Mazda MX-5 NC 2.0
Discussion
A few weeks ago Chunkymonkey71 let me have a go in his very nice MX-5 Sport, and I've been on the lookout for a 2.0 MX-5 ever since. I wasn't too bothered on spec as long as it was a 2.0 (as they came standard with LSD)
Anyway, this week on the evil Facebook Marketplace I found a cheap one which turned out to be MUCH nicer than expected. 86k miles and £1750 with an advisory-free MOT until November 2019! It has rusty rear arches, but since I paid about half my budget, there's plenty in hand to sort them out.
Plans are to drive it, mostly. It'll go into the garage over winter. I adore it already. Pics to follow
Anyway, this week on the evil Facebook Marketplace I found a cheap one which turned out to be MUCH nicer than expected. 86k miles and £1750 with an advisory-free MOT until November 2019! It has rusty rear arches, but since I paid about half my budget, there's plenty in hand to sort them out.
Plans are to drive it, mostly. It'll go into the garage over winter. I adore it already. Pics to follow
mackie1 said:
I paid rather a lot more than that for a low mileage mk2 Jasper conran (1.8iS with fancy interior bits) which is in good order but will need some rust work and a new roof. Arches are fine though thankfully! 
That's lovely! My mk3 is a little more run-of-the-mill, I supposeGood roof and lack of structural rust were the things I really prioritised in my search. I'm no welder
First niggle found - I haven't used the car since a bit of a run out on Friday, and then there was plenty of rain at the weekend. I walked past it on the way into the house this evening and the windows are all steamed up 
The carpet is sodden underneath the driver's seat, but thankfully the passenger side is dry. There doesn't seem to be much moisture at the front and the underside looks good so I guess maybe the driver's side hood drain is blocked?
I'm about to research it further. It's airing out at the moment, but hopefully I'll get a chance to attack the floor with a hairdryer tomorrow to try to help it dry. Any thoughts are welcome
The carpet is sodden underneath the driver's seat, but thankfully the passenger side is dry. There doesn't seem to be much moisture at the front and the underside looks good so I guess maybe the driver's side hood drain is blocked?
I'm about to research it further. It's airing out at the moment, but hopefully I'll get a chance to attack the floor with a hairdryer tomorrow to try to help it dry. Any thoughts are welcome
In terms of rust. Mine was appeared fine one year. Then there was a thumb size hole in the sill the next. You have to get right underneath, not just look at the visible bit of the sill from a standing or crouched position.
If it looks anything like this at the rear of the sill, it's probably heading towards a few hundred quid of welding:
If it looks anything like this at the rear of the sill, it's probably heading towards a few hundred quid of welding:
WhatHappenedThere said:
Wow. Didn't know you could get in to such more modern (read comfortbale) spec MX5's for that money.
The mileage wouldn't fuss me such is their bombproof nature
Mechanically, the NCs are less bombproof than the old NA/B. And, as posted above, the NCs are showing to not the that great at avoiding rust either. They are a big step up in refinement though. The NC chassis felt much stiffer than my NA too. The mileage wouldn't fuss me such is their bombproof nature
Great buy! The NC is such good value.
Regarding the leak, rod the hood drains and seal up the fixings underneath the windscreen scuttle panel - http://myroadtrip.net/mazda-mx-5-fixing-a-leak-und...
Regarding the leak, rod the hood drains and seal up the fixings underneath the windscreen scuttle panel - http://myroadtrip.net/mazda-mx-5-fixing-a-leak-und...
Gilhooligan said:
WhatHappenedThere said:
Wow. Didn't know you could get in to such more modern (read comfortbale) spec MX5's for that money.
The mileage wouldn't fuss me such is their bombproof nature
Mechanically, the NCs are less bombproof than the old NA/B. And, as posted above, the NCs are showing to not the that great at avoiding rust either. They are a big step up in refinement though. The NC chassis felt much stiffer than my NA too. The mileage wouldn't fuss me such is their bombproof nature
(Anybody near wolves want an aftermarket set of 16inch wheels with winter tyres...let me know!)
Munter said:
Apart from the rust... the only things that really went wrong for me were drop links, ignition coils and wheel bearings. Oh and wheels, the standard 17 inch seemed to be a bit soft.
(Anybody near wolves want an aftermarket set of 16inch wheels with winter tyres...let me know!)
Yes! Very much so. I can collect this weekend!(Anybody near wolves want an aftermarket set of 16inch wheels with winter tyres...let me know!)
Let me know, I can head over with cash tomorrow.
And I’ll reply to everyone else shortly, I’ve made some progress today
To all, I have rodded the hood drains today. The trombone cleaner arrived in the post to work this morning.
As I opened up the packet, Lynda the receptionist said to me, "Jimmy, what's that?" "Aha!" I exclaimed, "That is a trombone cleaner!" She said, "oh, I didn't know you played the trombone!" To this I replied, "Ah, it's actually for the car..." "Oh, I don't want to know then."
