MX-5 discussion thread

Asmooh

In 1976, Bob Hall, a journalist at Motor Trend magazine who was an expert in Japanese cars and fluent in the language, met Kenichi Yamamoto and Gai Arai, head of Research and Development at Mazda. Yamamoto and Gai Arai asked Hall what kind of car Mazda should make in the future



First generation (NA)



Second generation (NB)





Third generation (NC)





And the new ND




MX5 discussion thread for everyone that likes this car.

galljga1

Beaut! but what about the two kids and the dog?

Supergurrier

So. Who wants to talk about hot hatches then ?

3-4 Pages should do it I reckon.

Special Circumstances

Supergurrier wrote: »

So. Who wants to talk about hot hatches then ?

3-4 Pages should do it I reckon.

Hang on, I'll get a cupra tea..

tf2

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Hang on, I'll get a cupra tea..

I'll join in, after my round of Golf.

Notch000

Here mine,

10th anniversary edt, 1.8, 6 speed, LSD

Alun

Here's mine, or I say 'ours' as it's registered in my wife's name and she drives it during the week, and I drive it at weekends and on holiday ...



That was taken when we first bought it, but it now has front fogs, clear side repeaters, a stubby aerial and a "Life's too short to drive boring cars" sticker

Should be getting some new dark grey / graphite wheels some time soon, so I'll post an up to date picture then.

We've just come back from a trip to Pembrokeshire (South Wales) where we got the ferry to Holyhead and drove through Snowdonia to get there (the long way) with the roof down. It's days like that you really appreciate the car.

dr.fuzzenstein

Think red doesn't really work on an MX5.
Our own, NB, too tatty to show here right now, but she starts, goes and stops.

Alun

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Think red doesn't really work on an MX5.

:eek::eek::eek: Sacrilege! I think along with dark green it's one of the best colours there is for the car. (But then I would say that )

Asmooh

Anyone knows an good insurance for a LHD MX5 1992, 1.6 turbo for someone that is 30, 9 years license (10 in January) with no claims but also no driving history in Ireland or UK? (Full EU License)

ambro25

One of the last 400 Mk1s to roll off the factory line - all 400 of which were turned into the 'Berkeley' limited edition.

Here's ours. Owned since Feb 2001 (14kmiles by 1st lady owner from new). Was put on Irish plates (98-D-7xxxx) in 2004 when we moved there (the "MX-5 Berkeley" in the VRT drop-down menu? That's this very one ).

Used to be our sole car and daily 2001-2004, was my daily for a while in Dub (2004-2005), then long-term hibernated in France 2006-2008, revived back into my daily when we came back to the UK in 2008 (whence she got returned to her original and current 'R' UK reg), until 2012 or so when she was retired to late spring/early summer activity (and the odd sunny commute) only.

Entirely original and non-messed with throughout, save for: Roddison's legendary 'best' track/wheel alignment (he's less than a mile from my workplace, it would have been a crime not to ), a new roof with glass rear in 2010, and a Kenwood head unit (original Clarion died of death). 84kmiles now.

Just taken off the dust sheets t'other weekend, reconnected the battery and put it through MOT (sailed through...again), but she's still overdue a good detailing. Could do with new Berkeley badges and Mazda badges for wheel centres, and the fake wood trim is (finally) starting to yellow/wash-out (sunfading, very common problem with these), so that's next as well.







I'm certainly not professing to be an authority about cars or MX5s...but length of ownership might say a little about what an experience driving these is

Asmooh

ambro25 wrote: »

One of the last 400 Mk1s to roll off the factory line - all 400 of which were turned into the 'Berkeley' limited edition.

Here's ours. Owned since Feb 2001. Was put on Irish Dublin (98-D-) plates 2004-2008 when we moved there.

Used to be our sole care and daily 2001-2004, was my daily for a while in Dub (2004-2005), then long-term hibernated in France 2006-2008, revived back into my daily when we came back to the UK in 2008 (whence she got returned to her original UK reg), until 2012 or so when she was retired to late spring/early summer activity and the odd sunny commute only.

