On Sunday I'm helping a friend buy a circa 2003 1.8 Mx5 - can you tell me what MX5-specific issues I need to look out for when checking possible purchases over?

Cheers

Craig

 

Gayness. Affects all models sadly.

 

MT had one

Will see if I have a buying guide somewhere

I think they are pretty robust little beggars

Sweet cars, but indeed, gay

 

So she may become a lesbian Gaz?

 

Yep, Mark had the 1.8iS (six speed box etc). If you can easily place your hands on the buying guide, that would be great Pete Was it an Evo buying guide? I may the past few years' worth I can check in.

 

I'm a lesbian.

Issues are pretty much the same as the S2000; high speed parking damage, correct geometry & tyres a must.

Early ones suffer some rear wheelarch corrosion (like Preludes/CRXs et al).

Penis-compensation wheels with the wrong offsets wreck the bearings & dampers.

Low & stiff rice coilovers makes the shells fatigue & go wobbly.

Tapping on very cold startup is merely sticky hydraulic lifters & can be safely ignored.

But a good straight (!) example will see yer right for decades probably.

 

Don't think it was EVO but will check

There must be a forum too?

 

Pete, you are right. Found a buyer's guide.

http://www.mx5ocforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=12451

EDIT: The Buyer's Guide looks out of date

 

Nick, do you know off the top of your head what the tyres should be?

 

Craig

Just phoned a friend whose wife has one. This is what he said, pretty much verbatim:

owned it for 90,000 miles/eight years
nothing has gone wrong with it
it's an L plate