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Mx5 - What To Look For And Thoughts/alternatives


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#1 Richie83

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 01:11 PM

I spotted a Mk1 Mazda MX5 on the road earlier. It looked mega and people always tell me that owning one is a must at some point, especially if you like minis. I am now interested in knowing more.

Anyone on here have any pointers on what to look for, what they’re like etc

Also any alternatives?

#2 SuperDeLuxeNick

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 01:22 PM

Ive had 2.

 

Make sure you get a MK1

 

make sure u get an import or a 1.8 as most uk 1.6 are sluggish

 

Rust on sills - get one with work already done or clean.

 

Lower it, bucket seat, GV Lip, great cheap fun.



#3 humph

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 01:33 PM

No expert at all, but have dabbled with the idea myself and found the following;

 

Mk1s are no longer cheap, the mk2s are the "bargains".

 

As mentioned above sill rot at the back due to blocked drain holes in the rear area where the roof meets the body

 

Arches rust as well i seem to remember

 

During the mk1, again as above, they chopped and changed between a 1.8 & a 1.6, was advised the same as above to avoid the 1.6.



#4 Richie83

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 01:33 PM

Ive had 2.

Make sure you get a MK1

make sure u get an import or a 1.8 as most uk 1.6 are sluggish

Rust on sills - get one with work already done or clean.

Lower it, bucket seat, GV Lip, great cheap fun.

what’s a good price for one that is in good condition.

#5 Boycie

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 03:26 PM

I have a 1990 Eunos, special edition with the wooden Nardi steering wheel, gear knob and limited slip dif (can't remember what it's called!) . It's a 1.6; I've never thought it sluggish, it goes like a rocket!
All I'd say is watch out for crank pulley problems on early cars. There's a design fault with them, Google 'short nose crank'.
Luckily for me, mine is a JDM car, which tended to come with the bigger crankshaft from day 1.
Otherwise, the running gear is very durable. Rust is your biggest concern, check carefully!

#6 Wiggy

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 03:44 PM

MR2 Roadster is an alternative. My wife has one and it's mega fun! 6 Speed box, LSD, Heated seats, AC.

I've heard MX5s rot something terrible.

#7 SuperDeLuxeNick

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 04:22 PM

I have a 1990 Eunos, special edition with the wooden Nardi steering wheel, gear knob and limited slip dif (can't remember what it's called!) . It's a 1.6; I've never thought it sluggish, it goes like a rocket!
All I'd say is watch out for crank pulley problems on early cars. There's a design fault with them, Google 'short nose crank'.
Luckily for me, mine is a JDM car, which tended to come with the bigger crankshaft from day 1.
Otherwise, the running gear is very durable. Rust is your biggest concern, check carefully!

 

Yes the JDM versions are the quicker 1.6's - some of the UK 1.6 were wound back



#8 mister bridger

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 05:30 PM

Plus one for the MR2 Roadster. Tried a few MX5s and found them a bit bland to drive - the Toyota is much more fun. Not much luggage space, but the GF and I still managed a touring holiday to Italy and France without ever using the boot rack.



#9 Twincam

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 05:30 PM

I've had two MK2's, as others have said rot rot rot. Mk2 rot on the sills and front chassis legs... My bootlid has started to on the later one. Great cheap fun, simple and easy to work on (I found) and unless you're hooning it about I didn't have that bad fuel economy either.

#10 dyshipfakta

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 06:14 PM

Head gaskets aside an mgtf vvc is properly quick will leave the mx and mr2 standing. Really fun to drive but sadly the headgaskets are as bad as people say.

#11 Wiggy

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 07:51 PM

The performance of the MR2 138bhp and the MGTF 160bhp are very close.

The MR2 is over 100kg lighter, and has the same amount of torque.

I do like the look of TFs though.

Edited by Wiggy, 01 March 2019 - 07:58 PM.


#12 Twincam

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Posted 02 March 2019 - 12:49 AM

Have a look on mx5nutz on Facebook and other groups. There is the odd one that pops up on retro rides too.

Often people turbo charge them but with a stupidly huge rev range I never found the need to.

Air box and exhaust make nice noises when modified/changed.

#13 dyshipfakta

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Posted 02 March 2019 - 09:04 AM

The performance of the MR2 138bhp and the MGTF 160bhp are very close.

The MR2 is over 100kg lighter, and has the same amount of torque.

I do like the look of TFs though.


Yet takes nearly a second longer to 60. I never understood why they didn’t put the vvtli 190 engine in the mr2 seemed abit odd.

#14 SuperDeLuxeNick

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Posted 02 March 2019 - 09:29 AM

https://www.instagra.../p/BQI_5FagU1K/

 

This was my mk1 budget track car

 

IIRC set of BMW wheels are the perfect offset and sit nicely, and super cheap! set of spigot rings to fix Centre bore differnece.



#15 SuperDeLuxeNick

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Posted 02 March 2019 - 09:30 AM

these ones... of an e36 or something... loads about usually.

 

https://www.instagra.../p/BKQ3E6sA1gx/






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