Wanted Looking for a decent MX5

The Other PaulG

The Other PaulG

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Hi all - so number 1 son ( the one who was looking for a TT before he saw the astronomical road tax) has shifted his attention to MX5s.

He's still only playing with a budget of £3500 ish and it seems there are plenty at that price - will that get him something decent or a pile of crap?

And... do you have something that fits the bill? Cheers, P
 
Yes, lots of crap out there, Mk1/2/3/4? I guess 2 or 3 as Mk1 are pricy, but definitely the best to buy (IMO), Mk2 check for rusty front outriggers, due to double skinned steel and not treated, repairable, but @ £1k, same with sills and rear wheel arches. Be aware that there are lots of 'special editions' so don't get sold on a 'this one is a rareity'. Find a recent Japanese import if you can, usually better spec and cleaner underneath. Loved my Mk2 until I couldn't drive it any more due to my dodgy back and getting stuck in the car too many times :ROFLMAO:

Some photos coming along in a moment to help...
 
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My Brother in law has a mk1 and a mk2. Both are Jap imports, both look 'ok' but are actually very rusty, the mk 1 is now in bits for repairs as it's probably worth spending the money on. The mk2 is getting 'patched up' and will probably end its life as a track day car. Even the newest mk2 will be 20 years old. Also bare in mind that the Jap cars will have a different spec to UK so some parts/consumables may be different to their uk counterpart... just be aware when buying spares and consumables).
Also note that Jap imports were probably not undersealed from new (certainly the case with import Subaru, about which I know a bit more than Mazda) so beware. Give them a good poke/prod, get them up on ramps if you can.
That said, they are a lot of fun, and mechanically have both been reliable.
 
The difficulty with buying an MX5 is that they can look gorgeous on top, but literally rotten underneath. Even relatively low-ish mileage examples can hide a great deal of corrosion. The mechanicals can do huge mileage if they are looked after and serviced properly, so don’t be put off by miles, but by the same account, don’t assume a lower miles example will be clean. Take a very good look underneath and don’t let your heart rule your head. I had a Mk3 (NC) with less than 55k miles that I let go for spares or repairs due to corrosion underneath. But get a decent one and they are a world of driving enjoyment.
 
much better spending £5k

they rot like hell
 
Thank you everyone for these comments - exceptionally helpful. OK we will ingest those Haynes manual pages, then take a look at a couple bearing in mind all the corrosion comments. Really appreciate everyone who took a moment to add their thoughts / experiences. (y)
 
Several groups on FB and the Mazda Club. These guys are nerds big time, proper sub culture. My next door she had 2, never had a problem...apart from water leaks.
Mine is brand new, fucking thing leaks in the boot. FFS. Dealer can sort it out. Had 3 SAAB convertibles (still have an Aero) never leaked. My present Aero has done 190000 miles with 0 issues apart from consumables. Actually you can pick up a good one for that cash. I have a good independent SAAB specialist and parts are not an issue.
 
I had one a while back great fun but had trouble getting in and out of it. we now have a Mitsubishi Colt CZC Yes a bit ugly but dirt cheap and pretty quick
 
As others have said, corrosion is the thing to look out for. I hunted high and low for a decent uncorroded NC (the best of them IMO, even if they were slated at the time) and ended up upping my budget from 5k to 8.5k to get one without any underbody rust - it had been thoroughly treated by the owner with documented evidence. It pays in the long run.
 
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Sadly that budget will only buy you a whole world of corrosion pain with a Mk2/2.5, albeit probably well concealed & sparkly up top.

Personally I would only consider buying from an MX5 specialist who can show me the whole story, with the car underside displayed on the ramp & a fresh service/ MOT. Push the budget a tad & go for a Mk3 .......... it will be cheaper in the long run. However, I find the driving position too tight for my taste, so make sure the lad fits.
 
You’re a tall fella, so I assume your lad is too. Maybe worth a look at a Toyota MR2? I cant fit in an MX5, I can in an MR2.
 
Just check the VED before you buy. Some of the cheaper early ones are heavy on road tax.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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