1991 Mazda MX5 1.6
Discussion
Sorry for yet another MX5 thread!
I was looking for a wee MX5 project for myself and my 15 yr old lad to work on over the next few years until he is old enough to get insured without costing an arm and a leg and bought this Mk 1 2 weeks ago.
Originally we were looking at anything up to an NC with a budget of £2500 maximum but cheaper the better. The MK 1 was ultimately the one we were after but looking at some of the cars for sale at that price just brought up some right horrors.
I don't mind attempting anything mechanical at all but rust was going to be the issue and wanted to try and get as rust free a car as possible (ha ha!)
Discounted the NC in the end as just too new and for a fun car we wanted some character so settled on trying to find an Nb.
Obviously these have their own problems (even more rust issues) but saw some half decent ones advertised but nothing that really grabbed our attention.
We had just came back from driving a 2005 icon Nb which was nice but too nice in some ways. Heated leather, aircon and all that jazz but was missing that old car feeling. Well, that and the filler starting to crack under the rear sills was a bit off putting!!
Took the dog out and thought unless I increased my budget that it was a waste of time. I was pushing my luck with the budget I had anyway (Mrs Mac not happy with spending that much at this time) so thought I would give it a by but opened up Autotrader just for a quick look.
And just that morning a silver Na had been put on. Car was only 20 minutes away and looked ok. Covered in awful stickers and looking rather chavvy and described as scruffy I thought I would phone up anyway.
Drove over that evening and actually it wasn't too bad really. Not a fan of silver at all but by now I was just after one in as good condition as I could find.
The guy had had it for 9 years and put 17,000 miles on it. He has had the inner and outer sills done and as well as the rear arches.
New tyres, wheels and brakes. New clutch and all belts. Roof all good (so I thought!) New radiator and lots of other items replaced and a huge history file with all previous bills.
It was covered in some very dubious owners club stickers everywhere and crappy daytime leds and the bodywork although very straight had some issues with lacquer going cloudy and a large scratch and patch of lacquer missing from the boot lid.
We took it out for a drive and couldn't stop smiling and laughing!!
THIS is what we were after! It is very raw and noisy and smelly but all in very good ways. My lad compared it to the newer models by comparing it as going from an Airbus to a Spitfire!
Deal done and we picked it up the next day.
More to come......
I was looking for a wee MX5 project for myself and my 15 yr old lad to work on over the next few years until he is old enough to get insured without costing an arm and a leg and bought this Mk 1 2 weeks ago.
Originally we were looking at anything up to an NC with a budget of £2500 maximum but cheaper the better. The MK 1 was ultimately the one we were after but looking at some of the cars for sale at that price just brought up some right horrors.
I don't mind attempting anything mechanical at all but rust was going to be the issue and wanted to try and get as rust free a car as possible (ha ha!)
Discounted the NC in the end as just too new and for a fun car we wanted some character so settled on trying to find an Nb.
Obviously these have their own problems (even more rust issues) but saw some half decent ones advertised but nothing that really grabbed our attention.
We had just came back from driving a 2005 icon Nb which was nice but too nice in some ways. Heated leather, aircon and all that jazz but was missing that old car feeling. Well, that and the filler starting to crack under the rear sills was a bit off putting!!
Took the dog out and thought unless I increased my budget that it was a waste of time. I was pushing my luck with the budget I had anyway (Mrs Mac not happy with spending that much at this time) so thought I would give it a by but opened up Autotrader just for a quick look.
And just that morning a silver Na had been put on. Car was only 20 minutes away and looked ok. Covered in awful stickers and looking rather chavvy and described as scruffy I thought I would phone up anyway.
Drove over that evening and actually it wasn't too bad really. Not a fan of silver at all but by now I was just after one in as good condition as I could find.
The guy had had it for 9 years and put 17,000 miles on it. He has had the inner and outer sills done and as well as the rear arches.
New tyres, wheels and brakes. New clutch and all belts. Roof all good (so I thought!) New radiator and lots of other items replaced and a huge history file with all previous bills.
It was covered in some very dubious owners club stickers everywhere and crappy daytime leds and the bodywork although very straight had some issues with lacquer going cloudy and a large scratch and patch of lacquer missing from the boot lid.
