View Full Version : any Mazda MX5 owners (Mk1)
were now looking at one for the other half.
Thoughts, experiences, any advice greatly appreciated
andy
A bit too small for me I'm afraid, but my Wife considered one too. Good, fun cars with great dealer and manufacturer back up.
I had a client with one years ago. No mechanical probs at all, but the paint started to chip on the bonnet. He mentioned it when it was in for service once. On collection, the service manager said he'd informed Mazda UK and to await a call. Mazda paint specialist came out, examined the car and then a week or so later, the dealer rang to say Mazda wanted the car back and they'd give him a brand new one! So, off went his year old + car, with fairly hefty miles on it (over 30K at least), in return for a new one, to his choice of colour.
Mazda wanted the old one back to see why the paint was chipping so badly. Nice.:)
LEO LION R
17-10-2002, 15:51
i had one till this accident a few years back
not very pedestrian friendly ;)
bloody hell, now if only other car companies did that ;)
LMAO :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:
I know a couple of folk with Mazdas and they say they're just great cars, great dealers and a great company! I've never bought one mind...;)
ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww ewwwwwwwwwwwww ewwwwwwwwwwww noooooooo.
just mho
Jimmyboy
17-10-2002, 21:40
I've not had one myself but a mate of mine has just bought a brand new one. Also a guy I work with has one as well. Great fun cars, very reliable and cheap to run. The only bad thing they have going for them is if you are over 6' tall you wont enjoy it for long!! My mates one has heated seats which is great cos it keeps you warm even on a cold day with the roof down. Also if you get one try to get one with a hard top as well, even though this defeats the object of having a convertible you will appreciate it in the winter. I went out with my mate the other day and after about 30 minutes my back ached cos I was crouching down slightly as the wind was on my forehead!! I wouldnt fancy rolling one especially with my head high than the windscreen!
I had one for 7 years before I got my Leon in May this year. Great car, good fun and very reliable - the only "mechanical" I had in all those years of ownership was a HT lead packing up about three years ago. Never broke down on me and I've had more grief with the Leon in six months than all my MX5 time. Be careful in the wet though, rear wheel drive on a light car with engine in the front can give some "moments" :D
Oh, and I'm 6'1" tall and had no probs with sizing.
Yorkie.
I'm a touch taller and no doubt somewhat wider, but much as I liked the idea, I just couldn't see myself getting in and out of it with any dignity whatsoever! My problem, not the car's I hasten to add...;)
Jimmyboy
18-10-2002, 14:54
I'm about 6'2" and my head toches te roof when its up and when its down I get a cold forehead!!
PipSqueak111
18-10-2002, 15:37
Get a VX220! :D
Much better - I'm 6 foot and the wind goes straight over my head no probs, and I'm well clear of both the hardtop and soft-top. :)
Goes better and gets more looks too :D ;)
Phill
thanks for all your help guys. I think i might have trouble getting hold of a VX220 for 7k...mind you the v*uxh*ll badge is bound to knock a few k off!
andyb - LOL
Knock another few grand off 'cos it looks hideous also.....
(sorry pip!)
Yorkie.
PipSqueak111
18-10-2002, 16:40
Originally posted by yorkie
andyb - LOL
Knock another few grand off 'cos it looks hideous also.....
(sorry pip!)
Ooooouuuuuuuooooo! :eek: Hark at her! ;)
Say that again and I'll knock your b*tch *ss down! ;)
[Handbags] :saber:
VX is like Marmite; you either love it or you hate it.
I think it's great - much less hairdressery than the girly, curvy Elise. Much more aggressive front styling.
That's what I forgot to say before - I think the Mazda MX5 is a hairdresser's car. Too girly. Probably fine for your other half Andy, but I wouldn't drive it yourself.
Phill
>That's what I forgot to say before - I think the Mazda MX5 is a hairdresser's car.
LOL! My secret is out, I harboured long lived ambitions to become a hairdresser... Got the motor but never made the grade...
Yorkie.
good choice mate
used to work for mazda so ive seen a few , hope this helps ?
