Concours MX5

[A S P]

I know, it's another MX5 and to make it worse my other car is another 328 so my lack of originality is considerable...but...today I went for a drive in my new-to-me-but-ancient MX5 and its fking ace!

I convinced my friend to give me his mk1 MX5 which he was intending to put through the scrappage scheme - I found him a used car that was better than buying a new one, and he'd give me the car which after a convoluted saga has finally arrived with me with a fresh MOT and service. That sounds great, and it drives brilliantly, however the car's bodywork is well and truly shagged...














I had intended to get the car restored back to its original condition but after driving it today I'm starting to change my mind. It honestly drives very tight, suspension lovely and firm, steering communicative or no suspicious creaks. What requires immediate attention is frivolous things like functioning windows and locks!

I'm quite fond of the knackered bodywork, its there to be driven and don't give a stuff about how it looks despite being more pink than red - suppose thats quite apt for an MX5! I'm going to keep an eye out for MX5's in the same colour being broken with decent panels and replace them then, honestly on't think the car is worth pouring money into it with new panels etc.

Whats great about it is I went for my first actual drive for god knows how long, the 328 touring is great at what it does, but this is so much more fun. Not quick but I don't care about that, the fun is from building up speed and carrying it round the corners - its so easy to play with and catch at low speeds that I can't be arsed with trying it any faster. That'll be till I get bored and buy s.h. supercharger, but till then..

Edited by A S P on Sunday 8th August 13:31

[soad]

So you got it for free then?
Good for saving it - as like you say, drives well.

[danyeates]

Excellent!

Well done for saving from the crusher!! Good on you!

I'm on the look out for a similar thing for blasting around at weekends and putting on the track.

[Altrezia]

Leave it how it is, fit a rollcage, and take it on as many trackdays as you can afford.

And I'll join you in mine!

Edit: You can remove the steering wheel centre rubber thing, and then it'll just be a normal momo wheel, btw.

Edited by Altrezia on Sunday 8th August 14:32

[A S P]

I was extremely lucky and did get it for free. The deal is that I keep it for a few years, tidy up the bodywork etc, and when my friend has room for two cars (in London so doubtful for a while) and wants a second convertible he'll take it back.

Right now I'm loving the thing, and was planning on uprated shocks, ARB's etc but it feels so sweet as it is. Don't want to go the new alloys, chrome ringed interior look - its great as it is, however a real roll-bar could be tempting. Never considered trackdays recently, used to do them where I worked a long time ago, but never with my own cars. Off to the trackday forum to investigate!

[JFReturns]

A S P said:

Don't want to go the new alloys, chrome ringed interior look - its great as it is, however a real roll-bar could be tempting.

My thoughts exactly. Since putting the original wheels (mine came with 15"s) the handling is transformed:



Hats off for saving a perfectly good car. If you wanted to freshen it up a little, it would be worth £2000 anyway!

[snotrag]

No need for new panels.

Be brave. A wet sand and some compound will have that coming up in lovely deep, bright red all over I bet.

PS the headlight lids are adjustable to make them line up with the bonnet.

And take the rubber bit off the middle of the steering wheel.

[slomax]

Let me direct you to this thread....

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[A S P]

JFReturns said:

A S P said:

Don't want to go the new alloys, chrome ringed interior look - its great as it is, however a real roll-bar could be tempting.

My thoughts exactly. Since putting the original wheels (mine came with 15"s) the handling is transformed:



Hats off for saving a perfectly good car. If you wanted to freshen it up a little, it would be worth £2000 anyway!

Your 5 looks just right. Like the subtly tweaked O.E. look and its the first car I've had which will suit a PH smiley!

snotrag said:

No need for new panels.

It's more than badly faded paint I'm afraid, most are badly dented, there are deeply gouged key marks and the lacquer is lifting all over. Was thinking it won't be too much to get 2xwings, bonnet and a passenger door from a breaker, then I'll try and get all the panels to match with a really good polish after that.

slomax - thanks for the link, think I'll stick with the 5 as is Like the everyday usability of it and it's sheer inconspicuousness.

Was out on a PH run tonight..

PHrun (good to see some recognisable cars from here)

and whilst I think the suspension has the right amount of firmness for driving fast over bumpy B-roads it rolls eay too much - beefier set of anti-roll bars are in order I think..

[piefacemate]

[quote]and whilst I think the suspension has the right amount of firmness for driving fast over bumpy B-roads it rolls eay too much - beefier set of anti-roll bars are in order I think..
[/quote]

Got to keep those Fiat 500's in check somehow!

[davepoth]

I would renew all of the bushes before you change the suspension settings - they will be quite tired after so long.

[mxspyder]

snotrag said:

No need for new panels.

Be brave. A wet sand and some compound will have that coming up in lovely deep, bright red all over I bet.

PS the headlight lids are adjustable to make them line up with the bonnet.

And take the rubber bit off the middle of the steering wheel.

I think that will take a little more than Wet n Dry!

[Mr.Jimbo]

To be honest, the gap on the headlight panel to bonnet will be getting a bit more air to your intake, they used to make the MX5s tape these up when I worked on them raving with MR2s!

[A S P]

piefacemate said:

Got to keep those Fiat 500's in check somehow!

They're a lot faster than you'd think

[A S P]

Found a used but decent condition passenger wing for £35, that's the way I'll think I'll go with it, there's no rush, and whilst it does look like a skip I'm more concerned with getting the suspension sorted - bushes are a good idea, just beyond my skill an patience I think. Luckily there seems to be loads of MX5 specialists in the NW, trust them more than me!

[JFReturns]

Is the bonnet bent too? It looks it in the pic. You should be able to pic ones of those up cheap as well...

[Chivs]

Great. I like a well-used looking car. I had a Mk2 a few years back and I'm tempted to get a cheap one again.

[A S P]

JFReturns said:

Is the bonnet bent too? It looks it in the pic. You should be able to pic ones of those up cheap as well...

Indeed it is, reckon it'll be easier to just replace it than fix it.

I've been using it to commute this week, loved the drive in to work (Altrincham - Manchester) and the fuel saving over the 328 is noticeable. Shame about the monsoon rain yesterday as the window seals are pretty useless!

[JFReturns]

Yes they can perish.

This is a good site for second hand bits and bobs, might be worth checking out:

http://www.mx5heaven.co.uk/index.html

Specifically:

http://www.mx5heaven.co.uk/acatalog/Used_Parts.htm...

[A S P]

JFReturns said:

Yes they can perish.

This is a good site for second hand bits and bobs, might be worth checking out:

http://www.mx5heaven.co.uk/index.html

Specifically:

http://www.mx5heaven.co.uk/acatalog/Used_Parts.htm...

Bookmarked

Thanks for that, I'll be perusing that along with ebay and the MX5 forums this wknd..