Put deposit on a MX-5

[phil_cardiff]

I'm soon to be the owner of a 98 1.8is with air con and I can't wait. The jibes from my gf and family have started allready but I don't care. I've got a light RWD sportscar!

She needs a cambelt change (not sure whether to do the water pump too), 1 new tyre (I'll probably change 2 to match) and some rust bubbles sorting on the door edge and bonnet edge.

After that a proper alignment?

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't considered new springs, shocks, roll bars, strut braces, discs, pads, alloys and a supercharger. I'd also be lying if I said I could afford all that!

[Combover]

Good to hear! I head a 1.8iS and it was a wonderful machine, I loved it. Air-con is quite a rare option too.

When do you get it?

[phil_cardiff]

Hopefully tomorrow.

Does anyone know if I should change the water pump at the same time as the cambelt or is it being overcautious? I've never heard of changing it with the cambelt before and as far as I am aware it's not a known fault with the MX-5 or am I wrong?

[MX-5 Lazza]

I'd change the water-pump at the same time as the cambelt. There is probably no need but they are fairly cheap and it's easy to do while you are in there.
Use a Mazda pump rather than a copy.

[MadaboutMX5s]

Welcome to mx5 ownership.

As mentioned above do the water pump when you do the cambelt. Saves a lot of farting about.

[phil_cardiff]

Cheers guys.

I'm sure I'll be on here a lot now. Look out for threads such as 'My roof is leaking' and 'Which tyres are best'. I promise I'll use the search function first though.

[fr3n2y]

Are you doing the cambelt change yourself?

If so check out the planetmx5 forums, they guys there held a tech day where we did a few over a weekend, very simple considering and the guys are very helpfull!!

[phil_cardiff]

I'll probably let the loacal garage do it as I'm not experienced with the spanners.