180,000 miles!!!!
Discussion
Hi,
I'm looking to purchase my first MX5 as a second and fun to drive car (my A6 is a bit of a sofa on wheels!). I've a budget of around 2k so a mk1 is in my price range. Today I test drove a 1.8i Dakar, it all seemed fine but the millage is 180k. I've read someother threads and high milage doesn't seem a problem but 180k seems very high for a 96' car. Just wanted to put the feelers out and make sure that if i was to go head it wouldn't give up on me in a months time! Oh and i got a wet right leg in the torrential rain is a slight leak easily fixed? Any help greatly apperciated.
I'm looking to purchase my first MX5 as a second and fun to drive car (my A6 is a bit of a sofa on wheels!). I've a budget of around 2k so a mk1 is in my price range. Today I test drove a 1.8i Dakar, it all seemed fine but the millage is 180k. I've read someother threads and high milage doesn't seem a problem but 180k seems very high for a 96' car. Just wanted to put the feelers out and make sure that if i was to go head it wouldn't give up on me in a months time! Oh and i got a wet right leg in the torrential rain is a slight leak easily fixed? Any help greatly apperciated.
While 180k miles isn't in itself a problem as long as the car has been regularly serviced, I wouldn't go for this car simply because there are so many cars out there, most with much less mileage. You should be able to get more or less the same thing with half that mileage. If the price was nearer to £1k then it would be worth a go.
How about this!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-MAZDA-MX-5-GREEN-MX5-Co...
Selling after 1 week of ownership and it's CAT C or D.... Ok possibly not then.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-MAZDA-MX-5-GREEN-MX5-Co...
Selling after 1 week of ownership and it's CAT C or D.... Ok possibly not then.
Although this could be a bargain. Currently less than £1000.... H reg 1.6
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mazda-MX5-Eunos-1-6i-Roadste...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mazda-MX5-Eunos-1-6i-Roadste...
One week of ownership, whats that all about? You would have thought she would have gone on a test drive first and cat D could be dodgy. I'll keep my eye on the other one, its also not got a lot of history and been resprayed but if the price stays low it could be a find. Cheers for looking.
Changing to height-adjustable coil-overs is the best way.
Lowering springs tend to either be too stiff to make up for the lack of length or they are too soft and the car sits on the bump-stops on every corner which ruins the ride (and the handling if it's the stock bump-stops).
Cutting off a coil would fall into the "too soft" category.
Lowering springs tend to either be too stiff to make up for the lack of length or they are too soft and the car sits on the bump-stops on every corner which ruins the ride (and the handling if it's the stock bump-stops).
Cutting off a coil would fall into the "too soft" category.
Okay, let me put it this way Mr Lazza.
I know not what shocks my car has, they were on it when I got the car and it's a jap import. Since they've been on years they're probably not in the best health anyway.
One coil broke on the rear (it was already lowered) so I put the £70 springs on.
All I can say is that the lowered car seems to be more than a match for things on the road, I haven't driven a totally stock car, but everyone I know who has one doesn't seem to drive it as hard.
I suspect the budget for my car is a lot less than yours, but then it's my daily driver so I'm not spending out on it.
Same comments go for the 205's, the car holds on fantastically through nice windy country roads, and also will drive round most things on larger roundabouts.
This is the formula that works for me, it's super cheap and I'm sure there are better ways to achieve it, but for £70 pair of springs, and £45 a corner for the rubber (which seems to last forever by the way - Yokohamas) I'm well satisfied.
I know not what shocks my car has, they were on it when I got the car and it's a jap import. Since they've been on years they're probably not in the best health anyway.
One coil broke on the rear (it was already lowered) so I put the £70 springs on.
All I can say is that the lowered car seems to be more than a match for things on the road, I haven't driven a totally stock car, but everyone I know who has one doesn't seem to drive it as hard.
I suspect the budget for my car is a lot less than yours, but then it's my daily driver so I'm not spending out on it.
Same comments go for the 205's, the car holds on fantastically through nice windy country roads, and also will drive round most things on larger roundabouts.
This is the formula that works for me, it's super cheap and I'm sure there are better ways to achieve it, but for £70 pair of springs, and £45 a corner for the rubber (which seems to last forever by the way - Yokohamas) I'm well satisfied.
franv8 said:
I'm well satisfied.
And that's what really matters 
Different people have different goals. It seem you (like me) would prefer to have grip for fast, safe cornering rather than limiting grip to allow big angles at all corners & roundabouts. You wouldn't notice the difference with 195 tyres though and they are even cheaper with a bigger choice of tyres
franv8 said:
This is the formula that works for me, it's super cheap and I'm sure there are better ways to achieve it, but for £70 pair of springs, and £45 a corner for the rubber (which seems to last forever by the way - Yokohamas) I'm well satisfied.
I'm up for some cheapo lowering springs (at least for now) and some new tyres for my eunos pre 94...Where'd you get the springs and hows the ride?
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