MK3 (06/07) Must have options?
Discussion
Hi All,
In the market for a 2006/07 MK3. I was looking for a tidy Mk2 but the rust puts me off, however I know the MK3 aren't rust-free either.
I'm not particularly fussed on colour if I am honest, and I cycle to work, so the car will mostly just be used on the few days of summer we do get, and blatting about on a weekend.
Are there any particular options which you'd say were a must-have?
I'd like a hard-top for the winter but it's not essential.. Car will be kept in an underground car park so won't be left out-site to the elements anyway.
Also, what are servicing costs like? Pretty handy with spanners so I'll do a lot of remedial work myself, but still!
Cheers
In the market for a 2006/07 MK3. I was looking for a tidy Mk2 but the rust puts me off, however I know the MK3 aren't rust-free either.
I'm not particularly fussed on colour if I am honest, and I cycle to work, so the car will mostly just be used on the few days of summer we do get, and blatting about on a weekend.
Are there any particular options which you'd say were a must-have?
I'd like a hard-top for the winter but it's not essential.. Car will be kept in an underground car park so won't be left out-site to the elements anyway.
Also, what are servicing costs like? Pretty handy with spanners so I'll do a lot of remedial work myself, but still!
Cheers
Broadly speaking, you can either get a Sport or a non-Sport. I went for the non-Sport 'Option' 2.0l model and immediately put some decent coilovers on it (I went with Ohlins).
I've since bought a hardtop, but only because I want to fit a roll cage to it and for no other reason.
Generally speaking, for the difference between non-Sport and Sport, you get a 6 speed box. I personally don't think it's necessarily worth it as the 5 speed is reported to be a stronger box and the engine has enough torque for me to not always feel the need. The other bits you get with the Sport are cheaper available elsewhere and you're probably better with 3rd party items anyway.
I wish I had aircon though... that's the thing I miss the most.
I've since bought a hardtop, but only because I want to fit a roll cage to it and for no other reason.
Generally speaking, for the difference between non-Sport and Sport, you get a 6 speed box. I personally don't think it's necessarily worth it as the 5 speed is reported to be a stronger box and the engine has enough torque for me to not always feel the need. The other bits you get with the Sport are cheaper available elsewhere and you're probably better with 3rd party items anyway.
I wish I had aircon though... that's the thing I miss the most.
I may well start to look soon, so also interested in what others have to say.
on my MUST have is air con... we take the car to France
on my like to have would be
leather
heated seats
cruise control as I have this on my MK1 and find it great when doing the long continental trips.
I am not too bothered if its a 1.8 or 2.0 and in many ways would prefer a 5 speed
on my MUST have is air con... we take the car to France
on my like to have would be
leather
heated seats
cruise control as I have this on my MK1 and find it great when doing the long continental trips.
I am not too bothered if its a 1.8 or 2.0 and in many ways would prefer a 5 speed
TVRees said:
buzzer said:
on my MUST have is air con... we take the car to France
You don't need air con to go to France, just a spare set of bulbs ! 
It's a soft-top, just go "aux seins nus"
when you do 500 mile in a day in a small car, with the roof off in blazing sunshine, you end up with sunburned faces, no matter how much sun tan you put on. So you end up putting the roof up. that makes it incredibly hot!
I am no hero... we did 3000 mile once to Spain and back in a Peugeot with no air con... it was hardly a pleasure. having air con does make it a pleasure.
we have done many trips in our MK1 MX5 to Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and others over the years and the air con in that has been fantastic. I wouldn't do without it.
Top of the range in 06/07 would be a 2.0i Sport Roadster Coupe, which can't be bad at £5k-£6k.
It depends on your budget, but I can't imagine a deal-breaker difference between the price of one of those and a 1.8 rag-top.
We had one for 9 years, so I'm a little biased
2.0i Sport spec:
158bhp, only just enough for fun and for effective overtaking IMO.
6 speed box . Not a major advantage, bragging rights only, and many say the 5-speed is sweeter..
Bilstein Sports suspension. Again, a questionable reputation on this. I changed to MeisterR coil-overs which transformed the car. If you fancy changing the suspension you could argue you might as well change it out on a non-Sport car.
LSD : a god-send in snow.
Heated leather seats.
Air-con (I'm not sure if this might have also been standard/optional on the lower-spec cars.)
Also the Roadster Coupe folding-hardtop is the best of both worlds, winter or summer.
That specification helped our car be a year-round daily for it's entire time with us.
I'm missing the fun that car gave us.
Regarding servicing, once out of warranty I did it all myself. Aside from regular oil,filters,pads, up to 10 years old it only surprised me with a pair of front calipers (they can start binding) and an auxiliary drive belt kit.
It depends on your budget, but I can't imagine a deal-breaker difference between the price of one of those and a 1.8 rag-top.
