Considering getting something else....or not...but possibly.
Discussion
So the MX5 has become a bit tatty. And I have a hankering for something with a tin top, and a few more cylinders (BMW 330 possibly / E36 328 Sport). But I like the MX5 when it's on form. Just at the moment it still needs a hood and exhaust, and suspension bushes by the seem of things, and someone dinged the door, and not surprisingly the rust is back (that cheap job really was cheap), and the washer bottle is cracked. I can't have 3 cars...although...no really I don't have the space. Plus what's mine worth? A 130,000 miles 1.8 97 with ok/poor paint, GAZ coilovers, FM ARBs, Harddog rollbar, and only 2 original panels (rear wings). Lets face it it's ideal track slag, but that's a tiny market. So £1000?
So £2,350 would see me in this: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3107610.htm
Should I stay or should I go. If I go there will be trouble (A cheap old BMW!), but if I stay it might be double (did you see the list of faults on my car!)
Gaaaaa I can't decide!
So £2,350 would see me in this: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3107610.htm
Should I stay or should I go. If I go there will be trouble (A cheap old BMW!), but if I stay it might be double (did you see the list of faults on my car!)
Gaaaaa I can't decide!
Munter said:
So £2,350 would see me in this: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3107610.htm
The ad says £3,350 
MX-5 Lazza said:
Munter said:
So £2,350 would see me in this: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3107610.htm
The ad says £3,350 (Though looking at the ad, I'm not convinced that's actually an M3. But it'll do as illustration!)
Buy a new '5 or this http://pistonheads.com/sales/2783329.htm
Burgmeister said:
Buy a new '5 or this http://pistonheads.com/sales/2783329.htm
That does have it's own unique appeal. But the MX/replacement is the Mrs daily drive... It'd be a shame to destroy another spit.Plus it kind of misses my tin top/6+cyl hankering...
I had an SLK before the MX which was awful. It's too heavy at the back with the roof down which makes the steering very skittish. It broke quite frequently which was very expensive. You'd be better spending the money on sorting the MX. Don't go the tin top route. Riknos said:
Buying a cheap M3 is a false economy to be honest. Much more expensive to run than the '5 (you taken that into consideration?) and buying at the bottom end of the market you'll have more things to replace / more chance of bits going wrong.
Thats very true. The engines are not totally bulletproof either, the weak link is the big end cap bolts. Upgraded items are available, this would want doing on any prospective purchase. I've seen at first hand the consequences of bolt failure - not pretty.To be honest, a regular 328 would feel ballistic compared to the MX5. Compared with the MX the handling is a bit lifeless on any E36 though. How about a E30 325 sport instead?
robgee1964 said:
To be honest, a regular 328 would feel ballistic compared to the MX5. Compared with the MX the handling is a bit lifeless on any E36 though. How about a E30 325 sport instead?
E30s are feeling a bit too prone to rust for my liking. I agree a 328 is probably the way to go if going down the E36 path.I don't believe anything short of an Elise would provide the same steering feel as the MX. That's part of what makes any decision so hard. The MX offers a lot (like great handling and reliability..mostly). It's just irritating me that my MX seems to need 3 or 4 trips to the garage every year to have bit's fixed, and despite that I've not kept up on all the bits that need doing.
Munter said:
So £2,350 would see me in this: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3107610.htm
The first thing the ad says "Here we have.."That makes it a non-starter straight away.
drewcole81 said:
I think "Throbbing bellend purple" is a bit of a marmite ccolour, but I like it.Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff