MK3 1.8 or 2.0?

Buying a ‘5 and Insurance advice Buying Advice
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Updated with price

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Seems the electric folding roof is. marmite thing.

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Having owned both soft top and now the PRHT version, I really like the hard top  plus, as I try to make my cars to be as nice as they can be, I spent £700 on a replacement soft top, not required with the hardtop version! Also, roof down, the PRHT doesn’t leave the side areas exposed, although I did have the side covers as well to finish it off on the soft top. Buy on condition though  unless price allows negation for any work needing to be done. Good luck with your quest.

Barrie

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I second that about red ones being faster! 

for me that hard top is a no brainer if its being left outside (my opinion) due to weathering etc on a soft top. i also think the PRHT adds a bit more drama to the experience

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It puts grins on faces too.

An hour ago outside the swimming pool as the car hid the PRHT lid just before departure, a nearby group of “youth” (half term and bored stiff) stopped talking to each other and then a couple volunteered “I like your car mister!” and all showed thumbs up and big grins.

 

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Like my PRHT but it’s the most worrying 10 seconds of my life every time I put it up and down embarrassment of a roof stuck

But on a side note if the roof ever broke and decided it would cost too much to fix, would happily drive it with roof up all the time.

 

 

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Thanks for all the advice and your views. Really appreciate it. 

Ive gone for the Blue 2.0 with the additional hard top. One drive and I was hooked.  

Thanks again. 

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. Understand your point Barrie but if that roof mechanism ever fails it will cost a fortune. 

I had one fail on an Audi RS4 luckily it was within warranty as the bill went well over 1400 of your finest English pounds… 

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Yes Charliefarlie  I’m in the BRUCE225 camp at the moment with every press of the buttons  all seems well at the moment though, with no noise/clunk or whatever when opening or closing the roof. Quite a natty thing to have. I was never able to close any soft top roof on any of my 5’s over the last 18 years or so although a lot of folk do apparently. Was always a get out of the car job so this is a revelation to just sit there, albeit stood still ( note to self, must get a PRHT module ) 

Barrie

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.  Mmmm This is my first 5 and I can easily close or open the hood… 

I would imagine the Mazda leccy roof is very reliable. I also imagine that my soft top will never require changing so long as I look after it.

cheers. 

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If it’s any consolation, my hood on the 1.8 was OEM and 11 years old, perfectly serviceable but had some rub marks in certain areas where it folds, 100% waterproof and I’m sure it would have gone on and on. The competition judges used to mark it down every time so I changed it 

Barrie

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And a very nice breakfast too…and there is nowt wrong with a 1.8 it will keep up with the best of um, come and see mine at the Spring Rally you might be surprised.

 

It’s not all about speed, although the 1.8ltr is fast enough, when you have the right car sorted with the right spec you don’t need or want to be the fastest kid on the block, people can admire your car as you do 30mph with the top down and your elbow on the door listening to your favourite music at a sensible volume, love mine. 

 

Nobody has a faster MX5 than mine at a steady and legal 70mph.

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