Mk2 1.8 Mazda MX-5

[squareflops]

Well guys.. another weekend another car purchase.

There is nothing here that will set this thread apart from the thousands of other MX-5 threads so feel free to bow out now; I won't mind

Buying these things is an absolute minefield I've found and I may have not got away scott free with this one either but I'll come to that. I looked (online - Gumtree/here/AT/eBay) at probably 100 or more examples and within my budget 2k max there was virtually nothing worth buying. A quick MOT history check (so handy from .gov) showed advisories and failures for chassis rust on almost every single one. These Mk 2s really do fall apart at an alarming rate. It seems these are of the correct vintage/mileage to have succumb to the st British weather and just can't cope anymore.

The one I bought has been through the mill and out the other side; hopefully. Sourced on eBay from a small dealer in Tamworth, 2 hour trek, who had some very interesting cars for sale and some just in his collection.







I'd really rather have preferred to buy this type of car from an enthusiast on say MXNutz but this one ticked all the boxes to decided to go for it. This one has had around £1,100 worth of rust repair done, arches and sills sorted and resprayed. Appears to be a decent job. It's also been under-sealed enough to save the Titanic from disappearing for the next 1000 years.

It has full Mazda service history with receipts for cambelt/water pump done 20k ago. Interior is very clean and well looked after, paint work has usual swirls and the odd parking ding but the paint is generally good. It's the 146hp version which was a must and comes with a 3 month Warrantywise warranty, which may or may not be useless I'm not sure.

As I got it home





















rear speakers, last one didn't have those!









pretty grubby interior on places









Over all good, the interior needed a very good clean though as the touch surfaces were pretty sticky and the whole interior was well, yea grubby

So, this morning set upon the usual, yes axle stands





dat underseal though





wheels looked clean on the face, less so from the back







tried my best to clean them up but really are too far gone to get them that nice. Could do with a refurb, will do it in the summer when the weather isn't so utterly st









with the wheels decontaminated and cleaned it was onto the body







usual sequence to washing

snowfoam
rinse
snowfoam and wash with mitt
rinse
iron x with KKD FErrum
rinse
clay with clay mitt
QD for now to give it some shine, proper wax and sealant later

This is what came off the steering wheel/gear knob and handbrake. Gross



washed and QD'd





interior cleaned, may not show up on the pictures but the difference is night and day. The dash was starved of any product to give it any luster, it went from a matte almost grey to a glossy black as it should be. Meguiars Interior Detailer used







hmm doesn't look like I took any actual decent 'after' pictures of the interior. Oh well..

Well onto the first job after the clean. The broken clip/return spring on the rear cup holder. very common issue. It causes the lid to flap backwards even under mild acceleration and as your elbow rests on it It's quite annoying. So onto fixing it

centre console out



rear cup holder removed



the problem, the retainer on the right has actually snapped off which allows the spring to rotate and ping itself off its mounting







like a flip book!

to fix I popped a 2mm hole in the moulding



and salvaged some speaker wire I had laying around to make a small harness



and secured



ta da

gave the centre console carpet a hoover whilst it was out



and that was that. Quite involving work to re-attach a spring but does make a difference.

So, the to do list. Not as short as I'd like but tbh if I didn't have things to do on cars I really think I'd die of boredom. As follows:

replace missing mats

replace the Mohawk tyres (confirmed as not so grippy on various round abouts in the South Wales area this afternoon ) Toyo T1R's to replace 195 50 50 @£160 for 4, fitted

replace discs and pads although not urgent

re align roof, it's wonky. Closes fine but there's a 'knack' to it which my last one didn't have. Hopefully it's just miss-aligned not bent

clutch replacement again not urgent but the pedal is rather heavy pointing toward a worn cover plate (I think) and a faint smell of burning clutch after a spirited drive. No slip yet or judder. I'll probably change it myself.

Tyres and brakes are things I tend to do anyway on most of my cars and I'm almost (almost) looking forward to changing my first clutch and have a replacement on the way from ECP for £160 which isn't too bad at all relatively speaking.

So there we have it. This is a daily for the missus more than anything but I love these little things so happy to work on it and as the body is sound now (time will tell) I think It's worth putting some money into to keep it a good 'un.

Driving it early was fantastic, even if it was hammering down, summer is greatly anticipated.

