RE: Shed Of The Week: Mazda Eunos V Special

RE: Shed Of The Week: Mazda Eunos V Special

Author
Discussion

Furyblade_Lee

4,107 posts

223 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
culpz said:
I was reading this exact advert a couple of days ago. It makes a nice change to see a decent car description aswell. It appears to be rare to have a PH Classifieds SOTW.

I noticed that It's been quite heavily reduced over time. This is a real bargain and, as already stated above, i'm sure the misfire is a cheap and easy fix, as most things are on an MX5.

I'm starting to think that i really need to try one. As much as i love and hanker after hot-hatches, having something slower, low-seated and more playful is becoming quite appealing.

This is a cracker. Someone snap it up!
As someone owns / has owned 205 Gti / Golf Gti, AX GT, Original mini with 120 bhp / Clio 172 / 106 Rallye etc. I can assure you a standard 1.6 MX5 is as much FUN as any of them..... I find mine ignites something in me when you can continuously drive it at 10/10ths, flat out, on the edge, no mercy!!! I use mine ( standard mech ) for sprints, at places like Goodwood, and I find myself laughing hysterically sometimes as it four wheel drifts oversteers at speeds where I don't have to break into a sweat and worry..... And quite often my times from the production 1600cc class are near the top of the production 2.0 class. If you don't expect more than it offers on paper, and see it for what is is, a perfect modern version of the classic British 60's sportscar, it will not dissapoint!!

kuro

1,621 posts

118 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
Furyblade_Lee said:
As someone owns / has owned 205 Gti / Golf Gti, AX GT, Original mini with 120 bhp / Clio 172 / 106 Rallye etc. I can assure you a standard 1.6 MX5 is as much FUN as any of them..... I find mine ignites something in me when you can continuously drive it at 10/10ths, flat out, on the edge, no mercy!!! I use mine ( standard mech ) for sprints, at places like Goodwood, and I find myself laughing hysterically sometimes as it four wheel drifts oversteers at speeds where I don't have to break into a sweat and worry..... And quite often my times from the production 1600cc class are near the top of the production 2.0 class. If you don't expect more than it offers on paper, and see it for what is is, a perfect modern version of the classic British 60's sportscar, it will not dissapoint!!
I prefer the 1.6 to the 1.8, your description sums them up perfectly.

Cold

15,207 posts

89 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
Elsewhere on PH members are complaining about vendors not resolving these "easy fix" issues on cheap cars as they are almost always hiding a more complex problem. A loose HT lead or a hole in a piston? A lazy thermostat or a warped head? Just needs a regas or every component corroded to dust?

But this is a Mazda Mx5/Eunos, so all sensibilities go out of the (faulty, just needs a fuse) window. It's most likely just a bit of oil in the plug well.

Caveat emptor folks.

bmv6197

72 posts

102 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
Who doesn't like a Mk1 MX5 (well, OK, some people don't) and one at shed money that looks pretty tidy makes it even better. As someone who has owned several mk1 MX5s, the current one for 10 years, I'm obviously biased though.

However on the negative side - and I think the little-known country singer Deana Carter put it best when she said "I've loved enough to know, a heart-ache when I see one coming" - even at just under a grand this has a few too many potential headaches on the horizon to take a punt. Yes, it's original, which is great. Yes, it's a 1.6 which is in some ways better than a 1.8 (and some ways not). Yes, it's a '92 which means it's the long-nose crank engine so free from the short-nose crank issues of the early 1.6s. Yes, it's a V-special so you get BRG paint and an interior the colour of the business end of a millionaire's shortbread, with the oh-so-cool wooden Nardi wheel. But no, it has engine problems which may be one of the known, "easy fixes", but equally may be something more sinister. Confidence is not helped by the knowledgeable seller (dealer key tag and all) not being willing to take the time to try one of the quick fixes to solve it but instead decides to drop the price by nearly half to shift it on as if the thing may detonate on his driveway... At least he's being honest, so hats off to him. And no, while those sills look clean, that's clearly a repainted black sill-line over a slightly rippled looking sill. Without seeing pictures of what work went on and what's behind there, it would be a brave man (or woman) who could declare that a solid shell without further investigation. The underside doesn't look too bad, but the liberal use of ironically rust-coloured cavity wax makes it hard to determine what lies beneath...

So no, it's a close-but-no-cigar from me...

Edited by bmv6197 on Friday 14th July 19:58

ReaperCushions

5,949 posts

183 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
drgoatboy said:
No evidence of rust?

Looks rusty to me. These sills have had some work too. Time to get the magnet out me thinks....



Either way not a bad car for the money assuming the missfire and overheating aren't something terminal....
Agree... this looks riddled to me, or poorly repaired. You can see it creeping around the inner wing, and the ripples across the stone chip.

Having found out myself the hard way.. its not a case of 'if' but 'when' the arches need work.

suffolk009

5,344 posts

164 months

Saturday 15th July 2017
quotequote all
^^^PistonHead forum users announce that old cars rust.

I am shocked.

