Discussion
This Autumn I want to purchase a "keeper" MX5 for my daughter for when she is 17 (10 years time!!) My ideal spec is MK1, 1.8, larger brakes, LSD and leather, and to add proper roll hoop for safety. Am I right in thinking that a Eunos 1.8 always comes with the LSD and slightly larger brakes?? A friend has had 2 of these and I found them so much fun driving I want my daughter to able to experience that one day, I dread to think how boring sports cars in 2019 will be!! Am I right in thinking £3k is ballpark for these at the moment?
Talk about forward planning...!
I may be wrong but I think 99% of Eunos Roadsters came with an LSD. The earlier ones had a viscous diff which, after about 100,00kms tends to have lost its effectiveness and basically functions like an open diff.
You want a post-1995 import - they had proper torsen diffs.
As for price, I sold my last one (an excellent condition 1996 1.8 import with some rare wheels) for about £2250.
I may be wrong but I think 99% of Eunos Roadsters came with an LSD. The earlier ones had a viscous diff which, after about 100,00kms tends to have lost its effectiveness and basically functions like an open diff.
You want a post-1995 import - they had proper torsen diffs.
As for price, I sold my last one (an excellent condition 1996 1.8 import with some rare wheels) for about £2250.
Edited by Risotto on Tuesday 28th April 17:07
Nice idea - what a lucky daughter 
LSDs = yes.
Larger brakes I haven't heard of before, though the in UK spec the 1.8 has bigger/better brakes than the 1.6.
Your budget should secure you a good relatively low mileage example. Roll bars + installation not very cheap though, assuming you want a safety bar rather than a cosmetic jobbie..
LSDs = yes.
Larger brakes I haven't heard of before, though the in UK spec the 1.8 has bigger/better brakes than the 1.6.
Your budget should secure you a good relatively low mileage example. Roll bars + installation not very cheap though, assuming you want a safety bar rather than a cosmetic jobbie..
Yep, i could always get a RAC type rollbar made if need be. Cosmetic ones do not do it for me! I will use the car, not lay it up, but just for days out ect. (i have a bike engined car for kicks myself) and my wife and daughter can use it whenever. I considered an S1 Elise too but a) cannot really afford it and b) i do not think they are as much "fun" on the limit. Thanks for the advice re: the two diff types, did not know that. I will probobly ask on here before i buy, in case somebody has a good one they want to sell before i trawl through countless ads!
You want to try getting a quote for a 17yr old to drive an MX5 with a rollbar.
I think you'll find she'd be virtually uninsurable.
Also in 10 yrs what will the 'green tax' be on a petrol car ?
Buy one for yourself but not for your daughter.
I think you'll find she'd be virtually uninsurable.
Also in 10 yrs what will the 'green tax' be on a petrol car ?
Buy one for yourself but not for your daughter.
Edited by OnlyMX5ives on Wednesday 29th April 08:27
Furyblade_Lee said:
the roll bar issue is the least of my worries at the mo! Just trying to work out which of the 1,000 variations to buy!
Thats easy you want an RS-Limited. But you'll be hard pressed to find one. An R-Limited is probably just as good....but you do have to like red leather.
Furyblade_Lee said:
the roll bar issue is the least of my worries at the mo! Just trying to work out which of the 1,000 variations to buy!
Basic guide hereThere was a decent range of JDM models - with features you might actually want, as opposed to the tartan gear gaiters etc offered on UK limited editions
There were leather and wood things like the V-Special at the comfort end of the scale and others like the RS-Ltd at the (slightly) hardcore end.
As others have said, of the mainstream variants, the RS-Ltd is probably the most sought after at the moment. It must have the kevlar seats though.
If you want something that may become a future classic, perhaps increase your budget slightly and keep an eye out for one of the Mazda sanctioned M2-modified cars (m2-1001, M2-1002, M2-1028). There aren't many around in the UK and sellers tend to have rather optimistic ideas about what they're worth. There are plenty for sale in Japan but current exchange rates make it virtually pointless to bring anything over at the moment.
