So I've joined the MX-5 club!
Discussion
Despite already owning more than enough cars, I may have purchased a 1991 1.6 MX-5.
I've wanted one for a while and a few weeks ago I attempted to buy my mates one off of him - he wasn't looking to sell but he took my offer into consideration, unfortunately he declined.
Since then, he sold his beloved Minker K1 (That was a shock, we thought he'd keep that forever).
During a quiet shift on Friday night, he was telling me that he's looking at buying an Impreza STi WR1, despite already owning a Legacy GTB, 3 Imprezas and being in the process of buying a 4th.
I took this as an opportunity to try and snag the MX-5 again! I threw him my very best offer after and after a lot of convincing it was agreed!
For the grand total of £550 I'd purchased a 1991 1.6 MX-5 Manual Jap-Import with 96,000 km on the clock, 59,000 miles.
For an extra £250, he threw in the Hard Top, Wind Deflector and Tonneau Cover...
So, the 24 year old MX-5 NA for shed money!?
Its in very good nick, though there are some issues which I'm undecided about addressing:
- 50% of the time, the Power Steering pump whines quite loudly when maneuvering in 1st or reverse.
- 65% of the time, you get some quite bad clutch judder when pulling away in 1st or reversing, the second the car gets rolling properly its fine. This seems to be a relatively common issue if the internet is to be believed!
- The windows stick, a lot. In fact, the passenger window cable has since snapped, luckily the window was up at the time.
- There is a hole in the rear screen.
Aside from that though, its great! This is actually the third car I've bought of this particular friend, he always keeps his car in good condition - only problem is he rarely cleans them!
Mechanically, aside from the clutch judder, it feels great, its amazing to think that its older than me and yet in better mechanical condition!
It was filthy when I picked it up, so spent the day with a friend taking the interior out to give it all a good clean and it came up looking like new - for reference, I'm the idiot in the polo shirt!
Overall, I'm bloody chuffed with it, for under a grand its marvelous.
Ok, so its not the fastest in the world, but at the end of the day it looks good, is great fun to drive, is almost bulletproof and yet costs absolutely peanuts to run! Oh, and it has pop-up head lights!
At the moment, I'm toying with the idea of spraying the wheels glossy black. The friend I got it from has just sprayed his Legacy wheels, he did it himself with £12 worth of Poundland paint - I kid you not, I've seen proper spray shops do worse jobs! So for the sake of £12 and an afternoons work, I might give it a punt.
I'd like to get the passenger window fixed as well as sort the drivers side out... But I don't know if I can be bothered.
Same goes for the tear in the rear screen, if I can get it sorted cheap I'll probably do it...
What I love so far:
Its incredibly fun to drive.
Roof comes off in seconds.
Makes quite a good noise!
Being one of the Jap imports, its got air con and a heater that tries to melt your face.
The headrests have speakers built in, which is f
king awesome - especially when you remember that the car is 24 years old!
What I hate so far:
Hate is a strong word, I don't really hate anything about the car!
Having said that, its not the most masculine car in the world - I probably look extremely gay when I've got a male friend in the car and have the roof down!
I didn't realise how big the hard top was... And I've got nowhere to put it!
For the time being its wrapped in tarpaulin and is sitting in the garden.
I'll report back and update the thread in due course, once I've had it for a few weeks...
I've wanted one for a while and a few weeks ago I attempted to buy my mates one off of him - he wasn't looking to sell but he took my offer into consideration, unfortunately he declined.
Since then, he sold his beloved Minker K1 (That was a shock, we thought he'd keep that forever).
During a quiet shift on Friday night, he was telling me that he's looking at buying an Impreza STi WR1, despite already owning a Legacy GTB, 3 Imprezas and being in the process of buying a 4th.
I took this as an opportunity to try and snag the MX-5 again! I threw him my very best offer after and after a lot of convincing it was agreed!
For the grand total of £550 I'd purchased a 1991 1.6 MX-5 Manual Jap-Import with 96,000 km on the clock, 59,000 miles.
For an extra £250, he threw in the Hard Top, Wind Deflector and Tonneau Cover...
So, the 24 year old MX-5 NA for shed money!?
Its in very good nick, though there are some issues which I'm undecided about addressing:
- 50% of the time, the Power Steering pump whines quite loudly when maneuvering in 1st or reverse.
- 65% of the time, you get some quite bad clutch judder when pulling away in 1st or reversing, the second the car gets rolling properly its fine. This seems to be a relatively common issue if the internet is to be believed!
