Mazda MX5

InsideInsurance

JQ. wrote: »

and you keep avoiding telling everyone what you drive.

Yes, which I commented in my post:

InsideInsurance wrote:

Try not to give any impression, hence ignoring the questions of what car(s) I own to avoid any accusations of bragging or fabrications etc

scaredofdebt

I owned an MX5(Mk2) a few years ago, had no problems with it apart from my next door neighbour chopping down his tree so it fell on the boot!

Couldn't care less what other people think about it being "girlie" or a hairdresser's car, I don't drive a car to prove my masculinity.

It's not a quick car by any means but the handling is superb, lots of fun around the twisty bits! Reliable, economical and fun, not many 2 seaters can claim that.

Would have another if I had time/space/money for it, probably go for a MKI next time.

Dysnomia

I am a 28 year old girl and I drive an MX5! I don't know any other women who have them though, it tends to be very much men of a certain age - I bought mine from a middle aged accountant.

Mine's a Mk.1 1.6, 1997 and still as solid as they come. Better still, much easier to fix than some of the modern cars on the market. About 2 years ago I was doing 70 *cough* on the motorway and noticed that suddenly I wasn't getting any power from the accelerator pedal and I was slowing down. After getting a tow from the AA man (very embarrassing experience!) we discovered that the cambelt had snapped. Having had nightmarish visions of replacing the entire engine, it was an enormous relief to find out that the MX5 has a non-interference engine, so no damage whatsoever and all it needed was a new belt, cost of about 30 quid. That was the only mechanical issue I have ever had with it. The only thing I would say about the Mk.1 is that the battery is teeny tiny, so if you have an aftermarket alarm or something that might be an issue if you don't use it much. Also, I have to watch the wheel wells like a hawk for rust, although luckily haven't found any yet.

If you do go for a MX5 make sure you join the owner's club - big discount from specialist classic car insurers if you do.

Dys.

Rhino666

I run a website selling spares for the MX5.

A great car that comes highly recommended. Owned them for over 10 years. I have a UK spec 1997 MK1 1.6 88bhp, bought in 2002 when I knew nothing, obviously. Also have a MK2 1.6. Girlfriend has a 1991 Eunos 1.6.

Get yourself over to the owners club forum(MX5OC) and read up.
My advice would be to buy a well looked after Eunos 1.6 manual.
Inspect it closely for rust, repairs, smokey engine, softtop damage, water ingress, etc, etc. Do not compromise!! - there are so many good cars available. I would avoid the MK2, Mk2.5 purely because of the rust issues, particularly with the front chassis legs - far too many late cars being scrapped.

The girly car image went out a decade ago along with the 'don't buy that imported Eunos, you'll never get the spares or afford insurance' rubbish.

A good MK1 will never be cheaper to buy than now. So many are being scrapped because in parts they are worth more than selling as a runner. These will rocket in price when they become rare.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Rhino666 wrote: »

I run a website selling spares for the MX5.

A great car that comes highly recommended. Owned them for over 10 years. I have a UK spec 1997 MK1 1.6 88bhp, bought in 2002 when I knew nothing, obviously. Also have a MK2 1.6. Girlfriend has a 1991 Eunos 1.6.

Get yourself over to the owners club forum(MX5OC) and read up.
My advice would be to buy a well looked after Eunos 1.6 manual.
Inspect it closely for rust, repairs, smokey engine, softtop damage, water ingress, etc, etc. Do not compromise!! - there are so many good cars available. I would avoid the MK2, Mk2.5 purely because of the rust issues, particularly with the front chassis legs - far too many late cars being scrapped.

The girly car image went out a decade ago along with the 'don't buy that imported Eunos, you'll never get the spares or afford insurance' rubbish.

A good MK1 will never be cheaper to buy than now. So many are being scrapped because in parts they are worth more than selling as a runner. These will rocket in price when they become rare.

just to add to the above. with jap parts widely available in adl blue print.

shouldnt really matter about insurance on import eunos just as cheap to insure as the uk spec.

plus sides would be mods. poly bushed up all round, stainless exhaust thats not overly loud front to back, rear lower tie bar brace, front strut brace.

water ingress!!, look for split cracked and worn door seals, window seals and hood seals.

make sure the pizza cutter alloys in the mk1 are not overly corroded and gouged out or buckled, if you should spot the mk2's fitted to be a plus but same as above in good alround condition though.

body work!, look for runs,and over spray (parts that are painted or poorly masked off), many painted in uk spec due to rust that has a coat of filler over it.

steering wheels, why people tend to fit cheap chav A$$ ebay racing steering wheels to them i dont know, they tend to be so small the you cant see the clocks properly because the top of the wheel is in view instead, a nice propper race wheel is much better looking and a silly red push button (NOS!!) for a horn and big might boss poking out that holds the wheet to the column can look nasty and cheap.

style bars and wind blockers are nice added aftermarket touch to these keep a keen eye.

theres so many aftermerket interior exterior and body and engine and suspension mods you could really make a car yours and stand out, and do it relatively cheap aswell wihtout looking like chav.

marlot

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/10276156/63-plate-special-Five-of-the-best-sports-cars.html

motorguy

marlot wrote: »

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/10276156/63-plate-special-Five-of-the-best-sports-cars.html

Very interesting.

With the Jaguar and the Audi though, if i was spending that money, i'd find it hard to walk past a 911