Mazda MX5

Achtung_Baby

Morning,

Car shopping currently and I quite fancy getting a convertible before I have kids and wives to worry about. Mazda MX5s seem very reasonably priced, especially used.

Any MX5 drivers who can tell me a little about how they are to drive, maintain, how reliable they are, etc? I'd probably be looking at a 2000-2002 model.

Thanks in advance.

System

there are a few specialist forums for these which have guides to the different mk's and potential issues - not saying you wont get the answers on here but plenty of other resources...
mx5's are regarded as one of the best bang-for-buck two seaters, I preferred the drive of the mr2 but didn't have long in the mx5 to properly decide

motorguy

Achtung_Baby wrote: »

Morning,

Car shopping currently and I quite fancy getting a convertible before I have kids and wives to worry about. Mazda MX5s seem very reasonably priced, especially used.

Any MX5 drivers who can tell me a little about how they are to drive, maintain, how reliable they are, etc? I'd probably be looking at a 2000-2002 model.

Thanks in advance.

Join some of the MX5 forums or hop on to pistonheads.com for more info - theres a "jap car" section on there.

But basically....

Lots of imports about - usually badged "miata" or "eunos", are more likely to be rust free, may be better spec, downside is square number plate at rear, may be harder to insure.

UK cars - watch rust on wheel arches and sills (plus inner wings and bulk head?). Can be expensive to put right.

mk1s are great value and probably a purer driving experience. Expect to pay £1500 upwards for a usable one. 1.6's are fine in them though you can get a 1.8 too. Some early cars didnt have power steering so watch for that. You can buy basket cases for £500 upwards but you'll probably be into the price of a good one by the time its roadworthy, although it can make for a fun winter project.

mk2's - aim for a "mk2.5" - look up what that means - better car all round. Aim for the 1.8i or 1.8i Sport.

Keep to below £3000 in price - easiest resold and the mk3's are currently at £4.5K ish, so you want to keep as much "air" as possible between a mk2.5 and a mk3 so as to preserve your resale value.

Leather is quite common, but the seats are an easy retrofit for all cars.

Hoods - not as expensive as you might think to replace - budget £350 upwards if it needs done. watch for cracks in the rear plastic screen and small tears at the door corners. Oh and watch how you put it down - i managed to crack the rear screen on a perfectly good one by not knowing exactly how to put it down.

"ebay is your friend" when it comes to parts and upgrades.

Summarising - great cars, mechanically bulletproof, rust is the biggest issue.

InsideInsurance

But you will be driving a girls car

motorguy

InsideInsurance wrote: »

But you will be driving a girls car

A common misconception.

facade

InsideInsurance wrote: »

But you will be driving a girls car

Not if you get a green one

Silver and powder blue are girly
Red is fairly neutral.

They rust like pears at the base of the screen, check this for filler

Look under the bonnet, if it has a go-faster air filter, I wouldn't buy it, but if you do make sure it comes with the original casing and pipework.

Quite a few eunos came with auto, the MK1 is the nicest looking, but came originally with wheels off a skateboard, so most people fit the larger diameter wheels off a mk2.

The way to spot a eunos is the square rear number plate as motorguy says, and the dangly added on red foglight, japanese cars don't have them.

When imported a eunos will have been rust free, most were then undersealed, but the salt on our roads is not kind to them.

oliverr

InsideInsurance wrote: »

But you will be driving a girls car

Beetle, Audi TT - yes, not an MX5 though.

colino

One of the very few cars that I've had that I wished I'd kept. Entirely impractical, has a hairdressers image, but handles beautifully and can be picked up and maintained for buttons.

westwood68

If you can wait, prices drop by between 10-15% in winter

InsideInsurance

oliverr wrote: »

Beetle, Audi TT - yes, not an MX5 though.

No, them as well.

Though probably 70% of the people you see driving a MX5 are slightly balding men in their late 40s/ early 50s that look like they're half way through their mid life crisis

motorguy

InsideInsurance wrote: »

No, them as well.

Though probably 70% of the people you see driving a MX5 are slightly balding men in their late 40s/ early 50s that look like they're half way through their mid life crisis

Because the young cant get insurance for them, and 20 and 30 somethings are usually saddled with kids and / or debt.

40 somethings have more expendible income and its likely to be a second (or third) car.

Great little practical classics that if bought carefully are unlikely to lose money.