Discussion
First post on here, so be gentle!
I'm on the hunt for some new, "interesting" wheels and was wondering whether the PH collective brain could help out - I've been scouring the Reader's Cars threads for months and have been well and truly bitten by the MX-5 bug. Seeing as this is a PH favourite, I figured that you guys could help in choosing between a NA and NB (No NC's - I am a skint student) and whether there's any major differences between them, what they're like to live with, INSURANCE (some dozy mare did a mischief on my Megane with her Volvo last year and I'm paying the price for it) and any other helpful nuggets of info.
Cheers!
I'm on the hunt for some new, "interesting" wheels and was wondering whether the PH collective brain could help out - I've been scouring the Reader's Cars threads for months and have been well and truly bitten by the MX-5 bug. Seeing as this is a PH favourite, I figured that you guys could help in choosing between a NA and NB (No NC's - I am a skint student) and whether there's any major differences between them, what they're like to live with, INSURANCE (some dozy mare did a mischief on my Megane with her Volvo last year and I'm paying the price for it) and any other helpful nuggets of info.
Cheers!
Pop up lights and a 1.6 UK Mx5 are no longer cheaper to insure than the Eunos so you could save a few beer tokens there. A decent Eunos will set you back the sort of money a ropey MX5 fetches. For my money I'd go against the grain (as MX5 prices are being kept up by hype) and get a Fiat Barchetta. Superb looking car that handles just as well and is just as quick as the Mazda.
Disco You said:
It depends on budget and what you want from it...
I haven't fully worked out a budget yet, but call it £3500. The car's going to be my daily driver, used to get to and from uni, to and from home, etc. etc. However, it might see the odd trackday or two and it'll definitely be fettled with, so there's that to take into consideration. Basically, it's going to be my first step into the world of owning a "sports car" and I thought, what better place to start?mikel429 said:
I haven't fully worked out a budget yet, but call it £3500. The car's going to be my daily driver, used to get to and from uni, to and from home, etc. etc. However, it might see the odd trackday or two and it'll definitely be fettled with, so there's that to take into consideration. Basically, it's going to be my first step into the world of owning a "sports car" and I thought, what better place to start?
An NB will make a nicer daily drive IMO. NA's are a bit raw. I went for a 1.6 MkII, although really I don't think there is a great deal of difference between the MkII and the MkI. I found it easier to find MkII's in decent condition, whereas some MkI's are quite tatty, as they are old. Mind you, if you're looking for rock bottom pricing it probably won't get cheaper than a slightly battered MkI.
I bought an MX5 because I fancied seeing what it was like to run a RWD car day to day, and also because they're so loved; I wanted to see just how good this little car could be. I have to say that I do love mine, they are excellent cars. It wasn't too bad to insure, £750 fully comprehensive at 22 years old, having had insurance on a mkV Fiesta Zetec S and 1.6 Focus Zetec before that.
As an daily driver it's great, the boot is reasonably spacious and I never long for a larger vehicle. As a driving machine, it punches well above it's weight in terms of thrills, and I thought I might as well get one now while I can, before I have a family and need more seats! Compared to other cars in the class (MG TF, Toyota MR2) I think it performs very favourably. The MR2 might have better interior materials etc etc but overall the MX5 is fantastic.
I bought an MX5 because I fancied seeing what it was like to run a RWD car day to day, and also because they're so loved; I wanted to see just how good this little car could be. I have to say that I do love mine, they are excellent cars. It wasn't too bad to insure, £750 fully comprehensive at 22 years old, having had insurance on a mkV Fiesta Zetec S and 1.6 Focus Zetec before that.
As an daily driver it's great, the boot is reasonably spacious and I never long for a larger vehicle. As a driving machine, it punches well above it's weight in terms of thrills, and I thought I might as well get one now while I can, before I have a family and need more seats! Compared to other cars in the class (MG TF, Toyota MR2) I think it performs very favourably. The MR2 might have better interior materials etc etc but overall the MX5 is fantastic.
