Hi all - great forum and losts of useful insight. I have permission for a sunny day car, and intialy thought I might secure a Mk1 for under £2K. Having seen a few and driven 2, I’m now really struggling. I drive a torque ladden 2.5TD daily and predictably therefore much prefered the 1.8 I drive over the 1.6. This is where things now get tricky - I’m struggling to find a nice 1.8 Mk1 under £2K. Yet at the same time there are between £2K and £3K plenty of Mk2’s (budget would also need to be renegotiated). I would like PAS and given that I have a responsibility to 3 others both ABS and an airbag are worthwhile but not essential.
So the question is if you had £2K to spend would you go for a MK1 or MK2? and why?
Also any pointers to good cars for sale would be very appreciated…
Cheers Ian
MK1 evertime for me simply because i prefer the look. + 15 years or older = Classic insurance
Mine is a 1992 V-Spec Roadster & i have driven 1.8s…Personally i find very little differance between the two engines.
2K will buy you an excellent MK1 at the moment or a not so excellent (unless you get lucky) MK2
Check the usual places…Ebay, Pistonheads, Gumtree, Autotrader ETC & MX5NUTZ.com
Where abouts are you located? That may help anyone finding one for you.
Good luck with the search & welcome to the forum [Y]
Thanks for the welcome and advice.
Your right about the Mk1 looks although I’ve seen a Mk2 special called Nevada http://www.mxheaven.co.uk/showroom/mx5/1/300/index.php which looks lovely on those wheels but is way beyond my budget, it was only after seeing this that I thought I might consider a MK2
I’m based Bridgnorth Shropshire so any suggestions for good condition MK1’s (or MK2s for that matter) in the area are welcomed.
Ian
I prefer the mk1. I always thought it was a shame the pop up headlights went, gives me a smile everytime the barn doors rise! I have a 1.6 and as it is an early one it has the higher power engine (the 1.6 got less power when the 1.8 came into the range), it is quite revvy but that’s the fun of it.
It’s all down to taste. All mx-5’s are good.
As i have a mk 1 & mk 2 if i had to choose between them… it’s the mk 2 it feels taughter and more planted.
I love the looks of the mk 1 but the mk 2 is a better drive.
I’ve just upset a lot of mk 1 fans out there…sorry.
Ian[;)]
Thinking about it, the best thing to do is take a test drive in both, on the same day and get the one you feel more at home with.
Ian[;)]
Mmm, the MK1 lights do it for me also, so its lights V ABS/Airbag and more planted. If only the two price brackets didnt now overlap it would be a MK1 and no worries. But paying say £2.5 for a MK1 worries be.
My V-spec has ABS too. I assume they all have? No airbag though.
That’s good advice. The golden rule has to be buy the best car avaliable and with your budget that will be a Mk 1. Dosn’t matter if it’s a Eunos or a U.K. car, you’ll love it! [:D]
No ABS on my v-spec. Stamp the anchors and she squeels like a piggy and heads dead ahead whatever you do with the wheels!
-ABS would be good if you can get it. Don’t know how to tell the difference easily, I know washer bottles are different shapes.
Previously described as:-
“The Mk 2 is a better car, the Mk 1 is a better MX5”.
I’d go for a Mk 1 on your budget.
If you want the toys/comfort then go for an import - PAS, A/C, ABS, electrics, etc… - and no danger of getting a low-powered 1.6
I’ve had a V-Spec with ABS, and now have a S Spec T2 without ABS, and if you can drive then you won’t miss the ABS!
SPot on - I own my 2nd MK1 now but have driven a MK2 plenty of times. MK2 is a bit more refined while still being great fun.
MK1 is a more raw type of fun. (and yes the pop up lights still do it for me [;)])
Thank you all so much for your comments… I’m vering towards MK1 - which is probably right as this is what I had my eyes on from the start. Now the challenge a nice Mk1 with the extras for about £2K (or less) - I think I should have been out shopping in the autumn as prices seem to be hardening.
Ian
Interesting you say prices are hardening especially as spring is still some time away. More recent cars are drorring like stones because of the great deals that are being offered on new cars.
Maybe good Mk 1 prices are firming as the cars are getting harder to find in nice unmolested condition.
Sorry - tried to post a link to some cars for sale that look like good buys.
Supercarclassics.com (based in Chester) usually have a decent selection of fresh imported low mileage 5’s I bought mine from there (travelled down from Scotland)
They currently have a Black K plate 57k miles BBS etc 1.6 S-Special for £2300 (maybe negotiate down)
A beautiful Mariner blue 5 with black wheels for £1990 - also all cars come with 1yrs MOT 6mths tax as standard from the garage as they are imports. 3 Month warranty is common place as well.
Have a look http://www.supercarclassics.com/
Let us know how you get on.
When I was looking (about a month ago!) I got the impression that mk1s were available from £1k to maybe £2.5k depending on condition, and the mk2s started at about £3k, but to be honest, I was looking more at the lower end of each mark because with it being my first ('5 and car generally!) I don’t know enough about them to be sure whether I’m getting a good deal or not, especially with a more expensive example.
I had my heart set on a MK1, at first a 1.8i only because my brother inlaw has a MK2 1.8i S with LSD, anyway after lots of looking I decided I wanted a 91 BRG V-Spec and thats what I bought at the weekend for just under 2K with full service history and 66k miles and with it being an import is as clean as a whistle underneath. I agree with others that the MK2 feels more refind, but I just love the way the MK1 feels and those pop up headlights are to die for[:D]
I also considered this one, but I didn’t want ABS and I wanted the tan roof.
http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/889116.htm
The seller also has a few more including a 1.8i MK1.
I specifically went hunting for a V-Spec when I started looking. Glad I did!
Hope you are as pleased as I was (and still am) with the choice sucram?
The car’s are a bargain, its the trinkets that start emptying your wallet…