MX5 track car good idea or rusty money pit?

[rossyl]

Hi

Hoping you can help.

It has gotten down to a toss up between a MX5 mk1 or mk2/2.5 or a MR2 for a track day car.

The driving experience in the MX5 is better. But the MX5 is older, has significant rust issues and it seems to be pot luck if LSD exists or not and very difficult to find out if it does.

Is the mk1 as bad as the mk2 for rust issues? I've read the mk2 has worse rust due to crumple zones. Does the mk1 suffer with rust in the front rails as well?

What are costs associated with the rust work if done by a garage?

Is there an way of telling if a MX5 has an LSD?

Thanks

[VladD]

The Mk1 doesn't have the chassis rail rust issues.

[rossyl]

Thanks very much

Did many mk1's have LSD? In particular Eunos varieties?

Thanks

[HorneyMX5]

Most of the Imports had one but ot all. The VLSDs are cheap to pick up used and quite easy to swap on a set of stands. Rust issues with MK1s are the rear sills and wheel arches. Mines started to go after 10 years in the UK. It's about £300 a side to get them repaired by a good body shop.

They are a money pit, but mostly due to hoe much cool stuff you can buy for them. I bought mine for a bit of summer fun for £1200 nearly 4 years ago. I'm probably in for over another £5K since but it's now quite a quick wee thing with the supercharger bolted to it.

Untitled by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr

[rossyl]

Looks cracking.

The mk2/2.5's seem like a lot of hassle to find a good one.

I think I'll stick to a mk1.

Was there much difference in suspension between mk1 and mk2 do you know?

[HorneyMX5]

The shafts on the dampers are longer as the top mounts are different. You can swap between the two but you need the correct top mounts corresponding with the suspension you're running.

[J-Tuner]

HorneyMX5 said:

Most of the Imports had one but ot all. The VLSDs are cheap to pick up used and quite easy to swap on a set of stands. Rust issues with MK1s are the rear sills and wheel arches. Mines started to go after 10 years in the UK. It's about £300 a side to get them repaired by a good body shop.

They are a money pit, but mostly due to hoe much cool stuff you can buy for them. I bought mine for a bit of summer fun for £1200 nearly 4 years ago. I'm probably in for over another £5K since but it's now quite a quick wee thing with the supercharger bolted to it.

Untitled by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr

Those wheels suit the car very well. What are the widths and offsets you are running?

As above - MK1's are mainly rear sills and arches. Also check the front sills and lower front wings. The front wings can go there as well as they collect water and rot from the inside out. All easy to fix if you catch it early. I've done the lot so theres peace of mind now. I had some new front wings and undersealed the insides and also the inner wings so they shouldn't go again at the front.

Edit to add: I have a 97 Uk 1.8 which had an open diff and retro fitted a Torsen from a Eunos 1.8, and also swapped the downpipe and cat to a 95 Eunos 1.8 downpipe and 440mm cat (was 475mm) which allowed me to run any of the off the shelf exhausts. Went with a cobalt which is brilliant. I'm running a jackson racing 4-2-1 manifold now though but swapped out easily. Useful to know.

Edited by J-Tuner on Friday 6th February 13:12

[HorneyMX5]

They're Compomotive MLs in 15x8 with an ET of 12. They poke a bit too much for proper comeptition use sadly so for sprints and climbs I'll be running some 15x7 BBSs off an E30 BMW.

[lilwashu]

Last time I checked, Mk2 MR2s also have significant rust issues if that's the one you are after (mine did).

[Antracer]

Buy one that has had the sills done & it will last for years.

[skibum]

I've got a 2.5 track car and it's just failed it's MOT on chassis rails. Currently looking at estimates for the repair and depending on what they come back with will determine whether I repair and continue to enjoy a cracking track toy. Or turn my drive way into a scrap yard and strip down and part the thing out. Which will be a crying shame as it was/is great fun to chuck around.

[HorneyMX5]

skibum said:

I've got a 2.5 track car and it's just failed it's MOT on chassis rails. Currently looking at estimates for the repair and depending on what they come back with will determine whether I repair and continue to enjoy a cracking track toy. Or turn my drive way into a scrap yard and strip down and part the thing out. Which will be a crying shame as it was/is great fun to chuck around.

Don't part it out if it's dead, make an exocet!

http://www.mevltd.co.uk/exocet_gallery.htm

Two people and two weekends will see you done. One weekened to strip the MX5, one to build the exocet.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Chassis rails are a cheap repair these days. Cheaper than a decent sill repair. Wayne on Mazdamenders.net can get you some cheap repair sections.

[skibum]

By all accounts both sills are not far behind and will need doing within the next 12 months. Adding in the engine is at 150,000 miles and it's starting to challenge even the best of man mathematicians.

The Exocet has always been a consideration, just not sure I can spare the investment for the kit.

I'll mull it over for a few more days, but it's not looking too good for the old girl (old, its a 2001!)...

[Antracer]

skibum said:

I've got a 2.5 track car and it's just failed it's MOT on chassis rails. Currently looking at estimates for the repair...

How bad is it?, (any pics) & could you get to Warwickshire?. I can beat any garage quote you get plus if you bring beer my bro will probably do it while you wait. save traipsing back & forth.

[MX-5 Lazza]

skibum said:

...it's not looking too good for the old girl (old, its a 2001!)...

Mine is a 2001. I still see it as a fairly new car...