Anyone owned/driven a Mk1 MX-5?

[Jordygilly]

Hello!

My mates grandad is selling his 1990 Mk1 Mazda MX-5 import and i'm tempted by it! Just wondering what they're like to live with?
Its the 1.6 Eunos Roadster. The sills and arches are rust free and looks in pretty good condition overall

He's got it up for sale for £1200 but it hasn't sold and he's told me he's open to offers but i dont really know what they're worth?
Its got a full MOT and had done 160Km

Do you think its much of an upgrade to the VTR?

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb449/Jordygilly/mx5_zps7302c790.jpg (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/Jordygilly/media/mx5_zps7302c790.jpg.html)

[Tommo87]

Speed - not exactly fast
Handling - fantastic
Modifying - loads of options from all over the world
Problems - roof leaks, rust and no idea what else

[Yates]

ask your dad what its liek to live with, and is he likely to rip you off ie what its worth?!

[Dany4494]

Upgrade from a vtr should be the more powerful one as they restricted them in the later models should be as quick as vtr but should handle better everyone seems to rave how good they handle never drove one personally, plenty of tuning parts and common faults roof leaking, rust, and most imports have lsd but its probably more of a open diff by now also some people seem to think because there non interface engines they dont have to change belts check its been changed.

[Stissy]

Speed - not exactly fast.. at all.
Handling - not quite 'fantastic', but certainly good.
Modifying - loads of options from all over the world, huge scene for these cars at the moment. It seems like the MX5 is the 'in' car.
Problems - roof leaks, rust and getting called "fucking queer" for driving a gay car

corrected & updated.

[ad_77]

Had MK1 and currently MK2.

Check rear arches and sills for rust and clear the drainage holes - common for them to fill with water and rot from the inside out, by the time you've spotted it they've already gone and need cutting out and new metal welded.

Most imports had a torsen diff so will lock up fine, some, however are a viscous lsd and have worn out due to age to act like an open diff.

Interference free engine if cam belt does go but best to replace anyway.

Fun car but way underpowered, however if its your first rwd car this is a good thing!


Loads more info about on mx5nutz or mx5oc

[devilsadvocate]

I have never driven one but having been in one, they do seem to lack power.

If you are looking for a cheap soft top for the summer, its worth a shot. You could probably sell if in Sept/Oct for not much less than you are paying for it.

Last weekend made me miss my S2000 big time, it doesn't help that a guy at work has one! Its tempting to get another one for the summer and just get insured for six months and sell it again. I would lose money but not a lot as they hold their value fairly well :S

[0rang3peel]

1200 seems really steep, no wonder why it hasn't sold. Silver is a pants colour too, I'd be annoyed if I paid more than £800 for that

[D4MJT]

As above, £1200 is very very steep money for that, hence why it's not sold. £600-800 and it would sell.


I had a mk1 MX5, I don't get them at all really. I guess it depends what you mean by upgrade. I like convertibles, and it's nice to drop the roof in good weather and fly about B roads. The gear change is really nice, and they handle alright. They're hugely underpowered for the chassis imo, the 1.6 comes in 90bhp and 115bhp guise, the 1.8 is 130bhp. I've not driven the 90bhp, but I owned a mk1 that dyno'd at 115bhp, it had the timing retard mod for more mid-range punch, and I've also driven a mates 130bhp 1.8 on a few occasions. The 1.8 I'd say feels about as quick as my old VTR with a decat.

Downsides, I bought one as the Mrs had an MGF and I fancied some summer drop top motoring. The MGF was a better car in every way, the handling was better, the engine was better, the MX5 was easier to work on. She did 30k in hers and the engine didn't implode, contrary to the advice of every 'k-series' expert on the internet.

The economy is tragic for what it does, I got ~25mpg out of mine however I drove it. It's just too little for the lack of power. Although the handling is ok, I really don't think it's what it's cracked up to be in internet folklore. It's a cheap way to get into RWD and probably due to the lack of power it's fairly predictable and pretty easy to drive sideways. For comparison, the turn in on the MGF was miles better, and it felt razor sharp throwing it down B roads. The MX5 just didn't.