We took it out for a drive and couldn't stop smiling and laughing!!
THIS is what we were after! It is very raw and noisy and smelly but all in very good ways. My lad compared it to the newer models by comparing it as going from an Airbus to a Spitfire!
Deal done and we picked it up the next day.
More to come......
Got it home and first things first was to try and remove the myriad of stickers that lovingly adorned the car .....
And also removed the tacky day time running LED's.
It also had an odd passenger side cover the headlight with a duct to feed the amazing homemade air intake that does absolutely nothing!
A quick clean and once over and all looks much better than I thought.
Bad points are are loose passenger wing mirror that upon further investigation it looks like the securing screws have seen some action with both not fully tight down but neither will tighten or loosen without the fear of shearing them! The window is also very slow on that side which is a common problem.
That's a job when I get my garage back from the daughter who is storing all her possessions in between house moves so no room for the car.
The rear exhaust box has a rattle so waiting for a Cobalt exhaust to come in stock.
I spent the last 2 weeks just driving it and enjoying it for 700 miles and loved every minute.
Had it machine polished which worked wonders but shows up all the little marks and scratches which i'm not that fussed about but definitely needs a new boot lid.
And then I walked past the car during the week and moved the driver wing mirror and then......
And also removed the tacky day time running LED's.
It also had an odd passenger side cover the headlight with a duct to feed the amazing homemade air intake that does absolutely nothing!
A quick clean and once over and all looks much better than I thought.
Bad points are are loose passenger wing mirror that upon further investigation it looks like the securing screws have seen some action with both not fully tight down but neither will tighten or loosen without the fear of shearing them! The window is also very slow on that side which is a common problem.
That's a job when I get my garage back from the daughter who is storing all her possessions in between house moves so no room for the car.
The rear exhaust box has a rattle so waiting for a Cobalt exhaust to come in stock.
I spent the last 2 weeks just driving it and enjoying it for 700 miles and loved every minute.
Had it machine polished which worked wonders but shows up all the little marks and scratches which i'm not that fussed about but definitely needs a new boot lid.
And then I walked past the car during the week and moved the driver wing mirror and then......
oops!!
Wing mirror came off in my hand! Literally just fell off with hardly touching it!!
Upon investigation there is a bolt that runs from the mirror housing down into the door bracket but lets just say the bolt had slight rusted away.......
Bolt and washer from above.
Bolt and washer from the side......
Not much left of that!!
Unfortunately I managed to crack the glass getting the trim off but a replacement was soon here and some new stainless nuts and bolts and soon had it all back together.
Now at the stage where I am waiting for the exhaust to come into stock and getting some quotes to touch up a few issued on the bodywork.
Then strip down the door and fix the slow window and get that mirror off!
Wing mirror came off in my hand! Literally just fell off with hardly touching it!!
Upon investigation there is a bolt that runs from the mirror housing down into the door bracket but lets just say the bolt had slight rusted away.......
Bolt and washer from above.
Bolt and washer from the side......
Not much left of that!!
Unfortunately I managed to crack the glass getting the trim off but a replacement was soon here and some new stainless nuts and bolts and soon had it all back together.
Now at the stage where I am waiting for the exhaust to come into stock and getting some quotes to touch up a few issued on the bodywork.
Then strip down the door and fix the slow window and get that mirror off!
1991 Eunos roadster probably the best hooning car i've ever owned. Point, squirt, squeal, no problems! 
80mph feels like 180, the tiny brakes are more than adequate to anchor the mini missile up and they sound fruity as hell even on the stock system!
Do think they look nicer with the eunos/jdm rear plate recess but bar that, she's lovely mate!
They also do not like K&N, open type filters. I reverted to a modified stock airbox as mine came with a K&N and I couldn't believe how much difference it made. Changes the exhaust note for the better too (especially aftermarket) with the stock airbox.
I had a Tanabe Manifold on mine with a custom stainless I made and soon as I put the stock airbox back on I got some rather fruity bangs inbetween every gear change when driven hard!!
