RE: Mazda MX-5 Rocketeer V6 | PH Private Area
Discussion
A video of the underneath taken while it was on the Mot ramp last weekend can be found here https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oLgAYzImreE
KTMsm said:
I would buy one but £16k for quite a tatty base vehicle seems too much
Looking at Rocketeer it seems the parts required are £9k (which seems excessive too) but add £1k engine and I could buy a mint base car for £5k
I've just bought a 100k 968 for less
This is definitely not a ‘tatty base vehicle’. With respect a 968 is a nice car but a lot heavier than a Rocketeer so power to weight would be a lot lower - 270bhp per ton for MX5 vs 240bhp / 1.4t for 968. Also isn’t 968 a 4 cylinder?Looking at Rocketeer it seems the parts required are £9k (which seems excessive too) but add £1k engine and I could buy a mint base car for £5k
I've just bought a 100k 968 for less
KTMsm said:
I would buy one but £16k for quite a tatty base vehicle seems too much
Looking at Rocketeer it seems the parts required are £9k (which seems excessive too) but add £1k engine and I could buy a mint base car for £5k
I've just bought a 100k 968 for less
How is the slower car a win ?Looking at Rocketeer it seems the parts required are £9k (which seems excessive too) but add £1k engine and I could buy a mint base car for £5k
I've just bought a 100k 968 for less
(pork fan her btw)
PushedDover said:
How is the slower car a win ?
(pork fan her btw)
If you want to play that game, I bought a 1000cc Fazer for £1,500 and I bought Westfield Seight for £10k(pork fan her btw)
My point about the 968 was you get a lot of car for £16k and it's a hell of a lot for an MX5 (and I'm a huge MX5 fan)
There's a Lexus V8 engined one on marketplace at sub £8k
KTMsm said:
PushedDover said:
How is the slower car a win ?
(pork fan her btw)
If you want to play that game, I bought a 1000cc Fazer for £1,500 and I bought Westfield Seight for £10k(pork fan her btw)
My point about the 968 was you get a lot of car for £16k and it's a hell of a lot for an MX5 (and I'm a huge MX5 fan)
There's a Lexus V8 engined one on marketplace at sub £8k
DanieleToscano said:
Really wanted one of these about 7 years ago, but they weren’t ready. So, I ended up with a V6 flavoured MGF.
It still has a lovely tune behind your head, but with the added bonus of no headgasket failures :P
Is that one of the Retro ports Cars KV6 conversions or have you done one of your own, if so which engine did you use?It still has a lovely tune behind your head, but with the added bonus of no headgasket failures :P
Hope people don't mind me reviving a dead post.
Thought I would add something that I have noticed. These Rocketeer conversions do seem very desirable and despite the high cost of the conversion, do add value to converted cars.
I had been watching this car at auction, an NB (less desirable than an NA) in a condition which wasn't particularly good judging from the pictures and MOT history...basically a £2-3k car if it had the original engine.
https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/2004-mazda-...
Sold for £14k plus fees.
Obviously with turnkey conversions being £20k+, it is far from a money maker, but...it is rare for an engine conversion to add such value to a car.
Thought I would add something that I have noticed. These Rocketeer conversions do seem very desirable and despite the high cost of the conversion, do add value to converted cars.
I had been watching this car at auction, an NB (less desirable than an NA) in a condition which wasn't particularly good judging from the pictures and MOT history...basically a £2-3k car if it had the original engine.
https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/2004-mazda-...
Sold for £14k plus fees.
Obviously with turnkey conversions being £20k+, it is far from a money maker, but...it is rare for an engine conversion to add such value to a car.
MattsCar said:
Hope people don't mind me reviving a dead post.
Thought I would add something that I have noticed. These Rocketeer conversions do seem very desirable and despite the high cost of the conversion, do add value to converted cars.
I had been watching this car at auction, an NB (less desirable than an NA) in a condition which wasn't particularly good judging from the pictures and MOT history...basically a £2-3k car if it had the original engine.
https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/2004-mazda-...
Sold for £14k plus fees.
Obviously with turnkey conversions being £20k+, it is far from a money maker, but...it is rare for an engine conversion to add such value to a car.
Very interesting - I've often wondered what these would go for but never seen one for sale. Thought I would add something that I have noticed. These Rocketeer conversions do seem very desirable and despite the high cost of the conversion, do add value to converted cars.
I had been watching this car at auction, an NB (less desirable than an NA) in a condition which wasn't particularly good judging from the pictures and MOT history...basically a £2-3k car if it had the original engine.
https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/2004-mazda-...
Sold for £14k plus fees.
Obviously with turnkey conversions being £20k+, it is far from a money maker, but...it is rare for an engine conversion to add such value to a car.
Thanks for posting
A few have been listed for sale in the last year and on an NA (pop up lights for the uninitiated), I can't see why it couldn't add £15k in value, if the conversion car is a very good example and it has been done in house by Rocketeer as opposed to a self build, guess this adds a certain cachet.
Seems the conversion is coveted and well regarded.
On a side note, the car listed in that auction caused me a bit of head scratching. It wasn't a particularly nice low mileage example. Minimal modifications, which I don't think were adequate for the power. But the owner spent one hell of a lot of money on that conversion including a new engine, only to sell it a year later before it was even run in.
