Sub £1000 MX5. Good/Bad Idea?

[Station]

1.6, looks good, but check the body as "Slight rust on rear wheel arches" usually signifies the rears of the sills are maybe gone? I'd buy it.

[dollywobbler]

Not sure how you tell whether it's a full-fat 1.6 or the milder version. P is 96 isn't it? That was the changeover year. Guess a test drive will tell you soon enough!

 

As mentioned - rear wheelarch rot almost certainly means the sills are going too, but does it matter for that price?

[r.welfare]

That looks like a low-fat 88bhp 1.6. Won't pull the dick off a chocolate mouse, but at £495 who cares? Looks like a helluva value to me.

[cort16]

I think only the early 1.6's had more power but at that price who cares. I'd have a good look at the sills and all that as it may be terminally rotten hence why it's so cheap. Okay if you just want to bin it after the mot, not so great if you smash it.

[warren t claim]

Bad news fellas, I've spoken to the seller and it's an 88bhp version. Still worth a punt?

[Bobthebeard]

Bad news fellas, I've spoken to the seller and it's an 88bhp version. Still worth a punt?

 

Could be. Depends on what you want from it. If you aren't into performance and just want it for what it is then fine. At the price, resale value won't matter presumably?

[dollywobbler]

Bad news fellas, I've spoken to the seller and it's an 88bhp version. Still worth a punt?

 

Could be. Depends on what you want from it. If you aren't into performance and just want it for what it is then fine. At the price, resale value won't matter presumably?

 

Indeed. The only person who can say whether that's enough power is you. A few more gee-gees would be nice though.

[Tartan58]

Looks clean enough but as has already been said, check very carefully for rust on the sills and arches, these things tend to rust from the inside out so something visibly small may be much worse!

Mileage shouldn't be a worry and it sounds like it's been looked after - not modded either which is a good sign.

 

Never driven the 88bhp power 1.6 but the 115 feels quick enough for some fun if you rev it and didn't feel that far off my 1.8 in reality. The low power 1.6's are the best for turbo-ing though apparently.

 

Price is good only if it's in good nick, but you could easily spend the same again sorting rust for the MOT unless you DIY - I'd ask if he'd MOT it then you'd have a years worth of fun ahead and if the worst comes to the worst you'll loose a couple of hundred quid if you punt it on next year.

[face]

I had a 115 a number of years ago and it chugged along quite nicely.

 

I don't think I'd be worried if I had an 88 - it's still going to be good fun and will put a smile on your face.

 

If it's solid enough, then at that price I wouldn't even worry what engine it had.

[trigger]

88bhp is still enough to slide the tail out on a wet roundabout, Buy it!

[warren t claim]

Due to work running late I missed this by 20 mins. Pissed off indeed.

[cobblers]

If it's any consolation you'd have been 20 minutes late for work every day if you tried to get there in an 88bhp MX5, I wouldn't sweat too much over it.

 

One with all four legs will come along soon enough for the right money.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

88bhp sounds pretty shatpank for an MX-5. How do you tell what version you're looking at when you're buying a car or engine?

[cort16]

I think all mx-5's up to 94 ish are 1.6's with the higher out put but when they brought out the 1.8 they kept on the 1.6 but detuned it to hair dresser mode.

[pompei]

How were they de-tuned? Are there any cheap ways to add a few more horsepowers?

[Mike D]

I've no idea on the detuning, but I imagine the cheapest way for more speed is just to buy the quicker one in the first place!

 

I adore MX5s, theyre ace little cars My perfect combination would be a mk1 with a KLDE / KLZE 2.5V6 out an MX6 in it. Not the most straightforward swap, but a little pearler!

[pandarus]

My 92 Eunos was de-cat'd. Would that make it faster?

 

I now have a 99 mk 2, not sure on the bhp but its still a quick car.

 

If you are looking to keep the car go for the one with all the toys you want, they are cheap enough this time of year. Chrome hoops always look nice as do mudflaps - front ones are incredibly expensive to buy.

 

Sill rot is common, so look for that too.

 

I love 'em...I wish I could have afforded to keep the Eunos too!

[Fat_Pirate]

Pistons and camshafts are different on the 88BHP version, plus other bits; it's not feasible to upgrade them.

[155V6]

Father155 has just told me that he's getting a Eunos.If it's the one I've seen advertised locally,it's an auto with 3-spoke wheels

[Micrashed]

This just pitched up on my local Facebollox selling page - £800 with 9 mths MOT, hard and soft tops and 4 newish ditchfinder tyres

[Tartan58]

Loose the spoiler and wheels and that doesn't look too bad. £800 quid including the hard top is pretty good, hard tops seem to consistently make £3-400 secondhand.