A what MX5 thread

[anonymous-user]

Hello People...

I've been given some great news. My company car is being taken off me which means that i can finally get myself an MX5. I've been promising myself to buy one for the last five years but always end up buying something else instead.

Oh well i'm not going to bother you guys by asking what to look out for as i'm sure that has been asked before many times and the answers are already there should i dig a little deeper.

What i'm after is a little advice as to which model would be ideal for me and the sort.

I think a 1.6 import with an LSD would be ideal. Preferably in green with a tan interior. Most i've seen pics of have leather (spec V iirc) however i'm not sure what condition i will find the leather in a car of such age. I want something totally standard (unless it has LSD, billies or uprated bushes) but no fancy alloys or steering wheels.

I was thinking a budget of say £1700 would be suitable for such a car, i could go a little higher but as i've got another weekend car the wife won't be too pleased.

Are there any decent and trustworthy specialists who sell MX5s?

Will my height (6ft) be a problem with the car as compared to a lot of modern stuff it is tiny.

Finally has anyone ever managed to get a bike rack on the back of an MX5?

Thanks in advance.

Shaid

[Evangelion]

Well I can't help with all your questions but I will say that I'm 6ft 3 and I have no problems fitting in.

Moss do a bike rack:

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.asp...

[alephnull]

Are people against the ideal of a 1.8? Surely that extra power is vital! Or have I missed something...?

[Gizmo!]

alephnull said:

Are people against the ideal of a 1.8? Surely that extra power is vital! Or have I missed something...?

Most 1.6s are 115bhp, 1.8 is 130bhp and a touch more torque - but the 1.8 is a touch heavier due to extra chassis bracing / side-impact bars. In the real world there's no difference.

[threespires]

I have the choice of 3 MX-5's, a standard NA 1.6 - a 200 bhp NA 1.6 and a Mk 2 1.8. I prefer the 1.6 engines.

They have a revvy nature which I don't find with the 1.8.

But the 1.8 is torquier & more civilised [ a bit more modern? ] & so suits certain driving conditions where that would be an advantage.

But the combination of the 1.6 with the turbo is my favourite, giving huge torque when you need it or revs if you want to play sports cars.

[anonymous-user]

The reason why i'm going for the 1.6 is mainly due to the popularity of said engine with the MX5 masses.

[MX-5 Lazza]

I would just buy on condition. 1.6 or 1.8 - there isn't a lot in it. I think the 1.8 is the better engine but the 1.6 just feels bullet-proof. Despite the extra weight the 1.8 is still the quicker car (ignore people who say it isn't) but there isn't really a lot in it on the road and driving ability has a much bigger impact on track.

[anonymous-user]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I would just buy on condition. 1.6 or 1.8 - there isn't a lot in it. I think the 1.8 is the better engine but the 1.6 just feels bullet-proof. Despite the extra weight the 1.8 is still the quicker car (ignore people who say it isn't) but there isn't really a lot in it on the road and driving ability has a much bigger impact on track.

I think you are right really, there seems to be a hell of a lot of MX5s for sale. I'm in no rush to buy but one thing, i'm staying away from ebay this time.

[NeoVR]

As above... buy on condition!
Stupidly i didnt.. and even though its a relatively cheap car to run and fix (especially if your handy with a socket set), the costs do slowly add up..

[mikey P 500]

I have just sold a nice mk1 mx5 for your £1700 budget through MX5nutz forum, and there are several other nice examples on there at the moment. I think a private sale through an owners club or enthusiast site would be a better bet than a dealer at this end of the market as more likely to get a nice example for a realistic price.
My last one was a 1.6 and my new one is a 1.8 I would agree the 1.6 engine is nicer in a lot of ways, you have to work it harder but its just as fast up to 70ish, the 1.8 has the legs top end but not much to choose.

[LS2 V8 Miata]

The Mazda Miata MX5 is the most poplular sportscar by sales / production numbers world-wide, is why you see so many and for sale. Be picky, you'll find a Great One for a Great Price, they're every where.

