£1200, will i get a dog?

[_Batty_]

looking at an MX5 or a rev 2-3 MR2.
Already spent 6 months in a rev 1 MR2, so fancied something alittle more PH
so then chaps, i robbed the missus, searched behind the sofa, and sold my doggy Corrado and came up with £1200.
Will i get a skip in the shape of an MX5? is the 1.8 worth the extra? do i *need* an LSD?
Help me sirs, for i need to be educated.
TIA
Matt

[mike9009]

Hi Matt,

I bought a sound 1.6 1991 Eunos in June this year for £1300. Though when I say sound I mean no rust. Lots of little things have gone wrong (see some of my previous threads on here!) but nothing major because these little cars are pretty robust (from what I have been told!) So yes a £1200 mx5 is possible but will need small amounts of money spent to keep in full working order - many of the things I replaced were non essential (dodgy speakers, passenger side elctric window cable, gearbox gaiter to sole stiff gear change etc etc)

I used to own a mk1 MR2 which was so reliable in my ownership (6 years) but turned into a complete rust bucket by the time we parted company.

Best of luck

[neil_bolton]

Dude, if you want a spin in mine, give me a shout

[_Batty_]

neil_bolton said:

Dude, if you want a spin in mine, give me a shout

you're a respected PH'er.
are they *that* good?
im curious, but also very tempted. does the 1.6 feel slow?
and thanks very much mate.
i may well take you up on that

[neil_bolton]

_Batty_ said:

neil_bolton said:

Dude, if you want a spin in mine, give me a shout

you're a respected PH'er.
are they *that* good?
im curious, but also very tempted. does the 1.6 feel slow?
and thanks very much mate.
i may well take you up on that

I've not had mine a week yet, and I'm addicted. It sounds bloody ace, it goes well (in something that small, it feels quicker than it is) and most importantly of all it goes very sideways. As it is, it'll thrap to 100 quickly enough - although it's not got the thrust I'm used to - but then I didn't buy an MX5 for outright pace. I understand there is not much difference in performance between the two engines - the 1.8 is heavier but torqiuer - how does sir wish for his power to be delivered? Me - in an MX5 I want revving the nuts off power

Its a great combo really, supposedly good mechanics (mine needs a few little things sorting) when well maintained, and easy to get decent mpg out of.

Add in the fact it's a nice looking little soft top, means it's a no brainer - even if you buy it, run it for 3 months and hate it, you'll get your money back in the summer easily.

Did I mention it goes sideways?

as it is, my collegue at work has an identical one as mine, already we're openly laughed at for parking together at work, although he can't stop laughing at me constantly driving it like a 16 year old, constantly rabbiting on about how sideways it goes. You know, it goes sideways. Easily. Did I tell you that?

[_Batty_]

so sideways then?
looks like i may have to scan the adverts then
Unless any PHer's have one worth looking at?

[neil_bolton]

_Batty_ said:

so sideways then?

Ever so slightly.

You WILL grin like a demented loon the first time you get it just right off a roundabout at 6k.

It's even better in the wet; every junction, roundabout and set of lights requires tail out action and wiggling of the back end...

Even if you hate it, you'll not lose any money

I bet you a pint though, that you'll love it. Sideways.

ps I care not about condition so much, more that it stops, steers and goes the way it should. They're to be driven, not shown at shows. You can always give them a blow over and a polish to make them look smart enough

[The Tea Boy]

there are bargins to be had! I brought my 1989 eunos for £900 and ive just been offered £1500 for it! Ive only had it for 3 weeks!
Its the best car ive driven in a long time and there is nothing wrong with mine other than it needs 2 little bits of paint! So keep looking you will find one

[trooperiziz]

I bought my 1995 UK 1.8i for just over £1k a few months back. She is a solid car and running well, it's just i've become addicted to mx5parts and mx5nutz. £2k later and I have new wheels, new suspension, new bushes, new steering wheel, hardtop, brace bar, new seats etc... All completely necessary, you understand

[Gizmo!]

