After some advice,

My mates after buying a MK1 MX5, buy between us we know nothing about them at all.

If anyone can offer advice it will be greatly appreciated. The one we're looking at in particular is modified so if you have a knowledge of jap mods then I can send a spec list.

It's turbod and has a few Greddy bits and bobs.

Thanks

Owned several, great cars watch out for sills and arches they rust from the inside out.

Send me the spec list, i know a fair whack about jap cars and mods...and how to diy turbo mx5s

Ditto the above post, rust is the huge killer on these. The engines were originally taken from the mazda 323 which had a turbocharged engine anyway, and as a result they take very well to forced induction. Engine failure happens at around 250lbft when the con rods make a bid for freedom, underneath that then they are pretty much bullet proof and will run into the ground. HLA ticking is common on these, should disappear within a few seconds of startup, if not then either the oil level is low or one of the lifters has collapsed. Whats the full mod list mate, might be able to give you a few pointers on where to look?

We've owned 2.

Mechanically bulletproof with lots of good cheap parts available.

+1 with sam83.....RUST.

Owned a Mk2 and agree with above worst aspect is rust which is very often hidden try pushing sills or chassis rails as pointed out above rust from inside out so may look solid but go straight through. Engine seems bullet proof as is just about everything else on them plus cambelt is no interference type so if it goes shouldnt take the engine out think they are due every 75k?

Make sure the roof folds easily and doesn't leak/ have rips, think it may leak a little in heavy rain near quater lights. Also rust on the rear arches at the bottom where roof drains and the boot lid and bonet. Think the MK1 is actually better for not rusting than the later ones especially the chassis.

However they do drive great but would recommend you get the tracking checked as it really benefits from being spot on.

 

David

This is the spec list, it's running 210bhp but apparently has a wee flat spot between 4-4.5k... Rekons it's the mapping?

I brought a fat mk2.5 1.8, heated seats, lsd, etc. I should've brought a mk1 1.6.

 

All I know is round a track a 1.6mk1 is just as quick as a mk2 1.8 due to weight. The plus is the mk1 is cheaper, a lot cheaper!

 

Other than that, I had no issues, except for one!

 

The battery! As it was not a daily runner and over a few years the battery died. It's a small battery, and after a jump start it got me about 5 miles. Except those 5 miles left me in the fast lane of the M56 on the M6 junction at rush hour unaware it wasn't charging, when it all stopped turning over, no power! It's really hard to open electric windows or signal with no power. Another plus point for a mk1 there

 

I have no regrets buying one, I really enjoyed it, felt like driving should... connected.

So it seems like there aren't any 'real' issues other than Jap Rot, more commonly known as rust or Gonorrhea :P

 

That's exactly what it is Colin, a MK1 1.6 (turbo). It should be a little weapon on the track with the LSD as well.... I'll keep it in my mind to avoid the M56 just incase you've jinxed it! :P

 

I brought a fat mk2.5 1.8, heated seats, lsd, etc. I should've brought a mk1 1.6.

 

All I know is round a track a 1.6mk1 is just as quick as a mk2 1.8 due to weight. The plus is the mk1 is cheaper, a lot cheaper!

 

Other than that, I had no issues, except for one!

 

The battery! As it was not a daily runner and over a few years the battery died. It's a small battery, and after a jump start it got me about 5 miles. Except those 5 miles left me in the fast lane of the M56 on the M6 junction at rush hour unaware it wasn't charging, when it all stopped turning over, no power! It's really hard to open electric windows or signal with no power. Another plus point for a mk1 there

 

I have no regrets buying one, I really enjoyed it, felt like driving should... connected.

The parts all seem to be top of the range stuff, only thing i would do is invest in a decent electronic boost controller to make sure it doesnt spike which would be disastourse

i've had a mk1 for  years now so any queries give me a shout as with others - if you do a search on mx5 on here you should find a bit of a guide i wrote a while back in response to another similar postthey are great fun and as said pretty bullet proof so go for 

it

In the past I've had mk1s(1.6&1.8)&most recently a mk3 2.0l sport. In my opinion the early 1.6eunos (jap import) was by far and away the most fun.

Mr Grumpy is also a previous mx5 owner IIRC.

Yes, look out for rust on sills and arches and be picky. There are so many out there to choose from! 

They rot at the rear of the sills and on the front inner wings close to the suspension.  I MOTd an X plate one the other day, it was some sort of special edition with red leather and only had 16000 on the clock.

Mechanically, they're sound. But as many have already stated, rust can be a problem. Also, look out for water ingress ( damp carpets / musty smell) caused by a blocked drainage channel at the rear of the vinyl hood. If it is blocked it can easily be cleared by using a wire coat hangar.

Good luck as they're a great little run around, especially in the summer.

Edited 18 January, 201412 yr by flying pig

I owned a jap import 1.6 Mk 1 many years ago, and my brother has recently owned a Mk 2.5 1.8 6 speed sport. He had a few problems with brake calipers, and the Bose stereo, but apart from this, I can highly recommend them from a smiles per mile point of view. Enjoy.

Edited 19 January, 201412 yr by pdhealy

Here's mine from the brief time I had it.

Was a great car to drive, 2,0 sport 6 speed Roadster coupe. 57 plate.

It's the car that made me go back to petrol again after the Fabia.

I sold this, my vRS and threw a few grand in on top to fund my S3.

Weirdly enough I'm after a cheap Mk1 MX5 as well. Just something cheap and cheerful to chuck round a track.

They all seem to rust on the sills but it is pretty cheap to get them replaced as all the parts are so cheap now.

Never owned one myself but have driven a variety of Mk1 & 2's on the road and on a track.   Friends and relatives have all loved them and say they are reliable not that powerful but fun to drive.   A high miler does not respond very well to mega power upgrades unless the bottom end has been equally rebuilt.  As a track car they are great  for re-learning your rear wheel drive driving skills. I was embarrassed by a Miatta Turbo MX5 on a trackday last year, just couldn't keep up with him.

Blinksport in Cheshire specialise in MX5 racing and of course Miatta in the USA.

If you get tired of the MX5 or it rots away then just recycle the car into a Westfield, it's very popular donor car at the moment.