MX5 should i get one/insurance

[chunknozza]

Hi Everyone,

I'm seriously considering getting a MK1/2 MX5 after getting very bored of my Polo 6n2. I'm just wondering what pros/cons they offer and what kind of quote a 19 year old (nearly 20) will get for one?

Sorry if this has been posted before!

[Flip Martian]

Best way to answer that is take a look at a few ads, grab a reg number from one, then punch it into a few insurance websites.

[dxg]

Be very wary of front chassis leg rust on mk2s. A mk1 will be much better. Plus pop up lights.

Avoid anything modified if you want to try to get classic insurance. Speak to greenlight to see what policies they can find for you.

[Ruffy94]

Insurance shouldn't be too bad, my quote last year on my mk1 1.8 uk spec at 19 was around £1000 with 0 ncb with dad named on the policy. Just renewed this month and it was £550 (next nearest quote was 750ish) with 1yrs ncb and im now 20.

From a years ownership I would say its a good car to drive, possibly not as legendary as some would have you believe. Been completely reliable in every way. Only complaint for me is that being 6ft tall and quite a big build, I could do with more space in it as its a daily driver. But in fairness its a more comfortable seating position than the mgf I drove.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Ruffy94 said:

From a years ownership I would say its a good car to drive, possibly not as legendary as some would have you believe.

Ever had the alignment sorted out?

[Ruffy94]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Ever had the alignment sorted out?

Yep had that done, used to track left when I first had it, so it was a requirement

[Sampaio]

chunknozza said:

Hi Everyone,

I'm seriously considering getting a MK1/2 MX5 after getting very bored of my Polo 6n2. I'm just wondering what pros/cons they offer and what kind of quote a 19 year old (nearly 20) will get for one?

Sorry if this has been posted before!

As a 19 year old driving one for almost a year now (previously had an Ibiza which is pretty much a Polo in disguise, so I know what you mean by very bored) here's what I think:
- You're young and you don't have kids, it's the perfect time to have a 2-seater (either that or wait 'till you're 50...)
- It's nothing like a modern supermini - it's a little tiresome to drive in heavy traffic and certainly noisy on the highway, but again, I can't imagine a 19 year old doing a lot of highway miles. That said, nothing's as fun as an MX-5 when driving around town.
- Open-top, this is an interesting one - I bought mine purely for the sake of driving pleasure, the fact it was a convertible was just an added bonus, but I ended up loving the experience. Warm summer nights with the top-down make for one of the best automotive experiences you can have. Very easy to operate as well.
- Boot. I fitted a fully loaded shopping cart on the boot once, so it's better than what you might think. Also, when driving with the top up you have considerable room behind your head for a bag or two, and you won't have to open the boot to pick up your stuff when you leave.
- Driving. The best thing about it - naturally aspirated engine and a slick, short-throw gearbox are the most notorious features - you'll end up downshifting randomly just for fun. It feels faster than it is, the car tenses up as the revs climb and the engine noise is purely metallic. The pedals are beautifully weighted too.

Go for it and you won't regret it.

[Sampaio]

chunknozza said:

Hi Everyone,

I'm seriously considering getting a MK1/2 MX5 after getting very bored of my Polo 6n2. I'm just wondering what pros/cons they offer and what kind of quote a 19 year old (nearly 20) will get for one?

Sorry if this has been posted before!

As a 19 year old driving one for almost a year now (previously had an Ibiza which is pretty much a Polo in disguise, so I know what you mean by very bored) here's what I think:
- You're young and you don't have kids, it's the perfect time to have a 2-seater (either that or wait 'till you're 50...)
- It's nothing like a modern supermini - it's a little tiresome to drive in heavy traffic and certainly noisy on the highway, but again, I can't imagine a 19 year old doing a lot of highway miles. That said, nothing's as fun as an MX-5 when driving around town.
- Open-top, this is an interesting one - I bought mine purely for the sake of driving pleasure, the fact it was a convertible was just an added bonus, but I ended up loving the experience. Warm summer nights with the top-down make for one of the best automotive experiences you can have. Very easy to operate as well.
- Boot. I fitted a fully loaded shopping cart on the boot once, so it's better than what you might think. Also, when driving with the top up you have considerable room behind your head for a bag or two, and you won't have to open the boot to pick up your stuff when you leave.
- Driving. The best thing about it - naturally aspirated engine and a slick, short-throw gearbox are the most notorious features - you'll end up downshifting randomly just for fun. It feels faster than it is, the car tenses up as the revs climb and the engine noise is purely metallic. The pedals are beautifully weighted too.

Go for it and you won't regret it.

[SportsCarShop]

Like so many people many years ago I made two mistakes, to brush the MX5 aside as a Japanese impersonation, and to assume that the Jap spec cars were inferior, then i drove a nearly new Mk1, and was, and still is superb. Buy a standard Mk1 fitted with an LSD and enjoy a proper little car!!