has any one else fond that the build quality on the new mk3s is crap,
there is no rust prevention on the metalwork supporting the roll bars and under the dash are, mine is rusting allready.
the leather on the seats is that thin mine has torn. and my paint work around the door quarterlghts is rusting.
give me a mk1 anyday.
mazda have certainly made them cheap now.
Mine is definitely more creaky in the interior, no problems with rust so far, touch wood. Leather hasn’t ripped but my fat a** has left a permanent indentation which annoys me lol I still love it though
As some one who currently owns a Mk1 but is seriously considering getting a Mk3 anyday now this is a very important thread!
I would expect the Mk3 to be a bit more robust and have at least as good a build quality as the previous cars if not better.
Can I politely urge any other Mk3 owners out there to give their experience and opinions to help us Mk3 owners to be?
Still think 'll keep the Mk1 as well [:P] The wife doesnt know yet [A]
there is a lot of steel around the roll bars and underneath the dash area that has no paint protection, it is just bare metal which is really shit on a £20,000 car.
mine is also caroding near the bumper mounts.
i would keep your old mk1
Pros and cons for both - in purely emotional terms I ‘loved’ my Mk1 more - it had more character and was more go-karty. I don’t have the same emotional connection with my Mk3 (I don’t chat with it and congratulate it on a good corner, for example lol)
However, with my Mk1 I also had to have a hatchback for longer journeys as I got pretty achey in the Mk1 after an hour or so and found it not suited to motorway journeys/cruising. The Mk3 is far more refined and comfortable, faster, but somehow feels less chuckable (that might be my own fear of damaging a £10k purchase rather than a 1.5K purchase though!) In build terms the Mk3 seems more mass-produced, and strangely the dash is as I said a bit more rattly/squeaky, but it’s also much higher spec. I feel no need for a second car with my Mk3 - it has been so warm and snug and comfy over winter, and is not at all claustrophic with roof up (I found the Mk1 was - hence I never put roof up if I could possibly avoid it!)
I suppose to sum up, 5 months ago I had a £1.5k Mk 1 I loved and enjoyed immensely, and a £4K hatchback that was ‘good for the job’. Now I just have have a £10k (and fast depreciating) Mk3 that is a great all’rounder but doesn’t quite hit the spot the way the Mk1 did. You could argue though that first love is hard to beat. In hindsight, I think I should have stuck with the Mk1 and the hatchback… but now I have got used to the Mk3 and its performance and comfort, I would probably feel unhappy with a Mk1 if I tried to switch back. Confusing huh? lol
I’ve had a Mk1 Eunos, Mk1 California, Mk2.5 Arizona and just bought a Mk3 earlier this week. I agree that the Mk1 was the best in many ways, I would be very happy with a perfect California or J-Ltd 2 with a few mods due to is’s looks and simple clean lines. However, they ain’t perfect. Chassis rigidity is poor, interiors are basic, rust resistance is poor (the under-dash tube and brackets in the Mk 1 are unpainted too!. The Mk2.5 had a better quality interior and dash but otherwise is much the same as the earlier cars (plus clutch problems in some). The Mk3 is a big improvement in many areas but again isn’t perfect. In just a few hundred miles with the new car i’ve found that the left hand seat bolster somehow digs into my thigh, the cup holder on the door card digs into my knee if I rest my leg there, the seat doesn’t go back far enough, equipment levels are pretty poor and I’m sure that i’ll find a few other things! But, I’m happy with the improved performance, the interior is more modern and the DSC should make sure my wife doesn’t throw it into a hedge.
I agree about seat not going back quite far enough - if I had just ONE more notch I would be happy lol
The door cupholder is gone in the facelifted versions; whole new door card design.
I’m always amazed at how some of these glaring mistakes manage to make it to production. I’ll accept that the problem with the cup holder in the door only occurs with tall blokes like myself, but surely it wasn’t just likkle japanese design people that tried out the pre-production cars
I have test driven the Mk3 and and liked it… I was perpared and didnt expect the same “go-kart” feel of the Mk1 which I was prepared to live with.