There isn't much you can do power wise either, the standard manifolds are very good, so there's very little gain to be had from a 4-2-1, and the decat doesn't give much either. The 1.6 has a flapper type MAF so you don't really get decent gains from a filter either, or much induction noise. The 1.8 has a hotwire MAF iirc so sounds a bit better at least.

There's nothing massively 'wrong' with them, but I found they didn't really do anything 'really' well. The boot's pretty useless and too shallow to do anything with, the seats aren't particularly comfortable for decent drives, so once the novelty of the roof has worn off I got pretty bored fast. You could get a luggage bag and rack for the boot for trips or simply chuck stuff in the passenger seat for camping etc, and you could change the seats for more comfort, but to be honest the car wasn't interesting enough for me to want to bother.

If you get one you'll have a bit of fun in the summer with it.

[ed-bradley]

If it was half the price, it'd seem about the right ball park figure.
I've got 2 Mk1s at the minute.

I don't really see them as an upgrade to a Saxo, more of a sidestep.
They lack the speed and whatnot of a saxo, but make up for it in handling.. And they're far more fun to drive.

[KamRacing]

As above, £1200 is very very steep money for that, hence why it's not sold. £600-800 and it would sell.


I had a mk1 MX5, I don't get them at all really. I guess it depends what you mean by upgrade. I like convertibles, and it's nice to drop the roof in good weather and fly about B roads. The gear change is really nice, and they handle alright. They're hugely underpowered for the chassis imo, the 1.6 comes in 90bhp and 115bhp guise, the 1.8 is 130bhp. I've not driven the 90bhp, but I owned a mk1 that dyno'd at 115bhp, it had the timing retard mod for more mid-range punch, and I've also driven a mates 130bhp 1.8 on a few occasions. The 1.8 I'd say feels about as quick as my old VTR with a decat.

Downsides, I bought one as the Mrs had an MGF and I fancied some summer drop top motoring. The MGF was a better car in every way, the handling was better, the engine was better, the MX5 was easier to work on. She did 30k in hers and the engine didn't implode, contrary to the advice of every 'k-series' expert on the internet.

The economy is tragic for what it does, I got ~25mpg out of mine however I drove it. It's just too little for the lack of power. Although the handling is ok, I really don't think it's what it's cracked up to be in internet folklore. It's a cheap way to get into RWD and probably due to the lack of power it's fairly predictable and pretty easy to drive sideways. For comparison, the turn in on the MGF was miles better, and it felt razor sharp throwing it down B roads. The MX5 just didn't.

There isn't much you can do power wise either, the standard manifolds are very good, so there's very little gain to be had from a 4-2-1, and the decat doesn't give much either. The 1.6 has a flapper type MAF so you don't really get decent gains from a filter either, or much induction noise. The 1.8 has a hotwire MAF iirc so sounds a bit better at least.

There's nothing massively 'wrong' with them, but I found they didn't really do anything 'really' well. The boot's pretty useless and too shallow to do anything with, the seats aren't particularly comfortable for decent drives, so once the novelty of the roof has worn off I got pretty bored fast. You could get a luggage bag and rack for the boot for trips or simply chuck stuff in the passenger seat for camping etc, and you could change the seats for more comfort, but to be honest the car wasn't interesting enough for me to want to bother.

If you get one you'll have a bit of fun in the summer with it.

I think you had a friday afternoon special.

They are slow, we are talking slower than a VTR, but get a half decent one and speed does not matter. Sliding out of corners, round roundabouts, excellent handling, tons of tuning mods, comfortable seats and suspension (in my opinion). You sit much lower than the MGF which means tall people dont get as bad issues with hair...
Dont buy one without a diff....
Its not meant to be a practical car - its a convertible. They however allow you to be a bit of a prat behind the wheel and reward you for it....they are so cheap it does not matter.
I've used one for slalom days and the only thing I wanted was more power.
bolt on turbo kits are available!

[D4MJT]

I think you had a friday afternoon special.

