MX5 NA good idea?

[turntaker]

Hi, I have been lurking for a while on these forums.
I recently got my Ps and I am interested in getting an mx5 next year.
Is the NA mx5 too old now? (would rust be an issue?)
Also how much should i spend on one in decent condition?
Are parts readily available? and what are the maintenance costs like if I am willing to do most things by myself. I have lots of tools.

[TTT]

They are old and some may have rust but they're still reliable and fun
$5K is about mid ground. +$2K gets a really good one, -$2K will get you a relatively tired one
heaps of parts available.. maintenance costs are low, parts are cheap.

great car for a P plater.

Don't try to make it fast in a straight line and it'll cost you bugger all.
improve it's handling and you'll enjoy it for what it was built for.

[taminga16]

Start here,
viewtopic.php?f=73&t=18802
Read some garage chat threads and watch the classified pages.
Greg.

[hks_kansei]

Most manufacturers seemed to have rust protection down pat by the 90s, so the NA doesnt really suffer from any bad rust.

Of course, like any car you may get a few small patches form where the paint is damaged, or where water collects (behind front guards, behind wincscreen frame seals) but usually these bits are only surface rust and can be easily treated with rust converter.
Look for them, they cna be a good bargaining tool during purchase.


Age wise, they are a reliable car, but do suffer from wear and tear (like any car)
things like shocks will be getting close to stuffed if they're the originals from 20 years ago, and things like hinges and plastics will likely have some wear marks and play, but overall pretty much everything important lasts well.

Parts are moderately available, a lot of OEM or equivalent parts are slowly disappearing, but thankfully being replaced by aftermarket alternatives.
Maintenance is very simple, the engine and most of the underpinnings are based off the Mazda 323 or other Mazda models.


Servicing is just as easy as any other car, and the mechanicals in the MX5 are quite simple, in a lot of ways they're easier to work on than a Mazda 323 (same engine) since the MX5 engine is mounted longways and easier to reach most items.



Don't buy one expecting straight line speed, you'll leave very disappoiinted if you do.
They do corner very nicely, but bear in mind that they tend to be able to corner a bit faster than a lot of other cars, which means if they let go you're going faster when you hit something.
Also worth noting that they can be a bit twitchy at the limit.

Of course, the easiest way to fix that is to just drive below the limits, but since you're on P plates that's probably not going to happen, so at least you've been warned.

[Rocky]

The first key determinant is - can you cope with a vehicle that has only two seats and a tiny boot.
Lots of folks buy one and then find it just doesn't suit the rest of their lifestyle - so they either sell it or buy a second car.
We had a little driving group going up here and most of the blokes only lasted 12 months before they sold it for something bigger.

I still see a few really good NAs around, usually dríven by enthusiasts.
Getting a good one is the key. Worth a bit extra to avoid a lot of age/neglect issues (unnecessarily worn stuff, and stuff that should have been replaced and wasn't.)

If you are mechanically minded (or willing to have a go) that is a huge point in your favour for a car of this age.

Good Luck.

[cookie]

Of course, the easiest way to fix that is to just drive below the limits, but since you're on P plates that's probably not going to happen, so at least you've been warned.

Quoted for truth!

They're so much fun.

I'd say leave 1.5k for rego and insurance. (3rd party fire and theft).

I'd also say leaving 3k for new suspension, tyres and boring replacement stuff. (Because we all know a set of coilovers will happen almost immediately!)

Because we drive them hard they do wear.

I wish I could've had one on p's!

Reading garage threads will encourage spending! - from those who keep it original and immaculate to madjaks hillclimb home built machine or Magpie...or Charlies. Or 10 others.... I will say that an exhaust, 15x8 zero offset rims and slammed WILL get you a defect these days. No longer do we fly under the radar!

[hks_kansei]

The first key determinant is - can you cope with a vehicle that has only two seats and a tiny boot.
Lots of folks buy one and then find it just doesn't suit the rest of their lifestyle - so they either sell it or buy a second car.
We had a little driving group going up here and most of the blokes only lasted 12 months before they sold it for something bigger..

For a P plater this can be a good thing.

One of the biggest things to encourage stupid behaviour is a carload of mates.
With an MX5 a "carload" means only the driver and one other person.

[Mr Morlock]

Rocky is right about practicality. If it does not suit lifestyle don't bother. A neighbour bought a Toyota 86 and within 3 mths it was gone replaced by a 4 door Alfa also new. I found out the 86 was not practical i.e. the heart ruled the head. As a car the NA is the best value sports car.

[smy0003]

I drove a camry on my Ps.
Worst part was driving home from the pub, mate A asks for a lift, then mate B asks and swears he lives a street away from mate A. All of a sudden you've got three mates and some random bloke you don't singing bonjovi in your car, and a 15min trip home becomes 90mins. I wish that was an exaggeration.

Best part about the mx5,
'Can me and my mate get a lift?'
'No.'

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