Looking to buy an MX-5 (in Norway)

[Jerwatt]

I'm currently looking to buy my first car, and was thinking about an MX-5, as I'd prefer something fun and reasonably cheap to run. Over here in Norway the price of cars seems to be around twice as much as the UK, and this applies for second hand cars too. The other problem is the distance between "cities" makes viewing cars a problem!

I know some of the general stuff (e.g. make sure it's not a rust-heap, don't by the 1.6l 1996-1998 version) but in terms of judging a car when I'm not able to see it then what are the things I should be doing? Photos of bills, close-up pictures of the car - particularly rust-prone spots etc (sills and wheel arches - any others?).

One of the cars I've been looking at is this one:

http://www.finn.no/finn/car/used/object?finnkode=2...

It's around £4000, which is basically the cheapest I've seen in Norway. However it also has 2 sets of wheels (for winter/ summer tyres, which are a legal requirement over here) and a hard top. The advert mentions rust in a wheel arch and has no pictures of the hard top, so I was going to ask for pictures of these and the sills. Anything else that is worth looking at?

Also does anyone have experience of importing an MX-5 to Norway, if so any advice would be appreciated as it looks like it might be cheaper.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Jerwatt]

After talking to The Crack Fox I am also looking at importing a car from Germany, however a early Mk 2 has come up for sale in Norway at around the top of my budget (£10 000 approx):

http://www.finn.no/finn/car/used/object?finnkode=2...



Basically the vinterhjul and sommerhjul are the summer and winter tyres. Lettmet is alloy wheels. Is there anything that I should be careful about? I've asked about how the damage to the hardtop has happened.

Edited by Jerwatt on Tuesday 4th January 09:18

[MX-5 Lazza]

Why not buy one over here and drive it back

[Jerwatt]

I will most likely be based in Norway for the next 4 years at least, so it would be better to have a LHD car. Also since it costs to much to get to Norway in regards to taxes (around £2500 minimum) then I would lose a lot when selling it after (either because it is RHD in Norway, or taking it back to the UK and therefore losing the taxes price) I paid on getting it there. Not out of the question, but I'd prefer not to lose so much!