Baryonyx said:
I went for a 1.6 MkII, although really I don't think there is a great deal of difference between the MkII and the MkI. I found it easier to find MkII's in decent condition, whereas some MkI's are quite tatty, as they are old. Mind you, if you're looking for rock bottom pricing it probably won't get cheaper than a slightly battered MkI.
This is what made me buy a Mk2.5 as well.I'm glad I did, it has some nice toys that are great for roof down motoring (heated leather and a decent windblocker) and the latter VVT engine is sweet.
I'd go Mk2/2.5 depending on budget (NB as mentioned above) would be my choice.
Try looking in the MX5 forum as well.
I've just bought this:
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=6...
I started out looking for a cheaper car with the idea of doing a few track days. Having looked at a few I knew all about rust! I'd also succumbed to mission creep and fancied 6-speed, torsen diff etc so when I saw the above RS it was just the job. It's as mint as it looks so my advice is to go for an import for the better spec and hopefully no rust. No doubt UK cars are out there for that money in good nick and similar spec but damned if I could find any.
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=6...
I started out looking for a cheaper car with the idea of doing a few track days. Having looked at a few I knew all about rust! I'd also succumbed to mission creep and fancied 6-speed, torsen diff etc so when I saw the above RS it was just the job. It's as mint as it looks so my advice is to go for an import for the better spec and hopefully no rust. No doubt UK cars are out there for that money in good nick and similar spec but damned if I could find any.
I'm not sure if my 1.6 is the detuned one or not. I'm not sure if they started detuning them after then or not, because the only thing I can compare it to really is my Focus Zetec which was 99bhp, and this is considerably faster (moreso than just the weight difference would suggest). I'd be surprised if it was the 90bhp model, although whatever it's bhp it's nicely powered for B road driving and quite adjustable in the corners. It does of course lack straight line thump, but thats not what the MX5 is about. It makes you feel like Pentti Arikkala or Miki Biasion every time you cruise effortlessly round a bend.
TVaRt said:
NA Eunos 1.8. Already has a torsen diff, bigger brakes than the uk 1.6 and surprisingly quick. A NB 1.6 is under 100bhp and slow by comparison (detuned). Plus an import will probably be rust free!
NB 1.6 isn't under 100bhp. Mk1s between a certain age (only UK cars, imports will be putting out the full power) are <100bhp but no others. 
NB 1.6 is 114bhp I think.
LukeBird said:
TVaRt said:
NA Eunos 1.8. Already has a torsen diff, bigger brakes than the uk 1.6 and surprisingly quick. A NB 1.6 is under 100bhp and slow by comparison (detuned). Plus an import will probably be rust free!
NB 1.6 isn't under 100bhp. Mk1s between a certain age (only UK cars, imports will be putting out the full power) are <100bhp but no others. NB 1.6 is 114bhp I think.
I went for the NB 1.8iS.. Not much extra on it but does have an LSD & 140bhp.
LukeBird said:
NB 1.6 isn't under 100bhp. Mk1s between a certain age (only UK cars, imports will be putting out the full power) are <100bhp but no others.
NB 1.6 is 114bhp I think.
That sounds like a reasonable figure, or thereabouts for what my car is running at with no modifications. NB 1.6 is 114bhp I think.
JonnyFive said:
I thought NB 1.6 was 90bhp?
I went for the NB 1.8iS.. Not much extra on it but does have an LSD & 140bhp.
Nope, just the NA in Europe as a 'cheap' option when the 1.8 was introduced (1995 off the top of my head) it was 89bhp. As I said, that doesn't apply to JDM cars, they were 115bhp as per the earlier 1.6. As far as I'm aware the 1.6 in the Mk2 was the same power. I went for the NB 1.8iS.. Not much extra on it but does have an LSD & 140bhp.
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