They are slow, we are talking slower than a VTR, but get a half decent one and speed does not matter. Sliding out of corners, round roundabouts, excellent handling, tons of tuning mods, comfortable seats and suspension (in my opinion). You sit much lower than the MGF which means tall people dont get as bad issues with hair...
Dont buy one without a diff....
Its not meant to be a practical car - its a convertible. They however allow you to be a bit of a prat behind the wheel and reward you for it....they are so cheap it does not matter.
I've used one for slalom days and the only thing I wanted was more power.
bolt on turbo kits are available!

I reckon they'd be a laugh with a turbo kit.

It's entirely possible mine was at the mercy of worn / knackered old suspension, but then I guess that's typical of many for sale these days.

It's interesting what you say about the MX5, I felt lower down in the MGF to be honest, the mrs is only 5ft 2 and she had to use a cushion in the MGF (LOL) but not my MX5.

I get that it's not about speed with them, but they're still slower than I was expecting, and I just didn't find them much to write home about to be honest. Smiles for miles I found the MGF more fun than either the MX's I've driven. K-Series sounds fantastic with an induction kit as well.

[Jamie]

As the MG was mentioned, I'd sooner rock around in one of them all day long. I preferred the MG. I've driven both although I'm not really that interested in the Mx5 so don't know what spec it was. It gripped quite well, and was a little hard to get the back end out than I'd imagined. I just think that the price reflects the car. The MG I also felt lower down, and it felt like a little sports car, the mx5 felt naff after all the internet loving.

MX5's bang on for the money and to destroy by sitting them silly low and ripping them around car parks like DK yo, but I'm not convinced either, I'd be embarrassed to drive around in one as a daily. At the end of the day it is only my opinion and some would have the same sort of opinion on my car.

It's just another bandwagon, like the Clio was, 1.8T, Type R ect cheap fun that becomes internet awsumzzzz.

Although the above bar the 1.8t are actually cool.

Again I reckon that money is high for what it is.

[lewismonteith]

I use mine as a daily and it's far more comfortable to drive than a VTR, I'm 6"2 as well. You need to buy the right one, remember these cars are up to 25 years old. Although they are built incredibly well if they haven't been looked after you're going to be spending a lot of money on repairs. A new set of sills will cost you a few hundred quid if you buy a rusty one.

They are so much fun, you may think you're cool doing 60mph in second gear in a Saxo but that means piss all when you drive the MX-5. The back end comes out for fun and they are very rewarding. If you look after them they will look after you!

I recently did a 500 mile trip in mine and it was absolutely fine. Buy one, they're awesome.

[Gandi699]

its weird how these have gone from a strictly hairdressers car to the alternative car choice (other than VW) for hipster kids. Dont see the fascination myself, other than the engine can take boost reasonably well and its not interference.

[Jamie]

its weird how these have gone from a strictly hairdressers car to the alternative car choice (other than VW) for hipster kids. Dont see the fascination myself, other than the engine can take boost reasonably well and its not interference.

I don't think it's weird, it's like what I said above, cars become cheap and then a band wagon on buying them begins.

Bet nobody on here would have bought them when they were 3-4k or more, now they are bargin fun.

[Gandi699]

I agree there, its just the image the car was tainted with when they were relatively new and I find it interesting how thats changed due to the price drop.
They are probably the cheapest RWD reliable fun car you can buy really, I cant really think of anything else that can compete other than the MGF

[jasonmayall]

I agree there, its just the image the car was tainted with when they were relatively new and I find it interesting how thats changed due to the price drop.
They are probably the cheapest RWD reliable fun car you can buy really, I cant really think of anything else that can compete other than the MGF

What about the early MR2's? I've heard bad things in terms of reliability but the old boxy ones look the dogs.

IMO...

[Giraffe]

What about the early MR2's? I've heard bad things in terms of reliability but the old boxy ones look the dogs.

IMO...

They aren't cheap though are they? Have that "classic" tag now, so good ones that haven't rotted fetch some decent money?

