Looking for my first mk1 mx5... test-drive impressions... confused!

Buying a ‘5 and Insurance advice Buying Advice
2

Hello all,

I recently joined the forum & am currently in the process of looking for a ‘good’ mk1. Now, I’m 2 test drives in, and I’d like a bit of confirmation about what I found…

First up was a Eunos, late '93, 1.8, imported in 2003. No rust at all. Decent interior. I had a quick once-around-the-block, and a heck of a time getting it into gear! It seemed the clutch would start to engage right at the top of the travel, and therefore you’d be ‘riding it’ until your foot was right off - however the gear would only engage right at the bottom. You really had to mash the carpet to actually get it in. Once it was in gear, it went like a scolded cat… a  sweet little engine in there. For the weird-feeling clutch, and lack of a recent cam belt receipt, I passed. Shame, really.

Second up was actually a mk2, on the same day, which I happened to drive past in a garage near my house. I knew it was there, but only really have eyes for the mk1… on the day, thought it an ideal opportunity to get a back-to-back test of the 2 cars. Long story short (and a flat battery later), it felt nowhere near as quick. Clutch seemed rather more sensible, but the actual gear shift felt very ‘firm’. Actually, it was really, really firm. There’s no way my Mrs would be able to drive it!

So to the questions - how should a ‘good’ clutch and gearbox feel in an mx5? I’m afraid I don’t have a frame of reference for this one. Was expecting something which could be flicked into gear, rather than wrenched?

Also, is there any difference between the mk1 and mk2 1.8 engines, or does it all come down to the mk2 having a fatter body? Are the import engines a different spec, or would a UK 1.8 have the same sort of kick?

Finally, if I find one which ticks all of the boxes, but doesn’t have a cam belt receipt, would you buy? How much should I budget to get the work done in that case?

Sorry - a lot of questions…!

Thanks - stoat :slight_smile:

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 Stop worrying about the cambelt, it is not an interference engine, so should the worst happen and it break you will need a new cambelt! not valves etc

The clutch on the Mk1 sounds like it is due a change (high bite point) and it may have hydraulic problems also

Which Mk2 model was it, my Mk2 is faster than my Mk1. Mk2 body weighs very little more than a Mk1.

Mk1 would be 130bhp Mk2 if a 1.8 would be 140bhp

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My gearbox is I believe typical, it’s like a bolt action on a rifle, precise and positive. It is heavier in 1st to 2nd until warmed up.

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Thanks - will bear this in mind. How much does a cam belt change run to, so I can perhaps use it as a bartering point? Going to check another one out this afternoon.

The mk2 I tested was on a V plate, 99, 1.8. Base UK spec - pretty horrible (uninteresting, black plastic) interior, if I’m honest. Seemed like it had a bit of rot too, but on the plus side, up close they look a lot better than I’d thought. Not as bug-eyed and weird.

marpar - thanks – I believe this is how the mk2’s box felt. Was just a little heavier than I expected; could just have been that the car really wasn’t warm, and had been sat on the lot for a month.

At a tangent then - the 6-speed mk2 and 2.5 1.8s - how are they geared at 70? I noticed the 5-speed mk2 I tested was approx 3400rpm? I imagine that gets tiresome on runs.

Cheers, stoat :slight_smile:

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WHAO says “who are you calling fat and bug eyed.”

I think you may have offended her, Mark 2s have character too!

Gearbox is as sweet as a nut by the way Stick Tongue Out