MGB GT or MX5?
Discussion
I think I want a second car.
I've already got a daily driver; it's new, comfortable, quick, efficient and has lots of toys. It is, like so many new cars, lacking in soul.
I've been toying with getting a second car. I've considered everything from a Nissan Micra to an old Range Rover. I am, however quite taken with the idea of either an MGB GT (Chrome bumper) or a Mk1 or Mk2 MX5.
I've had a couple of MX5s before and miss them. I've always wanted a classic.
Both can be had for £3-5k. The MG may be VED free, entitled to classic car insurance, look nicer and be more special. The MX5 will be utterly reliable, good clean topless fun.
I don't have a garage, which makes me think MX5 will be more suitable. I would intend doing about 4-5k miles per year.
Which would you buy?
I've already got a daily driver; it's new, comfortable, quick, efficient and has lots of toys. It is, like so many new cars, lacking in soul.
I've been toying with getting a second car. I've considered everything from a Nissan Micra to an old Range Rover. I am, however quite taken with the idea of either an MGB GT (Chrome bumper) or a Mk1 or Mk2 MX5.
I've had a couple of MX5s before and miss them. I've always wanted a classic.
Both can be had for £3-5k. The MG may be VED free, entitled to classic car insurance, look nicer and be more special. The MX5 will be utterly reliable, good clean topless fun.
I don't have a garage, which makes me think MX5 will be more suitable. I would intend doing about 4-5k miles per year.
Which would you buy?
My wife has/had an MGB GT. In my opinion it's a horrible, slow, heavy thing with few redeeming features. I will now be shot by all MG lovers. It's now off to someone else as she doesn't use it and I have far more interesting things to drive, like my son's peddle car. Buy the best MX5 you can and drive it as often as you can.
Putting on hard hat for responses
Jon
Putting on hard hat for responses
Jon
Beanbob said:
I think I want a second car.
I've already got a daily driver; it's new, comfortable, quick, efficient and has lots of toys. It is, like so many new cars, lacking in soul.
I've been toying with getting a second car. I've considered everything from a Nissan Micra to an old Range Rover. I am, however quite taken with the idea of either an MGB GT (Chrome bumper) or a Mk1 or Mk2 MX5.
I've had a couple of MX5s before and miss them. I've always wanted a classic.
Both can be had for £3-5k. The MG may be VED free, entitled to classic car insurance, look nicer and be more special. The MX5 will be utterly reliable, good clean topless fun.
I don't have a garage, which makes me think MX5 will be more suitable. I would intend doing about 4-5k miles per year.
Which would you buy?
I have a late MK1 MX-5.I've already got a daily driver; it's new, comfortable, quick, efficient and has lots of toys. It is, like so many new cars, lacking in soul.
I've been toying with getting a second car. I've considered everything from a Nissan Micra to an old Range Rover. I am, however quite taken with the idea of either an MGB GT (Chrome bumper) or a Mk1 or Mk2 MX5.
I've had a couple of MX5s before and miss them. I've always wanted a classic.
Both can be had for £3-5k. The MG may be VED free, entitled to classic car insurance, look nicer and be more special. The MX5 will be utterly reliable, good clean topless fun.
I don't have a garage, which makes me think MX5 will be more suitable. I would intend doing about 4-5k miles per year.
Which would you buy?
It's a nice car - cheap to run and has been very reliable. The excellent heater and roof mean it's easy to run when the weather's a bit s
t.I wouldn't say it was characterful choice though - I enjoyed my midget more, but it needed much more fettling and was pretty unpleasant to drive when it was raining - which it does quite a lot in Manchester.
There's a world of difference between running a 60s car and an MX5.
If you plan to do 5k a year then be prepared for doing a lot of fettling. Fine if you enjoy that but if you just want to drive then the MX5 is the sensible choice.
If you can get a good MGB - and by good I mean one fettled for driving not just looking pretty (there's a big difference!) and you're prepared to keep on top of maintenance then great.
I have a 70's TVR and had a NB MX5 until recently so have some experience!
If you plan to do 5k a year then be prepared for doing a lot of fettling. Fine if you enjoy that but if you just want to drive then the MX5 is the sensible choice.
If you can get a good MGB - and by good I mean one fettled for driving not just looking pretty (there's a big difference!) and you're prepared to keep on top of maintenance then great.
I have a 70's TVR and had a NB MX5 until recently so have some experience!
Beanbob said:
I think I want a second car.
I've been toying with getting a second car. I've considered everything from a Nissan Micra to an old Range Rover. I am, however quite taken with the idea of either an MGB GT (Chrome bumper) or a Mk1 or Mk2 MX5.
?
Funny you mention the Nissan Micra. I have a real soft spot for the Mk1 and 2 Nissan Micra. My wife thinks its hilarious, but it stems from when I had a l litre Mk2 Micra as a courtesy car some years ago. I found it an absolute brilliant steer. Could be coaxed around corners and roundabouts at hilarious speed and for some reason overtaking people in a Micra really wound them up.I've been toying with getting a second car. I've considered everything from a Nissan Micra to an old Range Rover. I am, however quite taken with the idea of either an MGB GT (Chrome bumper) or a Mk1 or Mk2 MX5.
?
I digress. I went down the "want a second car" route two years ago and ended up with an MX-5. I absolutely have loved it.. I would expect you could buy a Mk1 or MK2 MX-5 for a lot less money than an MGB. My Mk2 1.8iS is about to be sold (oldest daughter turns 17 next month, needs a starter car and I cant afford 4 cars in the family).....I only want £1200 for it....PM me if interested.....!
Are you keen to learn how to weld and be spannering rather than actually using the 2nd car?