Edited by Risotto on Wednesday 29th April 12:08
Munter said:
Furyblade_Lee said:
the roll bar issue is the least of my worries at the mo! Just trying to work out which of the 1,000 variations to buy!
Thats easy you want an RS-Limited. But you'll be hard pressed to find one. An R-Limited is probably just as good....but you do have to like red leather.The Recaros would have been ideal on a track day though.
Kinky said:
Furyblade_Lee said:
I will probobly ask on here before i buy, in case somebody has a good one they want to sell before i trawl through countless ads!
Cough coughTheBoyFold came over about a week ago, and test drove mine. I'll ask him to post some comments for your reference.
K
I can't say for certain about the LSD and bigger brakes, but I can say for certain about it being a hoot! I was really impressed with how well sorted the car in question was, and how nice it felt. (For reference I'm coming from 2 years ownership of a Boxster S). The gearchange is great, very short and direct throw, all the controls were nicely weighted and you get such good feeling through the controls of the car. Not the fastest car I'd driven by a long way, but the speed felt fine for legal limits and meant that you felt like you were having fun without risking your license.
The Mk1 felt a little larger on the inside then the Mk2.5, not sure why I think there was just a little less 'size' to the door. The only downside (and again, bear in mind I'm coming from a Porsche to a much older car) was that the dash was a little rattly, but in the big scheme of things it's nothing really. Plus as Kinky is an ex-TVR owner I guess a few rattles make a car feel more homely!
If I wasn't worrying so much about the cost of my upcoming wedding and how much damage being out of work caused to my finances the Kinkmobile, would almost certainly have turned in the Foldmobile!
my friend had an early 1.6 eunos, think it scuttle-shaked itself to death! Then he had a superb blue 1.8 eunos mk1 with red leather, bilstein suspension, wooden steering wheel and handbrake. BBS wheels and Lsd. Cracking car, bit wrote it off a few monthsback. Now has a lovely dark metallicgreen one with black leather and green stitching with "roadster" embroider in green in the seats. These two are superb variations and what I will be aiming for
Furyblade_Lee said:
Then he had a superb blue 1.8 eunos mk1 with red leather, bilstein suspension, wooden steering wheel and handbrake. BBS wheels and Lsd.
R-Ltd. The best Mk1 ever made imho (Check my profile!!) For me, the Kevlar seats in the RS look like a blot on the landscape.Furyblade_Lee said:
Now has a lovely dark metallic green one with black leather and green stitching with "roadster" embroider in green in the seats. These two are superb variations and what I will be aiming for
Is that maybe a VR-Ltd Comb B? Think the VR-Ltd comes in green (Comb A) or merlot (Comb B) colours.hornetrider said:
Furyblade_Lee said:
Then he had a superb blue 1.8 eunos mk1 with red leather, bilstein suspension, wooden steering wheel and handbrake. BBS wheels and Lsd.
R-Ltd. The best Mk1 ever made imho (Check my profile!!) For me, the Kevlar seats in the RS look like a blot on the landscape.Furyblade_Lee said:
Now has a lovely dark metallic green one with black leather and green stitching with "roadster" embroider in green in the seats. These two are superb variations and what I will be aiming for
Is that maybe a VR-Ltd Comb B? Think the VR-Ltd comes in green (Comb A) or merlot (Comb B) colours.Mine is the VR-A - the merlot one - of which 700 were made. The B was green, of which 800 were made.
Info and pics of the A here: http://www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?car...
This is the one that mark drove last week. I've not stuck it on PH for sale yet.
The A has the red 'Roadster' stitching on the seats (see the pics)
Info and pics of the A here: http://www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?car...
This is the one that mark drove last week. I've not stuck it on PH for sale yet.
The A has the red 'Roadster' stitching on the seats (see the pics)
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