Oh and coincidentally I picked these up today few years old but never worn, seen on FB from a friend of a friend, messaged the boy and picked them up for £20, yayy





not sure when I'll need them mind

[Joe5y]

How spooky. I purchased this last weekend. Great little cars.

[Biglips]

Congratulations. You did it the correct way and have a lovely car.

i have just bought a bit of a basket case! I might do a thread on it to share my pain!!

[squareflops]

Joe5y said:

How spooky. I purchased this last weekend. Great little cars.

Same colour by the looks dude, very nice, nicer than mine I'd say, like those wheels and you have fog lights. Indeed fantastic little things.

Biglips said:

Congratulations. You did it the correct way and have a lovely car.

i have just bought a bit of a basket case! I might do a thread on it to share my pain!!

Cheers bud, I hope so. Little tlc and it'll be lovely anyway. Please do! Would be very interested to read about your woes!

[Biglips]

I broke every buying rule. I decided on a whim to buy an MX5 and 10 minutes later had agreed a price on the phone with a seller off Gumtree. 2002 NB Phoenix 1.8. No service history. No test drive. Viewed in the dark in a rainy railway station car park from a nice but slightly dodgy vendor. it was cheap but predictably is now costing me money to put right! I don't mind as I love it and will probably be a keeper.

So far new rear calipers discs and pads. Cambelt service as no idea when previously done ( if ever). pair of new tyres on the front as others badly worn on inside.

To do are the slightly crusty arches and sills. I would love to get them in good condition like yours. Can anyone recommend a body shop in or near Bristol?

Also the steering is not right. It is sluggish to respond. Not pin sharp like my NA was. My local garage could not find any fault but I am not convinced. I think a proper MX5 specialist is needed. Again if anyone knows a specialist in the Bristol area please let me know

Mine is the silver one in this photo. A fellow owner spotted it and parked next to iit. All part of the ownership experience!

.

[squareflops]

Jeez you really did YOLO (excuse the young person ism) that purchase BL good on you for going for it. And cost aside I really do think It's great doing some of this stuff yourself.

It looks lovely though dude, really like those wheels Enkei's I presume?

To unequivocally answer your question - Mark Jefferies of Total MX5 Repair in Penarth, Cardiff is absolutely superb and genuinely one of the nicest and most helpful men I've ever met. He looked after my previous NB for me and will be looking after this one too. I'll be booking mine in for inspection soon. There's lots of positive feedback about him within the forums and I can't recommend him highly enough. He has a Saturday afternoon meet up where you can go along, have a chat and get advice, a coffee and even get some work done by him if needed. I may pop down myself.

I'm sure there are other specialists, Skuzzle springs to mind who I think are in Bristol too but please do consider Mark, he's worth the short trip across the bridge

[Brads67]

I`d have that underseal removed from those front chassis legs and get in there with a test hammer.

Doesn`t look very smooth to me so I`d be worried about hidden corrosion.

[Biglips]

There is a bit of YOLO. My wife says I am having a mid life crisis! However she loves the car and has been very supportive. We have both been working so hard for many years and not stopping for some fun along the way. We now have a little bit of money for fun purposes after many years of graft and so why not. I am between cars for complicated reasons and so instead of hiring a car for a few weeks before the new family bus arrives, I Decided to buy an MX5 and then sell, but now I have got the bug I think I will keep it!

Looks like a trip over the bridge is in order, thanks for the recommendation. I want to check the the rust is not terminal before I throw any more money at it!

[Actus Reus]

Great cars, OP - I had a lot of fun in my NA. Any reason why you went for NB over NA? When I went out looking all I could find was rusty NBs save for a lovely RS owned by a chap on here that was over budget. It was much easier to find an NA in good nick as they don't have that chassis leg problem.

[Brads67]

The NB is a far more user friendly car. Easier to use as an everyday driver.

Oh, and a 6 speed and lsd help as well.

[confucuis]

squareflops said:

This is what came off the steering wheel/gear knob and handbrake. Gross

Do you mind explaining how you cleaned the interior of your car?

I bought my Alfa in December and while I've given it a half decent clean outside (nothing compared to this though lol) I haven't touched the interior. Which I kind of need to/want to.

