It would seem that there are quite a few people on here that either currently own a Mazda MX-5, or have had one in the past. Come on, show yourselves and get your scissors out!

1) PittVRS, Mk3 2.0 Sport in 'Midlife Crisis' Red.

1) PittVRS, Mk3 2.0 Sport in 'Midlife Crisis' Red.

2) vRSLen MKII 1.8 in black, like all my other cars

Ooooh!

I am presently looking at 4 of them, and I need some help in deciding which one to buy.

Mk1 1.8 is looks nice but I have a funny feeling about it.

3x Mk 2.5, all blue with leather ( one cream )

one is a 1.8 is, one is a 'roadster' ?, and one is a 1.8s

I'm very confused....

Ooooh!

I am presently looking at 4 of them, and I need some help in deciding which one to buy.

Mk1 1.8 is looks nice but I have a funny feeling about it.

3x Mk 2.5, all blue with leather ( one cream )

one is a 1.8 is, one is a 'roadster' ?, and one is a 1.8s

I'm very confused....

The "S" should have an LSD Graham

Ooooh!

I am presently looking at 4 of them, and I need some help in deciding which one to buy.

Mk1 1.8 is looks nice but I have a funny feeling about it.

3x Mk 2.5, all blue with leather ( one cream )

one is a 1.8 is, one is a 'roadster' ?, and one is a 1.8s

I'm very confused....

Personally I'd say the newer the better. Although the mk1 driving dynamics have achieved urban myth status. If it's gonna be a daily driver then go newer.

Can those who desperately miss topless driving and are planning on test driving one contribute to this gay thread?

Gay thread?

Come on Pixi, my topless driving is done on a motorbike

Alright, I need some serious help here....

I have discounted the mk1, as it seems a bit 'iffy'

Should it be.

1: An 'S' 100k miler with a hard top and black leather ( 99 s)

2: A 1.8is that seems a bit tatty, new hood, black leather (98 r)

3: A 'Roadster' 6 speeder in vgc with cream leather ( 98 R )

LSD doesn't really matter much tbh

A pint for the winner

All are the same price, and within my budget.

Number 3! what colour is number 3 BTW?

1) PittVRS, Mk3 2.0 Sport in 'Midlife Crisis' Red.

2) vRSLen MKII 1.8 in black, like all my other cars

3)Lozgti 1.8 2.5 Titanium.Needed a sportscar to play with and top down action

Might turn gay though....kids are bleeding me dry:D

) PittVRS, Mk3 2.0 Sport in 'Midlife Crisis' Red.

2) vRSLen MKII 1.8 in black, like all my other cars

3)Lozgti 1.8 2.5 Titanium.Needed a sportscar to play with and top down action

4) Tonystop 1.8 2.5 maroon. deep red, 18000 miles good fun:)

Alright, I need some serious help here....

I have discounted the mk1, as it seems a bit 'iffy'

Should it be.

1: An 'S' 100k miler with a hard top and black leather ( 99 s)

2: A 1.8is that seems a bit tatty, new hood, black leather (98 r)

3: A 'Roadster' 6 speeder in vgc with cream leather ( 98 R )

LSD doesn't really matter much tbh

A pint for the winner

All are the same price, and within my budget.

Hi 1) the hard top is worth an extra £500 see ebay for the going rate. If it’s a black hard top these sell better as they fit a majority of cars.

With all cars this age, mileage is not that important it’s based on condition and service history. The most important bit is that these engines get there oil changed regularly. Oil is for these is not expensive as they take 5/40 semi or fully and this is readily available (£9.00 from costco). Cam-belt is non interference meaning if it breaks it will not slap the pistons. Get a good garage and the servicing costs will only be £100 for a full service (9.00 for a set of plugs etc).

Obviously get them hpi, etc and look for panel and paint damage. If the car has been waxed oiled underneath that’s a bonus. I would try for a uk car but that’s my preference. Based on our talk the other night car one looks good.

Even though mine is 4 years old and smallish miles I have had no problems at all. Really if you get a good one you will not look back.

1) PittVRS - Mk3 2.0 Sport in 'Midlife Crisis' Red.

2) vRSLen - MKII 1.8 in black, like all my other cars

3) Lozgti - 1.8 2.5 Titanium.Needed a sportscar to play with and top down action

4) Tonystop - 1.8 2.5 maroon. deep red, 18000 miles good fun

5) Skomaz - 1.8iS Mk1 in Laguna Blue, lightly modified over the last 10 years of ownership

Hi 1) the hard top is worth an extra £500 see ebay for the going rate. If it’s a black hard top these sell better as they fit a majority of cars.

With all cars this age, mileage is not that important it’s based on condition and service history. The most important bit is that these engines get there oil changed regularly. Oil is for these is not expensive as they take 5/40 semi or fully and this is readily available (£9.00 from costco). Cam-belt is non interference meaning if it breaks it will not slap the pistons. Get a good garage and the servicing costs will only be £100 for a full service (9.00 for a set of plugs etc).

Obviously get them hpi, etc and look for panel and paint damage. If the car has been waxed oiled underneath that’s a bonus. I would try for a uk car but that’s my preference. Based on our talk the other night car one looks good.

Even though mine is 4 years old and smallish miles I have had no problems at all. Really if you get a good one you will not look back.

All the above seems to make sense by the way - go on Condition/History only, not on mileage etc.