Torsen diff's are pretty cheap now too, although the 1600 diff ratio is much more suited than the 1800, with a 4.3 FD they really wake up and buzz through them gutless revs much easier!
Love it, Enjoy!
Shouldn't of sold mine
80mph feels like 180, the tiny brakes are more than adequate to anchor the mini missile up and they sound fruity as hell even on the stock system!
Do think they look nicer with the eunos/jdm rear plate recess but bar that, she's lovely mate!
They also do not like K&N, open type filters. I reverted to a modified stock airbox as mine came with a K&N and I couldn't believe how much difference it made. Changes the exhaust note for the better too (especially aftermarket) with the stock airbox.
I had a Tanabe Manifold on mine with a custom stainless I made and soon as I put the stock airbox back on I got some rather fruity bangs inbetween every gear change when driven hard!!
Torsen diff's are pretty cheap now too, although the 1600 diff ratio is much more suited than the 1800, with a 4.3 FD they really wake up and buzz through them gutless revs much easier!
Love it, Enjoy!
Shouldn't of sold mine
Edited by bombercountynick on Saturday 4th July 20:20
Amuses me to see the MX5OC sticker on a car that someone has been making a half arsed attempt to ruin with stick on crap and rubbish aftermarket mods; my experience of going to a couple of their meet ups is a load of proper old giffers in love with stick on chrome, badges, and rubbish like cone filters even on the newest models.
It's great to see one brought back rather than ruined.
It's great to see one brought back rather than ruined.
bombercountynick said:
1991 Eunos roadster probably the best hooning car i've ever owned. Point, squirt, squeal, no problems!
80mph feels like 180, the tiny brakes are more than adequate to anchor the mini missile up and they sound fruity as hell even on the stock system!
Do think they look nicer with the eunos/jdm rear plate recess but bar that, she's lovely mate!
They also do not like K&N, open type filters. I reverted to a modified stock airbox as mine came with a K&N and I couldn't believe how much difference it made. Changes the exhaust note for the better too (especially aftermarket) with the stock airbox.
I had a Tanabe Manifold on mine with a custom stainless I made and soon as I put the stock airbox back on I got some rather fruity bangs inbetween every gear change when driven hard!!
Torsen diff's are pretty cheap now too, although the 1600 diff ratio is much more suited than the 1800, with a 4.3 FD they really wake up and buzz through them gutless revs much easier!
Love it, Enjoy!
Shouldn't of sold mine
Thanks and very interesting about the airbox. This has been modified but the original airbox came with the car.80mph feels like 180, the tiny brakes are more than adequate to anchor the mini missile up and they sound fruity as hell even on the stock system!
Do think they look nicer with the eunos/jdm rear plate recess but bar that, she's lovely mate!
They also do not like K&N, open type filters. I reverted to a modified stock airbox as mine came with a K&N and I couldn't believe how much difference it made. Changes the exhaust note for the better too (especially aftermarket) with the stock airbox.
I had a Tanabe Manifold on mine with a custom stainless I made and soon as I put the stock airbox back on I got some rather fruity bangs inbetween every gear change when driven hard!!
Torsen diff's are pretty cheap now too, although the 1600 diff ratio is much more suited than the 1800, with a 4.3 FD they really wake up and buzz through them gutless revs much easier!
Love it, Enjoy!
Shouldn't of sold mine
Edited by bombercountynick on Saturday 4th July 20:20
What you you do to modify yours to improve the box then?
Oh and lovely car!
stickleback123 said:
Amuses me to see the MX5OC sticker on a car that someone has been making a half arsed attempt to ruin with stick on crap and rubbish aftermarket mods; my experience of going to a couple of their meet ups is a load of proper old giffers in love with stick on chrome, badges, and rubbish like cone filters even on the newest models.
It's great to see one brought back rather than ruined.
I was expecting some young chavvy lad that was selling but an older gent who loved his stickers and hoped to meet me at a future owners club meeting..!It's great to see one brought back rather than ruined.
The plan is to keep it very original with just a small drop on the suspension on the cards but nothing that makes it crashy as it drives so well.
Cheers.
nessiemac said:
The plan is to keep it very original with just a small drop on the suspension on the cards but nothing that makes it crashy as it drives so well.