We had one for 9 years, so I'm a little biased
2.0i Sport spec:
158bhp, only just enough for fun and for effective overtaking IMO.
6 speed box . Not a major advantage, bragging rights only, and many say the 5-speed is sweeter..
Bilstein Sports suspension. Again, a questionable reputation on this. I changed to MeisterR coil-overs which transformed the car. If you fancy changing the suspension you could argue you might as well change it out on a non-Sport car.
LSD : a god-send in snow.
Heated leather seats.
Air-con (I'm not sure if this might have also been standard/optional on the lower-spec cars.)
Also the Roadster Coupe folding-hardtop is the best of both worlds, winter or summer.
That specification helped our car be a year-round daily for it's entire time with us.
I'm missing the fun that car gave us.
Regarding servicing, once out of warranty I did it all myself. Aside from regular oil,filters,pads, up to 10 years old it only surprised me with a pair of front calipers (they can start binding) and an auxiliary drive belt kit.
Edited by Darryl247W on Wednesday 7th February 19:38
MagicalTrevor said:
Broadly speaking, you can either get a Sport or a non-Sport. I went for the non-Sport 'Option' 2.0l model and immediately put some decent coilovers on it (I went with Ohlins).
I've since bought a hardtop, but only because I want to fit a roll cage to it and for no other reason.
Generally speaking, for the difference between non-Sport and Sport, you get a 6 speed box. I personally don't think it's necessarily worth it as the 5 speed is reported to be a stronger box and the engine has enough torque for me to not always feel the need. The other bits you get with the Sport are cheaper available elsewhere and you're probably better with 3rd party items anyway.
I wish I had aircon though... that's the thing I miss the most.
How do you get on with the Ohlins from a ride and handling point of view? How well do they soften harsh ridges and joints?I've since bought a hardtop, but only because I want to fit a roll cage to it and for no other reason.
Generally speaking, for the difference between non-Sport and Sport, you get a 6 speed box. I personally don't think it's necessarily worth it as the 5 speed is reported to be a stronger box and the engine has enough torque for me to not always feel the need. The other bits you get with the Sport are cheaper available elsewhere and you're probably better with 3rd party items anyway.
I wish I had aircon though... that's the thing I miss the most.
5er said:
How do you get on with the Ohlins from a ride and handling point of view? How well do they soften harsh ridges and joints?
A friend of mine has the MeisterR GT1 and said that the Ohlins ride better. I got mine from BBR so they have their specification spring which, IMO, are too soft for my competition use (I need to have them set very stiff). That said, they ride nicely on the road and perform extremely well on track, I'd just like stiffer springs so I could keep the adjusters nearer the middle.I certainly recommend them
Should anybody want a MK3 2006 Sport, In red, no aircon. A few cosmetic blemishes. 3 sets of wheels and tyres (1 set winters), and with carbotech pads (e.g. a bit rattly, but fork me to they work on track). I'd accept offers... (Just put my name against a GT86, and 2 bright red sports cars for one man...it's going to be silly).
I had Aircon in my first NC and don't in my current one, I haven't missed it at all except for when I was driving around Europe in mid 30 degree heat for hours on end but when that was bearable as I put shed loads of strong sun cream on each day and kept topping it up.
It does mean it takes a little longer for the windows to demist but I never seem to have much of an issue with my windows steaming up in the first place. Just keep my drivers door open when I first get in it and start it up before my breathing mists it up. I clear out my drains once or twice a year and it's all good
It does mean it takes a little longer for the windows to demist but I never seem to have much of an issue with my windows steaming up in the first place. Just keep my drivers door open when I first get in it and start it up before my breathing mists it up. I clear out my drains once or twice a year and it's all good
WHen I bought mine I wanted 2 litre, 6 speed, cruise, Bose, a/c, heated seats & a hardtop. So mine is a 2010 Mk3.5 Sport Tech all of what I wanted I use. The 6 speed as others have said is probably overkill, I end up block changing all the time. We tour Europe at least once a year so a/c (in fact climate) is essential. And it gets used in the UK as well. We did manage 44MPG whilst on an France & Millie Miglia tour two years ago when the french tanker drivers were on strike.
As for the handling mine is on the billies. I am happy with the handling it is very chuckable but the roll responses front to back are different, whereby the rear tends to roll a lot. One of the "maybe to do" things is try RX8 ARBs, I am quite happy with ride height & the car other wise.
The only mod I have done to mine so far in two years is the RX8 wiper stalk to give variable intermittent, which is a good mod & was about £15 & 20 minutes.
As for the handling mine is on the billies. I am happy with the handling it is very chuckable but the roll responses front to back are different, whereby the rear tends to roll a lot. One of the "maybe to do" things is try RX8 ARBs, I am quite happy with ride height & the car other wise.
The only mod I have done to mine so far in two years is the RX8 wiper stalk to give variable intermittent, which is a good mod & was about £15 & 20 minutes.
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