What to buy first car, mx5 mk1 or '99 focus?

[JonH92]

So first off being my first post I hope this is in the right place and all in order, and hopefully you guys can give me some advice!

As the title says I'm looking to buy my first car and I think I've narrowed it down to one of the two mentioned, but other suggestions would be good. My budget is pretty much £1k and being a new owner with just a couple of years experience the insurance is a big factor still too. Other than that I haven't got any requirement for boot space and so long as the mpg is reasonable I'm fine too, so basically practicality is not a major concern, I want something fun. Reliability is always good but if there are any problems I have access to a garage so it would cool to fix it myself i.e. something simple to maintain that I can learn on. I can't think of anything else worth mentioning but of course I've probably forgotten something.

First off the mx5 I've got my eye on:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/mx5-...
The ad seems pretty straight but maybe someone more sharp eyed can see some obvious problems, I can't but that's what I'm here for!

The focus I'm looking at is actually my mum's so I know the history, which is not much, no problems except the usual brake and tire changes etc. It has 90k miles and is also a 1.6 petrol, 5dr, 1999 (not sure of the specific model but I think just a standard edition) and I've been told I can have it for £750.

My heart wants the mx5, but my brain tells me to go safe with the focus, so as I said what would you guys suggest? Thanks for reading and I'm looking forward to your thoughts.

[Kinky]

Spend any time on PH and you'll know that there is only 1 answer to that question.

[iva cosworth]

Buy your mums car.

It will be so much easier for your first purchase.

[JonH92]

Kinky said:

Spend any time on PH and you'll know that there is only 1 answer to that question.

Yeah to be honest I did expect this haha, but focus' are also pretty great and I just wandered if there would be a major advantage for the focus like it will be less likely to break down, or perhaps one of the two is more prone to rust or something?

[Liokault]

You will leave your first car in a hedge.

Which one of the two would you be happiest driving into a hedge?

[0a]

Buy your mum's car. The probability that a £1k MX5 will need major work is very high. Concentrate on getting a year or two for the lowest cost possible under your belt (and buy an MX5 as a second car).

[JonH92]

Liokault said:

You will leave your first car in a hedge.

Which one of the two would you be happiest driving into a hedge?

I've been driving a turbo 2.4d volvo in spain for the past 8 months and so far i've avoided the hedges (although there aren't as many here so maybe thats why haha)

[bicycleshorts]

0a said:

Buy your mum's car. The probability that a £1k MX5 will need major work is very high. Concentrate on getting a year or two for the lowest cost possible under your belt (and buy an MX5 as a second car).

My thoughts as well.

Spend the first year or two building experience, no claims and enjoying the freedom of going places with your mates (5 seats vs 4). A focus is still a pretty good drive on b roads as well :-)

Re: costs of running both:
- mx5 more rusty, imports less so but higher insurance. Avoid post 93 UK 1.6s. Not much in 1.6 vs 1.8. Good cars tend to be a bit more than your grand budget, prices are starting to go up for summer. Consumables cheap, see if there's a 5 specialist nearby or get handy with a spanner (very easy car to work on)
- never had a focus but the wife's Sportka only needed the usual services and a set of springs over 2 years. Any replacement parts seemed very cheap on eBay for what is a reasonably rare ford engine.

Edited by bicycleshorts on Sunday 9th March 21:45

[JonH92]

0a said:

Buy your mum's car. The probability that a £1k MX5 will need major work is very high. Concentrate on getting a year or two for the lowest cost possible under your belt (and buy an MX5 as a second car).

On the ad it's just had its' mot, and the guy has said a test drive is no problem so I was thinking of taking it to a local garage with him as well and getting them to look it over at the same time. If the garage says it looks solid and there is nothing noticeable on the test drive do you still think I should be wary or would that be a good enough check over?

[TomCooper]

Buy the MX5! I did and never once regretted it

[0a]

JonH92 said:

On the ad it's just had its' mot, and the guy has said a test drive is no problem so I was thinking of taking it to a local garage with him as well and getting them to look it over at the same time. If the garage says it looks solid and there is nothing noticeable on the test drive do you still think I should be wary or would that be a good enough check over?

You may be lucky, who knows, but after fancying a cheap MX5 and talking to friends I concluded that the "£1k MX5" is a rare beast indeed!

I visited 10 cars at the £1k level over Christmas (not MX5s!) and none were anything like the ad - aside from one that looked great, drove funny, and turned out to have been written off within the last owner's time with the car (I was with a friend and I made him pay to check the car out!)

The focus may seem dull but is perfect for a first year or two of motoring, going out with mates, a driving holiday, moving stuff about and the like.

The most valuable thing about cars at this end of the market is knowing the real history of the car; as it's your mum's car you are miles ahead as a starter!

This end of the market is all good looking ads but they are usually £1k for a reason (though I keep buying barges at this level - the ad for the £750 Audi A8 4.2 V8 sounded good, honest!)

Edited by 0a on Sunday 9th March 21:51

[JonH92]

Thanks Oa (and everyone else) I'm definitely swaying a bit more toward the focus. But as I said practicality is not a major issue, and really I want to take advantage of that fact before I become burdened with the need for boot space and extra seats etc. So if I were to take the focus to a track day for example can I still have as much fun or more than if I were in an mx5? How much would I be missing out on in that regard if at all?

[Buff Mchugelarge]

I payed £500 for my mk1 1.8 Mx5 and it was great, not all cheap cars are wrecks (most are though!)
It will however ruin ever other car you drive as they'll all seem so numb!

[Boobonman]

I've had many a sub £1k mx5. They rust, but are unburstable. Get one.

[0a]

You should probably ignore me and get on the MX5 I just post from my experience of a first car.

Have you looked in the forum here? http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...

I will be on the lookout for one when I have renovated my W124 merc. An old merc and an MX5? Sounds good to me!

[northwest monkey]

Get an insurance quote for the MX5 - that might help you make up your mind...

[steviegunn]

One thing to bear in mind is that MX-5 is the later UK 1.6 with 88bhp, not really a big deal but not as much fun as the earlier 115bhp 1.6, as a first car it will still give you a grin.

[nagsheadwarrior]

Earlier 1.6 was better power wise and having tried both pas is definitely the way to go on mx5s.

[aspirated]

Get the Focus, MX5's don't have a back seat


They also handle pretty well

[JonH92]

northwest monkey said:

Get an insurance quote for the MX5 - that might help you make up your mind...

so far the best I found was aviva for about £650, but as I'm not in the country right now I haven't had a chance to beat it down on the phone or call footman james who according to the forums here seem to be the best. But even at £650 I'd be happy and I doubt the focus could be much lower.

@0a; don't give up on the focus haha you are its' champion and I need someone to give the other side of the argument.

I did consider that any sub-£1k car is likely to have problems (except if you know the history like the focus) but I thought, and so far the majority here have confirmed, that mx5s are quite reliable and not as prone to this issue? I'd definitely be interested to hear more since nothing is certain, BUT, I think I will be selling again within 2 years so real long term issues that might occur in say 15,000-20,000miles probably won't concern my particular case.