My wife wants...
Discussion
She wants an MX5 for around 2 - 4k to replace her X reg Rover diesel. The Rover is paid off and has nothing wrong with it, however, she wants something a bit more fun. However she will only be able to afford quite an old MX5 for her budget.
My thoughts are as the Rover is newer is less likely to need any major maintenance cost. Also as it is paid off but worth peanuts she should run it into the ground before looking at buying something else. I worry that to buy an MX5 of this age will result in a lot of "little things that need doing here and there" and will start to cost her money. This will be money that we just don't have. She however argues that they are one of the most reliable & long lasting cars you can get and that the running costs will be no different from her X reg Diesel.
So what do you guys think?
My thoughts are as the Rover is newer is less likely to need any major maintenance cost. Also as it is paid off but worth peanuts she should run it into the ground before looking at buying something else. I worry that to buy an MX5 of this age will result in a lot of "little things that need doing here and there" and will start to cost her money. This will be money that we just don't have. She however argues that they are one of the most reliable & long lasting cars you can get and that the running costs will be no different from her X reg Diesel.
So what do you guys think?
OR.............you/she could always buy a Eunos Roadster?
Compared to an MX5:
Same parts, more power, serviced regular, looked after, no salt on Jap roads, electric windows, aircon, more likely to have SE add-on's and last but certainly not least, cheaper to purchase!
But what the hell do I know?........it's your money!
Remember, if ya aint first.............yer last!
Compared to an MX5:
Same parts, more power, serviced regular, looked after, no salt on Jap roads, electric windows, aircon, more likely to have SE add-on's and last but certainly not least, cheaper to purchase!
But what the hell do I know?........it's your money!
Remember, if ya aint first.............yer last!
Stickers said:
OR.............you/she could always buy a Eunos Roadster?
Compared to an MX5:
Same parts, more power, serviced regular, looked after, no salt on Jap roads, electric windows, aircon, more likely to have SE add-on's and last but certainly not least, cheaper to purchase!
But what the hell do I know?........it's your money!
Remember, if ya aint first.............yer last!
Sorry what are you blathering on about? The import will be the same price, and may have better kit. My UK car has elec windows so thats not a difference, and the engines are all the same power, serviceing depends on the owner!, lots of mx5 or eunos with full history.Compared to an MX5:
Same parts, more power, serviced regular, looked after, no salt on Jap roads, electric windows, aircon, more likely to have SE add-on's and last but certainly not least, cheaper to purchase!
But what the hell do I know?........it's your money!
Remember, if ya aint first.............yer last!
pre 1994 1.6 = 115bhp
after 1994 1.8 = 130bhp
I agree go for the eunos to get the extra kit. Most of the rest of what you said is balls
no-one would buy a uk 1.6 after 1994 with the 90bhp anyway.
Munter said:
Sorry what are you blathering on about? The import will be the same price, and may have better kit. My UK car has elec windows so thats not a difference, and the engines are all the same power, serviceing depends on the owner!, lots of mx5 or eunos with full history.
pre 1994 1.6 = 115bhp
after 1994 1.8 = 130bhp
I agree go for the eunos to get the extra kit. Most of the rest of what you said is balls
no-one would buy a uk 1.6 after 1994 with the 90bhp anyway.
pre 1994 1.6 = 115bhp
after 1994 1.8 = 130bhp
I agree go for the eunos to get the extra kit. Most of the rest of what you said is balls
no-one would buy a uk 1.6 after 1994 with the 90bhp anyway.
WOW, you are a rude one
...........as for the insults, that was very adult of you! 
1: May I suggest that you first check out the price differences between these vehicles before running your mouth off.
2: Yes, the Eunos does have better kit as standard, it was very big of you to admit this.
3: If your 'UK' MX5 has E/W it's because someone payed extra for it (non standard) unless it's a special, therefore more expensive.
4: I was refering to a late MK1 (90psi), do you really expect someone to pay £4,000 for an early one?????????????.......sounds like you did!
5: The Japs are renowned for looking after/servicing their cars.......unlike the vast p/c of UK owners!
6: Did you forget about the salt?.......volcanic ash is used in Japan.
Next, you're going to tell me that you're a member of the MX5oc...........go on, put the icing on the cake!
You were saying something about balls?
Remember, if ya aint first............yer last!
Stickers said:
Munter said:
Sorry what are you blathering on about? The import will be the same price, and may have better kit. My UK car has elec windows so thats not a difference, and the engines are all the same power, serviceing depends on the owner!, lots of mx5 or eunos with full history.
pre 1994 1.6 = 115bhp
after 1994 1.8 = 130bhp
I agree go for the eunos to get the extra kit. Most of the rest of what you said is balls
no-one would buy a uk 1.6 after 1994 with the 90bhp anyway.
pre 1994 1.6 = 115bhp
after 1994 1.8 = 130bhp
I agree go for the eunos to get the extra kit. Most of the rest of what you said is balls
no-one would buy a uk 1.6 after 1994 with the 90bhp anyway.
