My High Mileage Mk3 MX5
Discussion
After confessing to buying the car form the high mileage thread, I thought it would only be fair to create a thread with my initial views.
Introduction
I am currently in my final year of uni and i felt it was time to invest in a more practical car!
My previous steed was an MG ZR. I know what you will all be thinking, but this was a cracking car and will be missed. I had spent far too much money on it namely a full stainless steel system with a sports cat and messed with the suspension. I say messed because whilst it handled great, the daily kidney bashing wasn't much fun. Over three years the combination of kidney bashing and rather loud exhaust had lost their novelty. So the decision was made to move on.
Before the ZR I had a MK3 MR2 (Actually I had another MG but that is beside the point). This was my first foray into RWD and it was an eye opener. The car was an impulse purchase which later turned to out to be a bad decision.
The MR2 pretty much drank oil quicker than it did petrol. So after a few months is was moved on at a hefty loss. This is when the first MG came onto the scene and served me well and did everything I wanted it to.
[b]A gratuitous photo of the ZR.
With the ZR sold i was on the hunt for another car preferably with two seats and power to the back wheels.
The search initially took me to a 350z. A lovely car but the potential fuel bill was a worry.
I had been browsing MX5s for a while but wasn't really sure if it was the car for me. That was until I was browsing Autotrader one evening and stumbled across a nice silver MK3 with a hardtop.
It was then I noticed the mileage, 98,000. Enough to put most of. So off I set to do my research and found a thread on this very forum on high mileage cars. Whilst reading the thread I noticed the car in question was mentioned in the thread. It was at this point I thought it would be sold.
The next morning I range the dealership and to my delight it was still available. The helpful salesmen told me it was about to be sent for auction. This instantly said to me there was room for negotiation. I asked about service history and he told me it was full and the car only had one owner. Being a dealer I took this with a pinch of salt!
I went to view the car that day. It quickly became apparent the car had been looked after. I was presented with a service book full of receipts from Mazda and a stamp from Mazda for every service, with the last being done back in October. All services were done on mileage too rather than yearly. The receipts showed 4 new Michelin Pilot Sports had been fitted very recently. Anything the car needed the previous owner took it to Mazda. I know some people are wary of dealers but the history was extensive and reflected in the car. So why did the previous owner get rid? He traded it in for a new GT86. Not bad for a pensioner!
So an hour after entering the showroom and having had a test drive a deposit was left and I was a happy chap.
I picked the car up a couple of weeks ago and thought I would share my initial thoughts!
The hardtop
It adds a bit of refinement to car especially on longer journeys. However removing it is a two man job and as such the top down days are not as frequent as they should be. When I finally get round to buying a bag to keep it safe, it will probably spend more time in the garage than on the car. Today was the first time I managed to get the roof down and enjoy the sun, the hardtop however is already back on the car due to the problem of storing it.
Interior
The first time in the car reminded me of the MR2, with its typical Japanese feel to it.
The heated leather makes having the roof down an enjoyable experience especially in this cooler weather.
Combined with the heated leather, the heater really helps on those top down days. There are vents that blow down onto your legs and are very effective. There are settings on the heater fan controls for when the roof is off which is helpful. Alternatively you can set the heater to auto and let it decide the best mode.
Suspension
This is where the car comes into its own from me. The comfort of the ride is very good whilst still handling sublimely on a B road blast. The best of both worlds!
Exhaust
The exhaust has been changed at some time to a BBR stainless steel silencer. It is perfect for me, not too loud that it drones on (Like the MG did) but a nice rumble when you plant your foot. It also sounds nice when the roof is down.
Leaks!
I have so far had the popular scuttle panel leak. I noticed a drip on the passengers side whilst we had some heavy rain, a quick Google search revealed it would be the scuttle panel. Where the screws hold the scuttle panel down are two plastic speed fasteners for the screws to grip to. Because of the terrible design they let the water in when the seal perishes. It seems to happen to most MK3s sooner or later, but easily fixed.
