MX5 Woes - Mk1 or Mk3? (Modified)

[tommysport]

Hi guys, desperately trying to find a half decent mx5 and not having much luck. I was set on a mk1, but a nicely modified mk3 has come up and realistically I think it will be easier to live with daily but still able to do some fun stuff when needed.

I have found 2 contenders;

Option 1. Mk1 1.8 s special (130bhp, torsen LSD) (similar to what I had before) but needs about £1k in paintwork to look right, rust is all OK, engine seems fine. Would need about £1500 of mods (wheels, bar, etc) to make it mine.

Option 2. Mk3 2.0 PHRT, NC2 (2009) LSD, heated seats, bose etc. Has meister coilovers, BBR200 kit, wheels, decent tyres, 80k miles. Rust seems all taken care of BUT has advisory for subframe corrosion. (How big of a job is this should it be bad?)

I have never driven a MK3.

I guess it will come down to me test driving it, but hopeful some of your opinions might help sway me.

Currently, I've actually done a total 180 in my head and swaying towards the mk3...!

Also worth noting I owned a S2000 for 3 years after my mk1 1.8 s special

Thanks all

[Belle427]

Im having a similar dilemma, not bonded with a Lotus Elise so am looking at getting another cheaper fun car and these 2 are top of my list.
I cant help much but i too have seen a few MK3 BBR 200 cars and they seem to tick a lot of boxes and have all the power you will ever need in one.
This guy who owned a Mk3 fell in love with this recently.

https://youtu.be/XeUG0hqgSqc?si=-Cnih4xVuhrmk52R

People do say they are not about the power but i did find my Mk1 1.6 woefully slow and it need of just a little something extra, ive thought about either buying a Turbo converted car or actually doing a build myself but cant help thinking its just too much for the car and will spoil the character.
The Mk3 i feel is a great looking car as it got a bit newer and sat lower, very useable too with the electric roof.

Edited by Belle427 on Thursday 12th September 19:35

[Nickp82]

Re subframe corrosion, it’s not too difficult to treat if it’s still solid - which it likely is if just an advisory. The rear subframes have support braces both as part of the frame itself and attaching the frame to the body which are the first things to rot away so worth checking with your own eyes if possible.

[Belle427]

This is on Facebook marketplace, looks a good car in a nice colour.
BBR 200 package.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/16770196...

[Chimune]

Having had Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3.5, id say the older 2 were MUCH nicer to drive. NC not bad and defo quicker, but rather soulless.

MK3s onwards are a totally different car than the earlier editions so you really need to drive a Mk3 before deciding.

[thepritch]

tommysport said:

Hi guys, desperately trying to find a half decent mx5 and not having much luck. I was set on a mk1, but a nicely modified mk3 has come up and realistically I think it will be easier to live with daily but still able to do some fun stuff when needed.

I have found 2 contenders;

Option 1. Mk1 1.8 s special (130bhp, torsen LSD) (similar to what I had before) but needs about £1k in paintwork to look right, rust is all OK, engine seems fine. Would need about £1500 of mods (wheels, bar, etc) to make it mine.

Option 2. Mk3 2.0 PHRT, NC2 (2009) LSD, heated seats, bose etc. Has meister coilovers, BBR200 kit, wheels, decent tyres, 80k miles. Rust seems all taken care of BUT has advisory for subframe corrosion. (How big of a job is this should it be bad?)

I have never driven a MK3.

I guess it will come down to me test driving it, but hopeful some of your opinions might help sway me.

Currently, I've actually done a total 180 in my head and swaying towards the mk3...!

Also worth noting I owned a S2000 for 3 years after my mk1 1.8 s special

Thanks all

If you’ve previously owned a mk1 before, you’ll know a mk3 is the wrong choice

My heart will always be drawn to the mk1, it just feels more special than the mk3 ever did. I know that’s my opinion and plenty will disagree though. The mk3 might make a better daily, but only because it’s a newer car, but when I jump in my mk1, I don’t feel it lacks anything. Other than outright power, which, again for me, is fine as I then naturally find the enjoyable back roads.

There are still very good mk1’s out there but the good ones which are free of rust will be pricier. Most will have had their sills worked on, so ensure the repairs are good. You’ll know they rust from inside to out so any problems you see, it’ll be worse in areas that you can’t see.

I have heard mk3 rust worse than the mk1’s , but that could be unfair as that’s just internet forum opinion I’ve read.

Sorry I can’t give you an unbiased response!

Think you’ll decide when you drive one - whichever, it’s got to suit you. And every individual mx5 is different - depends on how it’s been looked after and setup.

But above all, like with any car, buy the one in the condition you can live with / work on.

[tommysport]

Nickp82 said:

Re subframe corrosion, it’s not too difficult to treat if it’s still solid - which it likely is if just an advisory. The rear subframes have support braces both as part of the frame itself and attaching the frame to the body which are the first things to rot away so worth checking with your own eyes if possible.

Thanks so much, yes it is still solid says the seller and to be fair it does look well cared for - it's been undersealed properly by that guy (Anaid?) whos fairly popular on all the forums. Hopefully I could catch it early enough should I buy it. Cheers

[HorneyMX5]

tommysport said:

Nickp82 said:

Re subframe corrosion, it’s not too difficult to treat if it’s still solid - which it likely is if just an advisory. The rear subframes have support braces both as part of the frame itself and attaching the frame to the body which are the first things to rot away so worth checking with your own eyes if possible.

Thanks so much, yes it is still solid says the seller and to be fair it does look well cared for - it's been undersealed properly by that guy (Anaid?) whos fairly popular on all the forums. Hopefully I could catch it early enough should I buy it. Cheers

MK3 sounds the one. With that set up it'll be much better to drive than a tired MK1. I've tracked MK1, 2, 3 & 4 and IMO 3 is peak MX5 for track work.

