Where to buy MX5?

[Conor D]

I'm running out of places to look for MX5s.. I'm checking the PH Classifieds daily, MX5nutz, mx5oc and Autotrader too. I can't seem to find what I'm looking for.. Is there anywhere else I could look?

I know the amount for sale may have dropped due to the winter, but I'd like to get one before my birthday in January.

I'm after an NA UK 1.6 MX5, Black, Red or Blue. Good condition, miles, history. Have about £2k to spend, but want to spend as little as I can..

I've moved to look at the 1.6 due to insurance but it seems like there are two different engines, a 114bhp 1.6 and a 90bhp.. Was the engine detuned after 1995 to 90bhp, or when was the cutoff point? 90bhp sounds like very little even though it does weigh less than a tonne.. Is the difference between the two big/noticeable?

[Mr MXT]

Someone who knows more will be along in a bit, but i'm pretty sure the 90bhp version is regarded to be really, really pants and avoided like the plague.

[piefacemate]

That's teh general consensus, don't even consider a 1.6 90BHP.

Could of questions, why are you discounting imports and 1.8's? There's no difference in running costs between them.

[B3njamin]

Mr MXT said:

Someone who knows more will be along in a bit, but i'm pretty sure the 90bhp version is regarded to be really, really pants and avoided like the plague.

Yes... There would be an argument vis insurance premium however, since the less powerful models reduced my potential premium by ~£200 which depending on individual circumstance, may be advantageous.

[Conor D]

piefacemate said:

That's teh general consensus, don't even consider a 1.6 90BHP.

Could of questions, why are you discounting imports and 1.8's? There's no difference in running costs between them.

It's the insurance.. I can't get a quote that I'm in anyway happy with.

A 1.6 is getting me close, but I'm hoping when I turn 20 in January (and have the test 3 years that it'll go down).

[piefacemate]

They can be an arse to cover when young, I remember paying £1800 on my first at 19.

Think long term when you're making the decision. If you're likely to change the car after a year because it's underpowered you may end up negating the savings and you'd be the owner of an undesirable model.

[Conor D]

piefacemate said:

They can be an arse to cover when young, I remember paying £1800 on my first at 19.

Think long term when you're making the decision. If you're likely to change the car after a year because it's underpowered you may end up negating the savings and you'd be the owner of an undesirable model.

I would actually humour £1800.

I tried to get a quote with Endsleigh (apparently they have student discounts), they couldn't give me a proper quote over the internet but could give me some sort of quote for the year (I think it's where I pay up front for the entire thing).. £14000. No, not £1400. £14 Thousand! On a 1.6 MX5?

[A2Z]

Connor,

Am I remembering correctly from the North West forum, are you up at Liverpool JM Uni?

Try here, it's just a train ride to Neston. I haven't been myself but I have heard some good things.

http://supercarclassics.co.uk/used-mazda-mx-5-cars...

http://www.paulsheardautos.com/

These are in Congleton so a bit more of a "bus ride". They don't seem cheap on the face of it but you do get warranty,cam belt etc all in. I have had work done on mine there and I was pleased.

[Vidal Baboon]

I take it an import would be well out of the question then?!

[5paul5]

Loads for sale everywhere at the moment, you really are spoilt for choice ! I also believe now is the time to buy as prices seem to have hit rock bottom and you can pick up a decent car for around a grand as i did with mine.

[Conor D]

5paul5 said:

Loads for sale everywhere at the moment, you really are spoilt for choice ! I also believe now is the time to buy as prices seem to have hit rock bottom and you can pick up a decent car for around a grand as i did with mine.

That's what I'm thinking at the minute, I imagine the prices might go on the rise after January.

What car did you get for a grand?

Vidal Baboon said:

I take it an import would be well out of the question then?!

Unfortunately yes. About 70% of the good cars turning up seem to be Roadsters too.

[Conor D]

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2296272.htm

What do you think of this? £1300 without the alloys, it has alot of things that I'd want to do to it. Miles are at 120k, I'm not really sure if this is high or not for MX5s.

[5paul5]

Got myself a 92 eunos, lowered, lovely alloys, nice sound system, solid rust free body, tax and mot all for £1050

[VladD]

You can get discounted insurance through Footman James if you join the owners club. Might be worth giving them a call and having a chat.

