Thinking about buying my sisters 1990 G reg MX5 which has done 156K. She has had it since December and to be fair has spent quite a bit on it, new shocks, tyres, full service, and a few other bits and pieces. She is wanting £1K which I think is very reasonable knowing what has been put into it, and it has just gone straight through its MOT a few weeks ago. It does have a few rust bits, which I know will need my attention, and I am debating about a Cam belt too. I have been wanting a second car for ages - something to tinker with, but my sensible head is saying no lol! Anyone any thoughts - am I crazy? :wonder:

Not mad at all, they're a very practical and reliable "classic" sportscar.

Just make sure you can get your legs under the wheel, I found I couldn't - at least not if I wanted to turn it.

Thanks Buzzark - I have already had a little go down a farm track. Plenty of rides as a passenger which is just as much fun as driving it I think!

you say it has rusty bits... where?

if its the sills near the back wheelarch then walk away...

If the rust is bubbling though the outer sill.. its already too late!

Yeah, that needs a bit of fettling!

Well I have been up to where its stored and taken some piccies. I did say to her last night I will definitley have it lol! I don't want to mess her around really, but would be really grateful for thoughts on these pictures. I knew the back near side wing needs doing, and possibly the rear sill on that side.

The pro's I can see of getting it are -

- new tyres all round less than 5K ago

- new lowered springs all round

- chassis braces front and back

- replacement bumper and boot (due to corrosion and crack)

- full service 5K ago

- recently passed MOT

- new hood fairly recently

- brakes recently done

- having a classic sportscar to drive to work in

Cons -

- rust as mentioned and on pics

- will need more tax end of Nov - £205

- unsure of when cambelt was last replaced - so possibly £200 worth of expense straightaway for peace of mind

Thanks for your thoughts

Lower nearside wing and sill

Nearside sill

Offside sill

Looking at what colin said, I'd tidy it up and help her sell it on instead.

The wing looks like previous impact damage so nothing major, the sills are a worry. Buy it to tinker with and run it while you're doing that but keep costs under tight control and if it looks big bills then sell it on.

The wing looks like previous impact damage so nothing major, the sills are a worry. Buy it to tinker with and run it while you're doing that but keep costs under tight control and if it looks big bills then sell it on.

Thanks both of you. I have committed to buying it really. I was going to show her the picture above though! Thats quite shocking!

As you say Buzzark I will probably use it as a run around and try and keep the costs down. I might do the wing or patch it depending on how terrible it looks. Many thanks for the advice

If everything else is in good order.. it might just be worth a grand... altho id get a proper look at the sills, as if they aint too bad, ovbiously its worth sorting sooner rather than later (as i unfortunately found lol)

i wouldnt be fussed about the cambelt if you have AA cover... its a non-interferance engine

If everything else is in good order.. it might just be worth a grand... altho id get a proper look at the sills, as if they aint too bad, ovbiously its worth sorting sooner rather than later (as i unfortunately found lol)

i wouldnt be fussed about the cambelt if you have AA cover... its a non-interferance engine

Many thanks for that Would you strip the sills right back - or just attend to the outside? I won't worry about the cam belt now then - thats good

Many thanks for that Would you strip the sills right back - or just attend to the outside? I won't worry about the cam belt now then - thats good

basically what happens is the water runs down from the roof into the sills... if the sill drain-points get blocked the sill fills up with water and it rots from the inside outwards. if this is the case.. by the time you see it, its already f**ked!

its difficult to tell from the pics.. the nearside looks ok. offside looks like it could possibly have an issue although it could just be the poor pics.... either way both sides need attention or it will probably be a MOT failure next year.

What i would do is go through all the FAQs on mx5oc and check the car over.. youll learn alot about the car, and weed out potential problems like blocked drain holes etc.

At the end of the day it depends what you want to make of the car... for a grand, youll have alot of fun in a year.. but if you think past a year it may be worth getting it checked out and any issues seen to..

Be warned.. they are addictive! my car was only suppost to be a stop-gap until the 135i... but i like it too much to get rid of it!.. so its now my main car!!

Be warned.. they are addictive! my car was only suppost to be a stop-gap until the 135i... but i like it too much to get rid of it!.. so its now my main car!!

lol, I just assumed you had an S2000 from your sig.

and... non-interference engines for the win! It would stop people like me overly worrying about things.

I never understood why they just don't start out designing an engine as non-interference, when the design gets to the engineering quality controller they should just say "oh, you've made a mistake here, the valves and pistons could come into contact. Silly boy - go and do it again!" :p

It was the only decent signature he could get, so it does fool some people

Principle's the same really, but sans VTEC

It was the only decent signature he could get, so it does fool some people

Principle's the same really, but sans VTEC

Yep.. its the principal.. incedentlly i recently got a drive of a s2000 and i wasnt impressed.. not a fan of VTEC and the car felt "nervous" near the limit. its a quicker car than the '5 without a doubt, but it doesnt have the same rawness and the ability to just be abused all day every day..

i was at curbourough sprint circuit in the '5 yesterday.. very satisfying way to break up a journey to bristol

What plate was the 2k on Col? If it was an earlier one then I hear what you're saying - didn't like to be tested I felt, and I personally didn't have much confidence that the chassis would tell you were the limit was! Apparantly they made some suspension and steering changes on the later ones, perhaps to coincide with the cosmetic tweaks they did - around 03/04 time??

Certainly needs more tweaks and mods than a '5 does, to get the best out of it. Not as accessible 'out of the box' is the way I'd put it.

Steve