Mk1, Mk2, 1.6 or 1.8?
Discussion
I have been looking through Ebay all week at Mk1 and Mk2 MX-5s...just want a cheap fun weekend car/occasional work car to add to the current stable of Mazda 6 (family hack) and Wife's Fiesta ST 150....
,seen a 1 owner 58,000 mile car on Ebay for £1195, which looks promising, but its a 1.6. Does that matter in a Mk2? Is the 1.8 better? I read somewhere that 1998-2001 1.8s can suffer piston wear and the cars I am looking at are typically 1998-99 Mk2s....
It seems possible to pick up cheap Mk1 and Mk2s for the same price...any sage wisdom as to which is a better bet for a cheap Car. Naturally buying from Ebay without fully examining for potential rust is a bit of a worry....
,seen a 1 owner 58,000 mile car on Ebay for £1195, which looks promising, but its a 1.6. Does that matter in a Mk2? Is the 1.8 better? I read somewhere that 1998-2001 1.8s can suffer piston wear and the cars I am looking at are typically 1998-99 Mk2s....
It seems possible to pick up cheap Mk1 and Mk2s for the same price...any sage wisdom as to which is a better bet for a cheap Car. Naturally buying from Ebay without fully examining for potential rust is a bit of a worry....
I like the Mk2 more than the Mk1, it's improved in every way in my opinion. People say that the Mk1 is more "raw" which seems to mean "the interior is rubbish". Don't get a UK 1.6 Mk1 made after 1993 as they have detuned engines.
When looking at MX-5s, buy on condition (i.e. no rust) rather than mileage. I had a Mk2 with 175K miles on it with full history, it drove brilliantly but used a tiny bit of oil (250ml/2000 miles).
Also don't assume that a low mileage car will have no rust, I have looked at Mk1s and Mk2s with as low as 35K miles on them with holes in the sills. Expect to look at a lot of them before buying a good one and don't be fooled by chancer dealers selling them for 3K+ as "appreciating assets", there are still far too many of them to be worth any serious money.
When looking at MX-5s, buy on condition (i.e. no rust) rather than mileage. I had a Mk2 with 175K miles on it with full history, it drove brilliantly but used a tiny bit of oil (250ml/2000 miles).
Also don't assume that a low mileage car will have no rust, I have looked at Mk1s and Mk2s with as low as 35K miles on them with holes in the sills. Expect to look at a lot of them before buying a good one and don't be fooled by chancer dealers selling them for 3K+ as "appreciating assets", there are still far too many of them to be worth any serious money.
Rusty sills are the usual problem but be aware of the more serious chassis rail rust problem on MK2s that doesnt affect mk1s. Harder to check for I believe.
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1...
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1...
Thanks, so buying a car from EBAY you haven't seen is a no no? There is a local car to me, 77,000 miles, supposedly tidy, £1500 - 1998 S Reg. Does that sound too pricey or not too bad for a Mk2 1800?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-MX-5-S-H-NEW-MOT-3...
The one in Staffs (1998 car, 1.6), which is 200 miles from me says, 58,000 miles 1 Lady owner and only £1195.. difficult to know what the chassis rails are like however without viewing!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331634438116?_trksid=p20...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-MX-5-S-H-NEW-MOT-3...
The one in Staffs (1998 car, 1.6), which is 200 miles from me says, 58,000 miles 1 Lady owner and only £1195.. difficult to know what the chassis rails are like however without viewing!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331634438116?_trksid=p20...
Edited by GreenArrow on Saturday 29th August 20:51
Another one local to me went on Ebay Today, but has 17 inch wheels? Is that a problem?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-MX5-mk1-Convertibl...
The ride is terrible on a Mk1 with anything above 15" wheels so you would want to change them (cheap enough). That car has been listed before recently and you would want to see how well the rust repairs have been done (UK car). Also it is clearly an eyesore so you would want to check that the crappy stick on chrome can be removed without damage.
lilwashu said:
The ride is terrible on a Mk1 with anything above 15" wheels so you would want to change them (cheap enough). That car has been listed before recently and you would want to see how well the rust repairs have been done (UK car). Also it is clearly an eyesore so you would want to check that the crappy stick on chrome can be removed without damage.
Thanks for that information and yes I agree about the eyesore!Also a Darlington seller listing two Mk1s....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-MAZDA-MX-5-CONVERTI...
Not sure what you would make of that one? Actually I think the low mileage MK2 in the higher up link I posted seems one of the best, 58000 for £1195 and one owner....
Have you bought one yet?!
I'd just go and see anything local, to give you a starting point. Having just bought a Mk1 and owning a Mk2 about 7 years ago, I prefer the Mk1. But it's all about personal preference. Go and try a few and see how you get on.
I can only echo buying on condition. At this age and price of car, condition is king - doesn't really matter as much how many owners or miles it's done. Look at it this way; that's of no consequence if it's a rusted mess....
I'd just go and see anything local, to give you a starting point. Having just bought a Mk1 and owning a Mk2 about 7 years ago, I prefer the Mk1. But it's all about personal preference. Go and try a few and see how you get on.
I can only echo buying on condition. At this age and price of car, condition is king - doesn't really matter as much how many owners or miles it's done. Look at it this way; that's of no consequence if it's a rusted mess....
This one is genuinely rust free...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321860803609?ssPageName=...
Certainly try a few - so many rotten ones out there hidden by shiny paintwork, so take a magnet & get underneath them
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321860803609?ssPageName=...
Certainly try a few - so many rotten ones out there hidden by shiny paintwork, so take a magnet & get underneath them
Wardy5 said:
Have you bought one yet?!
I'd just go and see anything local, to give you a starting point. Having just bought a Mk1 and owning a Mk2 about 7 years ago, I prefer the Mk1. But it's all about personal preference. Go and try a few and see how you get on.
I can only echo buying on condition. At this age and price of car, condition is king - doesn't really matter as much how many owners or miles it's done. Look at it this way; that's of no consequence if it's a rusted mess....
Not yet, I've chickened out of bidding for a few on Ebay and there haven't been any local cars in my price range. I've been really busy without much time to travel and look at cars.I'd just go and see anything local, to give you a starting point. Having just bought a Mk1 and owning a Mk2 about 7 years ago, I prefer the Mk1. But it's all about personal preference. Go and try a few and see how you get on.
I can only echo buying on condition. At this age and price of car, condition is king - doesn't really matter as much how many owners or miles it's done. Look at it this way; that's of no consequence if it's a rusted mess....
Looking at a MK1 in Hemel Hempstead at the moment, £1150 starting bid.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141768227632?_trksid=p20...
Out of interest why do you prefer the Mk1. I like the Mk1 too, but it also looks a bit dated now? As Mk2s don't seem to have a following I think you might get a cheaper tidy lower mileage Mk2 for the price of an equivalent Mk1. I might be wrong however.
Edited by GreenArrow on Thursday 10th September 18:51
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