[MX-5 Lazza]

VladD said:

You can get discounted insurance through Footman James if you join the owners club. Might be worth giving them a call and having a chat.

Not at 20 years old (unless that changed when they moved from Eagle Star).

[Tomoose85]

I got my MX5 1.8iS last month. High miles (151k) but full history and pretty much excellent condition throughout for £950. I can't believe you can't find a 1.6 for under £2k at the moment!!

Don't worry about miles either. My 151k example drives so much nicer than the 90k one I had in the summer. Just buy on condition and don't buy a really rusty one.

[Conor D]

Tomoose85 said:

I got my MX5 1.8iS last month. High miles (151k) but full history and pretty much excellent condition throughout for £950. I can't believe you can't find a 1.6 for under £2k at the moment!!

I've looked a bit harder and have found a couple of cars, 91 1.6's, about 120k miles for just less than £1000. I'm waiting to get word back from a company to see if they can offer me a quote that's anywhere near decent.

[cheesyleps]

In terms of where to buy from, you are generally doing the right thing. Classifieds are a better route than dealers for these cars. Found mine through autotrader.

Set your budget but don't be put off a car just because it is significantly lower. There are plenty of dogs around for under a grand but there are also enough gems to make it worth looking at providing you ask the right questions.

What I may be able to help you a little more with is the insurance side of things.

I recently bought my first roadster and managed to find insurance at a price that, for me, I thought was a bargain. I am 24 with driving licence for 1 year and 1 years NCB (always had bikes, never bothered with car licence until I met my fiancee). I know I'm a little older than you, but you have more driving experience.

My renewal quote in November for my V reg Civic saloon 1.6 auto was £1400 which was utterly ridiculous. Managed to get a 92 Eunos Roadster 1.6 fully comp for £600 through Aviva.

For pretty much every type of car, aviva were cheap for me. They seem to be aiming at younger drivers a bit.

Get online quotes from their site but some tips:

• The older the car, the better. There was a £200 difference between a 92 plate car and a 95 plate for me.

• If it is a eunos, select "Mazda" as make, "Eunos" as model and then the spec in the check box (V-Spec etc).

• Do NOT put a registration number into the quote. Any reg I put into the online quote made it jump up by at least £200. I tried lots from random autotrader ads. They all caused a big difference. What I did was to get identical quotes for different aged cars with no reg plate (91, 92, 93 etc) and wrote down the reference numbers. That way, when I went to view cars I could phone and take out the policy. When I found the car I bought I phoned their number, gave the reference for the quote without a reg plate. They confirmed the online price and then asked what the reg was. It made no difference to the price that way.

Hope that helps you. Those tips may transfer over to other comparison sites, I'm not sure. I used aviva a lot because they were consistently cheaper for me. The other usual stuff for lower premiums applies like not getting breakdown, legal cover and voluntary excess.

Good luck. They are fantastic little cars.

[BIG DUNC]

cheesyleps said:

Lots of good stuff
.

I would just add a couple of things. Insurance first as its more important to you.

Go for a big voluntary excess. Personaly, I would go for the legal cover as well. Its normaly only £20 or so, and it could be really useful if the worst comes to the worst.

The car.
Dont worry about milage. My 1.6 had done 182k miles (not kms) when I sold it including loads of track days and sprints. Nothing went wrong with it in an expencive way and it was still running well with a healthy engine etc when sold (sold as the second "Little Dunc" came along and I had too many cars with only 2 seats at the time.... Not because of the car or the milage)

Do worry about rust. You are looking at a 20 year old car. Sills and rear arches are the worst place, but have a really good look everywear underneath.
Other than that, its just cosmetic condition. A new roof will set you back a bit, as would sorting out the body or interior if they are tatty. Normal mechanical checks etc are needed, but most major faults will be obvious if you have half a mechanical clue.

There are a some of horrors out there, as there would be for any 20 year old type of car, but there are also a few of gems. Look at as many as you can and you will know when the right one comes up. Dont rush to try and get one by your birthday, it will be worth the wait of a few weeks to get a better car.

[MX-5 Lazza]

BIG DUNC said:

Personaly, I would go for the legal cover as well. Its normaly only £20 or so, and it could be really useful if the worst comes to the worst.

I would say that depends on whether you have AA/RAC cover or not. The legal cover offered by these is way better than anything you get bundled in with car insurance.