Hello
I am one of those folk who has a dream of owning a mx-5. Most likely when the kids leave home!
However I have located a mx-5 which I can get my hands on, there is one major issue - the car has been basically abandoned for 2 years and has been parked outside. It has not been touched in that time!
I am trying to find out more about why it was just left there and wish I had known earlier!
It is a 1.8 model registered in 1995, although it has a G plate on it! As it does not look in to bad a condition I am very tempted.
So I am interested in what others think about if it is worth going for and what I would need to do / look for etc.
Rust probably going to be the biggest problem check the sill panels, check the boot floor also under the bonnet all the panel joints
About 8 years ago I salvaged an MG midget from a residents garage that hadn’t run for 11 years.
I changed all lubricants, brake fluids and engine oil etc, spark plugs, points and fitted a new battery. Drained the old petrol out and refilled the tank and it started up first time. By the way the tyre pressures were as they should be for the car after 11 years standing. I changed them for safety’s sake.
Excellent advice. Change all fluids and consumables and it should be fine. You will obviously find further niggles as the car is worn in, but these can be addressed as and when. If no service history is available I would suggest changing the cam belt too.
As to what its worth; less than £200.
If its been standing in the open for two years, you will have to bank on repllacing all the dics, probably the calipers. Bushes might have degraded in that time as well. The oil will need to be flushed before the engine is run up; the 1.8 oil pump is prone to blockage, and this can easily occur in old oil thats been left standing. The belts might survive the startup, but they will have to be changed pronto. No point trying to coax an engine thats been dead for 2 years with a weak spark, so new leads and plugs. Before starting the engine, the intake will need to be stripped down to check nothing is nesting in it. Drain the fuel tank, via the drain plug. Fit new fuel filter.
Thats presuming there is nothing mechanically wrong with it, as the reason why it was laid up (unless the owner was away in India, shooting tigers…with a machine gun…).
Over the two years, if it has been in the open, water could have gotten in; check the ECU looks all clean.
Lots of things; for an abandoned car like this, it will need to be scrap money, as there are so many about.
What happened to this car? An update would be nice.
Not a lot is the answer! It is still sitting in the same parking space …
However I am arranging for it to be moved. Once it is moved we can find out how good/bad it is and what we will then decide to do with it. (I will let you know!)
Thanks for all the feedback, it has helped in thinking of what will need to be done and the value of the car.
Well I guess an update has been long overdue …
I thought it best to come to some kind of arrangement with a friend with has already worked with a MX-5, which his son now drives.
So I sold it on! It seemed the best thing to do, as he could spend more time and money on it then I could, plus he has contacts that could help out.
If the car could not be repaired he could use it as parts and if we could get it going then I would also be able to drive it.
It was put through a MOT and a big list of ‘faults’ was made, these were gone through. With a new sills, roof and paintwork it is back on the road and last week I had my first magic moments in it!
These really are magic! Especially with the roof down on a sunny day!