mx5 fail
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 10,652
Likes: 17
From: Market Harborough, Leics.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,714
Likes: 1
From: coventry, UK
sound slike me and uf are almost the same person - exactly the same thought as me on an old mx5 and tweaking it.
i suspect those engine issues are down to the female drivers. guys seem to be a bit more switched on with mechanics. women seem to think oil lasts forever and doesn't leak.
Im not so much stereotyping, but speaking more about my experiences.
i heard they were fairly strong engines actually... im sure i've seen a many reports in the high 100k's and i think an old friend in USA had 300k on his mk1.
i suspect those engine issues are down to the female drivers. guys seem to be a bit more switched on with mechanics. women seem to think oil lasts forever and doesn't leak.
Im not so much stereotyping, but speaking more about my experiences.
i heard they were fairly strong engines actually... im sure i've seen a many reports in the high 100k's and i think an old friend in USA had 300k on his mk1.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,979
Likes: 0
From: North Yorks
Bought a Mk1 a couple of months ago for £1500. A 1.8 'Harvard'.
Don't need mega power or a track slag, got the race car for that, so this is a third car for mucking about on the road. Currently looking at refreshing the suspension (new bushes and a set of coilovers) and rustproofing (not much rot, bit around the sills but it's not terminal and a whole new sill welded in is about £120) and that's it. Should be all in for £2500 and it'll be a sound car for the next 10 years or so.
The attraction is that everything is cheap - it's a non-interference engine, so even if the cambelt lets go, it's not expensive. Parts are cheap and easy to come by, there are a lot of specialists and a lot of enthusiastic owners so expertise is easy to find and they're a simple car to work on. A full service, fluids, filters etc. including gearbox and diff cost me £64 and a couple of hours of my time.
Oh, and it's great fun to drive - far more communicative than the S2000 and perfect for Sunday morning blats the area I live (Yorkshire Dales) but equally happy on the odd trip into town. One of the best driver's cars (and probably the best value for money car) I've owned (and the cheapest).
Don't need mega power or a track slag, got the race car for that, so this is a third car for mucking about on the road. Currently looking at refreshing the suspension (new bushes and a set of coilovers) and rustproofing (not much rot, bit around the sills but it's not terminal and a whole new sill welded in is about £120) and that's it. Should be all in for £2500 and it'll be a sound car for the next 10 years or so.
The attraction is that everything is cheap - it's a non-interference engine, so even if the cambelt lets go, it's not expensive. Parts are cheap and easy to come by, there are a lot of specialists and a lot of enthusiastic owners so expertise is easy to find and they're a simple car to work on. A full service, fluids, filters etc. including gearbox and diff cost me £64 and a couple of hours of my time.
Oh, and it's great fun to drive - far more communicative than the S2000 and perfect for Sunday morning blats the area I live (Yorkshire Dales) but equally happy on the odd trip into town. One of the best driver's cars (and probably the best value for money car) I've owned (and the cheapest).
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,181
Likes: 58
From: Hertford
Isn't it ironic that they are such a brilliant car, yey some are too deeply insecure to handle them?
Would rather have some unreliable, expensive PoS with penis-extension wheels that drives like a pig in an alley as a consequence.
Would rather have some unreliable, expensive PoS with penis-extension wheels that drives like a pig in an alley as a consequence.
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 23,271
Likes: 821
From: Nottingham
http://www.bbrgti.com/product_details.php?id=11646
they're a great drive but the 1.6 just doesnt excite on anything but constant bends because in between them you'd fall asleep/get out and push
but the turbo ones.. get in!
they're a great drive but the 1.6 just doesnt excite on anything but constant bends because in between them you'd fall asleep/get out and push
but the turbo ones.. get in!
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Bought a Mk1 a couple of months ago for £1500. A 1.8 'Harvard'.
Don't need mega power or a track slag, got the race car for that, so this is a third car for mucking about on the road. Currently looking at refreshing the suspension (new bushes and a set of coilovers) and rustproofing (not much rot, bit around the sills but it's not terminal and a whole new sill welded in is about £120) and that's it. Should be all in for £2500 and it'll be a sound car for the next 10 years or so.
The attraction is that everything is cheap - it's a non-interference engine, so even if the cambelt lets go, it's not expensive. Parts are cheap and easy to come by, there are a lot of specialists and a lot of enthusiastic owners so expertise is easy to find and they're a simple car to work on. A full service, fluids, filters etc. including gearbox and diff cost me £64 and a couple of hours of my time.
Oh, and it's great fun to drive - far more communicative than the S2000 and perfect for Sunday morning blats the area I live (Yorkshire Dales) but equally happy on the odd trip into town. One of the best driver's cars (and probably the best value for money car) I've owned (and the cheapest).
Don't need mega power or a track slag, got the race car for that, so this is a third car for mucking about on the road. Currently looking at refreshing the suspension (new bushes and a set of coilovers) and rustproofing (not much rot, bit around the sills but it's not terminal and a whole new sill welded in is about £120) and that's it. Should be all in for £2500 and it'll be a sound car for the next 10 years or so.
The attraction is that everything is cheap - it's a non-interference engine, so even if the cambelt lets go, it's not expensive. Parts are cheap and easy to come by, there are a lot of specialists and a lot of enthusiastic owners so expertise is easy to find and they're a simple car to work on. A full service, fluids, filters etc. including gearbox and diff cost me £64 and a couple of hours of my time.
Oh, and it's great fun to drive - far more communicative than the S2000 and perfect for Sunday morning blats the area I live (Yorkshire Dales) but equally happy on the odd trip into town. One of the best driver's cars (and probably the best value for money car) I've owned (and the cheapest).
A very honest and accurate view which I endorse. I p/exd an immaculate 1990 50k miles MK1 MX-5 for a new S2000 some years ago.
The Honda IS poor value compared with the Mazda, and the grunt only comes in at +6k revs, but agreed is more macho looking for those insecure males who sacrifice anything in order to avoid being considered wimpish.
How sad and ignorant that some S2000 owners are so smug they think it's clever to denegrate other cars & delight in relaying childish cameos as described in the original post.
The Honda is unique and a left field choice which not everybody understands so just enjoy the car, grow up and stop snipping at other cars and their owners.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Gwent Valleys, South Wales
Originally Posted by unclefester' timestamp='1309366565' post='20731453
The later models with the folding hard top make a LOT of sense.
Yes...my local friendly garage has been buying a number of Mk3s (not just MY09) who's engines have gone pop. Looks like they're not too resilient
