My daughters boyfriend wants them to have an MX5 (they are only young !) And needs to look at 2 tomorrow! With me, to help
So moving on…..theyve got £1200-1600 to spend following an insurance payout for his last car that was totalled by a rear ender
Not to put a kibosh on the whole sorry affair, what do I need to know, because an hour ago knew nothing was nothing.
LCB seems to say:-
Condition rather than age
Sills and rear arches rust
Mileage less of an issue if cam belt done and well serviced
Anything else major?
[Edited on 8/2/14 by ReMan]
quote:uk or 'grey' import, (but imports are ok too)
Anything else major?
quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
quote:uk or 'grey' import, (but imports are ok too)
Anything else major?
theres been some crackers on uphillracers recently!
the more i think about it,these seem a no brainer to me. every time ive seen one out on track,i think although im quicker,they seem happier than
me
you can thrash the arse out of them.slide everywhere, then drive home with no dramas. along with the hot clios it would defo be my budget choice
If you're looking at the Mk2 then watch out for corrosion of the front chassis rails. Just google "MX5 chassis rail corrosion".
this is an import (and properly described so)
http://locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=188642
quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
this is an import (and properly described so)
http://locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=188642
Having bought one for a track day, and got a bit attached, I would say all they say is true.
Watch the hood, but obvious. Not so obvious ours blew a spark plug out a week after the track day. I borrows a helicoil to sort, but could have been
nasty. So I would check the plugs all turn OK.
Ours is an early one,89. Idle speed is now too high, but I hope some garage time will sort that.
Engine seems unburstable, on the trackday it did double the laps of any other car, 3 drivers for part of the day, down to 2 in the afternoon. No
issues at all. And the cost? £620
odometer in km, and age related plates
but often described as eunos, (the name it was in japan)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunos_Roadster
quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
odometer in km, and age related plates
but often described as eunos, (the name it was in japan)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunos_Roadster
Check insurance costs before getting an import. My Eunos cost me almost double what I could have insured a uk model for...
quote:
Originally posted by ReMan
quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
this is an import (and properly described so)
http://locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=188642
I've mentioned this one
Apart from being a bit of a trek it looks good, but he's not happy on picking up a cat C, concerned about his insurance being worse than ever
What is it about one that proves its an import, if not so well described?
Mine,well both of them are imports,the only difrence i can see is the shape of the rear number plate panel,insurance etc is all the same.
the only thing to look for is rust,the one ste is selling looks a cracker and worth the trek.
they really are fun for next to nothing
Sills at the front and rear, wish bones, there is more but I need to go out, in a mad rush, so in a nutshell RUST
A few better pics of mine
Description
Description
Description
Description
Two other quick ways to spot an import are
1. Rear number plate on imports is the two row type
2. Fog light will have been fit ed when impoted so tipicaly aftermarket switch and the light is in a non standard location.
My fog light is a red bulb inside one of the reverse lights so it doesn't need a silly lamp hanging under the bumper.
quote:
Originally posted by ste
My fog light is a red bulb inside one of the reverse lights so it doesn't need a silly lamp hanging under the bumper.
quote:
Originally posted by ceebmoj
quote:
Originally posted by ste
My fog light is a red bulb inside one of the reverse lights so it doesn't need a silly lamp hanging under the bumper.
The loom was fited for the fog light on my car so it was just a mater of adding the factory switch and bulb like you say I'm suprised that more people don't do it that way.
Well
Been an looked at the "favourite"
It didn't dissapoint
Rust spot on both front wings
Rust patch on both far wings
Outer sills repaired at rear both sides
Advisoroys on last 2 mots for:
All underneath reuty
springs rusty
suspension rusty
sbframe corroded but not yet weakened (presume front chassis)
Interior was nice and clean, engine sounded good, but I advised walking away briskly
So we'll see where we go from here after aborting the mission to look at 2 skankier ones at a swanky garage that did not return his call………….
A bit of rust is to be expected on most pre-2000 MX5 cars. Mine is no exception. I have a Eunos 1.8 import. No extra for Insurance if you shop around. Ours is with the Co-Op. Brakes are a weak point and will need to be maintained the calipers tend to stick but are an easy fix. Engines are bomb proof and love revs. Best to go for as late a model as you can afford and try to get a hard top thrown in, you will need it for winter use. All in all the best fun you can get for very little money.
I have a mate who has one for sale on the south coast near Portsmouth. He bought it a number of years back for 5700 and has spent half again on it
over the years... Been garaged... Mot guys say the cleanest they have seen... Had some marks on it so he had the whole thing painted... 62000 on the
clock... He wants 2k... I don't know the year but I think it is a mk2...
New roof (don't think it needed one)
New wheels and tyres.
Dave B