Gandi, are you trying to say that old Volvo estates aren't fun?! heh

[Gandi699]

I think they'd command a bit more money and be difficult to find but yeah thats a good shout

[Gandi699]

They aren't cheap though are they? Have that "classic" tag now, so good ones that haven't rotted fetch some decent money?

Gandi, are you trying to say that old Volvo estates aren't fun?! heh

They arent a small sports car though but I guess if you threw half the trim away it would be a riot and you'd probably make some money back selling what you've ripped out

[jasonmayall]

Thats a fair point. I doubt you'll find a good one for under a grand - So out of the question really.

Fiat punto convertible? All the benefits of driving a quirky little Italian hatch back (NONE) and a convertible roof...
Saw one the other day and I really had to try hard not to vomit.

[Giraffe]

Thats a fair point. I doubt you'll find a good one for under a grand - So out of the question really.

Fiat punto convertible? All the benefits of driving a quirky little Italian hatch back (NONE) and a convertible roof...
Saw one the other day and I really had to try hard not to vomit.

FWD...

[D4MJT]

They are so much fun, you may think you're cool doing 60mph in second gear in a Saxo but that means piss all when you drive the MX-5. The back end comes out for fun and they are very rewarding. If you look after them they will look after you!

See, that's where we'll disagree lol.

I don't think I look cool doing 60 in 2nd gear in a saxo, or even at all, ever, in a saxo, but even if I did, it would still mean jack shit when I drove an MX5.

I suspect the vast majority of people who love them perhaps have experienced them as they're first RWD car. If the only thing that the car has going for it is that you can get it sideways, it's not amazing.

The E39 520i I had was as much fun on a wet roundabout as the Mx5, if not more so.

[lewismonteith]

See, that's where we'll disagree lol.



I don't think I look cool doing 60 in 2nd gear in a saxo, or even at all, ever, in a saxo, but even if I did, it would still mean jack shit when I drove an MX5.



I suspect the vast majority of people who love them perhaps have experienced them as they're first RWD car. If the only thing that the car has going for it is that you can get it sideways, it's not amazing.



The E39 520i I had was as much fun on a wet roundabout as the Mx5, if not more so.


The e39 is still a huge saloon car. The whole driving position, simplicity of the car, the way it drives and the perfect weight distribution just make it an incredible car to drive. There's far more to an MX-5 than drifting!

[Nik_L]

I would have 1, but it would need to be, dare i say it, "scened up" with the wide bolt on arches, nice wheels etc, and it would need to be mega clean (which most aren't). But then for that you pay a premium, which i wouldn't pay. So really, i probably wouldn't have 1 lol.

Would much rather have another Mk2 MR2. Had 2 already, and quite fancy another. They were both N/A, but still great fun with enough go. Nice and revvy, and with the engine right behind your head, its a great feeling when you smash the throttle.

[Dany4494]

I was talking to a guy at a drift day he told me with roof down and half a tank of juice they have near 50/50 weight distribution not sure how true that is, but you can make them look pretty sick imo.

[holdawayt]

I've kept quiet as I'm bored of saying the same old stuff about them.

But I've had two, and I still can't let go of my second one even after buying an E46 330ci. It's just a completely fun, stupid, eager little car. No they're not fast, no they're not well specced and they're certainly not incredible to drive compared to more expensive cars.

But for £500 you can get a road legal one, sort the suspension and give it a service and you'll have an awesome little car that'll teach you huge amounts about car control.

I will probably end up selling mine, but I'll put it off for as long as possible. I absolutely love it.

[Tommo87]

For a few £k they also fit an LS? engine in the bay as if it was meant to be there, if you fancied V8 power that is.

[MuZiZZle]

They're no VTS, that's for sure.

You'll be an instant moist roundabout Dori hero, but you'll get raped by them VTeses

[KamRacing]

You will get bummed in a straight line by a VTR. Similar power but a bit heavier and shit aerodynamics with lights up and / or roof down. A cheap way to get a convertible with a fun chassis but cries for another 30bhp, some deep dish wheels and coilovers.