Just bought MK1 MX5, lots of questions.
Discussion
A slightly impulsive ebay buy has resulted in me hitting buy it now on a mk1 MX5 1.8 Is UK car.
Black with black cloth interior.
Arches are a bit scabby but it was cheap, what else do I need to look for when I go to collect, I understand sills and arches are the rot spots but any others?
It's a manual car, will it have LSD?
Plan will be to turn it in to my daily driver and autotest/hillclimb toy, comfort isn't the be all and end all for me but at the same time a full on competitive race car isn't my aim either I have those already!
What are the "best" bits to put on, it's been a generally well looked after car, middle aged owners and the car is standard, is there much power to be released from the engine or is it generally best left standard? Suspension wise what works well on a budget? Wheel wise what are the lightest wheels fitted as generally standard, I love the look of the Enkei 5 spokes but unless they offer a real benefit will just stick with the wheels the car has.
Does it have strut braces as standard?
Sorry for the many questions but I've only ever driven one MK1 and it was a long time ago so I'm quite excited!
Black with black cloth interior.
Arches are a bit scabby but it was cheap, what else do I need to look for when I go to collect, I understand sills and arches are the rot spots but any others?
It's a manual car, will it have LSD?
Plan will be to turn it in to my daily driver and autotest/hillclimb toy, comfort isn't the be all and end all for me but at the same time a full on competitive race car isn't my aim either I have those already!
What are the "best" bits to put on, it's been a generally well looked after car, middle aged owners and the car is standard, is there much power to be released from the engine or is it generally best left standard? Suspension wise what works well on a budget? Wheel wise what are the lightest wheels fitted as generally standard, I love the look of the Enkei 5 spokes but unless they offer a real benefit will just stick with the wheels the car has.
Does it have strut braces as standard?
Sorry for the many questions but I've only ever driven one MK1 and it was a long time ago so I'm quite excited!
Unlikely to have an LSD being a UK car, same for any extra bracing. Rot can be expensive as they rot from the inside out. If it's visible outside it's likely horrid in the inner sills.
Tuning won't get you much NA, best gains are from going with boost but they drive great with standard power. Standard wheels are pretty light but 15's make tyre choice and price much easier.
Get some pics up and welcome to 5 ownership, you'll be hooked in no time!
Nick
Tuning won't get you much NA, best gains are from going with boost but they drive great with standard power. Standard wheels are pretty light but 15's make tyre choice and price much easier.
Get some pics up and welcome to 5 ownership, you'll be hooked in no time!
Nick
Well this is the car:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260906790669?ssPageName=...
Like I say rot is actually not a massive concern, I restore MGs so well versed in rot!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260906790669?ssPageName=...
Like I say rot is actually not a massive concern, I restore MGs so well versed in rot!
vrsmxtb said:
A 1.8iS will have extra bracing over the original 1.6. I still get some scuttle shake though.
Most of that can be got rid of with the right alignment, light wheels and good tyres 
It's an open-top car with relatively narrow sills though so you'll never get rid of it altogether without a full roll cage.Looks like a good buy from the photos 
I notice the headlight covers have a gap between them and the bonnet - I lived with this for ages until I read on here somewhere that you just need to lift up the trailing edge of the headlight cover to realign it. Probably the cheapest and easiest spruce up job you can do the car!
Those alloys are pretty light as it is, although as has been said are 14" so a set of Toyo T1Rs (recommended tyre) will be markedly more than on 15" wheels.
As for looking for issues - check the back of the engine, an oil seal can go which drips oil onto one of the coolant hoses. A relatively easy fix but worth checking straight away.
Brake calipers can stick as well, so consider giving these a good check over.
There's loads of other stuff but I can't think right now! Have a read of the buying guide on here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
and the MX5 Owners Club:
http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/t/425.aspx
I hope the car is as good as it looks!
I notice the headlight covers have a gap between them and the bonnet - I lived with this for ages until I read on here somewhere that you just need to lift up the trailing edge of the headlight cover to realign it. Probably the cheapest and easiest spruce up job you can do the car!
Those alloys are pretty light as it is, although as has been said are 14" so a set of Toyo T1Rs (recommended tyre) will be markedly more than on 15" wheels.
As for looking for issues - check the back of the engine, an oil seal can go which drips oil onto one of the coolant hoses. A relatively easy fix but worth checking straight away.
Brake calipers can stick as well, so consider giving these a good check over.
There's loads of other stuff but I can't think right now! Have a read of the buying guide on here
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
and the MX5 Owners Club:
http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/t/425.aspx
I hope the car is as good as it looks!
Performance 5: http://www.performance5.com/
I had a UK 1.8IS and can confirm that it didn't have an LSD, bracing wise is had underbody braces at the front and back and behind the seats, however it didn't have a strut brace. If you can get decent tyres for the stock wheels they are very light due to the hollow spokes, however I ended up getting rid of mine due to the lack of decent and cheap rubber.
The best thing you can do to an MX-5 though is get a full alignment.
I had a UK 1.8IS and can confirm that it didn't have an LSD, bracing wise is had underbody braces at the front and back and behind the seats, however it didn't have a strut brace. If you can get decent tyres for the stock wheels they are very light due to the hollow spokes, however I ended up getting rid of mine due to the lack of decent and cheap rubber.
The best thing you can do to an MX-5 though is get a full alignment.
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