I suppose on a test drive you dont get to fully investigate all of the niggles and rattles etc. I must say I am a bit dissapointed… cant help but feel its taken some of the shine off the potential Mk3 purchase.
Might just spend a disgusting amount of money modding the Mk1 [;)] then LOL its only done 50k so plenty of life in the old girl yet!
Thanks for the opinions so far
I’ve been looking around to find something to replace my MK1 and to be honest dont see anything that could beat it. Sure I could get a Trevor, an Elise or Porsche but for the money, MPG, every day useability and smiles per mile you cant beat the MK1.
Mines showing significantly more on the clock and still feels like she has plenty of life so you should have years ahead of you. I’m going down your route and spending the money modding and improving mine. Taking into account depreciation and repair bills it still works out cheaper in the long run. When I cant do any more to her I’ll build my self a kit car.
hi john do you want one of these,i have a few.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii172/chambomg/newcaterham2.jpg
Just noticed your signature John… mine is also a 93 s special [:D]
Unfortunately I knew fork hall about them when I bought it - I’d just got rid of my kit car and the MX5 was about the only choice to replace it. It was the cheapest and best looking car we found.
Sadly the BBS alloys had disappeared along the way and I’ve just replaced the billies because they were too harsh. Polybushed the whole car and put Gaz dampers and springs on. Absolute love it. I’ve test driven a few other brands but every time I get back in my 5 I cant bear to part with her. I just love driving it. And the roof only goes up when it rains.
How about yours? Original or original ish like mine?
Incidentaly have you tried a Mini Cooper S? Now that would be a serious contender as a replacement. The older ones feel slower than the MX5 but they’re supercharged and pretty boring but the newer turbo charged ones are amazing. Enough torque to peel the shirt off your back and blisteringly quick. May as well be a two seater though - there’s more room behind my MX5 seat than the mini seat so no point in the rear seats whatsoever.
Please tell me you dont keep doing that to them? [:(] Out of interest what sort of price and what sort of damage? Mainly cosmetic/easily fixable or chasis twist/damage as well?
The Mini makes an interesting comparison. I ran a 2004 Cooper for a couple of years (between MX5s!) and thoroughly enjoyed it, but ultimately I missed the soft top and rear wheel drive of the MX5. The quality of the Mini was fabulous, but it should be remembered that the quallity of cars up to around mid-2003 was very patchy with some well documented, and not so minor, problems.
I love my MX5 as it’s ‘right wheel drive’ and it’s important for me to stay ‘tuned in’ as I drive a Westfield sprint car as a hobby. The MX5 isn’t quite as rapid as the 270bhp and 500Kg Westfield though…
Hi john, mine was a fresh import in Sept this year so it is completely original.
Nardi wheel, gearknob etc, blisteins, I still have the original BBS wheels which I like a lot but they are 14’s and I would really like 15’s but I want to keep that retro look.
I know what you mean about the ride, it can be a little harsh sometimes. The car is very clean, engine, body and underneath so I need to keep it that way.
I havent actually driven the S mini but remember reading the spec and thinking it sounded Fast and great fun no doubt. I dont think I could ever not have a 5 in the family though but new additions are welcome LOL.
Dealer pic when I bought here below
Nice.
Getting a bit off topic but I wouldn’t bother with 15’s. Keep it the way it is. Those BBS wheels look good, admittedly not as nice as some you can get but they’re incredibly light which all goes towards great handling. If it were me I’d swap the billies for something a little more UK suited, think about polybushing it and probably put some lower profile tyres on combined with a little drop to keep the arches looking filled. But thats just me - I always have to be tinkering.
It’ll also pay off to get some waxoyl underneath. I shudder every time I look underneath mine and it’s failed the last two MOT’s due to rust.
I agree - keep your 14s the car looks great. In fact if ever I got a Mk1 again, a black S-Spec with original BBS alloys would be my ideal.