Which would you buy?

[Jonny671]

I've around £3500 for an MX-5, as i'll be selling the C2 and getting a 5.. Only thing is its got to be quite a small engine version as for insurance..

Would you get an NA or NB for that money? I'm not bothered about leather interior etc as i'll most probably replace the seats too, and suspension so that kind of stuff doesn't matter so much.

I also work for Mazda so servicing/parts etc is more than fine.

Many thanks!

[patmahe]

Personally I'd buy a mint early NA and probably have a few quid over for maintainence and insurance. Early 1.6 is almost as powerful as the 1.8 and is lighter and considered by many to be the best MX-5

ETA: I mean mint mechanically and bodywork wise, you could probably get something with uprated suspension withing your budget easily enough too.

Edited by patmahe on Tuesday 13th April 11:21

[Jonny671]

patmahe said:

Personally I'd buy a mint early NA and probably have a few quid over for maintainence and insurance. Early 1.6 is almost as powerful as the 1.8 and is lighter and considered by many to be the best MX-5

ETA: I mean mint mechanically and bodywork wise, you could probably get something with uprated suspension withing your budget easily enough too.

Edited by patmahe on Tuesday 13th April 11:21

Thats my thinking too.. A good condition NA, rather than a NB with some miles on it to make it cheaper.

I think I prefer the look of the NA to the NB too!

[bluetone]

If I were you I'd be looking to get a really nice NA. Check out the Buying Guide link - esp. the "What age cars need a CAT to pass the mot?" bit - you might want to ensure you can run with a straight-through exhaust

[MX-5 Lazza]

It might be worth phoning a few of the insurance companies for a quote for the car you want to end up with. You might find there is little difference between insuring a 1.6 & 1.8 if you declare modifications to the exhaust/suspension etc.

[Jonny671]

Thanks guys

Is going from an 04 plate C2, to a 10 year older MX-5 a step backwards..

[patmahe]

Jonny671 said:

Is going from an 04 plate C2, to a 10 year older MX-5 a step backwards..

Not in my book, the MX5 will give you reliable open top fun, the only thing the C2 gives that the MX5 doesn't is a couple of extra seats.

Besides with your access to Mazda spares etc it makes sense.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Going from a C2 to a bicycle wouldn't be a backward step in my book

[rfn]

You'll be wanting to make sure you get a UK car too, as I found insurance on an import prohibitvely expensive when I was looking for my first '5 (I was 20).

[Jonny671]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Going from a C2 to a bicycle wouldn't be a backward step in my book

True..

rfn said:

You'll be wanting to make sure you get a UK car too, as I found insurance on an import prohibitvely expensive when I was looking for my first '5 (I was 20).

Thats the thing, most PH Classifieds are Imports which are lovely, but not insurance friendly for me.

Will find a 1.6 UK Spec I'm sure some suspension improvements and abit of breathing and it'll be lots more fun than the C2

[trooperiziz]

You don't need to spend £3.5k for a good mx5, £2k will get you a good early car, spend the rest on beer and women...

[callahan]

Well, I just bought this one for two grand, with a couple of extras thrown in: http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4...

Very nice it is too

The mx5nutz forum is a good place to find cars too, as well as lots of good advice.

[Jonny671]

Found a MK2 1.8 in Black which is the colour I want..

Insurance is £3k but I'm paying more than that on the C2 so will get it back to standard and hope for a quick sale!

[JQ]

OMG £3k insurance. Ouch.

[Don Phil]

Jonny671 said:

Found a MK2 1.8 in Black which is the colour I want..

Insurance is £3k but I'm paying more than that on the C2 so will get it back to standard and hope for a quick sale!

£3K for insurance!?

I'm sure with a bit of shopping around that would decrease significantly. I'd hope so anyways!

[Jonny671]

That was just on Confused, so maybe after looking around for better deals but £3k is the maximum I'd reluctantly pay

[Gizmo!]

Jonny671 said:

That was just on Confused, so maybe after looking around for better deals but £3k is the maximum I'd reluctantly pay

You're young! I wouldn't even bother with the mainstream Aviva/Directline stuff: their stock in trade is housewives in Focuses. Phone all the brokers in the back of Evo or the Yellow Pages, it's worth a couple of hours and a couple of quid on your phone bill.

[BCA]

1.8NB call skyinsurance, tell them BCA from mx5nutz sent you (wont help, but hopefully they'll reconsider giving me free insurance next year haha!) I'd be suprised if they dont beat 3k.

[Jonny671]

BCA said:

1.8NB call skyinsurance, tell them BCA from mx5nutz sent you (wont help, but hopefully they'll reconsider giving me free insurance next year haha!) I'd be suprised if they dont beat 3k.

Thanks, I will do!

Just trying to sell my C2 ASAP, I've sold all the parts I had off of it so its going well.

Just hopefully the person who has the 1.8 for sale hasn't sold it yet!

[Sarah M]

I went from a C2 to a Mk 1 1.8 MX5, It was the best choice I have ever made!

I don’t pay much for insurance (I am 28 and have 4 year no claims), give Adrian Flux a call and get a quote, then say you’re a PHer and you will get a 10% discount.