My new project - MkII, 2000
Discussion
So, this is Vonda. She is the third I've owned - having previously had a MkII Eunos followed by a M2.5 UK model.
I just bought her on a whim to be honest - I missed the driving position and the fun so thought I could have one just for the weekends.
So, done 50K miles. Really needs a new roof (but already booked into Jack Smith in Swansea in August - nice hand-stitched cloth roof) - some rust on a wheel arch I need to sort; plus a number-plate light.
Other that that, she's in really good condition. I'm hoping (hoping...) to add some bits. Its a bottom of the range model so I'd like to think about central locking - ideally remote central locking and also electric windows.
Any advice gratefully received - I'm not entirely hopeless with a socket set. (Wifie has a Micra and I've done various bits to that too). I've invested in a Haines Manual which does helpfully inform me that I really should have disconnected the battery before posting here.....
Be good to hear from anyone else in the same position!
Before you invest any time and money in the car, take the under shield off and take a real good look at the front chassis legs....
VOSA are now aware there is a problem with corrosion in that area and lots are now failing.... I saw one at my local test station a while ago, immaculate car, but the front chassis legs were corroded bad enough to fail its test
Difficult to see with the under shield on... But the tester looked really hard with his torch, and also held his phone down there and took a couple of shots, not seen a tester do that before!
VOSA are now aware there is a problem with corrosion in that area and lots are now failing.... I saw one at my local test station a while ago, immaculate car, but the front chassis legs were corroded bad enough to fail its test
Difficult to see with the under shield on... But the tester looked really hard with his torch, and also held his phone down there and took a couple of shots, not seen a tester do that before!
Fiweeuk said:
I'm in Surrey.
I'm from Swansea so going down for the roof won't be a chore.
Depending on whereabouts you are in Surrey there are a few regular meets in the area, if you're interested.I'm from Swansea so going down for the roof won't be a chore.
We took my OH's MX5 to Jack Smith's a couple of years ago. It was still cheaper to buy a hood from him and travel over to Swansea than anywhere else. He does an excellent job.
buzzer said:
Before you invest any time and money in the car, take the under shield off and take a real good look at the front chassis legs....
VOSA are now aware there is a problem with corrosion in that area and lots are now failing.... I saw one at my local test station a while ago, immaculate car, but the front chassis legs were corroded bad enough to fail its test
Difficult to see with the under shield on... But the tester looked really hard with his torch, and also held his phone down there and took a couple of shots, not seen a tester do that before!
I'll agree with that. I'm just about to give up and break a 1998 mk2 due to pretty nasty holes down there.VOSA are now aware there is a problem with corrosion in that area and lots are now failing.... I saw one at my local test station a while ago, immaculate car, but the front chassis legs were corroded bad enough to fail its test
Difficult to see with the under shield on... But the tester looked really hard with his torch, and also held his phone down there and took a couple of shots, not seen a tester do that before!
The mk2 chassis legs were double skinned; its a nasty rust trap. There are now repair panels, but the labour for a garage to do brings the cost up quickly.
ETA - Another thumbup for Jack Smiths here! They did a great job on my first mk5.
buzzer said:
Before you invest any time and money in the car, take the under shield off and take a real good look at the front chassis legs....
VOSA are now aware there is a problem with corrosion in that area and lots are now failing.... I saw one at my local test station a while ago, immaculate car, but the front chassis legs were corroded bad enough to fail its test
Difficult to see with the under shield on... But the tester looked really hard with his torch, and also held his phone down there and took a couple of shots, not seen a tester do that before!
This! I've just repaired my chassis legs using the MX5 Restorer panels. But to be honest I've probably only extended the cars life by maybe 5 years tops.VOSA are now aware there is a problem with corrosion in that area and lots are now failing.... I saw one at my local test station a while ago, immaculate car, but the front chassis legs were corroded bad enough to fail its test
Difficult to see with the under shield on... But the tester looked really hard with his torch, and also held his phone down there and took a couple of shots, not seen a tester do that before!
The area to look at it is around the anti roll bar bracket mounts and the all along the underside. You have to remove the wheel arch trims to really see anything though they hide most of it. I only found mine were bad because I was doing a full suspension refurb.It's not the end of the world if they are rusted though. It cost me £110 delivered for the repair panels and then I welded them myself. You probably wouldn't be in a position to do that, but its not a massive job so you could probably get them done for £300 to £400 in total.
Right, having had to use the supplied jack first (cos the bottle jack was too tall to fit under the jacking point....) I've managed to get underneath and have a proper look.
And I'm delighted to say that my chassis legs are solid! Solid as a rock....
Fab. No I don't feel too bad about having ordered the roll bars already... Really need to re-install the wind-break from my old Mk2.5 for comfort.
Vonda feels like an even better buy now. Tada!
And I'm delighted to say that my chassis legs are solid! Solid as a rock....
Fab. No I don't feel too bad about having ordered the roll bars already... Really need to re-install the wind-break from my old Mk2.5 for comfort.
Vonda feels like an even better buy now. Tada!
Another question though if I may:
Admittedly I only drive this at the weekends but when I first start the engine it revs at 2 maybe even 2.5 when its idling. I think my neighbours all think I'm reving the bejesus out of it! After a couple of miles it idles normally at about 850 or so.
The latest emissions info from the last MOT says its fine, but presumably the engine was already warm at that point.
I'm not really sure if this is something to worry about really - the fact that it stops makes me think its not a major problem. But I can't find anything by googling the problem.
Thoughts from those more knowledgable than me (i.e. everyone else) very gratefully received.
Admittedly I only drive this at the weekends but when I first start the engine it revs at 2 maybe even 2.5 when its idling. I think my neighbours all think I'm reving the bejesus out of it! After a couple of miles it idles normally at about 850 or so.
The latest emissions info from the last MOT says its fine, but presumably the engine was already warm at that point.
I'm not really sure if this is something to worry about really - the fact that it stops makes me think its not a major problem. But I can't find anything by googling the problem.
Thoughts from those more knowledgable than me (i.e. everyone else) very gratefully received.
I viewed a 2005 mk2.5 yesterday, and the owner had been anal about how he kept the car. Repaired from a cat c, there was almost no visible rust anywhere, and the underneath was extremely well undersealed. Felt as best I could but couldn't get to the nearside leg properly as the engine had been running.
Went back today to get a proper look at them, and sure enough that nearside rail is bulging like Linford Christie's crotch. 2005 car, very well looked after with only 55k on the clock. Such a shame, it looked like a superb condition car.
Went back today to get a proper look at them, and sure enough that nearside rail is bulging like Linford Christie's crotch. 2005 car, very well looked after with only 55k on the clock. Such a shame, it looked like a superb condition car.
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