- The windows stick, a lot. In fact, the passenger window cable has since snapped, luckily the window was up at the time.
- There is a hole in the rear screen.
Aside from that though, its great! This is actually the third car I've bought of this particular friend, he always keeps his car in good condition - only problem is he rarely cleans them!
Mechanically, aside from the clutch judder, it feels great, its amazing to think that its older than me and yet in better mechanical condition!
It was filthy when I picked it up, so spent the day with a friend taking the interior out to give it all a good clean and it came up looking like new - for reference, I'm the idiot in the polo shirt!
Overall, I'm bloody chuffed with it, for under a grand its marvelous.
Ok, so its not the fastest in the world, but at the end of the day it looks good, is great fun to drive, is almost bulletproof and yet costs absolutely peanuts to run! Oh, and it has pop-up head lights!
At the moment, I'm toying with the idea of spraying the wheels glossy black. The friend I got it from has just sprayed his Legacy wheels, he did it himself with £12 worth of Poundland paint - I kid you not, I've seen proper spray shops do worse jobs! So for the sake of £12 and an afternoons work, I might give it a punt.
I'd like to get the passenger window fixed as well as sort the drivers side out... But I don't know if I can be bothered.
Same goes for the tear in the rear screen, if I can get it sorted cheap I'll probably do it...
What I love so far:
Its incredibly fun to drive.
Roof comes off in seconds.
Makes quite a good noise!
Being one of the Jap imports, its got air con and a heater that tries to melt your face.
The headrests have speakers built in, which is f
king awesome - especially when you remember that the car is 24 years old!What I hate so far:
Hate is a strong word, I don't really hate anything about the car!
Having said that, its not the most masculine car in the world - I probably look extremely gay when I've got a male friend in the car and have the roof down!
I didn't realise how big the hard top was... And I've got nowhere to put it!
For the time being its wrapped in tarpaulin and is sitting in the garden.
I'll report back and update the thread in due course, once I've had it for a few weeks...
Edited by TREMAiNE on Monday 23 March 19:55
Edited by TREMAiNE on Monday 17th August 15:10
Edited by TREMAiNE on Monday 17th August 15:12
TREMAiNE said:
...its not the most masculine car in the world - I probably look extremely gay when I've got a male friend in the car and have the roof down!
I didn't realise how big the hard top was... And I've got nowhere to put it!
If you play it right, those two negatives could cancel each other out!I didn't realise how big the hard top was... And I've got nowhere to put it!
Looks like a good buy though, enjoy
TREMAiNE said:
See I love the MR2's but I don't know as much about them as MX5's...
Yeah got the primer already... For £12 I'm not too fussed about the results really!
Well the first thing to know is they're nothing like MX5's Yeah got the primer already... For £12 I'm not too fussed about the results really!
I expect an MR2 NA to be quicker but less playful and less forgiving. Quite a bit heavier too. Roof not as simple to remove and replace.
The 3SGE is a peach of an engine especially if looked after. Like MX5's the big problem is rust on sills and arches. It can also sometimes be a pain to work on. for example the alternator.
The NA to have is the Rev 3+ (late 93 on i think) as this has the best version of the 3SGE apart from the mythical BEAMS version.
Obviously there is much much more and all of this is ignoring the import turbos! But I wont go on anymore as you've just picked up a brilliant MX5! haha
Synchromesh said:
If you play it right, those two negatives could cancel each other out!
danjama said:
...
Lol, I do like hearing about the MR2's, I find it interesting! I loved your red one and the new one you've picked up looks lovely too!clarki said:
Great car, there's just something about them isn't there...Enjoy.
There really is a special something about them... I can't quite put my finger on it... I never really go past 4,000rpm but that feels like enough, its just enjoyable to drive at normal speeds.omgus said:
Two Rotaries and an MX?
That is a top garage for a bit of fun.
I do like to have fun!That is a top garage for a bit of fun.
My dad isn't talking to me at the moment! He's not happy that his driveway is being drowned with my cars! In fact, he is making me park the MX on the street!
chasdad said:
Nice car.one thing I'd do is .if the wheels are 16inch drop down to 15 or even 14,s. Lightweight mazda wheels if poss. I've had 16,s one of mine and it was awful compared to others ,the wheels are too heavy for the car
Hmm cheers - I'll look into that, I actually think 14's would look better on it! I like sidewall! ShiningWit said:
I like your hat.
Haha didn't spot that! But that's my friend, not me! 
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