Mine was £1600 in May, with a new hood (and no service history).

You can get them for £1k but you'll have to be quick, and watch out for rusty sills.

Sideways, you say? Oh yes.

I spent Saturday afternoon on Exmoor. Fallen leaves. Water everywhere. Muddy, twisty lanes. Sideways everybloodywhere. Bloody brilliant.

[Gizmo!]

trooperiziz said:

I bought my 1995 UK 1.8i for just over £1k a few months back. She is a solid car and running well, it's just i've become addicted to mx5parts and mx5nutz. £2k later and I have new wheels, new suspension, new bushes, new steering wheel, hardtop, brace bar, new seats etc... All completely necessary, you understand

Out of interest, which suspension did you go for? That's the next thing on my 'list'. Is it easy to fit yourself?

[trooperiziz]

Gizmo! said:

trooperiziz said:

I bought my 1995 UK 1.8i for just over £1k a few months back. She is a solid car and running well, it's just i've become addicted to mx5parts and mx5nutz. £2k later and I have new wheels, new suspension, new bushes, new steering wheel, hardtop, brace bar, new seats etc... All completely necessary, you understand

Out of interest, which suspension did you go for? That's the next thing on my 'list'. Is it easy to fit yourself?

I went for a second hand set of bilsteins from the mk2.5. The mk1 billies are very hard, but the mk2.5 ones are a very nice ride and much better than my original shocks. It helped that they were £400 fitted too...

Not too bad to fit yourself if you know what you are doing, but it's a 2 man job really and can be dangerous as you need to put the springs under quick a bit of pressure to get the shocks out the top mounts. One slip and you could lose some fingers if you aren't careful.

[bluetone]

Just be careful to avoid the dreaded 90bhp 1.6s; the last of the UK 1.6s were detuned to differentiate the new-at-the-time 1.8.

Otherwise, have fun shopping

[_Batty_]

bluetone said:

Just be careful to avoid the dreaded 90bhp 1.6s; the last of the UK 1.6s were detuned to differentiate the new-at-the-time 1.8.

Otherwise, have fun shopping

what years where these produced?
i've found 2 cars im interested in, a BRG/Tan one (they seem very popular) on a H ('91?) plate of 999 and one local to me silver/hardtop/cloth for 1200 on a 'G' plate (1990?)

[rfn]

The 1.6 engine changed to 90bhp when the 1.8 engine was introduced in 1993.

[_Batty_]

rfn said:

The 1.6 engine changed to 90bhp when the 1.8 engine was introduced in 1993.

Thankyou

[MX-5 Lazza]

_Batty_ said:

bluetone said:

Just be careful to avoid the dreaded 90bhp 1.6s; the last of the UK 1.6s were detuned to differentiate the new-at-the-time 1.8.

Otherwise, have fun shopping

what years where these produced?
i've found 2 cars im interested in, a BRG/Tan one (they seem very popular) on a H ('91?) plate of 999 and one local to me silver/hardtop/cloth for 1200 on a 'G' plate (1990?)

94 - 98. They were introduced in UK only as a cheap insurance option. Basically, choose 1.6 up to 93 or 1.8 from 93.

[neil_bolton]

mate, give me a call if you like - email me for my number - i'm just about to go out and buy another for the missus who is desperate for one. That brg one in glos looks nice

[_Batty_]

neil_bolton said:

mate, give me a call if you like - email me for my number - i'm just about to go out and buy another for the missus who is desperate for one. That brg one in glos looks nice

np. although i have already scoured the trade-it autotrader and ph ads

[tuttle]

Hiya Batty long time no see. You're coming over to the light & airy side haha!
I hear of quite a few folk buying decent examples for that money (usually 1.6's), so your budget is certainly doable. I only paid £1700 for mine & its a solid little beastie.
If you'd like to give it a bit of a drive sometime, you have my number. Would be good to catch up.

Matt

Edited by tuttle on Tuesday 24th November 09:18