[pbirkett]

Gizmo! said:

alephnull said:

Are people against the ideal of a 1.8? Surely that extra power is vital! Or have I missed something...?

Most 1.6s are 115bhp, 1.8 is 130bhp and a touch more torque - but the 1.8 is a touch heavier due to extra chassis bracing / side-impact bars. In the real world there's no difference.

or you could get an rs limited, same weight as the 1.6 with the extra power and torque plus lightened flywheel and shorter final drive, I'd suggest it was a bit quicker than a standard 1.6?

[Gizmo!]

pbirkett said:

Gizmo! said:

alephnull said:

Are people against the ideal of a 1.8? Surely that extra power is vital! Or have I missed something...?

Most 1.6s are 115bhp, 1.8 is 130bhp and a touch more torque - but the 1.8 is a touch heavier due to extra chassis bracing / side-impact bars. In the real world there's no difference.

or you could get an rs limited, same weight as the 1.6 with the extra power and torque plus lightened flywheel and shorter final drive, I'd suggest it was a bit quicker than a standard 1.6?

What is it, 50kg lighter? I just leave the girlfriend at home. Seriously the RS probably is a touch quicker (by the gearing if nothing else). But in real terms... it's not like the difference between a Focus 1.6 and ST is it?

[anonymous-user]

Thank for your input peeps... i think i'll buy on condition more than anything else. As long as it's a 1.6 with an LSD and the hood is good then i think i'll be fine.

I've been looking at the stock online at goodwood sportscars and they seem to have what i'm after. I might pop round this weekend.

[pbirkett]

Gizmo, wish my lass was only 50kg ;-)

also hope she doesn't read pistonheads!

[snotrag]

MX-5 Lazza said:

1.6 or 1.8 - there isn't a lot in it. I think the 1.8 is the better engine but the 1.6 just feels bullet-proof. Despite the extra weight the 1.8 is still the quicker car (ignore people who say it isn't) but there isn't really a lot in it

These people are also know as - 1.6 owners.

[snotrag]

Also - I also agree on going with a private sale. Theres nothing 'specialist' about these cars, and if you've got half a brain its piss easy to tell a good one from a crap one.

At this kind of budget, the amount of premium you might pay for a 'dealer' car is too much IMO for what little extra you get.

[Planet Claire]

In answer to your question about bike racks... Get a Saris Bones, if you're lucky you can usually pick them up on ebay for about £70.

[Chris71]

pbirkett said:

Gizmo, wish my lass was only 50kg ;-)

Somebody beat me to it!

I think one of the advantages of the RS is that the lightened flywheel and lowered final drive ratio make it feel a bit livelier. Not necesarily any quicker, but snappier responses and so on.

Of course those Recaros on the RS are worth a couple of seconds to sixty.

[snotrag]

Planet Claire said:

In answer to your question about bike racks... Get a Saris Bones, if you're lucky you can usually pick them up on ebay for about £70.

As somebody who sold many, many bike racks in a previous life - dont get a Saris bones. Form over function, with cheap plastic hardware. I wish I had a pound for every swt of plastic thumbscrews I'd warrantied for people who'd bought this product.

Thule, Hollywood, even Halfords, all do racks with the full functionaility of the Saris, but with sturdy aluminium, and s/s hardware, and far more durability.

OT rant over!


As for the 'improvements' you get with the RS ltd.

Firstly, the lower diff ratio - I cant actually see as being a benefite for a road car as a stock Torsen on 15" wheels is already at 4000 rpm by 75mph. Any lower would be mind bogglingly noisy and un-economical on the open road. And first gear would be all of useless.

Lightened flywheel sounds good - I'm changing the clutch on mine this weekend and did wonder about chnaging it out - but to be fair - throttle response is hardly something the MX5 lacks!

As for finding the right car - nearly all of the cars you'll see on the 2nd hand market have been modified anyway, they nearly all have differences in the suspension setups, interiors etc. There almost kit-car like in the fact that rarely are any two cars the same.

I wouldnt particularly look for a specific model or variation, no deeper than 'Mk1, not the 88bhp version'.

Just buy the one thats right for the money.