Getting an mx-5

MX5 Car Clubs of Australia

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Zabinskii
Fast Driver
Posts: 290
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:24 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Gold Coast

Getting an mx-5

Postby Zabinskii » Sat Dec 14, 2013 11:52 pm

Hello fellow roadster owners,
I'm paul, 17 and live on the Gold Coast.

And I'm getting a new mx-5 soon, not really new, but new to me, it's a 1990 na6 mx-5 and it comes without a hardtop :c which sucks, so I'm looking at buying one, and if so is there anything I should take into account before buying one and are there any things that I should look out for on the hard top, and weak points, or other troublesome areas on it.

Cheers guys. :)

The car is also bone stock and needs a cut and polish to bring out the shine in the paint.


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emily_mx5
Racing Driver
Posts: 1720
Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:57 pm
Vehicle: NB SE
Location: Sydney

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby emily_mx5 » Sun Dec 15, 2013 7:48 am

Welcome.
Top right corner of this forum is a search function.
There are hundreds of pre-purchase inspection threads.
Don't buy it if it has a SNC. Not worth the risk.


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Magpie
Speed Racer
Posts: 7468
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:49 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Purga, QLD

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby Magpie » Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:01 am

With respect to the hard top make sure it has all it latches as well as check where the frankesnstein bolts engage for excessive wear. If you don't want the convience of latches you can get brackets to attach the hard top, the latches give less rattles/wind noise however make taking the hard top off a little longer. Also you could consider removing the soft top, but if it rains and you have taken the hard top as well as removed the soft top you will get wet, however in the sunshine you will be dry :)

Another common complaint with the hard top is wind noise, however this just requires that the hard top is adjusted to fit correctley. The same for the windows, sometimes the seal on the hard top does and the windows do not match, again it could be a simple seal adjustment or you may have to adjust the windows.

Other things to look for is paint condition as the respray will add to the purchase price. Expect to pay about $1,000 for a reasonable condition hard top with all its latches. Note some come with demisters.

Look here http://www.miata.net/garage/hardtop/

For using brackets and not latches http://www.miata.net/garage/Hardtop_Permanent/ take note on the advice about removing the latch screws!

Another installation guide http://www.smoothline.com/installation/Mazda%20Miata%20Hardtop%20Instructions.pdf

Also another place to look http://forum.miata.net/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=25

Zabinskii
Fast Driver
Posts: 290
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:24 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Gold Coast

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby Zabinskii » Sun Dec 15, 2013 9:10 am

Cheers guys :)


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stilletto_rebel
Fast Driver
Posts: 454
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 11:42 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Melbourne-ish

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby stilletto_rebel » Sun Dec 15, 2013 10:15 am

If the hard-top is in good condition it will be worth decent money. :wink:
Visit my garage thread

Don't like trolls? Go to your User Control Panel and put Mr Morlock on ignore. You'll be doing yourself a favour.

Magpie
Speed Racer
Posts: 7468
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:49 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Purga, QLD

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby Magpie » Sun Dec 15, 2013 10:44 am

By the way there are a few forum members on the Gold Coast who have hard tops as well as NA6's (I'm one of them). Speed Freak is also active on here, however he has a NB.

Mr Morlock
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Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Melbourne

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby Mr Morlock » Sun Dec 15, 2013 10:48 am

sports cars are supposed to offer fresh air motoring - the magic of a convertible. I would never consider a hardtop . First and foremost an MX5 is a patterned from a classic sports cars of the 60'/ 70s it was supposed to be an open car of economical size and driving a sports car without a top is a different experience to be closeted in a small cabin without the sensations that only open air provides- but open air motoring is not for everyone. Simple to get a hardtop but as already stated - an expensive addition offset by being easy to sell- you will not get much change from $800. Also if the top needs repainting add more dollars.

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speed freak
Racing Driver
Posts: 873
Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2013 6:39 pm
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Gold Coast

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby speed freak » Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:29 pm

Zabinskii wrote:Hello fellow roadster owners,
I'm paul, 17 and live on the Gold Coast.

And I'm getting a new mx-5 soon, not really new, but new to me, it's a 1990 na6 mx-5 and it comes without a hardtop :c which sucks, so I'm looking at buying one, and if so is there anything I should take into account before buying one and are there any things that I should look out for on the hard top, and weak points, or other troublesome areas on it.

Cheers guys. :)

The car is also bone stock and needs a cut and polish to bring out the shine in the paint.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


As Magpie said Im one of the ones on the Gold Coast :) so when you get your mx5 if your ever up for a drive somewhere or whatever just send me a PM Im always keen for a drive.

