although not quite an MX5 owner, am hoping some kind member will advise on which model to go for [;)] eg 1600 or 1800 ? what to look out for when viewing? I prefere the mk2 as not a lover of pop up lights, have a budget of 3500 - 4000 supposedly buying for the wife she wants a sports car so have trawled the web and was supprised to see all the positive info on the mx5 so have decided this will be my choice, " hell even Clarckson likes it" [8-)].
Would appreciate any advise from you, hoping to cash in on time of year and climate to get a bargain, oh! a very merry crimbo to all, the nickname Zippy has been with me since Army days [:#].
Agree! The advice I was given when purchasing and it is spot on is buy on condition, how the car drives and how well you feel it has been looked after.
Engines are sound providing decent servicing has been carried out. All the normal things to look out for when buying a used car applies. Watch out for rust on UK models especially on the MK2 as panels, sills etc are apparently harder to repair.
Maybe even consider an import? Supercarclassics.com usually have some very clean examples of imported Mk2’s - no rust, great condition and have been well checked before bringing into the UK. (I have no affiliation, just used them in the past and had good experience)
You have a decent budget so can afford to be picky. Especially with some Mk3’s going for a little over $6k [:O]
There are a lot about so take your time and find a good one.
Not a lot I can add to the above, just watch for any insurance implication of an import.
Depending on your personal circumatances, there will probably be no difference, but if you are particularly young, or have a lot of penalty points or whatever, then you might notice the difference in premium. It largely comes down to some companies not insuring imported cars, or rating them higher - if it is the cheapest company that suddenly becomes dearer, or unavailable, you have an issue.
For instance, for me, Admiral was about £500 cheaper than the next company, so if (hypothetically) they did not insure imports, then I’m paying £500 more.
Many thanks for all your help and advice,it appears i have joined a top class forum. only a club membership can follow. Viewed my second MX5 today in Peterborough a '98 18S in excellent conditon (so advertised) £2995, well what a heap of rubbish more scratched paint work than I would ever like to see showed up badly on metalic green, nice interior but generaly neglected, ah well am viewing another on Saturday in Enfield sounds promising on ebay (350141433740) just hope an offer will be excepted, after your advice will be buying with my eyes and not my heart. Thanks again [Y]
Seems kinda expensive, but it is a buyers market, so you should get the price down.
It looks really good on the outside, but the wood interior won’t be to everybodies taste - though this can go in your favor if you like it!
Being low mileage, the service record could be a bit off (ie years do not even remotely line up with miles) - the cambelt should really have been done, but I doubt it will have - try to get this thrown in, and get a copy of the invoice/job sheet so if you sell it you have evidence of it being done.
thanks for advice, I too am not a great lover of the wood (effect) but I do like the lighter interior, the overall condition and silly low mileage is very appealing, speaking to the dealer it is a two owner vehicle with 8 main dealer service history, so appears as have had it service each year regardless of mileage. As a newbe not sure of the cambelt change recommendations by mazda would you kindly advise, am hoping to pay 3500 or lower am viewing tomorrow (Sat) the wife has already fallen in love with it but will view cautiously.
I love the wood interior! Looks like my old V-Specs - very classic British roadster looking! I hope it turns out to drive as good as it looks, and you get the price you want. Good luck!
Many thanks for good luck wishes am finding it really difficult pricing up MX5’s the Parkers price for the car i am seeing tomorrow is 3800 for a 90,000 miler dealer price and 3500 for private sale, yet have seen some MK1’s for sale at specialist dealers for 3000 + it really is mind boggling, as a newbie don’t want to pay over the odds considering the current climate it is a buyers market, if the car is as good as it appears and drives as good i will try to get it at private sellers price, will let you know am just getting Itchy fingers as want my own 1st MX now i have test driven some have fallen hook line and sinker for one.
Looks nice! I agree with you on the tan interior it looks very inviting and you can always change the wood on the armrest, console and vent rings etc pretty easily.
Obviously changing it on the steering wheel would probably involved a new one but I am sure you will get bitten by the “modding/improving” bug once you get it.
You were dead right ref cambelt, although it has covered only 29,000 it has had 9 services done by main dealers not all Mazda yet cannot find evidence of cambelt change service record does match with mileage though, can you give me approx cost by Mazda main dealer for repacement as now am worried. Ended up paying 3500 but having both bumpers resprayed due to scuffing so will collect between xmas and new year… cant wait.
2 hours labour max plus the parts. Sorry Ramsey, but you cant really tell if a belt had done 100 miles or 40,000 just by looking. You need it off the pulleys to inspect between the blocks to check for cracking. When you are in a position to do that you may as well fit a new belt. Get the tensioners done at the same time…
Edit to add, at 29,000 you wouldn’t expect the cam belt to have been changed. The replacement interval is 54,000 miles
The replacement interval is a bit of a grey area - the service manual says 54000 miles, but many places, including two franchised dealers I’ve spoken to, say 6 years.
The dealer I bought mine from took the car back after I bought it (so the had the sale already, and the car was out of their hands) saying it had been missed in the prep. That’s on a 2003 with 11000 miles.
They will degrade over time, but I wouldn’t worry about it too much.
It won’t cause any damage if it breaks, so if you’ve got RAC/AA membership (just in case…), I’d leave it another year or two at least, unless it is obviously damaged (and by that I meant cracking more than general wear, especially over 29000 miles - as Geoff says it can be near impossible to tell routine wear).
Oh, and on a slightly related note, Geoff, you keep spelling my name wrong [::(]
A big thankyou to all for the valued advice, I think it will be a case of booking into EMG Cambridge as a matter of course, I too have some wonderful and not so wonderful memories of the man Geoff, i presume you to are a current or ex biker ? Ramsey is not only famous for the sprint… many a good night.