WOW, you are a rude one
...........as for the insults, that was very adult of you! 1: May I suggest that you first check out the price differences between these vehicles before running your mouth off.
2: Yes, the Eunos does have better kit as standard, it was very big of you to admit this.
3: If your 'UK' MX5 has E/W it's because someone payed extra for it (non standard) unless it's a special, therefore more expensive.
4: I was refering to a late MK1 (90psi), do you really expect someone to pay £4,000 for an early one?????????????.......sounds like you did!
5: The Japs are renowned for looking after/servicing their cars.......unlike the vast p/c of UK owners!
6: Did you forget about the salt?.......volcanic ash is used in Japan.
Next, you're going to tell me that you're a member of the MX5oc...........go on, put the icing on the cake!
You were saying something about balls?
Remember, if ya aint first............yer last!
As I was saying. Most of your post was Balls that was a statement not an insult. An insult would have been. "Yo' mamma so fat they painted a H on her and use her as a helipad".
Just to help out a bit...
Mk1
1989 - 1993 = 1.6 114bhp (UK & Jap MX5/Eunos - Same standard spec except Jap car will have viscous lsd)
1994 - 1998 = 1.6 88bhp (UK only for low insurance group)
1993 - 1998 = 1.8 128-133bhp (UK & Jap MX5/Eunos)
Mk2 (UK & Jap)
1998 - 2005 = 1.6 120bhp (I think - not sure)
1998 - 2001 = 1.8 138bhp
2001 - 2005 = 1.8 146bhp
A Jap spec car is more likely to have Air-con due to the weather conditions in most of Japan but it was an option so not all have it. Air-con was also a UK option but not many buyers chose it, put off by the high price (£1500).
In UK we had a choice of 1.8S which has all the bells & whistles or the basic 1.8 which did away with power steering, electric windows/mirrors leather seats etc.
There are lots of special/limited editions (average 2 a year in UK through the life of the MX-5 from start to present day) which put many of these option back that can be very good value.
I believe all Jap cars had LSD (viscous on Mk1 so will be acting as an pen diff by now) but not sure if that's true or whether that was also just a very popular option.
With Jap spec cars it is a popular myth that all the cars came with high spec. The fact is that the Japanese have a different culture to us (had - it's changing). They live in a very mountainous country and there are lots of people so space is at a premium. Therefore their houses tend to be small and mostly identical to their neighbours. Instead they used their cars as status symbols. This is why so many Japanese cars from the eighties had such long names and often had loads of stuff written on them (I used to have a late 80's 'Toyota Carina II 2.0 16v GLSi Executive'). This is also why so many Jap spec cars come loaded with all the options. There are also some Jap spec cars without power steering, air-con, electric windows etc...
Mk1
=======
1989 - 1993 = 1.6 114bhp (UK & Jap MX5/Eunos - Same standard spec except Jap car will have viscous lsd)
1994 - 1998 = 1.6 88bhp (UK only for low insurance group)
1993 - 1998 = 1.8 128-133bhp (UK & Jap MX5/Eunos)
Mk2 (UK & Jap)
=======
1998 - 2005 = 1.6 120bhp (I think - not sure)
1998 - 2001 = 1.8 138bhp
2001 - 2005 = 1.8 146bhp
A Jap spec car is more likely to have Air-con due to the weather conditions in most of Japan but it was an option so not all have it. Air-con was also a UK option but not many buyers chose it, put off by the high price (£1500).
In UK we had a choice of 1.8S which has all the bells & whistles or the basic 1.8 which did away with power steering, electric windows/mirrors leather seats etc.
There are lots of special/limited editions (average 2 a year in UK through the life of the MX-5 from start to present day) which put many of these option back that can be very good value.
I believe all Jap cars had LSD (viscous on Mk1 so will be acting as an pen diff by now) but not sure if that's true or whether that was also just a very popular option.
With Jap spec cars it is a popular myth that all the cars came with high spec. The fact is that the Japanese have a different culture to us (had - it's changing). They live in a very mountainous country and there are lots of people so space is at a premium. Therefore their houses tend to be small and mostly identical to their neighbours. Instead they used their cars as status symbols. This is why so many Japanese cars from the eighties had such long names and often had loads of stuff written on them (I used to have a late 80's 'Toyota Carina II 2.0 16v GLSi Executive'). This is also why so many Jap spec cars come loaded with all the options. There are also some Jap spec cars without power steering, air-con, electric windows etc...
