Buying Advice on a £5k budget

Buying Advice on a £5k budget

Author
Discussion

eltax91

Original Poster:

9,900 posts

207 months

Thursday 11th October 2007
quotequote all
ok, so i've got £5k to spend on a sporty soft top, and the MX-5 seems to be the winner with Mrs Eltax. She prefers it to the MR2.

So, i'm looking for a 1.8 engine (won't compromise on that) but what general things should i look for that may have gone wrong/ been done/ need doing? I know if i get one with FSH then it's likely to last forever, and i'm not scared of a spanner.

I guess i'm looking at a MK2 for that money? 1998-2000 seems to be about what i would get into. Would i get into a MK2.5 for the money, or is it worth sticking with the MK2 to get the better examples?

Do the extra toys like Air Con and Leather make all the difference? The car will be a weekend fun car with once a week commute when two cars are required!

Finally, i spotted one ad with "Tonneo Cover" written in the blurb, not seen that before, is that not the stanard roof? I assumed it just came in standard rag top, with the option of a hard top.

Edited by eltax91 on Thursday 11th October 15:38

eltax91

Original Poster:

9,900 posts

207 months

Friday 12th October 2007
quotequote all
Munter said:
I'd say aircon is definately something to look out for. Top down is great but once sunburnt you'll be roof up and want to be cool. I live without it but wish I had it.

If it's a MK2 UK car your looking at you want it to be the S. That comes with the torsen LSD. When theres snow around you'll like that, also for doughnuts....[cough].
Is it only the S that comes with this? The car i'm thinking of going to look at is a 1999 T Reg, 70k on the clock. It's a special edition (6 speed box), what will that come with as standard?

Also, if i don't have aircon, is it major hassle to retro-fit it?

eltax91

Original Poster:

9,900 posts

207 months

Friday 12th October 2007
quotequote all
Munter said:
eltax91 said:
Munter said:
I'd say aircon is definately something to look out for. Top down is great but once sunburnt you'll be roof up and want to be cool. I live without it but wish I had it.

If it's a MK2 UK car your looking at you want it to be the S. That comes with the torsen LSD. When theres snow around you'll like that, also for doughnuts....[cough].
Is it only the S that comes with this? The car i'm thinking of going to look at is a 1999 T Reg, 70k on the clock. It's a special edition (6 speed box), what will that come with as standard?

Also, if i don't have aircon, is it major hassle to retro-fit it?
Is it a 10th Anniversary edition? Lovely blue colour, and polished alloys? If so I believe it's based on the UK 1.8iS with the LSD. The owners club website might have more info on exactly what special editions come with what equipment.

www.mx5oc.co.uk
www.mx5ocforums.co.uk
Yeah it's a 10th Anniv edition. In a nice blue-ish colour lol.

I just have one more wuestion, when should the cambelt have been changed on these engines?

ETA: Just found out from the link you sent that the interval is 60k. So should have had one 10k ish ago. Is there a time-based cambelt component, as this one has done less than average miles, so would have gotten to 60k at about 6 years old...

Edited by eltax91 on Friday 12th October 10:24

eltax91

Original Poster:

9,900 posts

207 months

Friday 12th October 2007
quotequote all
Cheers for the help folks (esp munter). Cross your fingers for me that the sale goes ok tomorrow of G/f's clio. (It's going to a family member, so hopefully will be ok), then i can go looking on sunday! smile