A friend's dad has owned a MG BGT for at least 25 years, during that time it's had a 3 rebuilds with new panels/floor EVERYWHERE before new paint & rebuilt engine/suspension/brakes etc.
It was mag featured at the time and looked stunning. Fast forward 5 years of daily use and the paint was fading, the engine a bit smokey. So it had another rebuild. Around 10 years later and it was off the road for new sills.
Currently it is on the ramps about to have another new floorpan and the windscreen surround/scuttle panel replaced.
A few months ago he bought a mk1 MX5 for around £500 which needed a little plating on the sill and other than that looks solid. It's got some kind of aftermarket exhaust and a K&N cone filter on it.
His verdict, he should have bought an MX5 years ago!!!
A friend's dad has owned a MG BGT for at least 25 years, during that time it's had a 3 rebuilds with new panels/floor EVERYWHERE before new paint & rebuilt engine/suspension/brakes etc.
It was mag featured at the time and looked stunning. Fast forward 5 years of daily use and the paint was fading, the engine a bit smokey. So it had another rebuild. Around 10 years later and it was off the road for new sills.
Currently it is on the ramps about to have another new floorpan and the windscreen surround/scuttle panel replaced.
A few months ago he bought a mk1 MX5 for around £500 which needed a little plating on the sill and other than that looks solid. It's got some kind of aftermarket exhaust and a K&N cone filter on it.
His verdict, he should have bought an MX5 years ago!!!
That budget will get you a very nice MK1. They are old enough now to feel like a classic compared to today's new cars. Very reliabile, easy to work on and can be insured as a classic. Rust is the issue but your budget should get you a rust free example or one that has had it rectified properly.
An Elan is possible in budget, but needs work
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I think I'd spend a bit more
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C903242
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I think I'd spend a bit more
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C903242
Beanbob said:
I think I want a second car.
I've already got a daily driver; it's new, comfortable, quick, efficient and has lots of toys. It is, like so many new cars, lacking in soul.
I've been toying with getting a second car. I've considered everything from a Nissan Micra to an old Range Rover. I am, however quite taken with the idea of either an MGB GT (Chrome bumper) or a Mk1 or Mk2 MX5.
I've had a couple of MX5s before and miss them. I've always wanted a classic.
Both can be had for £3-5k. The MG may be VED free, entitled to classic car insurance, look nicer and be more special. The MX5 will be utterly reliable, good clean topless fun.
I don't have a garage, which makes me think MX5 will be more suitable. I would intend doing about 4-5k miles per year.
Which would you buy?
I like MX-5’s. But the Mk1/2 are sort of in that middle ground of modern classic and just an old beater. I've already got a daily driver; it's new, comfortable, quick, efficient and has lots of toys. It is, like so many new cars, lacking in soul.
I've been toying with getting a second car. I've considered everything from a Nissan Micra to an old Range Rover. I am, however quite taken with the idea of either an MGB GT (Chrome bumper) or a Mk1 or Mk2 MX5.
I've had a couple of MX5s before and miss them. I've always wanted a classic.
Both can be had for £3-5k. The MG may be VED free, entitled to classic car insurance, look nicer and be more special. The MX5 will be utterly reliable, good clean topless fun.
I don't have a garage, which makes me think MX5 will be more suitable. I would intend doing about 4-5k miles per year.
Which would you buy?
Their biggest let down is they are a little too Japanese IMO. And maybe lacking a bit of character.
The B has loads of character. But there is no denying their performance is miles behind.
Depends what you really want.
I’ve had an MGB, it was great. But then went onto a Triumph TR7. Has the same sort of charm and character of the B. But is a much better car. And they handle the V8 much better.
I’ve had the same dilemma before because I love the classic looks/feel/smell but I just want to be able to use the damn thing, not have to baby it. For me the best of both worlds would be an MX5 with some retro style aftermarket bits on it but by the time you’ve finished buying and fitting everything you’ve got a 15k MX5. 
Edited by Venturist on Monday 9th October 11:55
You might just find an Alfa Spider in that price bracket, or just above, It is technically a much more advanced car than the MGB, with the great Nord engine, and it would much more fun to point and squirt along B roads. Parts and upgrades are easily available and not overly expensive.
But if you can't at least carcoon it, it will probably collapse in a pile of rust within two years.
But if you can't at least carcoon it, it will probably collapse in a pile of rust within two years.
GadgeS3C said:
There's a world of difference between running a 60s car and an MX5.
60s car probably has less rust. 
Asides from that, I daily an NB2, very raw like an older classic, but with a fantastic heater and a simple, reliable Japanese motor. You can't really go wrong with them, however be aware that in recent years the fabled rust free or properly repaired examples are turning into a bit of a unicorn, some clean examples are up at silly money, the norm are all rusted to s
t by now, rust free at a reasonable price are becoming hard to come by, the best bet might be to get a reasonable example with a solid engine and spend 1-2k replacing rear wings and chassis legs (on mk2) your self. A classic will get on your nerves, especially anything BL.. Never sure that a journey will be completed without a breakdown. Forever faffing about obtaining parts & given you have no garage getting wet & cold fitting them.
The MG GT is not even a proper sports car more a gentle tourer with primitive unreliable mechanicals & electrics with a roof that does not fold away for that essential al fresco experience.
Any MX-5 with be a joy to drive, easy to fling around, light on the wallet & easy on the mind. AND it will get you there.
There is no decision to make.
The MG GT is not even a proper sports car more a gentle tourer with primitive unreliable mechanicals & electrics with a roof that does not fold away for that essential al fresco experience.
Any MX-5 with be a joy to drive, easy to fling around, light on the wallet & easy on the mind. AND it will get you there.
There is no decision to make.
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