Current Mk3 prices & recommended dealers

[CVP]

Need your help fellow Ph'ers with regards to MK3 prices and recommended dealers.

Mrs CVP & I have been out of the Uk for 3 years based in the USA and are now just returning home. Our car thoughts have lead us to conclude the MX5 is really a very good option (previously have had Elise, Boxster S and Z4M) that gets us fun, convertible and reasonable total running costs.

We are considering lightly used / ex-demo but when reviewing prices on Mazda.co.uk I can spec brand new at 21k and dealers are advertising at between 18k and 20k for an '11 and 17.5k for a '10.

Our initial spec is 2.0, soft top, manual 6 speed box, sport tech version

Quick questions for you help please
1. Has anyone bought a Mk3 recently and if so are the advertised prices realistic or way OTT?
2. Are the Uk car market prices for lightly used / ex demo really that high? I thought the economy was on its arse
3. Any good dealers to recommend in a reasonable distance from South West London. Alternatively any really bad ones we should avoid (PH email is good for this)
4. Have the Japan earthquake and subsequent events impacted delivery lead times and is this what is keeping those prices high?
5. If we can't find a used one we like, has anyone bought brand new recently and what was the lead time?

Any help much appreciated

Thanks

Chris

[Shaw Tarse]

Have you tried Drive The Deal?

[garrykiller]

1. my dad has just brought a mk3 sport tech. 07 plate with 27k on the clock for £10495 which was about middle of the run for prices.
2. depends on the car, demos are usually not far off new price due to used car mark up and a low new price. out of the 2 i think i would go for new over demo.
3. i would highly recommend Magna Mazda, there are several branches around. great service all round
4. no because they are not made in japan. they are made in europe
5. lead times are dependant on the car, colour, spec etc. for a normal sport tech i doubt there would be a wait max 2 weeks.

[Raffles]

I bought a brand new one a year ago. I had a four week lead time. It was built in Japan - the factory is in Horoshima. I don't know how the earthquake has affected the supply, but I remember there was an article about it in the owner's club magazine. I'm sure someone will be able to refer to it.

[hornetrider]

Shaw Tarse said:

Have you tried Drive The Deal?

This. Mega discounts available off list. As for dealers, depends where you are but MKG3000 were flawless for me, and effectively matched the DTD price.

ETA: Sport Tech soft top less than 17k new from dtd.

Edited by hornetrider on Wednesday 22 June 16:52

[JonnyFive]

garrykiller said:

4. no because they are not made in japan. they are made in europe

Hiroshima, actually.

[JonnyFive]

Raffles said:

I bought a brand new one a year ago. I had a four week lead time. It was built in Japan - the factory is in Horoshima. I don't know how the earthquake has affected the supply, but I remember there was an article about it in the owner's club magazine. I'm sure someone will be able to refer to it.

We might get a knock on effect soon, but at the moment we're not doing too badly. Production stopped during May but has restarted.

IIRC.

[garrykiller]

JonnyFive said:

Hiroshima, actually.

i stand corrected

[hornetrider]

JonnyFive said:

We might get a knock on effect soon, but at the moment we're not doing too badly. Production stopped during May but has restarted.

IIRC.

I'm guessing that means the surplus boggo models will be knocking about, but any 'Special Eds' may suffer a delay? Got the spec on those green'uns yet J?

[JonnyFive]

hornetrider said:

I'm guessing that means the surplus boggo models will be knocking about, but any 'Special Eds' may suffer a delay? Got the spec on those green'uns yet J?

They've definitely been trying to get rid of old stock, but they did just bring out a "Kendo" special edition last month. We've just done a "MX5 Weekend" and sold over 10 of the Kendos, but I assume these were built a while ago, maybe even before the Quake.

Not yet I'm afraid, I do keep asking for details though

[VladD]

JonnyFive said:

hornetrider said:

I'm guessing that means the surplus boggo models will be knocking about, but any 'Special Eds' may suffer a delay? Got the spec on those green'uns yet J?

They've definitely been trying to get rid of old stock, but they did just bring out a "Kendo" special edition last month. We've just done a "MX5 Weekend" and sold over 10 of the Kendos, but I assume these were built a while ago, maybe even before the Quake.

Not yet I'm afraid, I do keep asking for details though

Jonny,

What's Mazda's position on the fitting of the BBR Cosworth supercharger kit to a car that is still in warranty? Does it invalidate it completely, or just the drive train components?

Edited by VladD on Thursday 23 June 13:31

[JonnyFive]

I'm not sure.. Have asked Mazda Technical for you

[hornetrider]

JonnyFive said:

I'm not sure.. Have asked Mazda Technical for you

[JonnyFive]

"Hello,

Any engine modifications will void the warranty on the vehicle, obviously the body and interior isnt affected, but all the running gear etc will be void due to the extra power being produced.

Regards"

[VladD]

JonnyFive said:

"Hello,

Any engine modifications will void the warranty on the vehicle, obviously the body and interior isnt affected, but all the running gear etc will be void due to the extra power being produced.

Regards"

Thanks Jonny. So if BBR warranty all the bits that Mazda now don't, you'd still have a fully warranted car. Interesting.

[CVP]

Thanks all for the info, esp re Drive the Deal. Very useful indeed and much appreciated. After being carless for 3 years over here I'm really looking forward to getting our own car again.

Chris

[Shaw Tarse]

Let us know how you get on.

[MX-5 Lazza]

JonnyFive said:

"Hello,

Any engine modifications will void the warranty on the vehicle, obviously the body and interior isnt affected, but all the running gear etc will be void due to the extra power being produced.

Regards"

That won't be quite 100% true. It will invalidate the warranty on those parts affected by the SC and the extra power/torque produced by it as suggested but only insofar as the failure can be proved to be caused by the modification. Just having the SC won't in itself mediately invalidate the warranty. If part of the drive-train fails that can't be blamed on the SC/power/torque then it would still be covered.

[PlayersNo6]

This seems a good deal if you're happy with a 1.8 :

http://www.motorlux.co.uk/mazda/offers_mazda_mx5_n...

[JonnyFive]

MX-5 Lazza said:

JonnyFive said:

"Hello,

Any engine modifications will void the warranty on the vehicle, obviously the body and interior isnt affected, but all the running gear etc will be void due to the extra power being produced.

Regards"

That won't be quite 100% true. It will invalidate the warranty on those parts affected by the SC and the extra power/torque produced by it as suggested but only insofar as the failure can be proved to be caused by the modification. Just having the SC won't in itself mediately invalidate the warranty. If part of the drive-train fails that can't be blamed on the SC/power/torque then it would still be covered.

I've just quoted MMUK Technical reply.. I reckon like you say, you might have a come back with regards to blame.. But I think you'd have to prove it?