Bought my 5 :)

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Afternoon all!

Slightly mad day out MX5-hunting yesterday. I went to test drive a MK2 6-speed, but quickly I found that it was a tatty import (registered as UK!!), and the trader selling it was very, very rude (apparently he thought I was a ‘tyre kicker’ and was unpleasant, and took a lot of coaxing to even give me a test drive). To drive it was interesting; Alignment totally out, sticky gears (6th and reverse were impossible to distinguish!) and engine sounded like a bag of nails - but properly quick, perhaps a debadged RS model or something.

Anyway, as I left there feeling somewhat dejected, I remembered that I was 5 minutes away from Dandycars, the MX5 specialists whom as I understand it are fairly well-known on this forum and the MX5 community more broadly. I popped in, and quickly fell in love with this car.

She’s a UK MK1 and in absolutely stunning condition. I once considered a UK MK1 but the one I looked at had a plethora of problems and a seller unwilling to sufficiently discount for them. But this one is just 66k, FSH, and not a spot of rust (thoroughly checked sills and arches), not even an obvious scratch or dent - even the paint was t-cut shiny [:D] It is in fab condition, apparently taken as a part-ex by an enthusiast.

 Dandycars were absoutely fantastic about it, and couldn’t have done more to help. They even took my beloved Seicento Abarth as part-ex. The 1 year warranty included is also making me slightly less nervous about the prospect of owning a 19 year-old car, but I am still a little concerned.

 I’ll post some proper pics once I pick the car up tomorrow (its being taxed and inspected).

 Cheers [B]

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Nice one Simon, looks like a really nice car you got yourself there [:D]

Bet you cant wait till tomorrow.

I wouldnt worry about the age of the car if its in that kind of condition, Mine’s 17 years old and has been a drn sight more reliable than many other newer cars I have had.

Nice to hear Dandycars appear to live up to their reputation.

I visited another well known MX5 specialist in the north, and have to say I was very very disappointed with what they had to offer, and the prices that they were being sold at were extortionate to say the least!

Look forward to some more pics [;)]

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Well done Simon, nice motor----enjoy----

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 nice car!!! but £2995?? were they on crack when they made that price up? I just picked up a 1997 1.8iS with 55k FSH that is mint for £1650

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Dandycars have always been expensive. But they are good on after-service/warranty issues etc so I suppose that is the premium for peace of mind. After all the difference between £1650 and £2995 soon gets eroded if you get a couple of major things go wrong in the first 12 months. You pays your money and you takes your chances! As always with used cars.

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 true words, but its also the difference of 8 years newer!!! plus with 55k and 2 owners (one of which i spoke to when i checked the SH) its a pretty safe bet. Just been looking at thier website, got some nice stuff on there but the prices seem ridiculous to me

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I had a four year old Renault Clio with one previous owner and FSH that cost me £2K in a year of annoyance until I got rid of it. Prior to that I had a nine year old Clio that cost me nothing but service charges in two years. Granted we are talking Renaults and not Mazdas, so reliability is more of an issue with that example, but I have found with cars that age doesn’t matter, once a car is out of warranty a lot of it is pot luck. Is your car a UK or import? I only ask because I wouldn’t buy a UK car as old as yours, but I would gladly buy a 15-19 year old import. Our country isn’t kind to cars. Also, remember this buyer may not need to be as careful with money as you - he may have just seen the car he wanted, and bought it because it was what he wanted and it fit was he was prepared to spend. Making him feel he paid over the odds so soon after he excitedly reported his purchase just seemed a bit cock-ish to me.

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I’m not!!! as he even said himself he didn’t pay the screen price. And the car he bought is immaculate by the looks of things where as the one i got needs a new hood and service etc. As long as the person buying the car is happy with it that’s all that matters.
I only mentioned mine as some sort of comparison as to why I think that screen price is expensive etc

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[Y]Thanks for all the replies everyone. I really appreciate the kind comments and the concern for my budgeting…! [:P]

Yes, I know it was expensive. Considering the part ex and the haggle etc, I reckon I paid the equivalent of £2400, which is alot for a UK MK1 that is that old.