But down to the important bits. The passenger side drain was totally clear and bone dry. The driver's side one was terrible. The water was sloshing around and stagnant. I couldn't get the cleaner to go more than a couple of inches into the hole and eventually managed to clear it using a combination of trombone cleaner and wire coat hanger (covered in electrical tape to prevent scratches). Out the bottom popped a very rotten cigarette end which must have been causing the worst of the blockage. I poured a little water in and it came straight out so it seems to be clear now.
I also dabbed up the worst of the water before getting a hairdryer on the carpet. It feels dry now and I used a rolling pin to try to mangle the carpet, but I've left a couple of j cloths covered in rice to soak anything else up that might rise. I will take the carpets up to check, when time permits. I'm going to be using it all weekend with the roof down, so at least it'll get to air a bit
As I opened up the packet, Lynda the receptionist said to me, "Jimmy, what's that?" "Aha!" I exclaimed, "That is a trombone cleaner!" She said, "oh, I didn't know you played the trombone!" To this I replied, "Ah, it's actually for the car..." "Oh, I don't want to know then."
But down to the important bits. The passenger side drain was totally clear and bone dry. The driver's side one was terrible. The water was sloshing around and stagnant. I couldn't get the cleaner to go more than a couple of inches into the hole and eventually managed to clear it using a combination of trombone cleaner and wire coat hanger (covered in electrical tape to prevent scratches). Out the bottom popped a very rotten cigarette end which must have been causing the worst of the blockage. I poured a little water in and it came straight out so it seems to be clear now.
I also dabbed up the worst of the water before getting a hairdryer on the carpet. It feels dry now and I used a rolling pin to try to mangle the carpet, but I've left a couple of j cloths covered in rice to soak anything else up that might rise. I will take the carpets up to check, when time permits. I'm going to be using it all weekend with the roof down, so at least it'll get to air a bit
Accelebrate said:
Great buy! The NC is such good value.
Partly inspired by your thread!Edited by Jimmy Recard on Friday 22 March 21:52
Munter said:
In terms of rust. Mine was appeared fine one year. Then there was a thumb size hole in the sill the next. You have to get right underneath, not just look at the visible bit of the sill from a standing or crouched position.
If it looks anything like this at the rear of the sill, it's probably heading towards a few hundred quid of welding:
My driver side rear sill was an advisory on a previous MOT but the seller told me it had been replaced, and it does look pretty good.If it looks anything like this at the rear of the sill, it's probably heading towards a few hundred quid of welding:
There are random bits of crustiness underneath the car, but nothing that I think will be a serious issue. I'm ok with spending a few hundred on welding, but I don't want to have to do it every year
I'm planning to take it into Mazcare in Wolverhampton for a general health check at some point. All my friends locally who own Mazdas (mostly MX-5s and RX-8s) have recommended Mazcare.
Jimmy Recard said:
Yes! Very much so. I can collect this weekend!
Let me know, I can head over with cash tomorrow.
And I’ll reply to everyone else shortly, I’ve made some progress today
Sorry Jimmy just checked the thread! If you have time tomorrow the contact me bit of my profile should work. They are not going anywhere, so you don't need to rush. 😀Let me know, I can head over with cash tomorrow.
And I’ll reply to everyone else shortly, I’ve made some progress today
Two months since the last update!
Well the MX-5 found itself at the Nuerburgring for the bank holiday weekend.
It was great fun! In preparation I replaced a sticking caliper, both front discs and pads. The discs were Brembo from EuroCarParts, the pads were StopTech from Tarmac Sportz as recommended by Accelebrate, and they really were excellent.
I also put on a new thermostat because it needed it and thought that was a good chance to put on a new radiator and water pump. Better to replace them than to dump the coolant on track.
It was a great weekend. It's a great place with good food, people, atmosphere and the car itself was a real delight. We got an AirBNB for six of us and travelled in the MX-5 and my friend's BMW 130i. It made for a fairly cramped journey, what with carrying six helmets (and that's not to mention the six items of protective headwear in the cars).
We also rented Suzuki Swifts from Rent4Ring. I recommend these guys and I'm planning to rent from them again this summer. Great little cars and great service from R4R.
Well the MX-5 found itself at the Nuerburgring for the bank holiday weekend.
It was great fun! In preparation I replaced a sticking caliper, both front discs and pads. The discs were Brembo from EuroCarParts, the pads were StopTech from Tarmac Sportz as recommended by Accelebrate, and they really were excellent.
I also put on a new thermostat because it needed it and thought that was a good chance to put on a new radiator and water pump. Better to replace them than to dump the coolant on track.
It was a great weekend. It's a great place with good food, people, atmosphere and the car itself was a real delight. We got an AirBNB for six of us and travelled in the MX-5 and my friend's BMW 130i. It made for a fairly cramped journey, what with carrying six helmets (and that's not to mention the six items of protective headwear in the cars).
We also rented Suzuki Swifts from Rent4Ring. I recommend these guys and I'm planning to rent from them again this summer. Great little cars and great service from R4R.
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