A few questions on an 1.8i S Mk 2.5

A few questions on an 1.8i S Mk 2.5

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LukeBird

Original Poster:

17,170 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
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Right, I've pretty much decided that an MX-5 is for me (the only thing left is a test drive to confirm that they are nice to drive!) and am just looking for the right car.
A friend of mine at work is head over heels in love with his and suggested a few things to me and said he'd be happy to come and look at cars with me if I like! smile
But anyhow, he said A/C is desirable and he would definitely go for it; as when it's wet, given the heatsoak into the car it can be a bit tricky to demist. Valid point or should I ignore and get a car without? I'm not bothered about A/C per se...

I want a car with heated leather, but beyond that not too bothered on options bar a CD changer; if there isn't one in the car, are they easy to fit?

Is there anywhere I can get a list of the service schedule; I'm interested in a 2003 car and just want to make sure it's had all the required work.

Thanks in advance! thumbup

neil_bolton

17,113 posts

270 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
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Oh ello.

Another one hehe

Is there something in the water this winter?

ETA: Isn't any car, when you get into it when wet from the rain, going to mist up?

A/C a deffo, stereo wise, you can fit anything.

Why a 2003 if I may ask? Any particular reason?

LukeBird

Original Poster:

17,170 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
quotequote all
I know, I know, no imagination and all that! wink

I appreciate most cars will steam up, but my friend said the heatsoak from the transmission can make it quite difficult to demist. Just wasn't sure if that was the case or not... So you would definitely go for a car with it?

Oh and I meant I had seen a nice 1.8i S (with everything I wanted, beyond A/C) on a 2003, not generally an '03 car. smile
Anything else I should look for?

Oh and thanks! smile

BCA

8,647 posts

263 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
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Luke, you will fking love it!!

I have a mk2 Sport - it has aircon but tbh, I am thinking of removing it.. needs a new condensor so it doesnt get used and I cant ever see myself using it. The heater/ blower is fantastic, so I dont need it for demisting really - it adds weight and if I want to be cool on a summers day, I am already topless - so I'll just drive faster. hehe

Oh, dependant on height, you may *need* to look at a mk2 rather than a mk2.5, I had to, but was glad in the end as I bought a very special car almost by accident. thumbup

Edited by BCA on Thursday 10th December 15:46

LukeBird

Original Poster:

17,170 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
quotequote all
BCA said:
Oh, dependant on height, you may *need* to look at a mk2 rather than a mk2.5
Dependent, which way? Put it this way, I'm not going to need extra headroom! wink

So you wouldn't bother with A/C? As I said, I'm not bothered by it (don't have it in my current car) but would have it, if demisting the car was a PITA.

Hmm just finding the right car at the right price now...
Is there anywhere that gives a good guide to the value of Mk 2.5 S cars? Also are any of the Special Editions 'worth it'; I quite like the look of the Phoenix and the Euphonic, especially in that dark metallic mica grey. smile

Oh and cheers Ben! thumbup

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

225 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
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Personally I love my AC. The MX5 is no harder to demist than any other car unless the carpet is soaked with rain water. However, I use the AC to demist my Focus every day as it clears the screen in a tenth of the time it takes without it - why wouldn't I want the same in an MX5?

Also, there is such a thing as summer rain i.e. days when it's nice & warm but still raining in which case the AC is very nice to have. I've been out on extremely hot days when I've given up pretending that I'm comfortable being baked by the sun and just put the top up and the AC on wink

BCA

8,647 posts

263 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
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Luke, if I can sort out my live account (seems down atm??) I'll bore you to tears about them, I've only recently bought a mk2 special edition so I've done the research and looked at a fair few!! smile

Edit, yes - to do with overall height, I am 6'2" and cannot fit in a mk2.5, the mk2 is *just* right. smile

Edited by BCA on Thursday 10th December 17:23

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

225 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
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I'm 6'2" and I can fit in a Mk2.5. Just. But I fit better now I've fitted Elise seats biggrin

LukeBird

Original Poster:

17,170 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
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Well I'm not going to have a problem with height issues then! wink

Bar the lack of a/c, what do you guys think of this - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1379818.htm
The only thing stopping me buying one is a test drive. driving

Oh and Ben, a chat would be good! smile

BCA

8,647 posts

263 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
quotequote all
Luke, if you can get on xbox live tomorow morning/mid-day ish (busy in the afternoon) or Sat, then I'll catch you then. smile

As for problems with that car, whilst my car did have a few very minor concerns, it was under half the price of that car, with less miles (46k!), in a more desireable special edition spec - mine is a 1999 car though. I'd say it was a bit pricey.

LukeBird

Original Poster:

17,170 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
quotequote all
I'm away for a few days chap, don't think I'll be back until mid-next week, maybe speak to you then?
Interesting points regarding pricing... there aren't that many 2.5s around that are cheaper, are they much more desirable 2nd hand? scratchchin

BCA

8,647 posts

263 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
quotequote all
Ah cool, well, just message me whenever you see me on live. smile

The pricing seems all over the place, and I did get mine for a steal. Since getting mine at 3k, taking it to the ring and on a car control day, I had to ask myself why I didnt just buy a scruffy mk1 years ago and not worry about keeping it too tidy. hehe I suspect the same thoughts may cross your mind with a 6k mk2.5 - but it is your money/choice. smile Dont get me wrong, I am very glad I got the car I did for all sorts of reasons, it is very pretty/tidy and everyone who has seen it in the metal has said the same, which makes me smile.

I absolutely adore mine, I didnt expect to, but it has blown me away - get one. If your virtual driving is anything like your real driving (or atleast your preferences) then you'll love it too. I cant think of any other car that is as forgiving and easy to just tease out a little oversteer out of any junction/low speed corner(dry - any corner in the wet will do haha)... nor one that has such a complete sense of balance to the chassis whilst retaining good feel and weight throughtout the controls. I am a big fan.

LukeBird

Original Poster:

17,170 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
quotequote all
BCA said:
Ah cool, well, just message me whenever you see me on live. smile
Will do chap! smile

BCA said:
The pricing seems all over the place
God I know... There are some quite nice looking cars on AT that seem to be good money. I'll just keep an eye out for the right car.

BCA said:
I suspect the same thoughts may cross your mind with a 6k mk2.5 - but it is your money/choice.
Indeed they have done. But a decent Mk1 seems a lot of money, so that pushed me towards a Mk2 and a 2.5 was recommended based on the VVT engine, and the extra body-strengthning.
I'll be aiming at spending between £5-5.5k...

What are your thoughts on the LE's; worth it or not? scratchchin

BCA

8,647 posts

263 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
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I am not sure of the LE's for mk2.5s, my budget didnt quite stretch that far...

I reckon the 6 speeder may be a nice addition, but I wouldnt worry about the extra bracing - that can be done aftermarket on a mk2 to a certain degree and it is a noticeable step up from the mk1's I've been in. The key things that put me off a mk2.5 are that I dont fit in it, and the wheels/brakes etc etc all become a bit much. Stupid as it sounds, I reasoned the mk2's 15" tyres at 28quid a corner made more sense than 16"s at double/treble(?) the price and brakes that cost a touch more just didnt cut it. VVT engine?? It's 10bhp or less and added complication, not for me thanks.

I went for the mk2 because it is more of a daily driver than a mk1 (rattles?) and less expensive than a mk2.5 which I only wanted for the box/remote central locking. As it turns out, the gearbox doesnt matter to me really and the remote central locking will be added with an alarm... (300quid) I'd look to get the best looked after car you can find/ best condition and just buy it... thumbup

I ended up getting a mk2 Sport SE (one of 300) which had 18 pages of history in the members rides section of nutz, it was clear to me that it'd be great and I was fortunate to get it at a reasonable price/time. May be worth a lurk on mx5nutz and keep your eye on a few possible nice ones.

Edited by BCA on Thursday 10th December 22:01

LukeBird

Original Poster:

17,170 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
quotequote all
BCA said:
I am not sure of the LE's for mk2.5s, my budget didnt quite stretch that far...

I reckon the 6 speeder may be a nice addition, but I wouldnt worry about the extra bracing - that can be done aftermarket on a mk2 to a certain degree and it is a noticeable step up from the mk1's I've been in. The key things that put me off a mk2.5 are that I dont fit in it, and the wheels/brakes etc etc all become a bit much. Stupid as it sounds, I reasoned the mk2's 15" tyres at 28quid a corner made more sense than 16"s at double/treble(?) the price and brakes that cost a touch more just didnt cut it. VVT engine?? It's 10bhp or less and added complication, not for me thanks.

I went for the mk2 because it is more of a daily driver than a mk1 (rattles?) and less expensive than a mk2.5 which I only wanted for the box/remote central locking. As it turns out, the gearbox doesnt matter to me really and the remote central locking will be added with an alarm... (300quid) I'd look to get the best looked after car you can find/ best condition and just buy it... thumbup

I ended up getting a mk2 Sport SE (one of 300) which had 18 pages of history in the members rides section of nutz, it was clear to me that it'd be great and I was fortunate to get it at a reasonable price/time. May be worth a lurk on mx5nutz and keep your eye on a few possible nice ones.

Edited by BCA on Thursday 10th December 22:01
Cheers for the reply Ben! thumbup
I shall be keeping an eye out for the right car.
I'll have a word with a dealer friend of mine and see if he can find anything in the trade, that and I know he'll do me a good deal and give me a nice P/X on my current car. smile

Actually, I lied, there are two problems... smile
Need to do a test drive and get my car serviced and ready for sale or P/X.

Planet Claire

3,345 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
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I have the mk2/2.5 service schedule, I've posted it before if you search for it in the MX5 area, otherwise I'll post tomorrow as my lappy is just about to run out of power.

LukeBird

Original Poster:

17,170 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th December 2009
quotequote all
Search is down at the moment. frown
I'll try again tomorrow. Thanks!

Planet Claire

3,345 posts

215 months

Friday 11th December 2009
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LukeBird

Original Poster:

17,170 posts

215 months

Friday 11th December 2009
quotequote all
Wonderful thanks! thumbup

Mrs Trackside

9,299 posts

239 months

Friday 11th December 2009
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LukeBird said:
So you wouldn't bother with A/C? As I said, I'm not bothered by it (don't have it in my current car) but would have it, if demisting the car was a PITA.
Mine hasn't got aircon and I wish it had.

a) yes, the car takes aaaaaages to demist on these rotten wet mornings we've had lately.
b) When it's really really really hot and you're sitting in traffic that's not moving, it would be nice to put the roof up and the aircon on, instead of getting out of the car two hours later looking like a sunburnt lobster wink

If I was buying another one, I'd definitely get aircon.