Hi guys,
I’m looking at some options to buy a car, one of which is a supercharged MX5. There is one advertised with the MX5 restorer which I quite like the look of. However I’ve never bought a modified car before, just wondering if there’s any specific things I should ask or look out for?
Enthusiast owned are normally pretty good, mods list looks ok on the surface.
All the basic checks as a normal car really, just make sure you can insure it.
Will it pass emissions come Mot time, worth looking at as this can be a headache down the line.
I’d be looking at who did the mods, and their general reputation/quality. The Salon kit is well regarded and so is the MX5 restorer. I’d really want to see pics of the work that’s been done to the chassis and body (given it’s a 20 year old car prone to catastrophic rust) more than the mechanicals to some extent. It’s strong money for an NB but it does look nice.
Hmmm
‘Finished in fiery Chilli orange, a rare colour only available as a cost option on the Icon model’
It’s not that rare…quite a few of us on the Forum !
My 2005 Mk 2.5 Icon 1.8 in Orange [that is what it says on the Reg. Doc] is not supercharged
nor have I fitted any braces [behind the seat or in the engine bay]
Or the Computer Screen instead of the original CD/Radio
And currently has under 47,000 miles on her clock
I have mine valued for Classic Insurance at £2,500 via Club Membership [paid about £180 fully comp]
The paintwork on the advertised is better than Bullit [work in progress]
Modified cars raises questions with insurers/DVLA me thinks
True good points. I will ask about those!
I guess it depends what you want. I’ve had an NA before and whilst fun, I want something with a little more pep. So the supercharger options adds more value for me. As it would cost more to buy a normal mx5 and modify it myself.
I also quite like the orange paint, and maybe it’s not as rare as made out. But there aren’t any for sale in that colour on autotrader or pistonheads right now or in the last few weeks I’ve been looking.
Insurance seemed fairly reasonable the quotes I’ve had are coming in high 400 - low 500
Chilli Orange is rare in the sense it was only available on the Icon 2 in the UK and only for a limited time towards the end of production of that generation.
Also known as Lava Orange and was used in the USA for the last of the Mazdaspeed turbo models.
One of the better colours imo.
The heart wants what the heart wants and ‘once you fall in love’
So in 2007 I was driving a mature 1.4 Renault Clio and had just sold my house in West Yorkshire to move in as full time carer to my father in North Yorkshire after his second heart attack to prevent him having to go into a home
Went to Car Craft Leeds to part exchange Clio for ‘sensible Dad friendly car’ with budget of 7-8K
[I’d previously seen MX-5s around and had even stalked one to Q&A the owner]
Walked into the showroom and there she was…Bullit 2005 1.8 Icon in Orange…roof down on a platform right by the front doors
Carried on around their huge showroom looking for ‘Dad friendly car’ with my sensible head on
But found myself saying…‘Could I test drive that MX-5’
It just took a couple of circuits in their massive car-park as the light was fading and I was hooked
And £10,795 later she was mine
They wouldn’t accept the Clio in part-exchange so gave it ‘freebie’ to neighbours daughter learning to drive on condition they retrieve it from Car Craft
And we are still together 18 years later
Dad …bless him …said ‘I hate getting in/out of your car but otherwise I love it especially with the roof down’
[Dunno whether you can access the MX-5s for sale on the site as a visitor as just got my copy of SoftTopHardTop bi-monthly magazine as a member this morning and there are usually a couple of pages of MX5s for sale in this]
Good hunting for your ideal 5
Kindest
Hi.
Please feel free to give us a try for an insurance quotation if you haven’t done so already.
Regards,
Dan.
Decent charger kit, decent injectors and decent ECU, worth getting the map checked by a reputable tuner and making sure it’s running rich enough at full throttle.
Very dear for MK2 though. I bought my supercharged MK1 for less than that but from a private seller mind you.