The engines, provided they are well looked after with regular 6k mls oil and filter changes are virtually indestructible. In my experience Semi-sythetic is better in terms of keeping the HLA's quiet.

New hoods, depending on type range from £175 ish (cheap vinyl) to £400 ish (mohair) provided they are not from a main dealer and a relatively easy to fit so I wouldn;t worry about a bad one. They tend to last anything from 5 to 10 years depending on how well they are cared for.

The Roadster will definitely be an import so you will have no knowledge of it's history prior to import.

All cars were undercoated at the factory so imports should be no different to UK spec cars in thsi respect, apart from the fact that UK cars, if used in winter, may have suffered more (again this doesn't necessarily matter though as mine is UK and used all year round, is 13 years old and fine underneath).

Leather is nice but can be slippery and gets B*****d hot in the sun in summer!

Hard tops are fine but a good hood is just as watertight and if you put the hard top on in winter you can't go open top very easily. I havne't got one and don't miss one.

So basically go on condition, gut intinct and what you like!

I've just taken a new shape 1.8 in part exchange. I'm going to take it home tonight, can I join for the evening?

Interesting.... my mum has come across a 92 Mx5 that she loves.

Then she said it had eunos written on it. Uh oh .... import.

But to top it all off the dealership want £2k for it (1.6). I also read on honest john that the eunos imports didn't get the same body prep as UK spec and were more prone to rusting ? Which kinda contradicts Shomaz ? Which is correct ?

graham, whatever you decide, what are the chances of you bringing it to the lakes camping meet, and letting me have a play?!

I've never driven one, and only heard good things... last RWD car I had a "play" in was a merc SLK, traction off, it was fun..... but a bit soft, the MX5 should be sharper, and more fun

graham, whatever you decide, what are the chances of you bringing it to the lakes camping meet, and letting me have a play?!

I've never driven one, and only heard good things... last RWD car I had a "play" in was a merc SLK, traction off, it was fun..... but a bit soft, the MX5 should be sharper, and more fun

Im not too far away, maybe a mini meet and you can have a go then. Recently took mine on a track day, drove a mk2 vrs Octivia and that was fun plently of understeer. My mx5 was great not as powerful, but it loved the corners. In fact I went round a bit too quick and spun it several times:eek: At least I know the capabilities now. Such good fun.

Im not too far away, maybe a mini meet and you can have a go then. Recently took mine on a track day, drove a mk2 vrs Octivia and that was fun plently of understeer. My mx5 was great not as powerful, but it loved the corners. In fact I went round a bit too quick and spun it several times:eek: At least I know the capabilities now. Such good fun.

that would be cool tony...... my lest "test drive" was a mark II octy vRS, but I didn't cane it, as its concerned owner was sat next to me was very nice though, cracking engine.

I intend to do a run of the drives I'm gonna do for the camping meet, so I can dictate directions, to hand out printouts when the time comes, as we will get split up between meeting points....

maybe a sunday up here, and we could swop cars for a couple of sections

that would be cool tony...... my lest "test drive" was a mark II octy vRS, but I didn't cane it, as its concerned owner was sat next to me was very nice though, cracking engine.

I intend to do a run of the drives I'm gonna do for the camping meet, so I can dictate directions, to hand out printouts when the time comes, as we will get split up between meeting points....

maybe a sunday up here, and we could swop cars for a couple of sections

That would be fun..... Im only an hour away, let me know by PM when, cheers

You can tell MK 3 owners apart from the Mk 1, 2 & 2.5.

We Mk3 owners usually haven't got a clue about the mechanicals of the car, they just look pretty!

You can tell MK 3 owners apart from the Mk 1, 2 & 2.5.

We Mk3 owners usually haven't got a clue about the mechanicals of the car, they just look pretty!

Are you SURE you're not a closet hairdresser Roy?

I have just had a telephonic stand up argument with a chappie who's car I wanted to buy, it got very silly, and he called me an idiot for questioning his car.....

1) PittVRS - Mk3 2.0 Sport in 'Midlife Crisis' Red.

2) vRSLen - MKII 1.8 in black, like all my other cars

3) Lozgti - 1.8 2.5 Titanium.Needed a sportscar to play with and top down action

4) Tonystop - 1.8 2.5 maroon. deep red, 18000 miles good fun

5) Skomaz - 1.8iS Mk1 in Laguna Blue, lightly modified over the last 10 years of ownership

6) pdhealy - I went throgh my mid life crisis early about 9 years ago - 1989 Eunos Roadster with hard top. Great fun!

Are you SURE you're not a closet hairdresser Roy?

I have just had a telephonic stand up argument with a chappie who's car I wanted to buy, it got very silly, and he called me an idiot for questioning his car.....

Short back and sides, Sir?...er, sorry I meant to say he obviously didn't know who you were!

1) PittVRS - Mk3 2.0 Sport in 'Midlife Crisis' Red.

2) vRSLen - MKII 1.8 in black, like all my other cars

3) Lozgti - 1.8 2.5 Titanium.Needed a sportscar to play with and top down action

4) Tonystop - 1.8 2.5 maroon. deep red, 18000 miles good fun

5) Skomaz - 1.8iS Mk1 in Laguna Blue, lightly modified over the last 10 years of ownership

6) pdhealy - I went through my mid life crisis early about 9 years ago - 1989 Eunos Roadster with hard top. Great fun!

7) Wardy - 1998S NB 1.8 in silver. Gone but not forgotten - I will have another