90 mx5 with hardtop 190k questions

rhyde · Postby **rhyde** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:27 pm

Hi all
just wanted to ask a question here and get some opinions. Its a how long is a piece of string question

So I have an opportunity to purchase a 90 mx5 with a hardtop for 2k
190kms on it with some small dents etc, but needs a full respray
not full service history and guy has owned it for 7years older man weekend car.
car drives well and handles well
but...

so my question is whilst this is a great price, i mean i can flog the hardtop off and have a five for 1k
but with having to get a full paint job etc, and its not a colour i love (blue) does this seem like a good deal
cos a spray job will cost 2k, and with the amount of kms on it i mean the engine is getting on, how long will it realistically last before i have to put another engine in....
so if fixing the car is going to cost me a 3-4 (rims , paint, fix interior etc) to get it to a point where i love it am i better off getting a better one with lower kms and paying more

chops · Postby **chops** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:44 pm

Have you looked at 5k NA's? Most I have seen still need plenty of love and will have plenty of km's. if you are looking for a no spend car you will have to increase your budget significantly

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:12 pm

I think the best solution for you is to (quietly) tell me where this car can be found and walk away and never speak of it again...... :wink:

Seriously?
The engines (if looked after) are good for 300K Km+ (as is the rest of the car).
If you don't want bodywork & paint + interior issues then don't look at a near 30 year old car or plan on spending a LOT more money.

rhyde · Postby **rhyde** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:36 pm

thats the big prob
should i search for more expensive na (colour i like low kms) obviously pay more money
or buy a cheap mx5 and spend money on it over time

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:38 pm

buy the car for $2k and cash the hardtop. spray it yourself for $500 and give me the other $1500 and I will buy myself a good pair of finches :lol:

now on a more serious note - buy the car for $2K and sell the hardtop. do nothing but drive it and when you have had enough sell it later on for $3500 - "as is"

although I must admit this would be the perfect car to practice paint an panel work yourself and save a bundle of cash

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:41 pm

plus you could say -I painted it myself :wink:

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:42 pm

Nevyn
Do you have to be so brutally honest?

The engines are fine. You'll also be up for timing belt soon too
The engines are strong. If It feels good & smooth. It probably is a good engine
If it sounds like a tractor walk away.
The engine is less of an issue
Shocks
Bushes
Hoses
Radiator
Diff

These are not so much of an issue with 190k more the age of the car.

Mine has done 315k km. It's been raped & pillaged. But the above things were replaced at one stage or another since owning it 20 years ago

mossy · Postby **mossy** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:45 pm

Is it in Melbourne? If you dont want it I'll buy it!! :beer:

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:54 pm

mossy wrote:Is it in Melbourne? If you dont want it I'll buy it!!

Oi! I had dibs on that!

mossy · Postby **mossy** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 10:05 pm

But your in Sydney thats too far too travel and you already have one, wheres the love :lol:

There was a red na6 hardtop (not running) which sold in a couple of days earlier this month for $1500 so it looks they they pop up from time to time.

rhyde · Postby **rhyde** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 10:58 pm

ok thanks guys
lots to think about
what a stressful decision
all i want it a low km nice colour na that doesnt cost much....does it exist.... prob not

i already have an nc.
the only reason i was thinking of this is of course cos its cheap... and i am too haha

yes the car is in melb
if i dont buy it it will be posted online somewhere and im sure u will see it

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sun Feb 26, 2017 10:59 am

rhyde wrote:am i better off getting a better one with lower kms and paying more

rhyde wrote:only reason i was thinking of this is of course cos its cheap

Generally, pay more & buy a decent one unless you can do all or most the work yourself - don't just buy this one because it's cheap.

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Sun Feb 26, 2017 10:23 pm

Yeah well, it depends upon how poor you are, how fussy you are, how young you are, how enthusiastic and competent you are.Some mechanically minded friends would be a bonus.

rhyde · Postby **rhyde** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 2:09 am

nechanically minded,,,, not so much
friends can help but it needs a fair bit of work

rhyde · Postby **rhyde** » Mon Feb 27, 2017 2:11 am

so i went to see the car today. Turns out it has 232kms on it. It drives well and theres no black smoke or clocks whilst driving.....
no power steering.... oh man.

but... always a but
so many things need doing on it, like alot...
he wont budge from 2k and realistically its a fair price considering it has a hardtop which i could sell and get 1k for it, then i have a na for 1k

but..

the thing is it realistically needs maybe 3500, 4k worth of work and then the unknown so maybe its not the greates buy when i could prob buy one with no probs or few probs for 5k..

the only advantage to getting this is a cheap na, it has no power steering which is hard to deal with and i could put in on club plates
but to get a roadworthy it will cost me again a fair bit

the other thing i could do is buy for 2k, sell the roof for 1k, and then hope to sell the car for 2500, so make a little money but could be a big headache having to deal with people.