Looking for an MX5 with 1597cc engine

[C.HARPER]

My son is 17 and wants a Mazda MX5, the insurance company will insure 1.6 litre, but it has to have the 1597cc and not the newer 1598cc engine. Anyone out there with a mint condition, low mileage, UK example which they are prepared to sell or knows of. He has a budget of up to £4000. Must be an original car thats not being played with.

Edited by C.HARPER on Tuesday 25th September 19:29

[steve bowen]

that makes no sense, the late UK 1.6 is 90bhp low power specifically to be insurace friendly, and its a group or two lower. The pre 1994 UK 1.6 is 120ish bhp and will be more to insure. JDM cars are better full stop but again will be more to insure.

[speedychrissie]

i may be wrong but i thought that the bulk of the engine in the 1.6 has stayed exactly the same over the years so i dont see why there would be any difference in displacement.

and the previous poster is also right about the power. the newer 1.6 cars are much less powerful, why would an insurance company not want to insure one of them?

[MX-5 Lazza]

speedychrissie said:

i may be wrong but i thought that the bulk of the engine in the 1.6 has stayed exactly the same over the years so i dont see why there would be any difference in displacement.

and the previous poster is also right about the power. the newer 1.6 cars are much less powerful, why would an insurance company not want to insure one of them?

You are wrong. The 88bhp 1.6 is a different engine to the older 114bhp 1.6 engine. There are very few interchangeable parts and the 88bhp engine can't be modded to be the same as the 114bhp engine.

My guess is that the insurance company were saying that he needs a Mk1 1.6 88bhp model not a newer Mk1 1.6 which is around 120-125bhp.
It could even be that an early 1.6 114bhp model would be ok as they will have a very low insurance value these days.

[speedychrissie]

ok, well you learn something new everyday.


insurance wise i would have thought that a Mk1 would be your best bet for sure.

also make sure you point out how lucky he is if he does get an mx5 for his first car and encourage him to remember that before he puts his foot down!

[princeperch]

C.HARPER said:

My son is 17 and wants a Mazda MX5, the insurance company will insure 1.6 litre, but it has to have the 1597cc and not the newer 1598cc engine. Anyone out there with a mint condition, low mileage, UK example which they are prepared to sell or knows of. He has a budget of up to £4000. Must be an original car thats not being played with.

Edited by C.HARPER on Tuesday 25th September 19:29

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