Selling my rusty MX-5, what to do...?
Discussion
Hi all, I own a 1998 MK1 1.8 MX-5 that I need to sell (I think!)
Trouble is, it’s typically rusty. It’s a late MK1, only done 65k and is a UK car that I have all the history for. It hasn’t been MOT’d for 12 months for various reasons but I got it running again just recently, however on the last MOT it got an advisory for both sills.
I’ve spent money on it in previous years so has some choice upgrades but do I spend more money on it?
The passenger side isn’t too bad, sills are shot right in the corners, can’t find any crunchy bits on the inner arch but the arches are all bubbly. The drivers side is worse and creeps up the arch a bit further and there’s a finger sized crunchy patch on the inner arch.
So...
1. Sell it as spares or repairs, what could I expect? (Don’t have time/space to break it)
2. Patch the sills and MOT it, would last 2/3yrs.
3. Restore it properly, would need 2 front wings and a full respray to make it mint, but what would it be worth?
Cheers
Trouble is, it’s typically rusty. It’s a late MK1, only done 65k and is a UK car that I have all the history for. It hasn’t been MOT’d for 12 months for various reasons but I got it running again just recently, however on the last MOT it got an advisory for both sills.
I’ve spent money on it in previous years so has some choice upgrades but do I spend more money on it?
The passenger side isn’t too bad, sills are shot right in the corners, can’t find any crunchy bits on the inner arch but the arches are all bubbly. The drivers side is worse and creeps up the arch a bit further and there’s a finger sized crunchy patch on the inner arch.
So...
1. Sell it as spares or repairs, what could I expect? (Don’t have time/space to break it)
2. Patch the sills and MOT it, would last 2/3yrs.
3. Restore it properly, would need 2 front wings and a full respray to make it mint, but what would it be worth?
Cheers
Although I’m new to MX-5’s (recent 2000 NB Icon) I have been in your situation many times before with quite a few Minis and Jaguars. The way I usually look at it is ‘What can I get back for the car I have now? How much to put it right so I will keep for a good while to enjoy it?’ Add those two approximate figures together and then ask yourself - ‘Can I get a replacement for that sort of money?’
Good Mk1’s seem to hold a reasonable value and personally I think it’s a shame to break any car unless it’s a real bad one.
Realistically though, it’s now 2 years since an MOT man saw it and he had concerns back then. I think as the law stands it has to be sold as spares or repair without MOT which ruins the price somewhat.
Although I have heard some folk say that even if it was free it would be too dear, my own position would be keep it and get it the way you want it, trying to do as much of the work yourself to keep costs down - even if that only entails removing easy stuff prior to repairs.
Ian
Good Mk1’s seem to hold a reasonable value and personally I think it’s a shame to break any car unless it’s a real bad one.
Realistically though, it’s now 2 years since an MOT man saw it and he had concerns back then. I think as the law stands it has to be sold as spares or repair without MOT which ruins the price somewhat.
Although I have heard some folk say that even if it was free it would be too dear, my own position would be keep it and get it the way you want it, trying to do as much of the work yourself to keep costs down - even if that only entails removing easy stuff prior to repairs.
Ian
Newbie here, and looking to tap in to some MX5 info and knowledge as the previous incarnates of 'online groups' seems to have fallen.
I have almost the same - 1996 Mk1 1.8i
Owned it since '97
I had the sills repaired once in about 2008, and it lasted only a couple of years. I then handed the car over for a thorough cut back and de-rust.
2 years later....... it was back.
That was 4 years ago and zero regrets. Get it done, done right, and back on the road to put smiles on your face.
Over the winter in readiness for spring is perfect.
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