Recommend me a Mark 1 please

[Skyman]

I am looking for a weekend car, budget £4,000, and having had various Elises in the past I am keen for the MX5 to be as close to that driving experience as possible. Grateful to receive recommendations of what I should looking for? Thanks.

[MX-5 Lazza]

For that money I'd get a very early rust-free Mk1 1.8 - 93/4 for around £2.5k, replace the suspension with GAZ Gold Pro, replace wheels with some light-weight jobbies, fit some decent rubber and get a full "fast road" alignment from Wheels in Motion. You could even fit some Elise seats! (the standard MX5 seats have a bit of side support but no shoulder support).

[VladD]

RS-Ltd

For the criteria you've given, I'd go for one of these and spend some money on upgrades.

Edited by VladD on Thursday 7th October 10:31

[hornetrider]

VladD said:

RD-Ltd

For the criteria you've given, I'd go for one of these and spend some money on upgrades.

That one however is missing the seats and more importantly, the lightweight wheels.

I realise the Op said Mk1 but this looks like a mega bargain.

[Mazdamender]

An imported die hard 1.6 late 90>early 93 long nose crank,there is not much in it between the early 1.6 and the 1.8 just higher reving really,but the engine is a lot more hard wearing than the 1.8,the later 1.6 was detuned so leave it,but if you want a 1.8 then get an 93 to early 95 before ford started to dig in with cut backs.
But thay all have good and bad points.

[MX-5 Lazza]

hornetrider said:

VladD said:

RD-Ltd

For the criteria you've given, I'd go for one of these and spend some money on upgrades.

That one however is missing the seats and more importantly, the lightweight wheels.

I realise the Op said Mk1 but this looks like a mega bargain.

Which looks like a very nice car but doesn't really fulfil the "as close to Elise driving experience as possible" criteria

[hornetrider]

Well.... point taken but what really differentiates the Mk1 and Mk2? Suspension and a few kilos? That car has an LSD and would make the good basis of a decent car going forward.

[pbirkett]

Another vote for the rs-ltd, as close to an elise as an mx5 will get really, mainly because its one of the lightest, most raw / focused models... Although no 5 will ever really feel like an elise due to the layout.

[Mark_S_24]

BLATANT PLUG

http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/t/19652.aspx

Mark