MX5 project - talk some sense into me / what to pay??

MX5 project - talk some sense into me / what to pay??

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Discussion

broken biscuit

Original Poster:

1,633 posts

202 months

Saturday 16th April 2011
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I have the possibility of picking up a cheap MX5 for the summer. Do I or don't I? I just can't seem to make up my mind either way.

I have found for sale privately a red N plate mx5 (says mx5 not eunos, however, it has the bolt on fog light so not 100%). It has done 101k, and has all the old MOTs present. It has been sat in a workshop for sale since before christmas, and has just got progressively dustier. It has a flat tyre, flat battery and no tax or MOT i could find in the history although the seller thinks it still has MOT for a few months.

Now the crunch - the price - £650 on the screen, but I'm not prepared to pay anything near it.

Is it worth taking a punt for £250 - £300 on it? A battery and MOT will cost me nearly £100, without any work required, then tax on top. Am I being stupid, and should I go for it? Or should I just buy one with MOT and tax?

Will I be able to sell it without losing on it if I was to sell towards the end of summer? What sort of price would you expect to pay for a N plate MX5 with 100k on clock and an MOT?

Night Runner

12,231 posts

195 months

Saturday 16th April 2011
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Mine is a 'N' 1.8l with 103k on the clock.

I bought it for £600, have been offered £1k, not selling though!


Do it, you'll love it.

LukeBird

17,170 posts

210 months

Saturday 16th April 2011
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Night Runner said:
Do it, you'll love it.
This!

Get it bought man! thumbup

Night Runner

12,231 posts

195 months

Saturday 16th April 2011
quotequote all
Do you have any more of the spec/photos?

Should be able to give some more advice.

broken biscuit

Original Poster:

1,633 posts

202 months

Saturday 16th April 2011
quotequote all
Afraid not - just had a quick poke about while i was getting my tyres changed. I know it's N reg, got 101k on clock, has all old MOTs and no tax / current MOT. No rot to arches, but a flat tyre and battery. Red and dusty. Tyre fitter was Polish so not alot of help to fid anything out other than it belongs to the wife of the landlord of his unit

Night Runner

12,231 posts

195 months

Saturday 16th April 2011
quotequote all
If you can get it for a few hundred it would be worth a punt. Are there any MX5 specialists near you?

On a separate note, I was reading of someone who got one for £200, the dealer took it as px and wanted shut - couldn't sell it as no one was interested. The guy broke it and sold it off, especially the £500 worth of turbo kit!

If you can get the details it would be worth checking the past MOT's online just to check if they have tried to MOT it and it failed massively. If you get what I mean.


browna

334 posts

184 months

Saturday 16th April 2011
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Even a tidy looking one for a grand could well need work doing to it. I think you should go for it, if something major needs doing for the mot, e.g. a killer sill rust prob. you could prob still sell/use it as a track slag.

swampy56

560 posts

193 months

Saturday 16th April 2011
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What's the roof like? As there quite expensive with fitting! Every one should own one of these in there lifetime, absolute dream to drive.

NiceCupOfTea

25,298 posts

252 months

Saturday 16th April 2011
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swampy56 said:
What's the roof like? As there quite expensive with fitting! Every one should own one of these in there lifetime, absolute dream to drive.
Vinyl roof can be had fitted for £300 or so.

All I would say is check the sills for rot, and check the tappets quieten down after a bit of running (may take a few mins if it hasn't been run for a few months. Cracks in the hood would be a good bargaining point.

If you can get it for £500 or so then go for it. Even if it is a complete dog you would be able to break it for more than that.

Can these cars get any cheaper?

VeeFour

3,339 posts

163 months

Sunday 17th April 2011
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NiceCupOfTea said:
Vinyl roof can be had fitted for £300 or so.
There's a chap in Swansea who does Mohair hoods for less than that.

NiceCupOfTea

25,298 posts

252 months

Sunday 17th April 2011
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Which is great if you live near Swansea wink

SimonV8ster

12,630 posts

229 months

Sunday 17th April 2011
quotequote all
Even if you paid near the asking price you could break it and get your money back. The MX5 bunch are like vultures wink

VeeFour

3,339 posts

163 months

Sunday 17th April 2011
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
Which is great if you live near Swansea wink
Good excuse for a run to the Black Mountains / Elan Valley, though.

v8will

3,301 posts

197 months

Sunday 17th April 2011
quotequote all
SimonV8ster said:
Even if you paid near the asking price you could break it and get your money back. The MX5 bunch are like vultures wink
This, doggy MK1s will be the next 'Ford Sierra' in kit circles

LukeBird

17,170 posts

210 months

Sunday 17th April 2011
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v8will said:
This, doggy MK1s will be the next 'Ford Sierra' in kit circles
That's a benefit to Mk1 owners though, as clearing out the shoddy ones is likely to firm up prices of decent ones. smile

5paul5

664 posts

172 months

Sunday 17th April 2011
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Just be aware that if its a uk 1.6 it will probably be the lower powered version.

5harp3y

1,943 posts

200 months

Sunday 17th April 2011
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get it for £200 whack it through and mot and if it passes happy days, if not break it for parts!