Seems the conversion is coveted and well regarded.
On a side note, the car listed in that auction caused me a bit of head scratching. It wasn't a particularly nice low mileage example. Minimal modifications, which I don't think were adequate for the power. But the owner spent one hell of a lot of money on that conversion including a new engine, only to sell it a year later before it was even run in.
MattsCar said:
A few have been listed for sale in the last year and on an NA (pop up lights for the uninitiated), I can't see why it couldn't add £15k in value, if the conversion car is a very good example and it has been done in house by Rocketeer as opposed to a self build, guess this adds a certain cachet.
Seems the conversion is coveted and well regarded.
On a side note, the car listed in that auction caused me a bit of head scratching. It wasn't a particularly nice low mileage example. Minimal modifications, which I don't think were adequate for the power. But the owner spent one hell of a lot of money on that conversion including a new engine, only to sell it a year later before it was even run in.
The last MX5 I'd convert would be a 'nice, low mileage example' - but it's had all the mods it needs for the conversion, via the MeisterRs. Says change of circumstances for the sale, and likely the owner would have carried on doing bits and pieces as they went.Seems the conversion is coveted and well regarded.
On a side note, the car listed in that auction caused me a bit of head scratching. It wasn't a particularly nice low mileage example. Minimal modifications, which I don't think were adequate for the power. But the owner spent one hell of a lot of money on that conversion including a new engine, only to sell it a year later before it was even run in.
Kinda gutted I didn't see it up for sale...
Can I disagree, sorry...if you are going for a £20k+ engine conversion...why go for/present a high mileage, tatty, MOT history issues car that needs further work on underside components with bodywork flaws when you can have a low mileage, perfect, base to work on for £5k, that is pretty much the top level for a low mileage, perfect, rust free, spotless on all levels NB these days. It makes no sense.
Also, it really has not had all the mods...slapping a cheap pair of coilovers and upgraded ARBs on it will not make it suitable for the power change. It needs chassis strengthening, bigger brakes, a decent LSD, upgraded arms etc.
Also, it really has not had all the mods...slapping a cheap pair of coilovers and upgraded ARBs on it will not make it suitable for the power change. It needs chassis strengthening, bigger brakes, a decent LSD, upgraded arms etc.
PushedDover said:
Nice, but not worth anywhere near that.MattsCar said:
Can I disagree, sorry...if you are going for a £20k+ engine conversion...why go for/present a high mileage, tatty, MOT history issues car that needs further work on underside components with bodywork flaws when you can have a low mileage, perfect, base to work on for £5k, that is pretty much the top level for a low mileage, perfect, rust free, spotless on all levels NB these days. It makes no sense.
Also, it really has not had all the mods...slapping a cheap pair of coilovers and upgraded ARBs on it will not make it suitable for the power change. It needs chassis strengthening, bigger brakes, a decent LSD, upgraded arms etc.
I'm not sure where you're finding a car like you're describing for £5k!Also, it really has not had all the mods...slapping a cheap pair of coilovers and upgraded ARBs on it will not make it suitable for the power change. It needs chassis strengthening, bigger brakes, a decent LSD, upgraded arms etc.
The power really isn't that crazy. Plenty of turbo or supercharged NBs driving around very well indeed without the stuff you're talking about. Euphonic came with LSD, decent pads are more than enough, chassis brace is nice but not vital - and not sure what you mean by 'upgraded arms'?
The car was dog rough is what I am saying, gouges in the front bumper, rusty arches, signs of rusty sills, paint defects etc.... and that is what is visible in pictures on the outside. There are many NBs advertised without these issues and yes, under £5k.
The fact that it was advertised as "room for improvement" or something along those lines,does not bode well.
With regards the "mods". Putting double the amount of power through an MX5 chassis, designed for 115-140bhp from factory and putting ARBs and cheap coilovers on is not going to work or feel good...yes, lots of people do it, but that doesn't mean it will feel complete. Factory LSD probably shot, EBC yellow stuff on standard brake discs not good enough, standard alloys along with midrange tyres, not up to scratch, no roll cage or chassis rail bracing, will feel wobbly. As good as the MX5 is, there are limits as to what it can take.
ETA- Upgraded suspension arms is what I was talking about.
The fact that it was advertised as "room for improvement" or something along those lines,does not bode well.
With regards the "mods". Putting double the amount of power through an MX5 chassis, designed for 115-140bhp from factory and putting ARBs and cheap coilovers on is not going to work or feel good...yes, lots of people do it, but that doesn't mean it will feel complete. Factory LSD probably shot, EBC yellow stuff on standard brake discs not good enough, standard alloys along with midrange tyres, not up to scratch, no roll cage or chassis rail bracing, will feel wobbly. As good as the MX5 is, there are limits as to what it can take.
ETA- Upgraded suspension arms is what I was talking about.
Edited by MattsCar on Friday 14th March 00:37
And I found this one for £3k, not a scratch/dent on the bodywork, zero underside rust, chassis legs original and perfect, 50k ish miles.
Never failed an MOT in its life and only 4 advisories in total.
They are out there.
ETA- mods done after purchasing.
Never failed an MOT in its life and only 4 advisories in total.
They are out there.
ETA- mods done after purchasing.
Edited by MattsCar on Friday 14th March 00:57
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