1.6i is mainly on early models (steel wheels std) basic car
1.8is is best model
BBR turbo 1.8 not worth the hassle
steering wheel is a thin racy thing on very early models so look for that
SMALL square plate on rear is USUALLY easiest way to spot a JAP import usually also badged EUNOS
common faults :
front disks wear out (on all cars anyway though ? )
plug leads - £120 a set if you get the dreaded misfire
rear exhaust box is expensive and can ROT and lose the chrome trim
LOADS of ltd editions (dont be fooled by them)
avoid the wire type bbs alloys (£££££) and scab up bad
check battery (in boot) if a little panasonic one - get proper conversion as they are CRAP -once flat THAT IS IT
when they rattle a bit - change the oil (5k regular)VERY small tappets that dont like old/crap oil but an oil change cures it LITERALLY
errrrrr
check usual damage etc etc
and if it IS for the MRS - MAKE sure she can handle a slide - coz they will and do VERY easy - LOL and DAMN GOOD FUN too
You mean it's a real car and doesn't have TCS or EPS (or whatever it's called)...??? :D
Thanks all, espically Flapper. Very useful. Not many MX5 sites about, nothing on the scale of cupra.net
Drove a 1.8 ages ago, really good car to drive actually, quite progressive and gives decent feedback from steering. Not as good as that Elise or the funny clone with the chrome V on it (I do actually like VX-just couldnt resist Pip)
Anyway, off to test drive a 1.6 and a 1.8 tomorrow followed by more mundane 206 and a Polo. Not much else she likes thats good at 6-6.5k
andy
PipSqueak111
19-10-2002, 17:07
Just one warning, and that is be careful to avoid grey imports. There are loads of Eunos roadsters (Jap MX-5s) around and many have been rebadged. You have to be careful, as the history of the car is unknown, some parts aren't the same and in particular, the suspension setup was very different for the Japanese market. The UK/European MX-5 had much firmer, sportier suspension - a review of the Eunos I read said it rolled like a ferry in comparison.
Phill
Originally posted by Toonman
You mean it's a real car and doesn't have TCS or EPS (or whatever it's called)...??? :D
yep a REAL RWD car - and worth every minute of fun in the wet
nearly stuffed the demo several times - just couldnt resist
worse than alton towers @ times WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Good point. Anything with a square rear number plate is an import I heard, and parts are a sod to get if someone rear ends you.:eek:
OK, we've bought one
After a good surf on the net and a couple of freidnly franchise Mazda dealers who gave us advice on greys even though they are not allowed to sell them ( very few differnt parts, and dealers can get the bits as there are now more Eunos registered than UK cars), we ended up with a Silver 93K Eunos (so its grey) 1.6i with just 35k on the clock for just under £6000 with 1yr warranty (I know, not worth much) MOT and Tax. The thing is absolutely immaculate and a top grade car fom Japan (they have grading obviously in Japanese, so faxed it off to a Jap colleague to make sure). Full service history and warranted mileage as well, in Japanese, but again it was not a problem. Tonnel cover still in its wrapper. Has nice Minilite style alloys as well.
I could find two small chips on the bumper and one on the bonnet and that was it,,,shame my Seat isnt like that!
Well pleased. It did appear that the rear panel is plastic, so could if someone desired replace with a UK style one. With the no plate off you can see the metal panel behind
We drove a UK and a Jap car and there was very slightly softer suspension, but she preferred that anyway. Nothing dramatic.
Suppose its a bit more of a risk with a grey, but we saved a fair bit seeing as its low mileage and the equvilent UK one with 45k was a grand more.
Should have it by the weekend.
Thanks all for your help, off to join the MX5 owners club now!
Originally posted by Toonman
Good point. Anything with a square rear number plate is an import I heard, and parts are a sod to get if someone rear ends you.:eek:
yes, main differences are
Eunos and Roadster badging,
Rear panel as discribed
Front number plate fixing may be different (its only £17 so most have them)
Different size radio unit (again £17 to change it to a DIN hole with chbby hole) - Also needs to be retuned, not a issue for us
Suspension slightly softer, bushes and dampers different spec.
Early 91 and 92 cars apparently had different exhaust.
Most Jap cars have air con, very rare on UK cars
"V" model is available in Green or Black with leather only
Sealed headlamps (Halogen ones are about £15-20)
No flash facility on early (or all - i cant remember) 1.6 (£2-£5 to fix)
Check the chassis number. Lots of 1.6's sold as 1.8's!
legally the cars need to have a MPH speedo, rear foglamp and SVA test and MOT
Think thats it
I'm glad you're both happy and sorted! :)
:cheers:
So all the disinformation banded about by the "trade" about :-
1. Jap cars not being undersealed
2. Jap cars having thinner glass (my fave)
is predictable cobblers ?
Yorkie.
how much do you wanna spend? there is one advertised over the road from me, i'll get the details if you come back a& say 'about £7500'
we have bought it already. It was £6k and it will be getting extra underseal underneath as part of the deal.
As for the windows. I'm not sure. I'll have to check.
andy