Hoping to become a proud MX5 owner... thoughts?

[LOwen93]

Hi all,

First time poster here!

I'm hoping to buy myself an MX5 - I've heard great things wherever I've looked and have been coping with my very old Skoda Fabia up until now. I was hoping that I might be able to pick the brains of some current owners as to whether this advert looks like a good quality example of an MX5. I'm reluctant to spend the money without much knowledge of the car myself!

Would current owners mind giving this ad a look over for me? I'd really appreciate knowing what you guys think.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Thanks!

[LOwen93]

P.S.

I'd also look at an early MkIII as well - but I'd want a soft top and NOT the PRHT. I've heard they bring issues!

[Ramona]

You heard wrong - problems on the PRHT are very few and far between. It also has the advantage that, unlike the soft top, it doesn't need to be replaced every few years ... and, of course, it can't be opened with a Stanley knife.

[Johnnybee]

The folding hard tops are very reliable, I had one and didn't have a moments trouble with it.

If you haven't done so already do an MOT history check on the car you linked to.

[paulmaurice99]

You really must do your research on these before looking. In so many ways they are the perfect affordable sports car but rust can be a major issue.

The pictures aren’t good enough to spot potential problems but the mot history flags up several failures due to rust. You could either decide this is good because it’s been dealt with, and the two owners from new suggests that it’s been done properly but you would need to check these are quality repairs otherwise it’s just lying in wait for the next owner.

The mot failures relate to the usual problem areas: sills, rear wings and chassis rails. These are what you must check thoroughly with any purchase. Fixing that lot could add up to the cost of the car if you’re looking around the 2k mark for cars.

The mk1 and mk2 suffer, the mk3 although newer is not immune to it either. The early mk3 will benefit from alignment and lowering as they are not great drivers cars as standard. But it depends what you want from them as to which mark to recommend.

Good luck. Find a good one and you’ll love it!

[dxg]

Check the front chassis legs on all mk2s. You may well find that mk1s are more solid there, due to their lack of double-skinned (and moisture trapping) crumple zones. You win some, you lose some...

[WJNB]

LOwen93 said:

Hi all,

I'm reluctant to spend the money without much knowledge of the car myself!

You have admitted to reluctance to spend money without knowledge so do the obvious thing as already advised & 'do your research' & do it thoroughly. Sift all the advice both here & better still that quoted on the UK owners club website - join the club if you're serious.
Fully understand what YOU need from the car not what others 'think' you need.
There is a lot of rubbish out there, much of it bodged to sell so don't be fooled by shiny paint jobs & sparkling alloys. There is plenty to choose from IF you are prepared to make the effort which might mean travelling a bit further than just down the road.
Good luck.

Ex Mk 1 owner, multi-concours winner & one of the first members of the UK owners club when it was formed.