Cat D MX5
Author
Discussion

cramman

Original Poster:

659 posts

218 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
quotequote all
Hi,

I wondering if people can help me here.

A friend of mine has asked me to go and have a look at this car for him, http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010... it's an mx5, and is registered cat D.

I drive a VX220 which can recieve a CAT status for next to nothing, is the same true for the MX5.
I've no problem going for a look, but, what should I be checking?

Cheers,

Cramman.

Munter

31,330 posts

264 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
quotequote all
mk2 1.6. {shudder} wink Can he not stretch to a 1.8?

Anyway they are not as easy as a VX to get a cat rating. They are just the same as a.n.other normal car. However lets say the car is worth £2k. If it had ~£1400 of work and hire car required it'd be written off. Replacing a wing and repairing a door on mine cost the insurance company about that. So it could be very light damage that wouldn't bother me.

Check the 2 main box sections that run under the length of the car. Serious off road adventure can do them some damage. The odd scrape is ok. But if they have been flattened it can produce some interesting handling. (That was a "fun" test drive)

cramman

Original Poster:

659 posts

218 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
quotequote all
Munter said:
Check the 2 main box sections that run under the length of the car. Serious off road adventure can do them some damage. The odd scrape is ok. But if they have been flattened it can produce some interesting handling. (That was a "fun" test drive)
I've said it's the smallest egine size, he's not bothered.

I gather these box sections are the sills?

Munter

31,330 posts

264 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
quotequote all
cramman said:
Munter said:
Check the 2 main box sections that run under the length of the car. Serious off road adventure can do them some damage. The odd scrape is ok. But if they have been flattened it can produce some interesting handling. (That was a "fun" test drive)
I've said it's the smallest egine size, he's not bothered.

I gather these box sections are the sills?
They are more inboard than that. You can see them here connected by the brace they have fitted here.



For general other stuff to look for : http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

cramman

Original Poster:

659 posts

218 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
quotequote all
Excellent, thanks for the pic. Will get under the fecker at the weekend.

cramman

Original Poster:

659 posts

218 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
quotequote all
Right then, how about this one - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Personally, it looks a better car. I guess the hardtops are a nice addition for winter/safety and full service history has to be a bonus, for check miles if nothing else.

Munter

31,330 posts

264 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
quotequote all
cramman said:
Right then, how about this one - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Personally, it looks a better car. I guess the hardtops are a nice addition for winter/safety and full service history has to be a bonus, for check miles if nothing else.
I would sooner have that. On the plus side if he doesn't want the hardtop he can expect to get £500 for it. Making that a £2k car. Also if it is a 1.8 iS (sport) it should have the TorSen LSD. smile

youngsyr

14,742 posts

215 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
quotequote all
Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that's a sport model, I think it's just the 1.8iS, which still has the torsen LSD.

The sport model wasn't released until later and came with larger brakes front and rear.

Also, WTF is the advert on about "This sport edition comes with cool gold coloured alloys" - they look like a dirty (standard) silver to me?!

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

242 months

Thursday 12th August 2010
quotequote all
It is a 1.8iS. There was a limited edition Mk2 1.8 Sport but that's not it.
Ignoring limited/special editions, the 1.8iS was the top spec Mk2 model though so it's no bad thing.