mx-5!!!!!

[dan1981]

This missus's car is due for its MOT tomorrow and i'm not convinced its gonna go through - its an old p plate saxo.

IF it was to fail and i could convince her to replace it with an MX5 - it would have to be an older one - IE cheaper!

What do i need to look out for?

are the £1500 ones with 100k+ miles on it a ridiculous thought or shoudl they be ok with a bit Of TLC? (Not that i'm handy with a spanner)

and what about insurance costs? she's only 20 with a years NCB - i'm 26 - and WILL be goign on the insurance and i have 5 years NCB. - However as i have a company car she will be the main driver

And how are they as daily drivers - especially over the winter??

So many questions!!!!

Thanks for any help!

Dan

[dan1981]

apologies - i got moved here - didn't realise you had your own dedicated forum!!!

Thanks for any advice!

[steve bowen]

I saw a 1994 1.8 Eunos go for £1250 on ebay last week absolute bargin.

UK cars are cheaper to insure, but not as well spec'd. The premium difference can be about 50% so its something to consider.

Theres not much to go wrong they are simple cars just don't get a rusty one.

[steve bowen]

p.s. I came out of work today to find my driver seat soaking Strangly when driving even in thunder shower conditions i've never seen it leak before. Thats the only winter issue I can think of.

[BoFox]

My Dad's had getting on 200,000km on it, and he managed to write it off before anything worth mentioning broke!

[Munter]

To give you an idea of insurance cost.
Me 27 2 years NCB 1 claim 12 months ago
Her 23 0 years NCB 0 Claims using it to commute
Car 1997 1.8is with roll bar and suspension mods.
Cost £1000 fully comp.

[Munter]

Oh and I've run mine as the daily driver for 3 years and over 50,000 miles. In that time it's needed tyres, brake pads, and light bulbs.... Is it reliable... Hell yes.

[franv8]

They do just keep going. And if for any reason they temporarily stop, it's generally cheap and easy to get them going again.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Best advice is to look for a car with plenty of service history and good bodywork.
As long as it's been serviced regularly they tend to last a very long time.
High mileage shouldn't be a problem. There are cars in the states that have been turbo/supercharged when they were new and have now covered 200k miles so a standard car should be fine with regular servicing.

If you can find a UK 1.6 spec Mk1 registered between 1994 and 1998 it will have the low-power 90bhp engine introduced specifically as a low insurance option for UK customers.

[GHW]

steve bowen said:

p.s. I came out of work today to find my driver seat soaking Strangly when driving even in thunder shower conditions i've never seen it leak before. Thats the only winter issue I can think of.

After having had my MX-5 for a couple of years, I've only just in the last couple of months discovered that the seals on the front corners of the hood sometimes don't fall into position around the tops of the quarterlights and you need to give them a quick prod to seat them properly. If you don't, you can get a leak from the top of the quarterlight that runs a little bit down the door seal and then drips onto the seats.

[Munter]

GHW said:

steve bowen said:

p.s. I came out of work today to find my driver seat soaking Strangly when driving even in thunder shower conditions i've never seen it leak before. Thats the only winter issue I can think of.

After having had my MX-5 for a couple of years, I've only just in the last couple of months discovered that the seals on the front corners of the hood sometimes don't fall into position around the tops of the quarterlights and you need to give them a quick prod to seat them properly. If you don't, you can get a leak from the top of the quarterlight that runs a little bit down the door seal and then drips onto the seats.

My solution worked great. Just buy a hardtop.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Munter said:

My solution worked great. Just buy a hardtop.

I'd rather chew my own legs off

[Planet Claire]

I've had my car for just over 5 years and it's been my daily driver all that time. I've managed to clock up 88k miles since I got it and she still runs sweet as a nut. Just service it regularly.

[dan1981]

thanks everyone!

really helpful - i'm imagining that over the inwter months prices are going to fall? so if i buy in the new year jan feb tim ei might be able to pick up a real bargain???

[pete quemard]

Just a note on Insurance, I have just bought a 1992 1600 Jap import last week(with frog eye front end), I insured it with Adrian Flux on a classic car policy for £240 TP,F&F.