[JakeT]

Don't tel me - The Boxster went for this!? Looks good though, A mate bought an NA yesterday, and I am off to collect it with him soon. Will have to see what this MX-5 thing is about!

Skuzzle are in Winchester, meant to be pretty well regarded in the Miata circles.

[squareflops]

Brads67 said:

I`d have that underseal removed from those front chassis legs and get in there with a test hammer.

Doesn`t look very smooth to me so I`d be worried about hidden corrosion.

very valid point dude, I'll be slightly on edge all week until I can get the car inspected by Mark @ Total MX5s on Saturday morning. Pray for me. It won't be much fun rejecting the car and getting it back to Telford if it turns out to be held together with hopes and dreams fingers crossed though.

Biglips said:

There is a bit of YOLO. My wife says I am having a mid life crisis! However she loves the car and has been very supportive. We have both been working so hard for many years and not stopping for some fun along the way. We now have a little bit of money for fun purposes after many years of graft and so why not. I am between cars for complicated reasons and so instead of hiring a car for a few weeks before the new family bus arrives, I Decided to buy an MX5 and then sell, but now I have got the bug I think I will keep it!

Looks like a trip over the bridge is in order, thanks for the recommendation. I want to check the the rust is not terminal before I throw any more money at it!

only way to do it dude! much more interesting road to travel, and more expensive

I'm in the same boat as of right now, as above getting it appraised on Sat. I've held off buying any parts for it this week (tyres and brakes) until it gets the green (or red) light. Will be interested to hear what Mark says about yours if indeed you do decide to utilize him, best of luck!

Actus Reus said:

Great cars, OP - I had a lot of fun in my NA. Any reason why you went for NB over NA? When I went out looking all I could find was rusty NBs save for a lovely RS owned by a chap on here that was over budget. It was much easier to find an NA in good nick as they don't have that chassis leg problem.

Cheers bud. As Brads has said, the missus prefers the interior of the Mk2 and the looks of it (I know I know) and tbh, I couldn't find a Mk1 in budget that was nice enough to consider. The good ones seem to be north of 3k now. There was a beautiful BRG example I saw on eBay but that was £2,700. I wanted to stretch to get that one but she who keeps the purse denied it.

confucuis said:

Do you mind explaining how you cleaned the interior of your car?

I bought my Alfa in December and while I've given it a half decent clean outside (nothing compared to this though lol) I haven't touched the interior. Which I kind of need to/want to.

Straight forward dude. Meguiars Interior Detailer and a damp micro fiber towel. Go over the areas you want to clean and see the micro fiber turn more grey/brown with each pass. I always get slickly irksome when driving a new car home because you can guarantee the interior hasn't been cleaned well and you're invariably touching years worth of other peoples - stuff; urgh.

Get the Alfa cleaned up bud, it'll make the world of difference!

JakeT said:

Don't tel me - The Boxster went for this!? Looks good though, A mate bought an NA yesterday, and I am off to collect it with him soon. Will have to see what this MX-5 thing is about!

Skuzzle are in Winchester, meant to be pretty well regarded in the Miata circles.

sorry Jake, I should have been clearer. This is replacing the OHs micra. she liked the micra but a change of job meant more motorway miles and she wanted something - better.

Have a drive, you may get hooked I did

Ah Winchester, as in Ed. I knew it was somewhere in England ha

[JakeT]

Funny you should say that - I am collecting it with him, and have a 200+ mile drive home in the thing! Best chance to get to know it. Good luck with this one... I want one more and more, even if people call me a hairdresser!

[SebringMan]

That looks like a great purchase!

Like you I also followed a similar procedure for buying my MX-5. Some people felt that I overpaid (£2.3k for a UK NA 1.6 with 155k) but it was a very clean and sorted car that cost me very little to run. I kind of wonder why I got rid of it! It was however hopeless impractical:




http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

It'll be good to see what happens with this .

[squareflops]

JakeT said:

Funny you should say that - I am collecting it with him, and have a 200+ mile drive home in the thing! Best chance to get to know it. Good luck with this one... I want one more and more, even if people call me a hairdresser!

plenty of time to find you love/hate the thing dude but hopefully he gives you a couple of miles in it, a few gear changes and a wet roundabout later and I think you'll be hooked ha

People who make the hairdresser reference about the MX (or the boxster) are summarily excluded from anyone I'd ever call a close friend It's a hack comment coming from someone who's echoing a sentiment 15 years old and as ignorant then as it still is today.