 But, as Leon displayed above, cheaper 5s so often need things done to them. I looked at 2 MK1s and a MK2 before seeing this one, and all of those were cheaper but none were absolutely good-to-go. Leon explained his bargain £1600 - but then added that a new hood was needed (£200 - £250) and a service (£100 - 250 depending on minor or major) - and that is before the service finds little odds and ends that need doing. That means the finished product will have costed another £300 - £800 to get right. Conservatively, £500 - so that’s £2100 already. Then add on the fact that I got 6 months tax and MOT, a comprehensive 1 year warranty and reduced-cost servicing and MOTs for life, and the fact that the car is completely good to go (it rained on test drive, so roof definitely does not leak and is quite new by the looks of it) - and if I do discover any issues, I have a whole year to report them and they’ll be fixed under the warranty.

 There is also the fact that the car spent its first 6 years doing very minimal mileage, in France (owners moved there), so its real working life didn’t start until 1996/7 - and even then its only 3-6k most years, hence the 66k mileage now. Garaged for most of that, judging by the condition.

 I’ve no doubt I could have gotten a 5 on the road cheaper, and I know that an import is generally a safer bet on an older 5, but what I’ve gotten appears incredibly straight and frankly, working full-time and with only basic mechanical skill/knowledge/bravery, I need the aftersales package to make this do-able. I will learn to fix the car myself, but it’ll take a while - and for that first year I am covered.

 As you’ll probably have gathered, I am trying to convince myself more than anyone else - I am concerned about the amount I paid. On the other hand, we’re still talking relatively small beans here (though admittedly they’re big ones to me!) and the support from a specialist for me makes all the difference.

As does, I should add, the support from this board. It does make the whole process a little less like running around in the dark in a room full of china plates! [Y]

 Thanks everyone

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greetings

you’re just trying still to convince yourself that you made the right decision.

of course you did matey. brilliant choice. enjoy

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this forum is very good for help and info - im more scared of my 54 plate Vectra breaking as I wouldn’t even want to start trying to fix that.
 Older cars are a doddle to work on, just finished an engine change on my housemates ibiza pretty much just from help on a different forum. Most things are easy, don’t be scared to get your hands dirty.
 I too got a one year warranty with my vectra as its a safe bet, if there is anything dodgy with the car it will show in the first 12 months (you would hope anyway!!!) and after that its a lottery but any car ownership is really

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Hi everyone 

First evening/morning of driving, here are my first impressions:

 - The steering is fabulous - so direct and precise, the body control is so tight. Weighted nicely, light for parking and stiff on motorways. Love it immensely.

  • Ride quality is excellent - i wonder if this car has had new shocks during its life. Some rattles when going over larger potholes, but they don’t carry on after the hole. Naturally I try to avoid the holes in the first place though!

  • Gearknob is quite stiff compared with normal cars and vibrates a bit, but wonderful direct changes, smooth synchromesh action and the gear ratios are bang-on for my style of driving - not stacked too closely together but enough to keep things spirited!

  • Loud at speed just due to being a soft top. I was warned about this so I can’t complain - and the stereo is decent so I can block it out!

  • Fuel tank seems pretty big, and I love the shoulder-mounted filler, easier than a side-mounted one as on a hatchback.

  • Responds well to double declutching, but heel and toe not possible due to relative height of brake pedal compared to throttle.

  • Excellent heater - I know that is odd praise, but it gets hot really quickly, and the hot/cold slider really makes a difference - on my old Seicento it was roast or nothing. This has genuine shades of hot, warm, cool and cold - its almost as good as aircon!

  • Ahhhh - no interior roof light! Price for a soft top I guess! Would be a problem if I had to read maps [:P]

There you go, just thought I’d record my initial impressions of driving the 5. It is absolutely fabulous - loud and not particularly smooth, but so exciting, and certianly not difficult to drive at all.

Happy miles ahead, I think!


Cheers [B]

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hahaha [:D]

Excellent stuff!

In fact, you have convinced me to take the long way home from work tonight [Y]

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 I find heel and toe action possible on our 5, but then I have to push the brake peddle so far down for it to do anything maybe they are then level?? ha ha
 corners are fun, roundabouts are lots of fun, motorways and lots of miles are crap [:)] got to use the diesel vectra for something though I suppose

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Nice one

Just reading this has convinced me dude, cant wait to purchase my own mx5, may the smiles go on for miles.