Mazda MX 5 - questions

highrisklowreturn

Can this car tow? Any major problems to be looked out for specific to this car?

And are there any problems would occur for this car at 99k mileage?

See below. Have got an insurance quote for £998 for this so cost of car and insurance would be nice together, but just need to know now if it could tow light garden waste?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/1999-mazda-mx-5-16-convertable/90649917#gallery-item-full-1

agrinnall

I think you need a bit of a reality check, none of the cars you've posted about are ones that a sensible person would choose for towing - it sounds to me like you need two cars, a cheap convertible for fun and a cheap medium size diesel for work.

highrisklowreturn

Yeah but I do office work during the day, I will only be towing occasionally, come next summer, saying maybe for 15 hours a week for six months. As I'm not towing anything heavy the only weight the car will be taking will be the trailer. Is that any more burdensome than, say, an obese person?

forgotmyname

Its so lightweight, Barely breaks the 1 ton mark.

Major problems would be body flexing if you try and towing anything even remotely heavy.

You will wonder why the hood is 2 inches too short, Or a 2inch wide split suddenly appears in it.

marlot

Legally, you can only tow with an MX-5 mk1. The Mk2 and Mk3 are not homologated for towing, and it would be illegal to fit a towbar to them

highrisklowreturn

What about an audi cabriolet soft top comme ca?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/audi-cabriolet-swap-for-trials-bike/87463635

Are soft tops generally a no no for towing lest the roof get torn when going over bumps and stuff?

goosander

I think most convertibles that are derived from normal cars would be OK for towing, try checking the car specifications on parkers to see if it lists a towing weight.

Its a shame that most sports cars aren't certified for towing (even a very low weight) as it precudes the use of a towbar mounted bike carrier. I used to have a mk2 MX5 and ended up buying another car just for transporting bikes.

forgotmyname

Strange change of direction, 1st your looking for a cheap small car with a 1L engine to tow trailers full of logs.
Because you have a DD conviction and getting quotes of £7000 for anything bigger


Now your looking at convertible sports cars, That need to be able to tow a light trailer???

rodenal

highrisklowreturn wrote: »

What about an audi cabriolet soft top comme ca?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/audi-cabriolet-swap-for-trials-bike/87463635

Are soft tops generally a no no for towing lest the roof get torn when going over bumps and stuff?

You're really not getting it are you? Convertibles are not appropriate tow cars for anything heavier than say a jet ski, even that might be asking for trouble. If you want to pull a trailer full of stuff on even a semi regular basis just buy a suitable vehicle!

Even something like a v6 4motion golf or e46 328i would be far more suitable.

highrisklowreturn

Yep. Different, ie much cheaper insurance quotes, mean I can get a higher spec car. As I'm an office worker but wish to do a bit of private business I want a nice looking car, which can also later be used for towing, for around 6 months of the year in my spare time. Talking to some on here you would think they have assumed I intend to start a hauling company, not tow about 3 or 4 black bin bags of grass cuttings.

highrisklowreturn

Explain why they're inappropriate, as I'm "not getting it". What's the difference in towing with a 2l BMW or Audi whose roof goes down and one which doesn't?