Buying cheap MX5
Discussion
I'm trying to get my new girlfriend into sportscars so have decided to get her a Mazda MX5 for Christmas. I think I can scrape together about two grand, do you think I'll be able to get one for that money that isn't falling apart? I don't mind too much if the paintwork and interior is scruffy (I can fix them up myself), as long as it's mechanically sound. Are the auctions my best bet at this price point or are there genuine MX's out there in private-sales land?
Hi there
Don't bother with the import auctions for MX-5's for some reason they go for silly money ££££'s.
You can buy a very nice import for not a lot plenty about around the 2K mark, they are generally rust free unlike many UK cars of the same age. Most early UK cars have rotten or rotting sills beware its a big job. Imports also have aircon & an LSD well most do.
Just pick one with:
A good hood
Decent tyres (crap ones are awful on 5's)
Original suspension
Original general spec
& you'll be fine.
They ARE bombproof & damn good fun for the money
Don't bother with the import auctions for MX-5's for some reason they go for silly money ££££'s.
You can buy a very nice import for not a lot plenty about around the 2K mark, they are generally rust free unlike many UK cars of the same age. Most early UK cars have rotten or rotting sills beware its a big job. Imports also have aircon & an LSD well most do.
Just pick one with:
A good hood
Decent tyres (crap ones are awful on 5's)
Original suspension
Original general spec
& you'll be fine.
They ARE bombproof & damn good fun for the money
MX5 is a good start if your trying to get her into sportscars 
I'm sure she'll love it.
If you havent already done so, try www.mx5oc.co.uk you can ask on there too, you may get more replies and can browse in classifieds.
Good hunting.
I'm sure she'll love it. If you havent already done so, try www.mx5oc.co.uk you can ask on there too, you may get more replies and can browse in classifieds.
Good hunting.
John Mac said:
Is a high mileage, say 70/80k a major problem on either the Eunos or a UK car ?
Should'nt be,I dont have much MX5 experience,but plenty other Jap models.The engines are(on the whole)dead reliable & well built so a well maintained one will go on for ages.Have a good look underneath for rust(very few imports will be under-sealed/rustproofed).Look for signs of'good care,bad care'.At auction check for good paperwork/history(jap imports should have original auction assesment sheet.It will include:quality grading scale,mileage-in km,crash damaged etc,they can be useful to make sure every thing tallies-tho they can be faked too-can scan some for you to look at.
>> Edited by tuttle on Saturday 16th October 17:39
High mileage is no problem on an MX5. There are plenty of cars in the States with well over 200k on them. You should be well able to find a car within your budget, especially at this time of year. As captsideways said, I'd probably opt for an import over the equivalent UK car as they are generally in much better condition. If possible I'd not go for a 'G' reg car, the early cars have a known problem with the bottom pulley that attaches to the crankshaft. If the timing belt has been changed by someone who is not familiar with the torque specification for the early engine (and a surprising amount of Mazda dealers even are not familiar) it can be new engine time down the road. Look at the bottom pulley, if it has 4 elongated slots in it it's the earlier design (or 'LWSC' as it's known in the MX5 community). If the pulley has 8 slots it's the later, redesigned and tougher revision. I'd be wary of an LWSC engine, especially if the cambelt has been changed. Start the engine and look at the bottom pulley, if there's any wobble to the pulley whilst it's rotating the keyway is likeley worn and performance will decline as the problem gets worse.
Phil.
Phil.
Something like Wedge girl's MX would be perfect... Recently some MX5's at Auction seem to have gone at not much less than the dealer wanted before he got them off his forecourt, about 4k when he wanted 5k, a mark up which I suppose is about right.
What should a 94M plate with 83K on the clock, I think its a Eunos, red and in pretty good condition go for at auction ?, how much if it was a UK car - the same ?
What should a 94M plate with 83K on the clock, I think its a Eunos, red and in pretty good condition go for at auction ?, how much if it was a UK car - the same ?
This might be worth looking at http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18211&item=2494684090&rd=1
cptsideways said:
If you want an Auto I've got a tidy Roadster BRG with tan hood & leather, just has a wee scrape down one door nothing major otherwise v clean I'd like about £1800 for it.
Mail me if your interested
What, this one?
If so I am definitely very, very interested.
>> Edited by flat_steve on Thursday 21st October 00:45
wedge girl said:
This might be worth looking at http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18211&item=2494684090&rd=1
Yep watching that one! I've bid on several (two white ones, a black one, two blue ones) but I've been outbid twice, and three I bid highest but didn't reach the reserve! D'oh!
flat_steve said:
If you want an Auto I've got a tidy Roadster BRG with tan hood & leather, just has a wee scrape down one door nothing major otherwise v clean I'd like about £1800 for it.
Mail me if your interested
What, this one?
If so I am definitely very, very interested.
>> Edited by flat_steve on Thursday 21st October 00:45
Noooo not that one, you would'nt want it anyway its got bald tyres, does'nt stick to the road very well its terrible really & the tyres smoke an awful lot too & its got bucket seats from hell & things keep melting under the bonnet too 
Well I've finally found one!
[url]eBay Item #2496722720
I won it tonight while I was out watching AvP! It's a P-reg '97 1.8 UK car in the colour and spec I wanted. I took on board what a few people said and paid a little extra to get something that won't (hopefully) be breaking down all the time... Having said that, it's only £3700 which I think is a helluva bargain!! My missus is gonna be so chuffed when she sees this outside her house on Xmas day!
Mind you by Xmas I'll probably have the '5 tucked away in my garage and she'll get a bunch of flowers or something!!
[url]
I won it tonight while I was out watching AvP! It's a P-reg '97 1.8 UK car in the colour and spec I wanted. I took on board what a few people said and paid a little extra to get something that won't (hopefully) be breaking down all the time... Having said that, it's only £3700 which I think is a helluva bargain!! My missus is gonna be so chuffed when she sees this outside her house on Xmas day!
Mind you by Xmas I'll probably have the '5 tucked away in my garage and she'll get a bunch of flowers or something!!
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