[Closed] MX 5 mk2 owners

Look out for underbody rust or patches to the body (mainly sills), if the cars had a full re-spray then walk away, bullet proof motors great cars, just buy a solid one. Same go's for the Eunos.

Have a search around on [url= http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/ ]here[/url]. There's a buying advice section in the forum.

Love our Mk3 to bits.

We had a Mk2, as has been said they are vulnerable to rust so check the sills carefully.
Wheels can also look tatty, mechanics and trim are pretty strong.
When ours failed its MOT we were offered a part exchange on it by the specialist who did the test (Paul Roddison in Sheffield http://www.google.co.uk/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUK244&q=paul+roddison+mx5&aq=1v&aqi=g1g-v1&aql=&oq=Paul+Roddison) which got us into a Mk3 at a very reasonable price. If you're thinking we got conned into spending money - no, Paul knows his stuff and I saw the holes in the sills, our timing was lucky in that he had a couple of cars I believe he was fairly keen to get out of his stock for us to chose from.
At your budget you are not far away from Mk3 territory, and for us (not everyone's taste I know) it is a better car - a bit more power, better equipment, hood is even easier to throw up and down, just generally easier to live with day to day etc etc.

Feel free to email me if you want more info', there is an owners club forum, plus MX5nutz forum and loads of specialists.

Thanks any other pointers?

I have a MK3 roadster coupe, love it to bits, but sadly it's our only car so I will soon be selling to buy something more... practical 🙁

Well if you fancy swapping for a triumph bonneville T100 or £5500 let the old man know!

You should get an absolutely mint mk 2.5 for that

I've got a 98 mk 2

As stated by others check the sills at the back in-between the door and rear wheel arch, get your head underneath and look for any signs of rust

Drain holes for the roof get blocked and can cause rust problems

Mechanically they are pretty tough, and the engines are non interference so no valve damage if the cam belt fails, even so you don't want it happening in the fast lane

Plenty of other info on mx5oc and mx5nutz forums. Also a good place to look for a car

Sills as mentioned above. Power steering pipes seem to rupture around 10+yrs, ones on mothers car started leaking last month and the GF's went in one great big dump today.

Ours is the 1.8iS, most popular one people tend to go for. Few electric bits, 15" wheels, LSD (on ours anyway). Managed to get one with a mohair roof - no cracking or waiting for it to warm up before putting it down.

That money will get a good mk2.5 though, probably even a 6spd Sport. Mk3 isn't too aesthetically pleasing to my eye, but thats me.

Finally, Mk1 + turbo...

sills aren't vastly expensive to get welded if they are a bit rotten - I had mine done for under £200 a side (mk1 but I'm fairly sure its the same). Also don't be put off if the roof is a little tired - they're under £300 fitted from a bunch of places.

at 60, depending how able they are, they may struggle to get in and out of one - with the roof on their fairly low. I'd definately steer clear of a lowered one for this reason. A hardtop is a desirable accessory, but make sure you've got somwhere to store it, pretty bulky.

They're not very good on fuel, and they're noisy at speed, but they're nice, fun little cars. A wind deflectore can make topless driving at speed more pleasant

Ha ha can't wait for dad to read the getting in and out of comment! Brilliant 🙂
He's a plumber/heating engineer self employed and still working, spends most of his contorted around copper pipping
and wedged under floor boards when he's not ball ****ting, sorry golfing.

on the golf front, I don't think they will fit a set of clubs in a mx5. Dunno if that's an issue.. You could get one on the pass seat if he goes alone 🙂