What's the difference with MK1's

[sillius_sodus]

Evening all, I'm looking to get a pre-1997 MX5 MK1 and am trying to get to grips with the types. From what I understand these are the basic groups:

1.6, UK: Alright, a bit underpowered but basically good car. Black interior and few options.

1.8, UK: Better, more reliable but still that dark interior and few options.

Eunos: Japanese import attracting higher costs for servicing and insurance. Better interior with the option for air con, wooden steering wheel and trim.

How's that? Close to how it is or wildly off?

I'm being very picky and looking for a car with a tan interior and preferably a polished wooden steering wheel. I'd like to spend less than £2000 and I don't mind dents and scratches as long as the roof and doors are ok. Any suggestions helping in this will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Sillius_Sodus

[anonymous-user]

Some insurers charge a little more for Jap imports, but servicing costs are identical.

There are actually three different engines in the Mk1:

90-93 1.6 116 bhp
94-97 1.6 90 bhp
94-97 1.8 128 bhp

[DennisTheMenace]

you can tart it up with chrome , ive gone for steel to help my radio blend in as he felt left out ....


Now i couldnt live with a tan interior , i prefer the all black look , simple (like me) the car is about driving fun no the ammount of toys and gadgets fitted , manual windows (the shock) take 4-5 turns to wind up , why do you need electric , K.i.s.s Keep It Simple Stupid , cant go wrong

[NiceCupOfTea]

Sounds like you're after a Jap import V-spec, comes in 1.6 or 1.8 flavours in BRG or black with the tan interior and wooden bits

Basically: UK cars were generally low spec, even the special editions of which there are many.

As said there were 3 engines, the early 1.6 which is nice and revvy, then in 94 it was replaced with a 1.8 which is less revvy but ultimately quicker, and a low power insurance friendly 1.6 brought in at the same time.

Jap cars (Eunos roadsters) generally much higher spec (electric windows, air con, etc.) came in 1.6/1.8 but no low power versions. S-Spec and V-Spec have a nice trim level. Servicing won't cost you any more as they are mechanically identical. Don't know about insurance but negligible I would have thought.

Jap cars likely to be less rusty as they will have seen fewer UK winters.

It's a no-brainer as far as I am concerned, Jap all the way

2k should get you a reasonable early 1.6 V-Spec if you shop around

[Sticker]

Ive had 2 in the past a MK1 BRG 1.8s good fun car no problems except a sticking rear brake and rust coming through on sill . a MK2 Anniversary with matching hard top again no real probs except an electrical failure which was 1500 quid to fix. It was faster than the mk1 with a 6 speed box. The missus has just brought a L REG Jap import BRG brown trim,chrome pack wheels n mirrors ,I picked up a wind blocker in brown trim and have fitted the chrome rings and black mats. At first I wasn't all that about it but spent the weekend cleaning it evEn after the dealer did his pre sale wash i still had 3 buckets of dirty water from the inside alone ! I did the 3 part clleaning system and it looks fab. shes gone for the auto as she sits in traffic all day, her choice but I wouldnt have as its slower and less fun
I had a problem insuring it tho, my insurance company were total toss, funny they were happy to insure my 92 ,911 targa when i had it but not the 5 so shop around, confused.com was good .

Edited by Sticker on Wednesday 4th July 08:59

[cpas]

I've recently sold a really nice 'H' plate MK1 for £2600, but it had grey leather, alloys, PAS and electric windows. I assume the leathewas an option, but believe that the alloy, PAS and e/w were all standard on earlier cars. Some later cars had ABS and aircon, and I believe all Jap cars had a/c as standard. Earlier cars genrally will be cheaper due to being older.

[MX-5 Lazza]

No, aircon has always been an option in Japan but bearing in mind the Japanese climate and their mentality (the majority of Japanese have small houses with no land so a car is a status symbol) it's an option that is almost always chosen.