IMHO they are the most outright fun on the standard mazda springs and dampers with bushes in good order. Once you start lowering and so on the car feels a bit more serious and the lack of grunt becomes frustrating; the chassis writes cheques the engine can't cash.I've always enjoyed totally standard cars the most.
stickleback123 said:
nessiemac said:
The plan is to keep it very original with just a small drop on the suspension on the cards but nothing that makes it crashy as it drives so well.
IMHO they are the most outright fun on the standard mazda springs and dampers with bushes in good order. Once you start lowering and so on the car feels a bit more serious and the lack of grunt becomes frustrating; the chassis writes cheques the engine can't cash.I've always enjoyed totally standard cars the most.
Oh and daisies are staying. In fact it came with a spare set of daisies that I am going to refurb and have some winter tyres on.
Edited by nessiemac on Sunday 5th July 08:24
nessiemac said:
stickleback123 said:
Amuses me to see the MX5OC sticker on a car that someone has been making a half arsed attempt to ruin with stick on crap and rubbish aftermarket mods; my experience of going to a couple of their meet ups is a load of proper old giffers in love with stick on chrome, badges, and rubbish like cone filters even on the newest models.
It's great to see one brought back rather than ruined.
I was expecting some young chavvy lad that was selling but an older gent who loved his stickers and hoped to meet me at a future owners club meeting..!It's great to see one brought back rather than ruined.
The plan is to keep it very original with just a small drop on the suspension on the cards but nothing that makes it crashy as it drives so well.
Cheers.
This is part of it
Minor slightly on topic digression:
I tried a trip out with the owners club and I saw this beauty, what you can't see so well is the chrome strip all around the weather seal, the chrome door handles and mirrors, and the stickers all over the side. The paintwork looked like it had been washed with a brillo pad too, poor car.
I was by no means the only car so tackily adorned, and I can only assume they got those 2000GT badges as a job lot because a few had them stuck on.
I tried a trip out with the owners club and I saw this beauty, what you can't see so well is the chrome strip all around the weather seal, the chrome door handles and mirrors, and the stickers all over the side. The paintwork looked like it had been washed with a brillo pad too, poor car.
I was by no means the only car so tackily adorned, and I can only assume they got those 2000GT badges as a job lot because a few had them stuck on.
stickleback123 said:
Minor slightly on topic digression:
I tried a trip out with the owners club and I saw this beauty, what you can't see so well is the chrome strip all around the weather seal, the chrome door handles and mirrors, and the stickers all over the side. The paintwork looked like it had been washed with a brillo pad too, poor car.
I was by no means the only car so tackily adorned, and I can only assume they got those 2000GT badges as a job lot because a few had them stuck on.
Crazy! I tried a trip out with the owners club and I saw this beauty, what you can't see so well is the chrome strip all around the weather seal, the chrome door handles and mirrors, and the stickers all over the side. The paintwork looked like it had been washed with a brillo pad too, poor car.
I was by no means the only car so tackily adorned, and I can only assume they got those 2000GT badges as a job lot because a few had them stuck on.
Managed to stop driving the '5 for 5 minutes to grab some photos and scrubs up well!
Mazda Mx5 sunset (7 of 7) by nessiemac1, on Flickr
Mazda Mx5 sunset (4 of 7) by nessiemac1, on Flickr
Mazda Mx5 sunset (6 of 7) by nessiemac1, on Flickr
Mazda Mx5 sunset (3 of 7) by nessiemac1, on Flickr
Mazda Mx5 sunset (2 of 7) by nessiemac1, on Flickr
Mazda Mx5 sunset (5 of 7) by nessiemac1, on Flickr
Mazda Mx5 sunset (7 of 7) by nessiemac1, on FlickrMazda Mx5 sunset (4 of 7) by nessiemac1, on FlickrMazda Mx5 sunset (6 of 7) by nessiemac1, on FlickrMazda Mx5 sunset (3 of 7) by nessiemac1, on FlickrMazda Mx5 sunset (2 of 7) by nessiemac1, on FlickrMazda Mx5 sunset (5 of 7) by nessiemac1, on FlickrGassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff