I am on the lookout for a second Roadster and there are a choice of two or three that take my fancy, a UK Monza, a '93 lowered standard which has been subtly and tastefully modified in Japan and then i have seen a '94 1.8 V spec, which leads me to the question:
I’m wondering how much i should really be paying at the moment for something like a '94 V Special with 80k miles?
I really want another Mark 1 but don’t really know what i should be going in at? should i attempt to haggle due to the current economic conditions or bite the bullet and go for it?
ooh decisions decisions…but enjoyable ones at least!!!
Well it’s being offered for £1500 and it’s recently had a cambelt change and service at Magna Mazda so the previous owner sounds like they knew what they were doing hopefully!
The leather interior(by that i mean the seats), are fairly worn but this is to be expected i guess due to age/mileage. The MOT runs out at end of Feb but no advisory on previous ones. It’s got loads of history and bills with it so that’s always a good sign and the vendor says it’s being offered at that price due to no warranty and the short window until the next MOT.
The thing is, even given the 83k mileage, i still think £1500 is a bit cheap but maybe the vendor just wants rid quickly as he took it in part ex for another vehicle.
Any ideas? it would be a big gamble buying the car without having seen/driven it in person, but from the history and what the vendor says it looks like the car has been well treated and it’s completely standard too so from the outside it doesn’t sound like it’s been thrashed around. The vendor sells E Type jags and other classic cars so he sounds like a knowledgeable chap but it’s always buyer beware. Do you think it would be worth at least having it checked out mechanically by RAC/AA before purchase or is this not really worth it?
Assuming mileage is correct, and it’s not a Cat C or D - i.e. a “clean” car HP-wise, then I’d be thinking of £1000 to start and highlight all it’s faults (make some up, and “known problems” etc…).
From a £1500 asking price I’d be wanting to deal at £1200-£1300 for cash.
I agree - my last two VSpecs both cost £1500 and were in great condition - if yours has worn seats (hard to source!) then you should be aiming at £1250- £1350 max. SO many Mk1s selling at £1200 at the mo n great condition.
Yes phoned dealer and he has converted it to miles; 133,500 kms = 83,000 miles. Phoned the vendor who did a visual check and he confirms no rust visible rust on sills/arches and he has driven it to his house and back for the past few days without a hitch.
Just done a text HPI check and it’s all clear and the vendor has HPI’d it as clear too. 2 previous keepers in UK since it was registered over here in 2002. Obviously there is no record of the first 8 years it spent in Japan but it’s got the original toolkit with the spare wheel which is always a good sign in my book!
Since i called telling him i already have a Mk1 and saying to him how nice an example it looks and that i frequent the 5 owners club forums he’s pushed the price of the car up a little so it looks like maybe our opinions actually hold credence in the world of the 5!(well yours definitely do, mine are just useless ramblings most of the time!)
Hard to tell from the pick - wear on the leather seat is probably to be expected.
Looks from the pic like some dust or discolouring on the centre console just at the ash tray… dont like the look of that but it could just be the picture.
Original stereo (or possible upgrade from a later mark) but Mazda factory.
I agree with you re the spare and tool kit… I loved that about mine too.
its worth remembering that this colour of interior is always going to show the worst against say a black or grey interior so dont be too shocked. If your planning on keeping the car for a while that you could have the seats re-trimmed at reasonable cost especially if you are getting a good deal on the car which it looks like you are.
Does mileage seem fitting with condition? i.e. wear on pedals, wear on control stalks, etc… - the usual stuff.
Note the interior - should be Nardi - wood wheel, wood handbrake, wooden Nardi gearknob (missing, and £80 to buy!).
Does it come with the matching tan tonneau? Tan seat belts can get to look very grubby too.
What wheels has it got?
I’m just being critical to help you in your negotiations with the seller! [:)]
That seat looks awfully worn! None of the VSpecs I have ever been to see with a view to buy have ever been that worn, and I agree with discolouration criticism around ashtray on centre console. It took me aaaggges to track down a nardi gearstick and yes it cost £75 when I did! These things are important on a VSpec so are definitely haggling points. Personally the state of that seat would put me off considerably - there are so many VSpecs around that I would wait for one that looked less uncared for…
You will do well to find one without a worn drivers seat. Mine was split when i bought the car but i found someone on Ebay breaking one & bought a seat for £35. Be warned though excellent condition leather seats make good money.
BTW that car is missing the Nardi gear knob too as mine was but Ebay to the rescue again [Y]
The wear and tear seems about right for the age of the vehicle and generally the condition seems good for the year/mileage.
The thing that concerns me is that the place is 200 miles away and for a year’s warranty the vendor wants £300 or else it is sold as seen. This brings in to play problems such as if i buy on impulse and something goes wrong it then i’m out of pocket but then if i buy a warranty with it then am i really going to drive 250 miles to sort something out, the petrol costs would add about 10% of the cars value so this wouldn’t make awful financial sense.
The car seems a really lovely example and perhaps if i was closer and could actually go and view/test drive without having to spend £50 on travel costs then it may be a viable option but as it is it seems i shall have to accept heartbreak and let this bird fly as they say:(
There is quite a nice mariner blue 1.6 '93 Roadster with a few mods that have been done in Japan before export over here (boot spoiler, chin spoiler, lowered suspension, aftermarket rims) that is for sale at a dealer a bit closer to home in Warrington that i have had my eye on. And i do quite fancy a 1.6 as i already have a 1.8. The thing is with the mariner blue 1.6 a three month warranty is offered, and six months road tax and a new MOT so i’m getting all the trimmings as they say in the trade, whereas the V spec is sold as seen so is a higher risk.
I shall continue dreaming of dual Mk 1 ownership for now:)
Being quite frank, if you’ve got 1 Mk1 already then you can wait to get the “right” second Mk1 (or Jasper Conran!).
If you were a first time buyer new to the MX5 I would encourage you to look & buy, but as you’re experienced you should be looking for the “right” Mk1 (or Mk2, or Mk2.5).
I’d hold on this one and wait…
Agree wi Goof… I am test driving a MK3 tomorrow and the wife is makin noises about me selling the MK1 [:@]…I’ll let you know if I lose the battle if your interested.
