Keep or sell our one-owner Mk2 dilemma?
Discussion
Hi all
We're at a bit of a crossroads about what to do with our little Mk2 MX5. I’m scratching my head as to whether throw a bit of money at it or alternatively place a classified and try to find it a new home.
My wife bought it brand new back in 99 and has loved it hugely, but it’s now suffering the usual sill/arch rot and a bit of a leaky top. Ideally, my heart tells me to keep it as a winter project / mini-resto but I’m struggling for space and my head says pass it on to an enthusiast who’ll give it a new lease of life. I think it's a great car but we already have a garaged weekend plaything as well as another two-seater soft top. We've hit the point where as a couple, we really don't (or shouldn't at least) need four cars! :-/
What would you do, with limited time/space but a real soft spot for it? If I take out a PH ad, how do you think I should pitch it? I know it’s hard to be definitive with such a brief description but any advice before I go any further would be much appreciated. Thanks.
M
ETA
Sorry, too much info and it will be deemed an advert and removed.
We're at a bit of a crossroads about what to do with our little Mk2 MX5. I’m scratching my head as to whether throw a bit of money at it or alternatively place a classified and try to find it a new home.
My wife bought it brand new back in 99 and has loved it hugely, but it’s now suffering the usual sill/arch rot and a bit of a leaky top. Ideally, my heart tells me to keep it as a winter project / mini-resto but I’m struggling for space and my head says pass it on to an enthusiast who’ll give it a new lease of life. I think it's a great car but we already have a garaged weekend plaything as well as another two-seater soft top. We've hit the point where as a couple, we really don't (or shouldn't at least) need four cars! :-/
What would you do, with limited time/space but a real soft spot for it? If I take out a PH ad, how do you think I should pitch it? I know it’s hard to be definitive with such a brief description but any advice before I go any further would be much appreciated. Thanks.
M
ETA
Sorry, too much info and it will be deemed an advert and removed.
Edited by Big Al. on Saturday 11th March 15:02
Definitely keep it. There aren't many one owner MX5's about and you obviously know the car back to front. I've been toying with the idea of getting rid of my mk1, but I just can't do it. Value wise I wouldn't know where to begin I'm afraid.
Edit: Just seen your garage, sell the 360, restore the MX5, drop a V8 in it and keep it in the garage instead!
Edit: Just seen your garage, sell the 360, restore the MX5, drop a V8 in it and keep it in the garage instead!
Edited by Jonmx on Saturday 11th March 15:04
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Jonmx said:
Definitely keep it. There aren't many one owner MX5's about and you obviously know the car back to front. I've been toying with the idea of getting rid of my mk1, but I just can't do it. Value wise I wouldn't know where to begin I'm afraid.
Edit: Just seen your garage, sell the 360, restore the MX5, drop a V8 in it and keep it in the garage instead!
Haven't seen the OP's garage, but i dig this !Edit: Just seen your garage, sell the 360, restore the MX5, drop a V8 in it and keep it in the garage instead!
Edited by Jonmx on Saturday 11th March 15:04
Mk2 MX5
Mk2 Audi TT Coupe
986 Boxster S
360 Modena
Thanks for the comments guys.
I did attach a picture and a little more info to try to give a fuller picture but it seems it was removed by the PH police.
Jonmx said:
Just seen your garage, sell the 360, restore the MX5, drop a V8 in it and keep it in the garage instead!
You can see why we're struggling for space! I just wish we had another garage.I did attach a picture and a little more info to try to give a fuller picture but it seems it was removed by the PH police.
I'm in a similar situation
I bought a brand new MX5 Mk 2 in 1998 on a whim(and three-year bank loan) as an engagement present for my then-fiancé (now wife). Big mistake. She drove it once up the M1 in heavy rain and swore never to drive it again as she found it so terrifying to be in such a tiny car, being tail-gated by HGV's and bring to peer out through misting windows.
I loved it and it became my daily driver while she took my car (Audi allroad).
As I now use public transport to commute (in London) the MX5 gets little use as we've now got a RR as a main car.
In fact it only has 22,000 (TWENTY TWO THOUSAND) miles on the clock.
It now mainly sits in the garage, so no rust, under a cover with a C-Tek trickle charger keeping the battery conditioned.
It's like a two-year-old car in condition but is obviously worth phuque all. And I'm not going to sell it for £500.
I bought a brand new MX5 Mk 2 in 1998 on a whim(and three-year bank loan) as an engagement present for my then-fiancé (now wife). Big mistake. She drove it once up the M1 in heavy rain and swore never to drive it again as she found it so terrifying to be in such a tiny car, being tail-gated by HGV's and bring to peer out through misting windows.
I loved it and it became my daily driver while she took my car (Audi allroad).
As I now use public transport to commute (in London) the MX5 gets little use as we've now got a RR as a main car.
In fact it only has 22,000 (TWENTY TWO THOUSAND) miles on the clock.
It now mainly sits in the garage, so no rust, under a cover with a C-Tek trickle charger keeping the battery conditioned.
It's like a two-year-old car in condition but is obviously worth phuque all. And I'm not going to sell it for £500.
Edited by audidoody on Monday 13th March 23:15
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Get it out and used - Summer days commuting in a little oft top is bliss !
Agreed, and that's why we've test driven a few Mk3's!! I think we need to make some room first...I'll place an ad in a week or two as that's when it's insured and taxed up until, maybe get an MOT too as I think that's due in June. We've reached the point where our drive becomes an automotive game of tetris when trying to get the beastie out of the garage!
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Get it out and used - Summer days commuting in a little oft top is bliss !
Would love to but I work in central London - so public transport! Apart from which, commuting topless in summer in London rush hour is not quite the same deep joy as buzzing along a deserted country B road!Will do my best to plan some good weekend drives tho!!
I'd say keep it!
Buy a £350 hard top off of ebay/mx5 forums/facebook groups - solves the leaky roof (and IMO looks good too!)
As for the rust... well you can either spend big and fix it... or just accept that is part of owning an MX5 and will eventually kill the car... Personally I'd just leave it until it gets so bad it fails its MOT, they just punt it for scrap and buy another one for around £1000 lol
Either way, get out and enjoy it while you can!
Buy a £350 hard top off of ebay/mx5 forums/facebook groups - solves the leaky roof (and IMO looks good too!)
As for the rust... well you can either spend big and fix it... or just accept that is part of owning an MX5 and will eventually kill the car... Personally I'd just leave it until it gets so bad it fails its MOT, they just punt it for scrap and buy another one for around £1000 lol
Either way, get out and enjoy it while you can!
Thanks for the input guys. At least I have an estimate figure. As it currently has an MOT I think I'll place an ad here on PH at the weekend, probably at about the £500 squids mentioned above. I'd rather not push it on price, preferring to see it fixed and loved - sentimental reasons! 
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Edited by Kyodo on Thursday 23 March 10:02
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