The convenience of a soft top is great but hard tops look wicked plus they add some security too especially if your car is parked on the street.

Magpie
Speed Racer
Posts: 7468
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:49 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Purga, QLD

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby Magpie » Sun Dec 15, 2013 1:21 pm

Actually count me in for a drive as well between 19/12 and 05/01/14 as I'm home.

Zabinskii
Fast Driver
Posts: 290
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:24 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Gold Coast

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby Zabinskii » Sun Dec 15, 2013 2:47 pm

speed freak wrote:
Zabinskii wrote:Hello fellow roadster owners,
I'm paul, 17 and live on the Gold Coast.

And I'm getting a new mx-5 soon, not really new, but new to me, it's a 1990 na6 mx-5 and it comes without a hardtop :c which sucks, so I'm looking at buying one, and if so is there anything I should take into account before buying one and are there any things that I should look out for on the hard top, and weak points, or other troublesome areas on it.

Cheers guys. :)

The car is also bone stock and needs a cut and polish to bring out the shine in the paint.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


As Magpie said Im one of the ones on the Gold Coast :) so when you get your mx5 if your ever up for a drive somewhere or whatever just send me a PM Im always keen for a drive.

The convenience of a soft top is great but hard tops look wicked plus they add some security too especially if your car is parked on the street.


Yeah I live on beechmont, it's a fairly nice dire up the mountain, and I'll always e looking around for meets and just a drive so I'll keep that in mind,

And yeah I like the look of the hard top more but also if the soft top isn't in the best condition Aswell, that's my main concern


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speed freak
Racing Driver
Posts: 873
Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2013 6:39 pm
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Gold Coast

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby speed freak » Sun Dec 15, 2013 3:30 pm

Zabinskii wrote:
speed freak wrote:
Zabinskii wrote:Hello fellow roadster owners,
I'm paul, 17 and live on the Gold Coast.

And I'm getting a new mx-5 soon, not really new, but new to me, it's a 1990 na6 mx-5 and it comes without a hardtop :c which sucks, so I'm looking at buying one, and if so is there anything I should take into account before buying one and are there any things that I should look out for on the hard top, and weak points, or other troublesome areas on it.

Cheers guys. :)

The car is also bone stock and needs a cut and polish to bring out the shine in the paint.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


As Magpie said Im one of the ones on the Gold Coast :) so when you get your mx5 if your ever up for a drive somewhere or whatever just send me a PM Im always keen for a drive.

The convenience of a soft top is great but hard tops look wicked plus they add some security too especially if your car is parked on the street.


Yeah I live on beechmont, it's a fairly nice dire up the mountain, and I'll always e looking around for meets and just a drive so I'll keep that in mind,

And yeah I like the look of the hard top more but also if the soft top isn't in the best condition Aswell, that's my main concern


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Damn your lucky lol I love driving up beechmont especially the last 80 km/h section just before you reach Canungra. Some great roads up there. Send me and Magpie a PM when you get your mx5 and we'll go for a spin :)

Magpie
Speed Racer
Posts: 7468
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:49 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Purga, QLD

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby Magpie » Sun Dec 15, 2013 3:53 pm

No problems, I need to run my engine in as well.

Zabinskii
Fast Driver
Posts: 290
Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:24 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Gold Coast

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby Zabinskii » Sun Dec 15, 2013 4:12 pm

Will do :) if all goes well with the car then I'll have her registered by Christmas.


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Magpie
Speed Racer
Posts: 7468
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:49 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Purga, QLD

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby Magpie » Sun Dec 15, 2013 4:32 pm

Good news then! I'm in Upper Coomera.

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MattR
Racing Driver
Posts: 1305
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:26 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Brisbane

Re: Getting an mx-5

Postby MattR » Mon Dec 16, 2013 10:13 am

emily_mx5 wrote:Welcome.
Top right corner of this forum is a search function.
There are hundreds of pre-purchase inspection threads.
Don't buy it if it has a SNC. Not worth the risk.


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I wouldn't worry about the SNC, if it hasn't gone yet it probably wont.

My NA6 is a SNC engine and has 219k km on it including quite a few track days over the last few years and it not a problem. In fact either SNC or LNC can have the same problem at the age they are now. To check if there is a problem, just have a look at the crank pulley when the motor is running. If it has a wobble then you will want to investigate further.

Basically these things are fairly bulletproof compared to most equivalent sports cars.


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