Mazda MX5

Strider590

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

Disagree with the girly comment, but have to admit that this ^^ is pretty close to the mark.

With these folk they're often bought as second cars, which I completely don't understand..... If you want a weekend fair weather car, buy a proper sports car, buy something British and insanely fast. Ultimately they're people who fancy a soft top, without having to actually know anything about cars and maintenance.

ballyblack

buy a proper sports car, buy something British and insanely fast.

and something that keeps breaking down all the time


e.g. TVR



.

JQ.

www.mx5nutz.co.uk is where you'll get all the best information.

The biggest issue with the Mk2 and Mk2.5 is rust, both round the rear sills and arches and also the front chassis legs. Mechanically, they are bomb proof. So make sure any that any you're looking at are rust free. They rust from the inside out, so a small amount of bubbling can equal an expensive repair.

They are fantastic to drive and will outperform far more expensive machinery. Definitely go for it, but take your time, there are enough of them out there that you can be very very picky indeed.

goosander

I've had two, a mk1 and a mk2.5. Both were reliable and good cars but whilst the mk1 has more style (love the pop up head lights), it also has a back breaking ride and the 1.8 engine doesn't feel like a sports car motor.

The mk2.5 is the better car though - it handles at least as well as the mk1 plus rides much better, also the 1.8 VVC engine has much more go than the mk1 - more importantly it pulls nicely at high rpm whereas the mk 1.8 feels pretty flat.

Both are mechanically bomb proof but as others have said, watch for rust.

I'd love another one, but would probably go for a mk3.5 this time (maybe be a tin top).

motorguy

Strider590 wrote: »

Disagree with the girly comment, but have to admit that this ^^ is pretty close to the mark.

With these folk they're often bought as second cars, which I completely don't understand..... If you want a weekend fair weather car, buy a proper sports car, buy something British and insanely fast. Ultimately they're people who fancy a soft top, without having to actually know anything about cars and maintenance.

You're assuming a sports car needs to be insanely fast. If you look at all the classic british sports cars they're usually anything but.

The exception being a TVR which is outrageous but costly to buy, run and maintain.

So no, sports cars are not all about speed. They're about driving pleasure and FUN. Something an mx5 has by the bucketload.

Whilst you dont *have* to know anything about cars and car maintenance, you'd be bang on the mark with an MX5 and they're ideal for home maintenance and performance mods if you so desire.

motorguy

goosander wrote: »

I've had two, a mk1 and a mk2.5. Both were reliable and good cars but whilst the mk1 has more style (love the pop up head lights), it also has a back breaking ride and the 1.8 engine doesn't feel like a sports car motor.

The mk2.5 is the better car though - it handles at least as well as the mk1 plus rides much better, also the 1.8 VVC engine has much more go than the mk1 - more importantly it pulls nicely at high rpm whereas the mk 1.8 feels pretty flat.

Both are mechanically bomb proof but as others have said, watch for rust.

I'd love another one, but would probably go for a mk3.5 this time (maybe be a tin top).

Totally agree, though just to clarify the VVC engine only came in the Sport? ie, your common or garden 1.8i mk2.5 wont be a VVC head? Could be wrong but that was my interpretation.

Yes, would fancy a mk3 myself, they are coming well down in price now too. Aiming to buy a mk1 winter project though. Did this a couple of years ago but want to go a bit more extreme this time with coilovers, rims, induction kit and roll bars.

InsideInsurance

motorguy wrote: »

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.

Average age for a first kid for a woman is now 30, men are typically are a little older than their partner.

A secondhand MX5 is not particularly expensive to insure, are cheap to buy and as you say are a "good investment" on the depreciation front. Sounds a much better deal for a 20 something to get for a bit of fun rather than a hot hatch which undoubtably will be more to insurer and probably in the same ballpark of price. However you see 20 somethings in a 207 GTI, Fiesta ST or Clio Sport not MX5s

Obviously going well off the OPs purpose, MX5's are fairly fun, just I dont like their image and at 34 with no kids and/ or debts I'm able to go for a bigger 2 seater car

Prothet_of_Doom

As the part owner of a mk1 mx5, I'd say that the mk2 is a fair compromise.

Easy to work on, lots of parts availablity, a decent range of performance options as standard.

Quite a few parts specialists out there, but service items are just as cheap as a 1.0 fiesta.

Not too bad on insurance either.

Watch out for RUST or worse Rust that has been carefully bodged.

2 forums I recomend : mx5Nutz dot com and the other one.. oh yes the owners club. If you like wax, then the owners club is for you.

In terms of getting the best car, look for something pampered, that lives in a garage, that might have been maintained by the owner, who will have used better oil and parts that a back street repair shop. But importantly, get underneath with a torch and a screw driver, and look for rust.

Prothet_of_Doom

Need to add that I thought it was a girls car, given that ours has only 90 bhp, but I was given the job of driving it home to North Miseryside From Leominster, leaving at 9:30 pm

I put the top down and the heater on, and got home with a stiff kneck from a little cold breeze that gets in there at about 60 mph, (just need a scarf) and a permanent smile.

JQ.

Strider590 wrote: »

Disagree with the girly comment, but have to admit that this ^^ is pretty close to the mark.

With these folk they're often bought as second cars, which I completely don't understand..... If you want a weekend fair weather car, buy a proper sports car, buy something British and insanely fast. Ultimately they're people who fancy a soft top, without having to actually know anything about cars and maintenance.

I also don't agree, driving an insanely fast car on the UK roads is a total frustration. My last one was circa 300bhp/ton and driving everywhere at 40% was very frustrating. There are too many cars, lorries, buses, bicycles, and pedestrians to have fun. But drive an MX5 with 140bhp/ton at 90% and it's great fun no matter what the situation. That's why they're popular.