considered the S2000, but I am quite surprised at how much more expensive the insurance on one is, even compared to the GTO, so I suspect I'll pass. I can afford it, but I'm gonna choose to be a little sensible.
Not sure about an SLK, although will certainly consider it, but I keep going back to this WW2 fighter plane..ooh tempting!
I suspect I am cursed somewhat with cars, they do seem to hate me, and decide to break even more when I start to think about straying. lol
In any case, slightly on hold now until I have sorted exhaust and worked out final cost (looks atm to be around £700 all in, which takes a hefty chunk out of potential sale profit!). Unfortunately, all the helpful suggestions here havent done much to make my mind up.
I had considered the S2000, but I am quite surprised at how much more expensive the insurance on one is, even compared to the GTO, so I suspect I'll pass. I can afford it, but I'm gonna choose to be a little sensible.
Not sure about an SLK, although will certainly consider it, but I keep going back to this WW2 fighter plane..ooh tempting!
Monsterlime said:
Not sure it would be much more reliable than the GTO though.
No reason why it should not be very reliable IF set up properly. The MX5 engine is under-stressed and good for many more BHP than stock.
Jut go into FI with your eyes open and ensure you buy one that has been setup by someone who knows what they are doing....
Comparing reliability is difficult, almost futile, because every car is different and it depends how and how often you drive it, the condition when you bought it, etc etc.
MX5's are not 'faultless' by any means.
But what is good about them, is that when things do go wrong they are generally easy to diagnose, easy to work on, parts are cheap, endless amounts of 2nd hand stuff is available and you can almost guarantee that whatever your problem is, someone can help you out on a forum or a book or whatever.
Thats the benefit you get from early a Million of them having being made IIRC
MX5's are not 'faultless' by any means.
But what is good about them, is that when things do go wrong they are generally easy to diagnose, easy to work on, parts are cheap, endless amounts of 2nd hand stuff is available and you can almost guarantee that whatever your problem is, someone can help you out on a forum or a book or whatever.
Thats the benefit you get from early a Million of them having being made IIRC
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