DaveBBR

9 posts

233 months

Saturday 15th July 2017
quotequote all
The LSD will be the viscous coupling type, only the later 1.8s got mechanical diffs . These all fail open within 50k or less so don't think that it is much of a plus.

em177

3,127 posts

163 months

Saturday 15th July 2017
quotequote all
ReaperCushions said:
Agree... this looks riddled to me, or poorly repaired. You can see it creeping around the inner wing, and the ripples across the stone chip.

Having found out myself the hard way.. its not a case of 'if' but 'when' the arches need work.
It's a grand ffs! rolleyes

99Chimaera

324 posts

130 months

Sunday 16th July 2017
quotequote all
I've just bought this car this morning and it's a cracking little car. It drove very well. The bodywork is indeed rust free. The seller David was a gentleman and a pleasure to deal with.
I am thrilled to bits with it.smile

CDP

7,454 posts

253 months

Sunday 16th July 2017
quotequote all
99Chimaera said:
I've just bought this car this morning and it's a cracking little car. It drove very well. The bodywork is indeed rust free. The seller David was a gentleman and a pleasure to deal with.
I am thrilled to bits with it.smile
Wishing you years of fun.

Even if the engine is broken a like for like swap for that shouldn't be much more than a weekend's work. I bet there are MX5 racers can do them between qualifying and race in a field.

0a

23,879 posts

193 months

Sunday 16th July 2017
quotequote all
Congratulations 99. Sometimes I drive my cars and wish I had something simple and open top for zipping about in. At this money you can drive it for a while and decide slowly if you want to improve it, if not punt it on for a minimal loss.

No rust and a good drive is a great start, and miles better than most mx5s for much more!

culpz

4,881 posts

111 months

Monday 17th July 2017
quotequote all
Furyblade_Lee said:
culpz said:
I was reading this exact advert a couple of days ago. It makes a nice change to see a decent car description aswell. It appears to be rare to have a PH Classifieds SOTW.

I noticed that It's been quite heavily reduced over time. This is a real bargain and, as already stated above, i'm sure the misfire is a cheap and easy fix, as most things are on an MX5.

I'm starting to think that i really need to try one. As much as i love and hanker after hot-hatches, having something slower, low-seated and more playful is becoming quite appealing.

This is a cracker. Someone snap it up!
As someone owns / has owned 205 Gti / Golf Gti, AX GT, Original mini with 120 bhp / Clio 172 / 106 Rallye etc. I can assure you a standard 1.6 MX5 is as much FUN as any of them..... I find mine ignites something in me when you can continuously drive it at 10/10ths, flat out, on the edge, no mercy!!! I use mine ( standard mech ) for sprints, at places like Goodwood, and I find myself laughing hysterically sometimes as it four wheel drifts oversteers at speeds where I don't have to break into a sweat and worry..... And quite often my times from the production 1600cc class are near the top of the production 2.0 class. If you don't expect more than it offers on paper, and see it for what is is, a perfect modern version of the classic British 60's sportscar, it will not dissapoint!!
A great reply mate, thanks! Funny that you mention the Clio 172, as that is, specifically, the hot hatch that i've always wanted and looking at next. At current, i'm going back and forth between the Clio and the MX5. What were they like in comparison? Very different cars, i know, but i'm interested to see what you thought of both, seeing as they're both the next contenders for my next car.

VladD

7,853 posts

264 months

Monday 17th July 2017
quotequote all
99Chimaera said:
I've just bought this car this morning and it's a cracking little car. It drove very well. The bodywork is indeed rust free. The seller David was a gentleman and a pleasure to deal with.
I am thrilled to bits with it.smile
Welcome to the V-Special club.

CABC

5,528 posts

100 months

Monday 17th July 2017
quotequote all
culpz said:
A great reply mate, thanks! Funny that you mention the Clio 172, as that is, specifically, the hot hatch that i've always wanted and looking at next. At current, i'm going back and forth between the Clio and the MX5. What were they like in comparison? Very different cars, i know, but i'm interested to see what you thought of both, seeing as they're both the next contenders for my next car.
i've experience/ownership of these.
they're both cracking cars and also a great contrast of rwd and fwd at their raw best. very different. You need to do both!
As with all older cars, and especially with these two, make sure geo and suspension are sorted properly.

99Chimaera

324 posts

130 months

Monday 17th July 2017
quotequote all
Thank you for kind comments chaps. The car is being delivered tomorrow via Shipley. I can't wait to see it. I will then get it checked over by my local mechanic.
Thanks again

Philip.

culpz

4,881 posts

111 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
quotequote all
CABC said:
i've experience/ownership of these.
they're both cracking cars and also a great contrast of rwd and fwd at their raw best. very different. You need to do both!
As with all older cars, and especially with these two, make sure geo and suspension are sorted properly.
I keep gravitating towards the Clio, but that's just because i've always wanted one i think. That may have to come first and then maybe an MX5 some time in the future.

sgtBerbatov

2,597 posts

80 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
quotequote all
99Chimaera said:
I've just bought this car this morning and it's a cracking little car. It drove very well. The bodywork is indeed rust free. The seller David was a gentleman and a pleasure to deal with.
I am thrilled to bits with it.smile
I hate you!

CDP

7,454 posts

253 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
quotequote all
Furyblade_Lee said:
a perfect modern version of the classic British 60's sportscar, it will not dissapoint!!
They even remembered to include the rust smile