Convertable for a grand?

motorguy

Mif_2 said:

I've just this week done exactly this, bagging myself an 03 Toyota MR2. Good points are the bodywork and a strong service history. Bad points are expired MoT, 160k miles and a damp interior as its been left outside at some point.

Put it in for its test today, and it just failed on brakes and play in the steering, so not looking catastrophically expensive. Part if the plan is to try and do the work myself where possible.

It's probably a good time to get a convertible, they seem to get more expensive in the Spring, and I found the Toyota to be cheaper than the Mazda, possibly because they're less practical (what boot?) and less common.

Thats a result that rot hasnt got to it and brakes and steering wear arent insurmountable.

Good result

caprikid1

motorguy said:

Mif_2 said:

I've just this week done exactly this, bagging myself an 03 Toyota MR2. Good points are the bodywork and a strong service history. Bad points are expired MoT, 160k miles and a damp interior as its been left outside at some point.

Put it in for its test today, and it just failed on brakes and play in the steering, so not looking catastrophically expensive. Part if the plan is to try and do the work myself where possible.

It's probably a good time to get a convertible, they seem to get more expensive in the Spring, and I found the Toyota to be cheaper than the Mazda, possibly because they're less practical (what boot?) and less common.

Thats a result that rot hasnt got to it and brakes and steering wear arent insurmountable.

Good result

My eldest wants a MK2 for his first car !.

motorguy

caprikid1 said:

motorguy said:

Mif_2 said:

I've just this week done exactly this, bagging myself an 03 Toyota MR2. Good points are the bodywork and a strong service history. Bad points are expired MoT, 160k miles and a damp interior as its been left outside at some point.

Put it in for its test today, and it just failed on brakes and play in the steering, so not looking catastrophically expensive. Part if the plan is to try and do the work myself where possible.

It's probably a good time to get a convertible, they seem to get more expensive in the Spring, and I found the Toyota to be cheaper than the Mazda, possibly because they're less practical (what boot?) and less common.

Thats a result that rot hasnt got to it and brakes and steering wear arent insurmountable.

Good result

My eldest wants a MK2 for his first car !.

They were great cars.  I'd an 1996 Anniversary edition GT T-Bar and later a GT with a factory fitted sunroof.

Funnily another Anniversary one came up close to me not that long ago - Silver this time, not the blue i had, but it needed a world of work - rotting in all the usual places, caliper issues, exhaust was rotten, needed a clutch.  Someone did take it on but it ended up standing them a fortune.

They'll definitely go up in value though.

caprikid1

motorguy said:

caprikid1 said:

motorguy said:

Mif_2 said:

I've just this week done exactly this, bagging myself an 03 Toyota MR2. Good points are the bodywork and a strong service history. Bad points are expired MoT, 160k miles and a damp interior as its been left outside at some point.

Put it in for its test today, and it just failed on brakes and play in the steering, so not looking catastrophically expensive. Part if the plan is to try and do the work myself where possible.

It's probably a good time to get a convertible, they seem to get more expensive in the Spring, and I found the Toyota to be cheaper than the Mazda, possibly because they're less practical (what boot?) and less common.

Thats a result that rot hasnt got to it and brakes and steering wear arent insurmountable.

Good result

My eldest wants a MK2 for his first car !.

They were great cars.  I'd an 1996 Anniversary edition GT T-Bar and later a GT with a factory fitted sunroof.

Funnily another Anniversary one came up close to me not that long ago - Silver this time, not the blue i had, but it needed a world of work - rotting in all the usual places, caliper issues, exhaust was rotten, needed a clutch.  Someone did take it on but it ended up standing them a fortune.

They'll definitely go up in value though.

A colleague has a turbo, they seem to be stronger in price growth than MK1 MX5's due to rarity, although I think the MX5 1.6 is a better car. 

motorguy

caprikid1 said:

motorguy said:

caprikid1 said:

motorguy said:

Mif_2 said:

I've just this week done exactly this, bagging myself an 03 Toyota MR2. Good points are the bodywork and a strong service history. Bad points are expired MoT, 160k miles and a damp interior as its been left outside at some point.

Put it in for its test today, and it just failed on brakes and play in the steering, so not looking catastrophically expensive. Part if the plan is to try and do the work myself where possible.

It's probably a good time to get a convertible, they seem to get more expensive in the Spring, and I found the Toyota to be cheaper than the Mazda, possibly because they're less practical (what boot?) and less common.

Thats a result that rot hasnt got to it and brakes and steering wear arent insurmountable.

Good result

My eldest wants a MK2 for his first car !.

They were great cars.  I'd an 1996 Anniversary edition GT T-Bar and later a GT with a factory fitted sunroof.

Funnily another Anniversary one came up close to me not that long ago - Silver this time, not the blue i had, but it needed a world of work - rotting in all the usual places, caliper issues, exhaust was rotten, needed a clutch.  Someone did take it on but it ended up standing them a fortune.

They'll definitely go up in value though.

A colleague has a turbo, they seem to be stronger in price growth than MK1 MX5's due to rarity, although I think the MX5 1.6 is a better car. 

Funnily i googled mk2 MR2 there and the price of them has rising almost exponentially over the last few years.  And thats the NA cars not even the turbo'd variants.

Speaking of mk1 MX5s i'd a September 1989 Jap Import one, which from the chassis number was one of the first 10,000 built.  We didnt get them formally in the UK until 1990 IIRC.  It was a really basic 1.6 with manual windows.  Silver with black cloth.  Its only luxury was the power steering!  Its another car to add to my list of "cars i should have kept". 

caprikid1

"cars i should have kept". - I think a lot of people have a list like that.

Thankfully - My cars I should have kept list is nearly zero , all sold for a good reason, knackered , rotten.

"Cars I should now sell" .... thats probably the longer list !

motorguy

I was thinking about this last night and yes i totally get it was a "down the pub" discussion (or the basis for a Grand Tour episode - "three grumpy old men have £1000 each to spend to buy convertibles which they then have to drive to {insert random far away country here}, completing challenges along the way - hilarity ensues") but something at that price is likely to (a) not be what you really want, very close to end of life unless you spend £,£££s on it, so that grand could end up becoming scrap / breaker value after the summer.  It would be better to spend a bit more on the car you really want, with a view to it being unlikely it will depreciate and if bought correctly shouldnt cost a fortune to run.

I've done that in the past with probably more than half a dozen convertibles, none of which cost me a fortune to buy.

k6chris

motorguy said:

I've done that in the past with probably more than half a dozen convertibles, none of which cost me a fortune to buy.

Any top recommendations or ones to avoid??

motorguy

k6chris said:

motorguy said:

I've done that in the past with probably more than half a dozen convertibles, none of which cost me a fortune to buy.

Any top recommendations or ones to avoid??

I've mainly had MX5s, MR2s and MGTFs.  They're all great little cars.

Rot is a big risk for all of them so definitely check for that.  Wheel arch and sill rot is easily detectable and probably signs to look further (i've seen MX5s with bulkhead rot).  Unless you're going to endure the rust, its usually cheaper to find a car thats had the work done, rather than spend £££s - ££££s trying to resolve it.  

MX5 is probably the best all rounder.  Theres enough space in the boot for a run to the supermarket if needs be, or for an overnight bag for a weekend away.   Easily worked at too and mechanical parts are cheap.  

None of them are as cheap as they were.  Its not that long ago you could buy a viable MX5 for under £1,000, but most anywhere near that price is likely to be a rotbox.

Brewer21

MX-5's are infectious, I started with this @£1500 12 years ago. Never stopped spending on them, on my 4th now but moved on to a Mk3.