Mk 2.5 project
Discussion
About 2 years ago I agreed to buy an mx5 from a friend who has finished with it. I finally picked it up this weekend. It's a 2003 1.8 with 138k miles on the clock and rust evident on all arches and the boot.
It had not been started for 18 months but started first time when I put a starter pack on it. The rust is worse than I remembered when I last saw it.
My plan is to turbo charge it for a bit of fun, but I first have to see how much the body is going to cost to fix.
It had not been started for 18 months but started first time when I put a starter pack on it. The rust is worse than I remembered when I last saw it.
My plan is to turbo charge it for a bit of fun, but I first have to see how much the body is going to cost to fix.
yellowstreak said:
That's a pity. Will you be any better off spending on an MOT and filler than just selling as a project?
I've never driven one before taking the above on a short drive on a private road. Fantastic steering feeling, but hardly any power!
Sadly due to the sheer amount of them falling into disrepair nowadays they just aren't worth anything spares or repair. Would probably make enough breaking individual parts, but the time commitment for that is higher than just attacking it with filler and selling it to a punter for the summer.I've never driven one before taking the above on a short drive on a private road. Fantastic steering feeling, but hardly any power!
I agree they are great fun wee cars to drive, handling is easily ruined with bad modifications (those heavy ass Rota wheels everyone puts on them :/), but with the right setup of tyres and geometry they are great fun, the low power inspires so much confidence, the FR setup lets it surge around corners in such a different manner to similarly priced FFs.
Depending what car you have come from, the low power N/A nature of the MX5 requires fairly liberal use of the revs, it really opens up between 4k to 7k rpm so don't be afraid to take it to the redline.
Yes you're right. I'm not capable of doing that myself so my currentl plan is to get this to someone like MX5restorer and get a quote. If its too much I will scrap it and write off the cost and repeat to myself the mantra that an old car's body is more important than the condition of its engine!
I have spent some great time researching turbo conversions though!
I have spent some great time researching turbo conversions though!
Just FYI, i've seen quite a few mk2s, and this one looks pretty far gone rust wise, even for a mk2!
You may be better off getting hold of one that just needs the sills doing. My old one had the sills done a couple times, but the arches front and rear were immaculate throughout my ownership.
get the front chassis legs looked at before anything else, if those are swiss cheese there's no point in throwing money at anything else.
You may be better off getting hold of one that just needs the sills doing. My old one had the sills done a couple times, but the arches front and rear were immaculate throughout my ownership.
get the front chassis legs looked at before anything else, if those are swiss cheese there's no point in throwing money at anything else.
Of course there is another place for rusted our MX5s to go...
http://www.ancsportscars.co.uk/The-Kit/
I've never been a kit car person, but making a replica of an Aston, of which only 4 exist is intriguing!
http://www.ancsportscars.co.uk/The-Kit/
I've never been a kit car person, but making a replica of an Aston, of which only 4 exist is intriguing!
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