F the police Jake!

SM - wow that really looks (looked) like a beautiful example. just the right lows and the twin exhaust looks great. I'd say you didn't over pay at all, especially in todays market. I'll very much enjoy reading the tread! cheers man.

[JakeT]

It's me that has to drive it back! Long story, but I'll have 200 miles of it. Decat and all

Worse than calling the Boxter a hairdressers car is calling it a poor mans porsche along with the Cayman... I'd rather a GT4 than a 911!

[Biglips]

SebringMan said:

That looks like a great purchase!

Like you I also followed a similar procedure for buying my MX-5. Some people felt that I overpaid (£2.3k for a UK NA 1.6 with 155k) but it was a very clean and sorted car that cost me very little to run. I kind of wonder why I got rid of it! It was however hopeless impractical:




http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

It'll be good to see what happens with this .

That looks great. very similar to my first MX5.

I am using mine at every opportunity. I had forgotten how much fun they are!

[Biglips]

Following your recommendation I went to see Mark at total MX5 today and got the car up on the ramp. Firstly what a nice guy. Got a mug of coffee and some banter before recieving the bad news that it is pretty rotten.

Both sills, both rear arches and front chassis rails affected to a greater or lesser degree. All fixable but at a cost. Now I have to make a decision to cut my losses, or plough more money into the car.

Hmmmm.....

Mark knows of a sorted mark 1 that could be for sale. Probably the car I should have bought first time round. Looks like It's gonna get expensive. Do you think my wife will notice that the mx5 has changed colour from silver to black?!?

[squareflops]

JakeT said:

It's me that has to drive it back! Long story, but I'll have 200 miles of it. Decat and all

Worse than calling the Boxter a hairdressers car is calling it a poor mans porsche along with the Cayman... I'd rather a GT4 than a 911!

oh decat.. how did you get on with it? assuming you've made the trip yet. For sure, boxster/cayman both mid engined, some say far better handling than the 911 #controversy

well D day for the Mazda. The car has been inspected and the (verbal) report is in.

The headline reads 'Could be Better; Could be Worse'



The good:

The rear arch repair is by all accounts a superb job. Mark was so impressed he actually considered the fact that he may have done it himself at some point in the past. He hasn't but he said he's never seen a repair done so well outside of his own work. Mark recommends injecting cavity rust inhibitor into the arches to ensure they stay in such good condition. That's a job that needs doing ASAP.

The under seal has been applied correctly more or less and will do a good job of protecting the components against rot. Re-application of said under seal recommended every 6 months.

The bad:

The under floor main passenger chassis rail has split. Bugger. Not a huge job and a new box section will needed to be welded in before the next MOT.

The chassis rails in the engine bay are fked. Rotted and split; beyond economical repair. Bugger. The good news is the fix is simply cutting them out and replacing them with brand new. £300 a side, lovely. Once the new chassis rails are in and protected the car will be very structurally sound and then almost worth the money put into it, such will its good condition be.

Clutch will need doing at some point as we know but not urgent. £120 for a 4 piece OE Exedy clutch and Mark will fit and change the gearbox oil for £120. job jobbed..

Someone has installed the straps that help align the roof incorrectly so it doesn't sit quite right. Mark will partially disassemble the roof and re-fit correctly so it will fall nicely against the roof line when closing.

The overall:

Over all for the price I paid Mark seems to think it was a good deal, not a steal but not far off. put a little less than 1k into it and it'll return that when it's sold.

Had a great drive back in it and really appreciate just what good little cars these are, and so comfortable.

Whilst I was there Mark recounted a recent incident, a young boy had bought a mk2 a few weeks back for 4.5k it looked immaculate. Had it inspected with Mark and he condemned the vehicle there and then, unsafe for highway use. All 4 wheels had huge amounts of free play in them and the lower A arms had corroded so badly they had been welded together, but not well. They were prone to snap in half at any given moment. It really does go to show with these, they can look pristine but underneath be a horror story, you have been warned!

In other news I got two front tyres put on the Micra following a puncture



Currently deciding whether I can be bothered to go for a watch on the Gremlin road rally in Brecon.

so yea..