Entirely original and non-messed with throughout, except the roof (new with glass rear) and the Kenwood radio (original clarion died of death).

Just taken off the dust sheets t'other weekend, she's overdue a good detailing.
I'm certainly not professing to be an authority about cars or MX5s...but length of ownership might say a little about what an experience driving these is

Nice colour!

ambro25

Asmooh wrote: »

Nice colour!

Mazda called it 'sparkle green'. It's a bit candy-ish in characteristics. Looks a flat-ish green in dark/overcast daylight, but a deep (though not dark) metallic green in direct sunlight.

GvidoR

I would like to own mk1 MX5 as well. I heard that insurance is expensive on them though, is that true?

BMJD

GvidoR wrote: »

I would like to own mk1 MX5 as well. I heard that insurance is expensive on them though, is that true?

a pre-96 would qualify for classic insurance now if you have a daily driver

ambro25

GvidoR wrote: »

I would like to own mk1 MX5 as well. I heard that insurance is expensive on them though, is that true?

Can't speak for Ireland (though I do recall that it was horrendous BITD), but I've just paid £181 for mine, restricted to 3,000 miles, with agreed value at £3500. That's my first policy after years and years of being a named driver, no NCB to speak of.

mgbgt1978

GvidoR wrote: »

I would like to own mk1 MX5 as well. I heard that insurance is expensive on them though, is that true?

Not if you have a 1st car insured , and are insuring the MX as a classic.
I'm with Autoline and renewed last week.
'76 Mini 1000 €164
'78 Mini 1000..extra €12
'93 MX5..extra €12..............bargain.
All fully comp & Breakdown included.
I didn't want to ask what the cost would be if I'd put the MX5 as the initial car (and the 2 mini's as the add-ons)

Alun

New wheels

Alun

Before the MX-5 my wife had an '00 1ltr Yaris, and when we were considering the MX-5 she rang her insurer (Allianz) to check what the extra premium would be, expecting it to be sky high, but it was only about 10% higher than for the Yaris! Very surprised to be honest.

Quigs Snr

Slowly restoring my 94 Mark 1, inside and out.

Asmooh

New wheels!

Quigs Snr

Asmooh wrote: »

New wheels!

What size ?

Asmooh

15x7j et25
205/50 tyres

I have owned a mk2, then MK1, then MK3 coupe

Great cars, have just sold the MK3 (too many problems with it)
But the other 2 were fantastic, really great fun to drive
Wouldn't like to be in a crash in one tho...

power pants

never liked the look of them personally, too dinky for my liking

Alun

What problems did you have with your Mk3?

We had a 1995 Mk 1 when we lived in the Netherlands, a pristine dark green one imported from Germany. A much simpler car, maintenance wise than the Mk 3 certainly, and everything was much more accessible in the engine bay.

Our Mk 3, despite having a somewhat chequered service history before us buying it, has given us no trouble at all after a few overdue service items were taken care of.

We're taking it over to the Isle of Man next week for a spin, and we're hoping for some good weather

Firstly the starter motor burnt out, got that replaced.

Then the check engine light was coming on and engine juttering, got plugs replaced, engine light went away for 2 months, then back on, got coil replaced, still engine light, eventually resolved when they determined a seal was broken and just needed to be replaced.

Then started motor went again, got it replaced under warranty, issue still not resolved, eventually determined it was the ignition switch intermittently sticking that caused starter motor to keep burning out (but had to replace starter motor the 3rd time at my expense again)

All in all a pain in the a**e - in fairness it was only 2 problems if they were just troubleshooted better, but overall cost me a lot ! Lost all faith in the car, didn't feel comfortable driving it anymore in case something happened, but do miss it in weather like this !!

So got rid of it, its sold now, just hope new owner does not have any problems..

Alun

Oh dear, that does indeed sound like a PITA. I think I'd have given it the benefit of the doubt though once the real cause had been determined.