MX-5 Lazza said:
I believe all Jap cars had LSD (viscous on Mk1 so will be acting as an pen diff by now) but not sure if that's true or whether that was also just a very popular option.
I think it was a very popular option.. I've seen Jap cars in import dealers that have been claimed to have no LSD (but then, without taking it for a hoon there's no way of telling).Also, the viscous LSDs were only fitted to the 1.6 Mk1s. Torsens were fitted to the 1.8s.
GHW said:
MX-5 Lazza said:
Also, the viscous LSDs were only fitted to the 1.6 Mk1s. Torsens were fitted to the 1.8s.
Yes but the UK 1.8S also had the torsen LSD (I think - correct me if I'm wrong). It's only the base model (and related special editions) that had the open diff. I only mentioned LSD as being a difference as the 1.6 viscous LSD wasn't offered to UK customers.MX-5 Lazza said:
GHW said:
Also, the viscous LSDs were only fitted to the 1.6 Mk1s. Torsens were fitted to the 1.8s.
Yes but the UK 1.8S also had the torsen LSD (I think - correct me if I'm wrong). It's only the base model (and related special editions) that had the open diff. I only mentioned LSD as being a difference as the 1.6 viscous LSD wasn't offered to UK customers.
there is a slight mis-understanding there:
the LSDs on the 1.6s are vis-cous i.e. they dont work in a mechanical way but rely on a viscous liquid.
as far as i know they arent vicious.
a lot of people do say that they dont have much effect after about 60k miles but i dontknow how easy that is to confirm.
the LSDs on the 1.6s are vis-cous i.e. they dont work in a mechanical way but rely on a viscous liquid.
as far as i know they arent vicious.
a lot of people do say that they dont have much effect after about 60k miles but i dontknow how easy that is to confirm.
Edited by speedychrissie on Tuesday 18th September 08:40
Dizeee said:
Thanks for replies - can you exapnd on how a limited slip dif is vicious?
Does it cut in too early and impede progress or can you spank the car round corners and be safe in the knowledge that the LSD can outdo the condequences of your lead foot?
Does it cut in too early and impede progress or can you spank the car round corners and be safe in the knowledge that the LSD can outdo the condequences of your lead foot?
It's not Vicious. (As in agressive), it's viscous (as in a thick fluid, think treacle). Rather than use cogs to limit the slip between the wheels it uses a viscous fluid.Look up differentials on howstuffworks.com and I think you'll get a better idea. Basically an LSD is good in low grip conditions as it stops only one wheel spinning and ensures drive to both wheels. You need one to do doughnuts....and in the MX5 the one I'd suggest you want is the torsen (uses fancy cogs) from either an import 1.8 or a UK MK2 1.8
Dizeee said:
I worry that to buy an MX5 of this age will result in a lot of "little things that need doing here and there" and will start to cost her money. This will be money that we just don't have. She however argues that they are one of the most reliable & long lasting cars you can get and that the running costs will be no different from her X reg Diesel.
So what do you guys think?
ok... since this hasnt really be addressed in the squabbles over spec. i'd thought i'd put in on this point.So what do you guys think?
I've had my car now for nearly 2 years - bought for £4000 - a 1995 1.8i UK car - exactly what i wanted - manual windows, no central locking, just a heater, no PAS or airbag - but was in excellent nick.
in the 40,000 miles i've done since then - its had 4 new tyres about 30k miles ago... and the backs are needing changing again (but at £30-40 a corner it aint too bad) 2 new headlight bulds (the halfords extra bright ones i put in soon after buying it blew last month) replaced the front pads about 20k miles ago, dunno how long the origonal pads had been on the car, but £5 for the EBC pads i aint worried (50% marshals discount). rear disks and pads where changed this summer - the old disks could have been ground down but i had already bought the new disks anyway.
the exhaust tail pipe rusted off in June - but to be fair, it was the origonal one fitted to the car new. that was replaced with a stainless steel larini for not much cost over another mild steel origonal type.
the cam cover gasket is currently leaking, which is a £10 part and a bit of my time to replace.
the clutch slave cylinder went Jan/Febish.. would have replaced it myself if i had had time in daylight to do it, but got a garage to change it for £50.
oh and replaced the hood just before last winter - but i knew it needed changing when i'd bought 9 months earlier - again the old one was the origonal mazda vinyl roof.
so when you go an look - just check for rust around the rear sills - on the wing infront of the rear wheels - thats £100-200 to sort if rust is present, mostly on UK cars... if its been sorted already - great. Look for ones that have had their hoods replaced. thats the 2 big cost things that tend to come with cars in the £4k & under bracket - if they've been done recently then you dont have to worry. everything else i kind of class as one of those things that can happen with any car... or wear n tear in the case of ehaust, pads n tyres.
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