Discussion
I bought a 1973 MGB GT back in April for £4000. It has some cosmetic rust but is structurally sound. HOWEVER, it is chronically unreliable and while I like driving it I'm pretty sure it is purely due to the sound more than anything. I had a slight off in it back in July which has caused an already fecked suspension to be properly fecked and the wiring went up in smoke about a month ago (although everything still works and it hasn't done it since). I've falling out of love with the car...
As I was scrolling through AutoTrader (I do it all the time) I came across this:
https://www.1stautomotive.co.uk/used-cars/mazda-mx...
I think it would be better suited to me, being a blue convertible that is very likely going to be more reliable than the MG. The MG probably isn't worth much more than the Mazda is currently up at so it may be a straight swap, maybe.
What do the PH masses think? If it may be a good idea what would I ask when on the phone and what would I look for if i went to view it?
P.S. Yes I want a convertible, not a Coupe. Bought the MG as a Coupe because I don't have a garage.
P.P.S. It is a link the dealers website rather than AutoTrader, just because.
As I was scrolling through AutoTrader (I do it all the time) I came across this:
https://www.1stautomotive.co.uk/used-cars/mazda-mx...
I think it would be better suited to me, being a blue convertible that is very likely going to be more reliable than the MG. The MG probably isn't worth much more than the Mazda is currently up at so it may be a straight swap, maybe.
What do the PH masses think? If it may be a good idea what would I ask when on the phone and what would I look for if i went to view it?
P.S. Yes I want a convertible, not a Coupe. Bought the MG as a Coupe because I don't have a garage.
P.P.S. It is a link the dealers website rather than AutoTrader, just because.
My first thought is that's very top end money for the Mazda. I own one myself and follow prices fairly closely.
I personally don't think the fact it's an anniversary edition alone justifies the price, there's loads of MK2s out there which are limited edition for various things and never really are valued any higher than any other.
I'd say unless the one in the ad has had some good restoration work it's.overpriced and the dealer is trying his luck.
Rust is the issue with this shape of MX-5, the main areas are rear wheel arches, sills and front chassis legs but in honesty look everywhere for.it, they love to rust.
They don't end to rust.fromnthe inside out on the sills and rear wheels usually due to blocked drain holes from the roof somewhat looks like minor rust can be much worse underneath.
Mechanically on the other hand they are great, mines an 04 plate on around 83k and it never lets me down just routine maintenance and I hammer mine on track days, they are superb in that respect.
Overall they are great cars and can be excellent value just buy carefully and don't be talked into believing a special edition is worth more on that alone.
I personally don't think the fact it's an anniversary edition alone justifies the price, there's loads of MK2s out there which are limited edition for various things and never really are valued any higher than any other.
I'd say unless the one in the ad has had some good restoration work it's.overpriced and the dealer is trying his luck.
Rust is the issue with this shape of MX-5, the main areas are rear wheel arches, sills and front chassis legs but in honesty look everywhere for.it, they love to rust.
They don't end to rust.fromnthe inside out on the sills and rear wheels usually due to blocked drain holes from the roof somewhat looks like minor rust can be much worse underneath.
Mechanically on the other hand they are great, mines an 04 plate on around 83k and it never lets me down just routine maintenance and I hammer mine on track days, they are superb in that respect.
Overall they are great cars and can be excellent value just buy carefully and don't be talked into believing a special edition is worth more on that alone.
If you bought the MGB GT because it was a British sports car have you considered something like the MGF or TF?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The trophy was a.ways supposed to be a good car as is the TF160 which would be newer still. A bit quicker than the Mazda and although some might be put off by the old man image I’m guessing you wouldn’t because you bought an MGB. Loads of support about as they have a strong following and should be pretty cheap and easy to put right if things need doing.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The trophy was a.ways supposed to be a good car as is the TF160 which would be newer still. A bit quicker than the Mazda and although some might be put off by the old man image I’m guessing you wouldn’t because you bought an MGB. Loads of support about as they have a strong following and should be pretty cheap and easy to put right if things need doing.
Jamescrs said:
My first thought is that's very top end money for the Mazda. I own one myself and follow prices fairly closely.
I personally don't think the fact it's an anniversary edition alone justifies the price, there's loads of MK2s out there which are limited edition for various things and never really are valued any higher than any other.
I'd say unless the one in the ad has had some good restoration work it's.overpriced and the dealer is trying his luck.
Rust is the issue with this shape of MX-5, the main areas are rear wheel arches, sills and front chassis legs but in honesty look everywhere for.it, they love to rust.
They don't end to rust.fromnthe inside out on the sills and rear wheels usually due to blocked drain holes from the roof somewhat looks like minor rust can be much worse underneath.
