Looking into buying this Mk2, 'RS'?

[Max M4X WW]

Hi all,

I've been thinking about separating from my 540i Sport soon and getting something smaller and more fun to drive - so I end up here!

A local lad has the following car for sale, it appeals being quite a late import (2007) and has 6 speed box with LSD (RS version I'm told)

http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1...

Concerns I have are cambelt (but im told its non interferance anyway?), lack of history, leaky and split hood and the wear on the steering wheel (could it have been clocked?)

Does anyone have any pointers in general or about the car above. I've read the buying guide on here and know I'm mainly looking for rust.

Thanks in advance,
Max

[seany87]

Max M4X WW said:

Hi all,

I've been thinking about separating from my 540i Sport soon and getting something smaller and more fun to drive - so I end up here!

A local lad has the following car for sale, it appeals being quite a late import (2007) and has 6 speed box with LSD (RS version I'm told)

http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1...

Concerns I have are cambelt (but im told its non interferance anyway?), lack of history, leaky and split hood and the wear on the steering wheel (could it have been clocked?)

Does anyone have any pointers in general or about the car above. I've read the buying guide on here and know I'm mainly looking for rust.

Thanks in advance,
Max

Ill talk about MX5's generally to begin with..

Imports generally have a lack of history, which is no bother unless you actually could have read the Japanese writing. Cambelt might have been done in Jap land in which case there is usally a small sticker on the cam cover showing such, but yes they are non interference so its no catastrophe if not. But the advert states its got a new belt on it, and the interval is 60k.

Those Nardi wheels can wear a fair bit, but wouldn't prove clocking. Thats not to say it wont have been clocked by the Jap agent who imported it in. Just use your instinct. Buy on condition, not miles.

Being an import and suffering less harsh salty winters over here the condition should be good. Any rust you see on sills and arches cannot be simply sanded back and 'blown over' - they will be rotting from the inside out so will appear again. Once you have an MX5 you realise that getting rust sorted in certain places could almost be put down to be a consumable, albeit one that if done properly should last many years if looked after well. Hoods can be replaced cheaply enough (£250, more for fancy colours and mohair) and if you are willing to do it yourself (tricky) it will only stand you the price of a good 2nd hand hood (approx £70-100) - I do know of some people to have patched their hoods and aside from aesthetics its fixed their leak. MX5s are pretty watertight.

The RS' mk2's are a quality car and quite possibly one of the best MK2's you can buy. They are my personal favourite, coming with LSD, 6 speed box, and apparently lighter flywheel. They have also allegedly been mapped to go from 0-112mph (jap limiter) as quickly as possible and there are tales abound on MX5 sites about how much nipper these are from the UK spec cars. They have some snazzy 6pm dials and a Bose stereo system but that isn't meant to be much cop though.

[Max M4X WW]

Thanks for the reply, very informative.

Exactly as I thought really, I'm keen to view this car as it could be a good buy being an RS.

I know I could get it for 1750 but should I push for less given that the roof needs attention? Obviously this is all condition dependant.

Thanks again,
Max

Edited by Max M4X WW on Thursday 6th December 22:45

[seany87]

You can certainly try and haggle a bit, given that its also not the right time of year to buy a convertible especially one that leaks.

But it does look a lot of car for the money. If I was looking Id certainly be interested.

[Max M4X WW]

I looked at this today, allbeit briefly.

All looks reasonably good, the steering wheel worries me as it looks worn and I didn't really see any other clues into the mileage! (other wheels on AT look ok at ~70k miles)

Is the odometer likely to still be showing KM's or will it have been changed to miles (ie lowered)? The speedo has a MPH sticker over KPH.

Thanks, Max

[lilwashu]

I was going to look at this one myself but the bodykit put me off. I had the same thought about the steering wheel, but to be honest as long as there is no rust on it the mileage doesn't really matter (plus it will likely have no history so will be impossible to prove either way).

[TomV8]

When I bought my mk1 Eunos the seller gave me all the import documents from 2003. Amongst the pages was a certificate from the UK based importer which stated that they believed the mileage to be genuine and they had made representations to the buyer at the time that this was the case. Worth asking maybe?

(Possibly not worth the paper it is printed on but on my car it seemed to stack up)

[juan king]

The fact that it's on swapz puts me off.

[Max M4X WW]

What is 'Swapz'?

I know the seller a bit, as he is a local 'car person' if you know what I mean. The car is 10mins from me.

[Riknos]

Hood can be done cheaper, if you're willing to drive to Swansea and back - Jack Smith's trimmers in Swansea get rave reviews all over the MX-5 / S2000 world for being the cheapest and good quality.

£1750 sounds like a good price for it, if it is indeed rust free. I doubt the clocks have been converted if it has just had a sticker stuck over it, did the odo read in km? I never like it when owners 'convert' the odo's to miles, as they always seem to 'lose' some miles off them.

[Max M4X WW]

Is 1750 still a good price even with factoring in a new roof? Swansea/Portsmouth would depend on fuel/time costs of myself driving there.

How can I check for rust given the skirts cover one problem area? The arch areas that are exposed are not rusty.

The odo reads in KM I'm told.

Thanks again!

Edited by Max M4X WW on Monday 17th December 17:27

[lilwashu]

I would be looking to knock it down to £1600 to cover the cost of a roof (you can pick up a good used roof on frame for £150 and it takes about 2 hours to swap then over the first time).

You can remove a small rubbery bung in the rear wheel arch and shine a torch inside to have a look at the condition of the sills from the inside.

[Max M4X WW]

lilwashu said:

I would be looking to knock it down to £1600 to cover the cost of a roof (you can pick up a good used roof on frame for £150 and it takes about 2 hours to swap then over the first time).

You can remove a small rubbery bung in the rear wheel arch and shine a torch inside to have a look at the condition of the sills from the inside.

Could you get a decent used mohair roof for that? The benefits of mohair for winter folding sound too good to miss really - especially if I can get a new one for ~£260 in Swansea, a 3.5hr drive each way though!

Would I need to remove the wheel to get the viewing angle or can you see with the wheel on? Thanks for the suggestion!

Forgot to say, I'm putting the car through an MOT Thursday as it runs out in Jan. If this goes well, what am I looking for on a test drive? There was a slight knock the other day when steering as I moved it around - I'm hoping track rods or similar are picked up.

[Max M4X WW]

Well I'm nearly there, I've paid but don't have the car. Long story!

Hopefully getting it delivered Boxing Day We will see.

[keo]

Hi Max have you taken delivery yet? If so what do you think of it? I am looking at mx5's at the minute was thinking about a mk1 but the more i find out about the "rs" the more i fancy one of those.

[Max M4X WW]

keo said:

Hi Max have you taken delivery yet? If so what do you think of it? I am looking at mx5's at the minute was thinking about a mk1 but the more i find out about the "rs" the more i fancy one of those.

Yes, Had it around a week and been driving since Saturday.

So far I'm liking it, but I'm reluctant go give anymore as I've only done around 60 miles in the car and its the only MX-5 I've ever driven!

I like the 6-Speed box, it seems to handle well but the initial turn in seems a bit sloppy. I don't know if its the T1-R's or if the dampers need looking at.