[tommysport]

Chimune said:

Having had Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3.5, id say the older 2 were MUCH nicer to drive. NC not bad and defo quicker, but rather soulless.

MK3s onwards are a totally different car than the earlier editions so you really need to drive a Mk3 before deciding.

I was worried someone would say this, as that's what I was concerned about. Some people say they are similar to the mk1 just more modern.


As much as I loved my S2000, I always preferred the drive of my Mk1 - was slower but more 'fun' and raw.

Saying that, I'm not living in a house with a garage/tools at the moment, so mk3 (should) be easier to live with as all the mods I'd want are already done..

[HorneyMX5]

The S2000 has a better engine, but in most other respects the mk3 MX5 is a better car.

[tommysport]

HorneyMX5 said:

MK3 sounds the one. With that set up it'll be much better to drive than a tired MK1. I've tracked MK1, 2, 3 & 4 and IMO 3 is peak MX5 for track work.

Cool - thanks! I deffo need to test drive it. Apparently the previous owner spent £11k+ on the mods, has some underbracing and strut braces too. I'm 2nd in line to see it so fingers crossed.

[tommysport]

thepritch said:

If you’ve previously owned a mk1 before, you’ll know a mk3 is the wrong choice

My heart will always be drawn to the mk1, it just feels more special than the mk3 ever did. I know that’s my opinion and plenty will disagree though. The mk3 might make a better daily, but only because it’s a newer car, but when I jump in my mk1, I don’t feel it lacks anything. Other than outright power, which, again for me, is fine as I then naturally find the enjoyable back roads.

There are still very good mk1’s out there but the good ones which are free of rust will be pricier. Most will have had their sills worked on, so ensure the repairs are good. You’ll know they rust from inside to out so any problems you see, it’ll be worse in areas that you can’t see.

I have heard mk3 rust worse than the mk1’s , but that could be unfair as that’s just internet forum opinion I’ve read.

Sorry I can’t give you an unbiased response!

Think you’ll decide when you drive one - whichever, it’s got to suit you. And every individual mx5 is different - depends on how it’s been looked after and setup.

But above all, like with any car, buy the one in the condition you can live with / work on.

Haha, I know, I'd never even considered a mk3 and wrote them off on looks alone, but this modified one actually looks fairly nice. Has a splitter, small spoiler, wheels/coilovers etc.

I would be more than happy with a well modified / clean mk1 but after months of looking I'm ready to give up. Will try and drive this mk3 and see what happens!!

[Belle427]

Something like this not interest you?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256630646519?mkcid=16&a...

[tommysport]

Belle427 said:

Something like this not interest you?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256630646519?mkcid=16&a...

Funnily enough, yes. I have been back and forth with the seller trying to get a viewing on that but keep missing each other and it's a good 4 hour drive from me.

The thing with that is, as lovely spec it is, sounding like a woman here - I'm not overly keen on green or the UK spec plate (easily changed I know) but also feel like a turbo is out of my scope of knowledge. Something goes wrong on that, I'm a little screwed and off to a specialist it goes.

With a mk3 I feel like I can daily it a bit more without worrying so much, if that makes sense?

[Belle427]

Don't think they are very complicated to be honest, it's been tuned by a decent guy too.
I'm with you on the colour, not my 1st choice having had one tbh but I would compromise slightly if the car were perfect.

[threespires]

I have a 1600 200hp BBR NA for summer and a 1600 90hp NB for winter. Yes the performance with 90hp is low, but it's still an absolute hoot to drive, and I've won 3 autosolos this year in it beating more powerful MXs. I'm 79 and still enjoy my motorsport, I'm off to France in November for a rally and the NB will still be great fun for charging round the back lanes of France.

[thepritch]

threespires said:

I have a 1600 200hp BBR NA for summer and a 1600 90hp NB for winter. Yes the performance with 90hp is low, but it's still an absolute hoot to drive, and I've won 3 autosolos this year in it beating more powerful MXs. I'm 79 and still enjoy my motorsport, I'm off to France in November for a rally and the NB will still be great fun for charging round the back lanes of France.

I wish this site had a kudos / like button. Posts like this deserve it!! Have fun and good luck on the impending rally

And to the op - I’m aware of my bias, and am sure you’ll find the right car for you, and you’ll know exactly what sort of drive you’re after! Good luck too.

[threespires]

thepritch said:

threespires said:

I have a 1600 200hp BBR NA for summer and a 1600 90hp NB for winter. Yes the performance with 90hp is low, but it's still an absolute hoot to drive, and I've won 3 autosolos this year in it beating more powerful MXs. I'm 79 and still enjoy my motorsport, I'm off to France in November for a rally and the NB will still be great fun for charging round the back lanes of France.

I wish this site had a kudos / like button. Posts like this deserve it!! Have fun and good luck on the impending rally

And to the op - I’m aware of my bias, and am sure you’ll find the right car for you, and you’ll know exactly what sort of drive you’re after! Good luck too.

You're too kind! Thank you..

[Belle427]

Assuming the BBR 200 NA is Turbocharged?
How do you get on with it do you feel it suits the car ok?

[tommysport]

Well, I am absolutely gutted.

I asked the mk3 seller if I could be first to view as I could have taken yesterday off work, but he'd agreed to a viewing at 5pm on the Friday and honoured it. So I was 2nd in line to view.

The first viewer put a deposit down.

All I can do is pray it falls through for any reason. Gutted. Having such a bad run trying to find a car lately it's almost comical!