Mechanically on the other hand they are great, mines an 04 plate on around 83k and it never lets me down just routine maintenance and I hammer mine on track days, they are superb in that respect.
Overall they are great cars and can be excellent value just buy carefully and don't be talked into believing a special edition is worth more on that alone.
Is it? Oh okay, does this one look like better value/more in line? Both are 1999 models as that is the year I want, purely because that was the year I was born in I personally don't think the fact it's an anniversary edition alone justifies the price, there's loads of MK2s out there which are limited edition for various things and never really are valued any higher than any other.
I'd say unless the one in the ad has had some good restoration work it's.overpriced and the dealer is trying his luck.
Rust is the issue with this shape of MX-5, the main areas are rear wheel arches, sills and front chassis legs but in honesty look everywhere for.it, they love to rust.
They don't end to rust.fromnthe inside out on the sills and rear wheels usually due to blocked drain holes from the roof somewhat looks like minor rust can be much worse underneath.
Mechanically on the other hand they are great, mines an 04 plate on around 83k and it never lets me down just routine maintenance and I hammer mine on track days, they are superb in that respect.
Overall they are great cars and can be excellent value just buy carefully and don't be talked into believing a special edition is worth more on that alone.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Also both are obviously a different to usual colour, which is rather important to me as well. My daily Citroen C1 has a dark blue paint which is rare on the C1 (being a £495 optional extra when new) so want the Mazda to be a different colour to the boring white that the MG is.
I know all about rust! I'll get looking at the buyers guides etc as well!
Edited by Shermanator on Wednesday 1st January 20:58
ChrisH72 said:
If you bought the MGB GT because it was a British sports car have you considered something like the MGF or TF?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The trophy was a.ways supposed to be a good car as is the TF160 which would be newer still. A bit quicker than the Mazda and although some might be put off by the old man image I’m guessing you wouldn’t because you bought an MGB. Loads of support about as they have a strong following and should be pretty cheap and easy to put right if things need doing.
I am not put off by an old man image (I am put off by a chav image though, hence why I refuse to buy a hot hatch like a Fiesta ST) however I think the MGF is ugly and never bonded with any TF I've ever seen. So while it's a good suggestion I won't be buying one.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The trophy was a.ways supposed to be a good car as is the TF160 which would be newer still. A bit quicker than the Mazda and although some might be put off by the old man image I’m guessing you wouldn’t because you bought an MGB. Loads of support about as they have a strong following and should be pretty cheap and easy to put right if things need doing.
If you want a roadster why not look at an MR2 roadster?
These don't suffer from rust issues like the older MX5 and they have a better power to weight ratio. You can't get as many after market parts but there is still plenty available. One of the biggest selling points is it's mid engine RWD.
Depending on how much you have you can find a 2zz converted car (190bhp) for around £4000 which turns it into a reliable sleeper.
Best place to find one is probably Gumtree or eBay for a 190 https://www.gumtree.com/p/toyota/2001-toyota-mr2-2...
These don't suffer from rust issues like the older MX5 and they have a better power to weight ratio. You can't get as many after market parts but there is still plenty available. One of the biggest selling points is it's mid engine RWD.
Depending on how much you have you can find a 2zz converted car (190bhp) for around £4000 which turns it into a reliable sleeper.
Best place to find one is probably Gumtree or eBay for a 190 https://www.gumtree.com/p/toyota/2001-toyota-mr2-2...
Ankh87 said:
If you want a roadster why not look at an MR2 roadster?
These don't suffer from rust issues like the older MX5 and they have a better power to weight ratio. You can't get as many after market parts but there is still plenty available. One of the biggest selling points is it's mid engine RWD.
Depending on how much you have you can find a 2zz converted car (190bhp) for around £4000 which turns it into a reliable sleeper.
Best place to find one is probably Gumtree or eBay for a 190 https://www.gumtree.com/p/toyota/2001-toyota-mr2-2...
Again, a good suggestion but I've never liked the look of these and as you've said the aftermarket market isn't great. A colleague would prefer me to get an MR2 but I've never bonded with them.These don't suffer from rust issues like the older MX5 and they have a better power to weight ratio. You can't get as many after market parts but there is still plenty available. One of the biggest selling points is it's mid engine RWD.
Depending on how much you have you can find a 2zz converted car (190bhp) for around £4000 which turns it into a reliable sleeper.
Best place to find one is probably Gumtree or eBay for a 190 https://www.gumtree.com/p/toyota/2001-toyota-mr2-2...
I like the idea of modifying the MX5 in the future, when I've got more disposable income and obviously the Toyota won't have the same opportunities.
I had a mk2 MX5 for almost 6 years, they are decent for what they are, and pretty reliable (at one stage i did 15k a year in mine, a 70 mile a day commute).
