Soon to be owner of a mx5 se?

coldfire · Postby **coldfire** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 8:30 pm

Hi everyone,

I am new to the mx5 forum. Been a fan of mx5's since I sat in a mates mx5 Nb series and dreaming of owning one. Currently looking around for a mx5 se. Found a titanium grey se, with a mileage of 92k with a stage one mx5 mania, very well maintained by the owner. The only thing I didn't quite like was the forge bov that was too loud for my liking but I absolutely love the exhaust note :lol:

I am very interested in getting the car but I would like to have a mx5 specialist inspect it before purchase. Will be grateful if anyone can point me in the right direction? Also I would like to change the bov to something less noisy (or back to stock) but I am not sure if it would affect the current setup of the car. What do u guys reckon? Thanks everyone.

PS pls let me know if I have started this thread in the wrong section of the forum. I'm very new to this. Cheers.

luzinit · Postby **luzinit** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 8:49 pm

Where are you based mate?

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coldfire · Postby **coldfire** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:40 pm

I am based in Perth WA.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Tue Oct 13, 2015 10:29 am

Okibi is the guy you're looking for in Perth.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Tue Oct 13, 2015 11:15 am

Steve Lee (& only Steve Lee) at KYP Automotive is the go to guy for MX5 work in Perth: http://www.kyp.com.au/kyp//index.php?op ... t&Itemid=3

coldfire · Postby **coldfire** » Tue Oct 13, 2015 5:19 pm

Thanks Lokiel and 93_ Clubman :wink:

Steve no longer works at KYP Automotive but I managed to track down his mobile somewhere in this forum. Very helpful over the phone. Advised me to keep a look out for other SE's as the one I intend to buy may have some issues that the owner did not want people to know.

There was another one for sale by a dealer in Vic Park but he did not know anything about the car. Could see that the car is modded but there were no service history other than the one that was recently done (engine oil, oil filter, spark plugs). He did not allow me to drive the car unless I have decided to buy the car (very unusual, shouldn't it be the other way round, test drive first then decide if I want to buy it?). Anyway dodgy dealer + no service history = no deal so I walked away from the car.

Now back to square one....looking for a mx5

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 11:28 am

Good to hear you got in contact & that it was beneficial. Also tks for letting us know Steve's no longer at KYP - if he's happy to make it known who/where he can be contacted through it might be useful for forumites in Perth & its surrounds.

coldfire · Postby **coldfire** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 1:11 am

I gather that he is currently a mobile mechanic during my conversation with him. His contact 0419520988. Provided me with a lot of info even though I didn't engage his services. Nice guy.

Postby **Okibi** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 2:09 am

Yup Steve is an awesome guy and i'd trust him with any of my cars.

He works on a lot of club members cars.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:08 am

Great - sounds like a win-win!

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 1:12 pm

Hi Coldfire, welcome and good luck with your search.
Buying a second-hand sports car is always a minefield and it is always a good strategy to avoid any deal where there are "inconsistencies" in what you are being told or are seeing.
I would have any car I plan to buy closely inspected by a mechanic who specialises in that make/model.
MX5s have virtually no inherent faults so they are great cars to buy used and don't need the comprehensive internet search that you need to do to find the weaknesses in most models.
I bought my NB8B before I joined MX5 Car Talk and without an i'net search and consequently only found out about the NB8B's dodgey clutch after I had bought the car.
You live and learn.

coldfire · Postby **coldfire** » Fri Oct 16, 2015 6:19 am

Thanks Rocky for the warm welcome

Just wondering, how long did you guys took to find your perfect MX5?

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Fri Oct 16, 2015 8:50 am

I was monitoring the market for about 6 months before I was ready to buy, then about a month once I was set to buy when the right one came up. With SEs it can take longer than for most other MX5s as there are less to begin with. Just know what you want, and be ready to move when you find it.

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Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Fri Oct 16, 2015 8:52 am

coldfire wrote:Just wondering, how long did you guys took to find your perfect MX5?

About a week for my SE, but I was lucky. :mrgreen:

Ironically I wasn't even considering MX5's before I started looking...... :shock:

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Fri Oct 16, 2015 12:13 pm

coldfire wrote:Just wondering, how long did you guys took to find your perfect MX5?

As Lachy says fewer SE (492 of which 146 were Titanium), & you're in WA where there are fewer SE again, so try not to be too dríven by how long it's going to take to find a good one. http://www.mx5cartalk.com/SP_SE_Comparison/