It's all your fault

Author
Discussion

chaosss

Original Poster:

415 posts

238 months

Wednesday 21st March 2007
quotequote all
that everynight I am trawling the classifieds/ebay/autotrader and any other website looking for another MX5. I have been reading all the MX5 threads in the other forums and that convinced me. I was looking at 200SX's as well buyt I really want another MX5.

I owned ones about 6 years ago (was 22 and first sports car) but unfortunately I my experience was ruined by the leaking roof. So had to sell it quickly.

But having recently sold my E30 318is track car (the red one in the motorsport section classifieds) on here I am on the look out for another to use as a summer toy and a track day car. It won't be modified to the same extent as the E30 was to keep it fairly comfortable for normal road use.

So I need a cheap MX5 (close to a grand as possible) which will allow me to spend some money on mods (turbo, coilovers etc.) as otherwise I will get a bit frustrated by the lack of straight line speed (I did in my 318is on track and that was stripped so comparable in weight). I know it is all about the handling but I got frustrated getting stuck behind slower cars and them not letting me past in the E30. So I want about 170-180 bhp min and 200 would be a bonus.

Am I asking too much? I keep reading posts with people finding them for £1200, £1300 but I can't find them. Where are you looking?

And when the missus asks me where I have been, why I left on foot and returned in another car I be blaming you lot ;-)


risotto

3,929 posts

219 months

Wednesday 21st March 2007
quotequote all
chaosss said:

Am I asking too much? I keep reading posts with people finding them for £1200, £1300 but I can't find them. Where are you looking?


It's just a matter of looking on a daily basis and being prepared to travel - they'll come up eventually. There's on on Autotrader at the moment for £1295 (to find it you'll need to search for Mazda Eunos, not Mazda MX-5).

Keep an eye on eBay, Findit, the classifieds here etc and you'll find what you're after sooner or later! Good luck!

chris71

21,548 posts

249 months

Wednesday 21st March 2007
quotequote all
I'm a great believer in getting a cheap car and doing a little work on it.

As a serious driver, the chances are you're gonna find things that need replacing in virtually any second hand car. They reckon an average driver can tell the difference between an apparently perfect set of 20,000 mile old shocks on an average car and a new set. So, if you start talking about a 70,000 mile car and a rather more enthusiastic driver, you rapidly get a list of things that could do with replacing even if they're fundamentally still sound.....

In short, if you're gonna put new suspension, brakes etc on it, theres no point buying one which has these in half decent condition in the first place, because 'half decent' is still nowhere like new

chaosss

Original Poster:

415 posts

238 months

Wednesday 21st March 2007
quotequote all
Agree completely Chris.

My plan is to buy a "leggier" one which will require new suspension/bushes etc as I would only be replacing them anyway so may as well try and get the car cheaper.

Still looking

T5SOR

2,003 posts

232 months

Wednesday 21st March 2007
quotequote all
Depending on a potential buyer I have a 1.8 Eunos (was a 1.6) with Bilsteins, with roll bar, with beefier clutch/flywheel etc for sale


Mike

chaosss

Original Poster:

415 posts

238 months

Wednesday 21st March 2007
quotequote all
Hi Mike,

Is that the red one I see you have linked too in other posts.

If so a few questions.

Why the transplant?
Also what was transplated.....gearbox, diff, ECU?

Cheers

speedychrissie

2,994 posts

246 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
it really is all just about checking all the advertising places everyday. the car i bought went on autotrader on thursday morning, i viewed it thursday night and drove it home friday night! but that was the only way i could get it.

chaosss

Original Poster:

415 posts

238 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
I just missed what looked like a beauty last night.

I emailed a guy of the Mazda owners club and then was browsing Ebay. Turns out he had put it on Ebay a couple of days before with a buy it now of £1100. Had brand new gaz coilovers as well.

T5SOR

2,003 posts

232 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
Hi


No this is the green Eunos in my profile. Red one has now gone! The 1.6 died (140K Miles) so I carried out the Flyin Miata engine conversion. Sourced a good 1.8 from the later model and made everything fit
It has new engine, clutch, flywheel, exhaust, hood etc. Shocks/Springs were changed in Sep 2006 for Bilsteins.

Mike

redgriff500

27,661 posts

270 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
Theres a SC'd one on Ebay for around £2800 IIRC.

If you want a fast(ish) one its better to buy one already done.

T5SOR

2,003 posts

232 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
redgriff500 said:
Theres a SC'd one on Ebay for around £2800 IIRC.

If you want a fast(ish) one its better to buy one already done.



There's no replacement for displacement hehe

chaosss

Original Poster:

415 posts

238 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
Cheers guys.

Unfortunately any colour would do as long as it is not green. Don't ask but it involves superstitious parents.

madaboutmx5s

43 posts

223 months

Friday 23rd March 2007
quotequote all
One with a supercharger to turbo already fitted can be a cheaper option if you want FI power.

I bought another 5 recently and looked at cheaper normally aspirated versions and in the end bought a turbo as by the time I did my calculations I was better of with this one then trying to buy on cheaper and fitting the parts.

chaosss

Original Poster:

415 posts

238 months

Saturday 31st March 2007
quotequote all
hopefully tomorrow is the day.
Got an appointment to view a 1.8. Fingers crossed.

franv8

2,212 posts

245 months

Saturday 31st March 2007
quotequote all
Good luck - hope it's a good'un!