Possible Stupid MX5 Question......

[Munter]

So I'm looking at MX5's for sale....And I want it to have a LSD (I posted about that before).

Well it appears cars without the LSD will be a bit cheaper (shocking I know), so would it be worth buying a car without and then getting one retro fitted?

(or should I hang my head in shame at even having that thought...)

[benjc]

So you have ruled out an import then? As most of them have LSDs in one form or another.

[Munter]

Gazboy said:

Why a MX5?

Cheaper to run than the MR2. Also cheeper to buy a good one. Plus open top, and lighter meaning less brake heat probs on track days.

And if i want more power I have plenty of turbo and supercharger mods available. But it's got to be the 1.8.

[Munter]

benjc said:

So you have ruled out an import then? As most of them have LSDs in one form or another.

The odd thing is the UK 1.8i keeps poping up cheaper than the 1.8 Eunos cars (which have leather, LSD, aircon). If it's going to cost more than £500-£600 to do the conversion it's not worth buying the UK spec.

[benjc]

For the 1.8 it will have to be the torsen unit (if sticking with oem), will you fit it yourself?

[PJLarge]

Munter said:

The odd thing is the UK 1.8i keeps poping up cheaper than the 1.8 Eunos cars (which have leather, LSD, aircon). If it's going to cost more than £500-£600 to do the conversion it's not worth buying the UK spec.

That's because often UK cars are in worse condition than their import equivalents. The UK cars will have had x number of winters and road salt to put up with whereas the import equivalent will have not.

If you know what you're looking for and are one step ahead of the breakers you can pick up an LSD cheaply. I bought a Torsen LSD for only £120 last year. £80 would see it fitted if you didn't fancy doing it yourself. It's not a difficult swap as the 1.8's use the same rear end. You just need the complete diff in it's carrier.

HTH

Phil.

[Munter]

Probably not fit it myself as it'll be my only car.....and i may have taken my last car apart...but i never had to rebuild it...

[Munter]

PJLarge said:

That's because often UK cars are in worse condition than their import equivalents. The UK cars will have had x number of winters and road salt to put up with whereas the import equivalent will have not.

Ahhhh....so thats it! Ok back to the Import plan then. A car in better condition will probably cost me £500 less over it's life time with me.

(Nice car PJLarge!)

[mxdi]

1.8iS have 10 extra BHP that the 1.8i if i recall, if thats of interest to anyone

[Munter]

Well Parkers say.....

Derivative CC/Cyl BHP MPH 0-60 MPG CO2 IG
1.8i S 2d (94) 1840/4 131 123 8.3 31 216 13
1.8i 2d (94) 1840/4 131 123 8.3 31 216 12

The MK2 1.8 engine appears to be 140-146bhp depending on model.