Yeah I really was trying to like it..but at that stage I didn't feel comfortable driving it, ifhad another break down and tow etc etc enough is enough...

Don't know how much time I have spent on the M50 broken down over the past 8 months

Partner has a nice reliable Fabia, so cheap to run, she doesn't need for work so Im using it...

Just bad luck I guess!

Asmooh

YbFocus

Funny how you use pink to hide the reg

5ub

I had a mk1 1.6 there this time last year for about a month. It was alright for going round but hardly spectacular, the lads were goin on like it was some sort of holy grail before I got it ha

Notch000

5ub wrote: »

I had a mk1 1.6 there this time last year for about a month. It was alright for going round but hardly spectacular, the lads were goin on like it was some sort of holy grail before I got it ha

going round town or a traffic cone like ???

GvidoR

Quigs Snr wrote: »

Slowly restoring my 94 Mark 1, inside and out.

Looks like you've done a very good job.

Alun

5ub wrote: »

I had a mk1 1.6 there this time last year for about a month. It was alright for going round but hardly spectacular, the lads were goin on like it was some sort of holy grail before I got it ha

The thing is, the engine, especially in the earlier models, is one that you have to rev pretty highly to get anything out of it, it's not a modern torquey kind of engine that will pull away in 2nd or 3rd with only a few revs. The red line should be seen as something to aim for not to avoid, and then you'll see why people love them so much. The newer models are better in that regard, but still love being revved hard

Tea 1000

Alun wrote: »

The thing is, the engine, especially in the earlier models, is one that you have to rev pretty highly to get anything out of it, it's not a modern torquey kind of engine that will pull away in 2nd or 3rd with only a few revs. The red line should be seen as something to aim for not to avoid, and then you'll see why people love them so much. The newer models are better in that regard, but still love being revved hard

It's the chassis with the MX5. It's just such an involving and fun car to drive, and easy to know what it's doing.
Although too many folk think they know better and throw in lowering springs and over-firm shocks. Makes a balls out of them unless you confine yourself to karting tracks.

Alun

Tea 1000 wrote: »

It's the chassis with the MX5. It's just such an involving and fun car to drive, and easy to know what it's doing.
Although too many folk think they know better and throw in lowering springs and over-firm shocks. Makes a balls out of them unless you confine yourself to karting tracks.

I know .. small, low centre of gravity, perfect 50:50 weight distribution and behaves very predictably if, or rather when, you push it a bit too far.

My comment about the engine was aimed at those who think they're gutless as they're used to modern torquey engines that pull easily from low revs, and then never get to the stage where they can really appreciate the chassis.

Asmooh

YbFocus wrote: »

Funny how you use pink to hide the reg

Actually I like pink

Special Circumstances

I'd like one as a summer weekend car if I had somewhere to store it and irish insurers weren't such gimps.
One of the early ones, cheap reliable fun. Wouldn't be at all concerned by people who would think "too dinky" "too pinky" "hairdresser".

Quigs Snr

Insure it as a classic then... like I did mine. Chump change. Only major overhead is the tax.

Special Circumstances

Quigs Snr wrote: »

Insure it as a classic then... like I did mine. Chump change. Only major overhead is the tax.

Another plus point for the early models :-)
Can you get a classic policy from a separate insurer to your main car or is generally insure both cars with the one company?

ShadowHearth

Ah, mx5. How I miss my one. Still best car I ever owned.
I was planing on getting cheap one for summer, but everything is going against it. Summer half way in, I work my arse off just to cover some unexpected spending, money I lent won't be back for good while and I can't have 2 seater as only car anymore as I think my "being single" days are over lol.
All my friends buying mx5 does not help situation too. I think I might get e46 325 cabrio instead at some point this summer though. It won't be as fun, good or reliable as mx5, but I need that middle life crisis car ASAP!

Quigs Snr

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Another plus point for the early models :-)
Can you get a classic policy from a separate insurer to your main car or is generally insure both cars with the one company?

You can. My main policy is with 123.ie, whilst my MX5 classic policy is with Autoline in Coleraine.