The biggest thing I am missing is iPod connectivity. With the MG the iPod was left in the car all the time and I never used the radio. Now I am subjected to the radio and my rubbish selection of CD's. Getting the iPod in the car is top of my priorities at the moment.
The list of things to do:
Introduction
I am currently in my final year of uni and i felt it was time to invest in a more practical car!
My previous steed was an MG ZR. I know what you will all be thinking, but this was a cracking car and will be missed. I had spent far too much money on it namely a full stainless steel system with a sports cat and messed with the suspension. I say messed because whilst it handled great, the daily kidney bashing wasn't much fun. Over three years the combination of kidney bashing and rather loud exhaust had lost their novelty. So the decision was made to move on.
Before the ZR I had a MK3 MR2 (Actually I had another MG but that is beside the point). This was my first foray into RWD and it was an eye opener. The car was an impulse purchase which later turned to out to be a bad decision.
The MR2 pretty much drank oil quicker than it did petrol. So after a few months is was moved on at a hefty loss. This is when the first MG came onto the scene and served me well and did everything I wanted it to.
[b]A gratuitous photo of the ZR.
With the ZR sold i was on the hunt for another car preferably with two seats and power to the back wheels.
The search initially took me to a 350z. A lovely car but the potential fuel bill was a worry.
I had been browsing MX5s for a while but wasn't really sure if it was the car for me. That was until I was browsing Autotrader one evening and stumbled across a nice silver MK3 with a hardtop.
It was then I noticed the mileage, 98,000. Enough to put most of. So off I set to do my research and found a thread on this very forum on high mileage cars. Whilst reading the thread I noticed the car in question was mentioned in the thread. It was at this point I thought it would be sold.
The next morning I range the dealership and to my delight it was still available. The helpful salesmen told me it was about to be sent for auction. This instantly said to me there was room for negotiation. I asked about service history and he told me it was full and the car only had one owner. Being a dealer I took this with a pinch of salt!
I went to view the car that day. It quickly became apparent the car had been looked after. I was presented with a service book full of receipts from Mazda and a stamp from Mazda for every service, with the last being done back in October. All services were done on mileage too rather than yearly. The receipts showed 4 new Michelin Pilot Sports had been fitted very recently. Anything the car needed the previous owner took it to Mazda. I know some people are wary of dealers but the history was extensive and reflected in the car. So why did the previous owner get rid? He traded it in for a new GT86. Not bad for a pensioner!
So an hour after entering the showroom and having had a test drive a deposit was left and I was a happy chap.
I picked the car up a couple of weeks ago and thought I would share my initial thoughts!
The hardtop
It adds a bit of refinement to car especially on longer journeys. However removing it is a two man job and as such the top down days are not as frequent as they should be. When I finally get round to buying a bag to keep it safe, it will probably spend more time in the garage than on the car. Today was the first time I managed to get the roof down and enjoy the sun, the hardtop however is already back on the car due to the problem of storing it.
Interior
The first time in the car reminded me of the MR2, with its typical Japanese feel to it.
The heated leather makes having the roof down an enjoyable experience especially in this cooler weather.
Combined with the heated leather, the heater really helps on those top down days. There are vents that blow down onto your legs and are very effective. There are settings on the heater fan controls for when the roof is off which is helpful. Alternatively you can set the heater to auto and let it decide the best mode.
Suspension
This is where the car comes into its own from me. The comfort of the ride is very good whilst still handling sublimely on a B road blast. The best of both worlds!
Exhaust
The exhaust has been changed at some time to a BBR stainless steel silencer. It is perfect for me, not too loud that it drones on (Like the MG did) but a nice rumble when you plant your foot. It also sounds nice when the roof is down.
Leaks!
I have so far had the popular scuttle panel leak. I noticed a drip on the passengers side whilst we had some heavy rain, a quick Google search revealed it would be the scuttle panel. Where the screws hold the scuttle panel down are two plastic speed fasteners for the screws to grip to. Because of the terrible design they let the water in when the seal perishes. It seems to happen to most MK3s sooner or later, but easily fixed.
