MX5 ND what to look for secondhand and prices

MX5 ND what to look for secondhand and prices

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Discussion

hellsbuddha

Original Poster:

278 posts

250 months

Thursday 23rd February 2023
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So I fancy one of these in the 1.5 version and given budget an earlier one.

The 3 things that seem to cause issues are:

1. Window electric motor
2. Wear on bushings
3. Gearbox in some cases (although seems rare).

I guess I cannot do much other than ask if they have been done, but is there anything to watch out for.

Also I know the new car price has gone up, but the secondhand prices do seem a little high, is this a bubble waiting to pop?

cheers

anonymous-user

61 months

Monday 27th February 2023
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I bought a top spec 2.0 in 2019 for £23K brand new, the prices new now are crazy, I love the car but £30k even with a good discount? Nope.

I was offered a bog spec 1.5 for I think £14k or so at the time, which seems mad now,

Watching prices they cooled from the "same as you paid new 2 years ago" levels of 2021/22 but you're still looking at 17k trade for a 2.0 ND2, but the excellent news is the 1.5 seems to be holding up much worse and I've seen them nudge under £10k for 2015/16 models at trade auctions.

Gearbox issue seems mostly to be hard track use and that ridiculous car park cone thing Americans do, in any case I imagine the 1.5 would have no worries anyway.

Windows I've heard about, but it's not much of a swine to fix or too expensive (at least there are only two that can go!) and it sounds like chunky goodwill payments are possible on the premature rear bushing thing if that car has stayed in the dealer network.

If not the hubs are £400 odd a side if they go so it's not a nice thing to happen but it's not the end of the world.

You'll adore the car, my advice is to go for it, and I think the 1.5 is a conspicuous bargain among farting boosted hot hatches and other FWD shopping trolley rubbish that make up "enthusiast" affordable cars now.

I don't think the prices are going to drop much further, they've had a reset higher because of the massive RRP increases on new but normality is resuming.

sagarich

1,245 posts

156 months

Monday 27th February 2023
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I would really like a 1.5 ND as a second car, so keeping an eye on this thread.

Am I right in thinking that CarPlay is easily retrofitted via a dealer?

anonymous-user

61 months

Monday 27th February 2023
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Yeah £300 odd I think, I had mine done before delivery and it's mostly great. Certainly miles better than the Mazda nav!

hellsbuddha

Original Poster:

278 posts

250 months

Tuesday 28th February 2023
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great thanks. I think I need to drive a 1.5. The 2litre was fun, however the gearchange didn't feel as good as I remembered it. OTOH I have been driving a fiat 500 for 12 years, so my memory maybe tainted.

I am in no hurry and only do about 2k a year, so can wait for the right car.

Cheekster247

128 posts

59 months

Tuesday 28th February 2023
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sagarich said:
I would really like a 1.5 ND as a second car, so keeping an eye on this thread.

Am I right in thinking that CarPlay is easily retrofitted via a dealer?
I fitted it myself. Got the part from Ali-express for approx £80 and followed the instructions from Youtube etc. It looks quite complicated but the panels come off and go back on very easily. Works a bloody treat!

You just need to make sure the infotainment system is updated to the minimum version first (instructions also exist for this).

anonymous-user

61 months

Tuesday 28th February 2023
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Cheekster247 said:
sagarich said:
I would really like a 1.5 ND as a second car, so keeping an eye on this thread.

Am I right in thinking that CarPlay is easily retrofitted via a dealer?
I fitted it myself. Got the part from Ali-express for approx £80 and followed the instructions from Youtube etc. It looks quite complicated but the panels come off and go back on very easily. Works a bloody treat!

You just need to make sure the infotainment system is updated to the minimum version first (instructions also exist for this).
It's gotten harder to find the firmware for this, if someone does need the latest version feel free to PM me.