-Rust is the biggest issue on the mk2s, and unless you get it in the air, the chassis legs aren't easy to check prior to purchase, and can be pretty expensive to fix as the whole engine bay has to come out. The sills rust out as a matter of course but aren't quite as expensive to have fixed (few hundred ££ a side)
-Brake calipers like to bind and seize, i went through about 5 new calipers and a couple of rebuilds
-clutch slave cylinders, also went through a few of these, cheap enough to replace though.
Other than that, parts are cheap as chips, and literally any garage can work on them... fun to drive with properly set up suspension and good tyres, just not particularly quick.
-Rust is the biggest issue on the mk2s, and unless you get it in the air, the chassis legs aren't easy to check prior to purchase, and can be pretty expensive to fix as the whole engine bay has to come out. The sills rust out as a matter of course but aren't quite as expensive to have fixed (few hundred ££ a side)
-Brake calipers like to bind and seize, i went through about 5 new calipers and a couple of rebuilds
-clutch slave cylinders, also went through a few of these, cheap enough to replace though.
Other than that, parts are cheap as chips, and literally any garage can work on them... fun to drive with properly set up suspension and good tyres, just not particularly quick.
designforlife said:
I had a mk2 MX5 for almost 6 years, they are decent for what they are, and pretty reliable (at one stage i did 15k a year in mine, a 70 mile a day commute).
-Rust is the biggest issue on the mk2s, and unless you get it in the air, the chassis legs aren't easy to check prior to purchase, and can be pretty expensive to fix as the whole engine bay has to come out. The sills rust out as a matter of course but aren't quite as expensive to have fixed (few hundred ££ a side)
-Brake calipers like to bind and seize, i went through about 5 new calipers and a couple of rebuilds
-clutch slave cylinders, also went through a few of these, cheap enough to replace though.
Other than that, parts are cheap as chips, and literally any garage can work on them... fun to drive with properly set up suspension and good tyres, just not particularly quick.
I seem to only ever like rusty cars -Rust is the biggest issue on the mk2s, and unless you get it in the air, the chassis legs aren't easy to check prior to purchase, and can be pretty expensive to fix as the whole engine bay has to come out. The sills rust out as a matter of course but aren't quite as expensive to have fixed (few hundred ££ a side)
-Brake calipers like to bind and seize, i went through about 5 new calipers and a couple of rebuilds
-clutch slave cylinders, also went through a few of these, cheap enough to replace though.
Other than that, parts are cheap as chips, and literally any garage can work on them... fun to drive with properly set up suspension and good tyres, just not particularly quick.
The brakes and clutches don't sound like major issues
I drive a Citroen C1 and an MGB, don't think speed is a priority!
Thank you
designforlife said:
Mechanically they are a doddle, and even if something big goes wrong-
used 5 speed gearbox - £90
used 1.6/1.8 engine, about £200
The one good thing about the rust issues is that so many get broken for parts, they are plentiful and very cheap.
To be fair labour is mostly the biggest expense when it comes to working on cars rather than the parts. Although both of then seem scarily cheap!used 5 speed gearbox - £90
used 1.6/1.8 engine, about £200
The one good thing about the rust issues is that so many get broken for parts, they are plentiful and very cheap.
Shermanator said:
designforlife said:
Mechanically they are a doddle, and even if something big goes wrong-
used 5 speed gearbox - £90
used 1.6/1.8 engine, about £200
The one good thing about the rust issues is that so many get broken for parts, they are plentiful and very cheap.
To be fair labour is mostly the biggest expense when it comes to working on cars rather than the parts. Although both of then seem scarily cheap!used 5 speed gearbox - £90
used 1.6/1.8 engine, about £200
The one good thing about the rust issues is that so many get broken for parts, they are plentiful and very cheap.
Goes without saying that labour cost is a good chunk, but cheap parts out of the gate makes a massive difference to longterm ownership costs.
The only expensive bits for an mx5 are some of the rare genuine JDM aftermarket parts, those fetch a premium.
Jamescrs said:
My first thought is that's very top end money for the Mazda. I own one myself and follow prices fairly closely.
I personally don't think the fact it's an anniversary edition alone justifies the price, there's loads of MK2s out there which are limited edition for various things and never really are valued any higher than any other.
I'd say unless the one in the ad has had some good restoration work it's.overpriced and the dealer is trying his luck
Being a 10th anniversary it has LSD and a 6 speed box, although with 100k miles they may or may not be worth the premium. I personally don't think the fact it's an anniversary edition alone justifies the price, there's loads of MK2s out there which are limited edition for various things and never really are valued any higher than any other.
I'd say unless the one in the ad has had some good restoration work it's.overpriced and the dealer is trying his luck
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