The biggest thing I am missing is iPod connectivity. With the MG the iPod was left in the car all the time and I never used the radio. Now I am subjected to the radio and my rubbish selection of CD's. Getting the iPod in the car is top of my priorities at the moment.
The list of things to do:
- Assign private plate.
- iPod connection
- Bag to store hardtop
- Possibly lowering on Eibachs
Lazygraduate said:
Very nice history for a student - I must have been doing something wrong when I was at uni! 
I actually really like the Mk3's, they always look great when I see them out and about and I expect the added refinement over the Mk1/2 is very welcome on longer journeys
Thanks!I actually really like the Mk3's, they always look great when I see them out and about and I expect the added refinement over the Mk1/2 is very welcome on longer journeys
Although I haven't always been a student.
Trefy5 said:
Good write-up
Do you know if she's been aligned properly?
If not then something else to think about and if you do go the Eibach route then definitely get her geometrically aligned
You're not too far from Wheels In Motion and it's worth the trip anyway
The alignment is also on the list to get done. I was hoping to get both the lowering and geo done by Wheels In Motion when the funds are there. Do you know if she's been aligned properly?
If not then something else to think about and if you do go the Eibach route then definitely get her geometrically aligned
You're not too far from Wheels In Motion and it's worth the trip anyway
KingOfTheMoon said:
The alignment is also on the list to get done. I was hoping to get both the lowering and geo done by Wheels In Motion when the funds are there.
200% recommend WIM for their springs & alignment package (£335 all in) if you bought the Eibach springs then went to go get it aligned, it would set you back £320ish plus having the ball ache of fitting the springs yourself; so well worth paying WIM for their package.I had this done last night at their centre in Chesham - I was informed part way through that 2 ARB drop links needed replacing - they managed to get these ordered, delivered, and fitted whilst doing the springs and didn't charge me labour, just parts!
Car handles so much better now, definitely worth the cost.
I have the ipod connection in the car and it makes the stereo much better to use, being able to use the steering wheel controls for my iphone is awesome, with an iphone 5 adapter it works fine with the iphone 5 too
Riknos said:
200% recommend WIM for their springs & alignment package (£335 all in) if you bought the Eibach springs then went to go get it aligned, it would set you back £320ish plus having the ball ache of fitting the springs yourself; so well worth paying WIM for their package.
I had this done last night at their centre in Chesham - I was informed part way through that 2 ARB drop links needed replacing - they managed to get these ordered, delivered, and fitted whilst doing the springs and didn't charge me labour, just parts!
Car handles so much better now, definitely worth the cost.
I have the ipod connection in the car and it makes the stereo much better to use, being able to use the steering wheel controls for my iphone is awesome, with an iphone 5 adapter it works fine with the iphone 5 too
Thanks for the review. They sound like a great company and certainly one I will be spending my money with!I had this done last night at their centre in Chesham - I was informed part way through that 2 ARB drop links needed replacing - they managed to get these ordered, delivered, and fitted whilst doing the springs and didn't charge me labour, just parts!
Car handles so much better now, definitely worth the cost.
I have the ipod connection in the car and it makes the stereo much better to use, being able to use the steering wheel controls for my iphone is awesome, with an iphone 5 adapter it works fine with the iphone 5 too
Which iPod connection is it that you have? The general view seems to be the one sold by MX5 Parts but I have seen quite a few.
Put it this way; the standard suspension set up on the mk3 sport is wrong. I know some other owners with coilovers will say how much better it is, but changing the springs/getting aligned will make the car feel more like what it should have done out of the box, personally.
KingOfTheMoon said:
Which iPod connection is it that you have? The general view seems to be the one sold by MX5 Parts but I have seen quite a few.
Mine is the one from MX-5 parts, yes. Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff