Thinking of Buying MK3 2.0 Advice needed
Discussion
There are a couple of NC owners around...
My advice is if you do do it, make sure you buy one that's had the Eibachs put on and has been to an alignment centre (if you can't get one then buy one anyway but budget to get them done. Wheels-in-motion do a good package deal of springs and alignment for £600 or so: http://www.blackboots.co.uk/mazda-mx5-handling.php...
Other than that the major PITA seems to be ensuring that the drain holes are kept clean. If it's an older Mk3 then there was some work to be done at the dealers to replace the valves on the drain holes so make sure that's been done and get it done if not.
I love mine and find it a great balance between easily accessible roof down fun and very good daily driver. The Bose stereo in the Sport is very good as well. I tend to get about 30 mpg in mine but I do have a heavy foot and tend to drive in a lower gear than many around town as I prefer the responsiveness.
The car likes to be revved and handles excellently once lowered and aligned. I've done a 2,500 mile road-trip around Europe with no issues and the boot's excellent for the sort of car it is. Servicing's cheap as it's a Mazda, Road tax is c.£200 a year and the heated seats are also great at this time of year!
All in all it's a great little sports car.
Oh, and don't buy one with a Cosworth Supercharger as they have a horrible habit of blowing up and setting fire to cars. Cosworth will allegedly now only sell them if Owners sign a piece of paper saying it'll only be used on a track.
There's a few notes in the blog on my profile as well.
Phil
My advice is if you do do it, make sure you buy one that's had the Eibachs put on and has been to an alignment centre (if you can't get one then buy one anyway but budget to get them done. Wheels-in-motion do a good package deal of springs and alignment for £600 or so: http://www.blackboots.co.uk/mazda-mx5-handling.php...
Other than that the major PITA seems to be ensuring that the drain holes are kept clean. If it's an older Mk3 then there was some work to be done at the dealers to replace the valves on the drain holes so make sure that's been done and get it done if not.
I love mine and find it a great balance between easily accessible roof down fun and very good daily driver. The Bose stereo in the Sport is very good as well. I tend to get about 30 mpg in mine but I do have a heavy foot and tend to drive in a lower gear than many around town as I prefer the responsiveness.
The car likes to be revved and handles excellently once lowered and aligned. I've done a 2,500 mile road-trip around Europe with no issues and the boot's excellent for the sort of car it is. Servicing's cheap as it's a Mazda, Road tax is c.£200 a year and the heated seats are also great at this time of year!
All in all it's a great little sports car.
Oh, and don't buy one with a Cosworth Supercharger as they have a horrible habit of blowing up and setting fire to cars. Cosworth will allegedly now only sell them if Owners sign a piece of paper saying it'll only be used on a track.
There's a few notes in the blog on my profile as well.
Phil
Further to what Phil said above...
I've also had mine lowered at Wheels in Motion - cost was £299 to have it lowered on the Eibach's and the Geometry set. The car is amazingly different afterwards and much much better to drive and very responsive.
I love mine - it replaced a Clio 182, and while the '5 is not quite so fast, it is more fun to drive all of the time, even when not being driven at 10/10ths. I'd look out for one with the BOSE stereo specced - the sound quality with it seems to be much better.
I've averaged 31mpg over 4000 miles and haven't had any issues in that time. Mine had been meticuloulsy maintained by the previous owner and I also have a hard top which makes it a bit nicer in the winter.
Any more questions, feel free to ask
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I've also had mine lowered at Wheels in Motion - cost was £299 to have it lowered on the Eibach's and the Geometry set. The car is amazingly different afterwards and much much better to drive and very responsive.
I love mine - it replaced a Clio 182, and while the '5 is not quite so fast, it is more fun to drive all of the time, even when not being driven at 10/10ths. I'd look out for one with the BOSE stereo specced - the sound quality with it seems to be much better.
I've averaged 31mpg over 4000 miles and haven't had any issues in that time. Mine had been meticuloulsy maintained by the previous owner and I also have a hard top which makes it a bit nicer in the winter.
Any more questions, feel free to ask
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