Which mx5 budget 4k?
Discussion
Bit of a strange one, but, my ex wants a convertible. She's decided on an Mx5.
Her budget is around 4k, she wants one with decent fuel economy and reliability. Thats the main criteria.
I'm not an Mx5 fanboy so have had no interest in them. (Shock horror!!).
So, we need help. 4k is the budget. Must be the reliable, economical one- which ever that is???
Help? please?
Her budget is around 4k, she wants one with decent fuel economy and reliability. Thats the main criteria.
I'm not an Mx5 fanboy so have had no interest in them. (Shock horror!!).
So, we need help. 4k is the budget. Must be the reliable, economical one- which ever that is???
Help? please?
4k is an interesting amount. It will buy you a really ratty Mk1 (with about £3k left over), a Mk2 or 2.5 of varying quality, depending on how much of your 4k you blow or an early Mk3.
The problem with Mk2s is that they rust really horribly and in places that are awkward to repair. I know little about Mk3s but I know lots about Mk1s. One interesting option is to buy a recently imported Mk1. I'm utterly biased here as I sell (can you guess?) newly imported Mk1s.
Condition is usually exceptionally good with utterly rust-free undersides, suspension components etc. And I still reckon a good Mk1 is a superb handling car. Prices are firming up nicely so you shouldn't lose fortunes either.
The problem with Mk2s is that they rust really horribly and in places that are awkward to repair. I know little about Mk3s but I know lots about Mk1s. One interesting option is to buy a recently imported Mk1. I'm utterly biased here as I sell (can you guess?) newly imported Mk1s.
Condition is usually exceptionally good with utterly rust-free undersides, suspension components etc. And I still reckon a good Mk1 is a superb handling car. Prices are firming up nicely so you shouldn't lose fortunes either.
£4k you have your pick of mk1, mk2, mk2.5 - all as reliable and economical as each other. don't expect much more than low 30's MPG tho. Buy on which one she prefers the look of, and condition. Rust is the worst thing that goes wrong with them. Drivetain is generally bullet proof.
mk3's are starting to come down into that price range with a little haggle too now.
mk3's are starting to come down into that price range with a little haggle too now.
I'd go for a recently imported and/or a very well looked after limited edition MK1. You'd have a really good choice of them for well under your budget and they are generally bulletproof and peanuts to maintain if you need to. I don't personally like the Mk2 shape or the early Mk3 so that'd be my choice. I bought a bit of a ropey one for summer fun and as a bit of a project last year and just can't bring myself to part with it.
I would go for a Mk2 personally as it is slightly more refined than the Mk1 and looks nicer imho.
I chose a 1.8iS which has the 140bhp 1.8 engine and the Torsen LSD which I am sure is the main reason your Mrs is looking at MX5s in the first place.
Rust wise, they can have some issues, but there are loads around that are in good nick and they start at around £1K. Pay a bit more and you'll get a minter.
Focus on the obvious arch/sill problems but also on the inner sills which do tend to also rust badly.
People tell me that the Mk2.5 has slightly more of a problem with the inner sill rusting but the cost to fix any rust you do find isn't that huge (a few hundreds of pounds).
Engine wise, the 2.5 with the VVT is even more bulletproof than the others (according to a scrapyard owner I spoke to) - he had loads of VVT engines that he couldn't give away because they never break.
Bob
I chose a 1.8iS which has the 140bhp 1.8 engine and the Torsen LSD which I am sure is the main reason your Mrs is looking at MX5s in the first place.
Rust wise, they can have some issues, but there are loads around that are in good nick and they start at around £1K. Pay a bit more and you'll get a minter.
Focus on the obvious arch/sill problems but also on the inner sills which do tend to also rust badly.
People tell me that the Mk2.5 has slightly more of a problem with the inner sill rusting but the cost to fix any rust you do find isn't that huge (a few hundreds of pounds).
Engine wise, the 2.5 with the VVT is even more bulletproof than the others (according to a scrapyard owner I spoke to) - he had loads of VVT engines that he couldn't give away because they never break.
Bob
Having owned a Mk1 and Mk2, I'd either get a freshly imported Mk1 with no rust or a Mk3. Don't worry about the miles on the Mk3, they are reliable and a rust free Mk1 should be the same.
I wouldn't get a Mk2, you will be fighting rust for the next few years, there's a reason they've dropped in price so much over the last few years. All MX5's rust, but the Mk2 has structural rust issues - the front chassis rails. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
If it was for me I'd get a freshly imported Mk1, if I was buying for my wife I'd get a Mk3 2.0 Sport.
I wouldn't get a Mk2, you will be fighting rust for the next few years, there's a reason they've dropped in price so much over the last few years. All MX5's rust, but the Mk2 has structural rust issues - the front chassis rails. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
If it was for me I'd get a freshly imported Mk1, if I was buying for my wife I'd get a Mk3 2.0 Sport.
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