MX-5 purchase

MarkN

Not sure if it's a true classic considering it's a 2004 but I picked myself up a tidy MX-5 this week! 1.8, hard top included, genuine 25,000 miles and an NI car from new so rust doesn't seem to be an issue (touch wood!).

Currently looking up car covers (bloody expensive for good ones), VRT appointment booked in (puke) and I'll see where I go from there!

Quigs Snr

.... just kidding.

Had a Mk1 myself. Really easy to work on. Lots of parts and upgrades available. There used to be an MX5 forum in Ireland too that I found useful. Wonderful little car to drive - you could be doing 50kph on a country road and it feels like Gran Turismo.

I would be interested to hear how you get on with a car cover. I dont have a garage, or at least space in a garage and my Mk1 did start to blister a little around the rear arches after a couple of Irish winters. I looked at a cover but some folks warned me off them, saying that if anything they could tend to keep the moisture in and accelerate the rusting - no idea if that was true or not.

MarkN

I've no hair left to bother with appointments !!

I've gone with a Classic Additions cover. Painfully pricey but the reviews on them seem to be excellent. I may look at storage during the colder months and I'll probably be meticulous about not using it when wet outside as much as you can avoid that in this country. Sealing it underneath is another thing I've been looking up. Ideally I don't want to go down a rabbit hole of spending endless money on stuff but I'd like to keep it in the condition it has been minded in so far.

blackbox

Great car if you have got one without rust.

I've never had success with car covers but I only ever had cheap ones and we're exposed to strong winds.

I'd say ventilation is more important than keeping the rain off.

HBC08

I have no real advice but they are beautiful cars.

I toyed with the idea of getting a similar vintage but am now thinking I'll get a newer MX5 RF as a daily driver (impractical as that seems!)

There are fb groups that are really helpful and informative, I'm in a few for my own car which is a kind of niche car and the MX5 RF one with a view to building up my knowledge before I buy.

That's where I'd start if I was you.

Mooretaxi

Well done choosing the mx5, they're addictive. Be wary at multi lane roundabouts as, from experience the mx5 is nearly invisible to some SUV drivers .

As mentioned earlier, there is an mx5 forum, it's gone pretty quiet but I'm sure Steve will be happy to add you. Lots of info there

https://www.mx5ireland.com/forum/index.php?sid=5dafea43624281f8dc24b4a4733f5c05

MarkN

Yeah had a look there, more in the UK but to be expected.

Thanks for the advice at roundabouts, nothing surprises me anymore about the standards of driving in Ireland at times.

FR85

One of the best engines ever made was put into the early mx5's, it could still be there in disguise, little but lively 1.6. You never had to do a timing belt, when and if it snapped you just lined everything up and started over. They were and still might be a non interference engine meaning if timing slipped pistons didn't meet and bend valves.

There is a 1992 one in the family but I cannot generate the interest nor gain permission to get it up and running again even though it's now classic, yet no one will sell it either.

MarkN

The 1.8 is non interference too but fingers crossed.

Some TLC today - usual wash, trombone cleaner down the water drains, huge level of crud removed from the rear arches and some Lanoguard applied to the sills just to see how easy it is to use - very.

Alun

Ah yes, I remember the trombone cleaner ritual, poking around trying to find the way into the drain holes!

MarkN

Didn’t get a chance to wax it with the Autoglym HD I got but I did manage to fit a Sony radio so I’ve now CarPlay, maps, etc

Bandito909

Cracking car Nobby, will this feature on your YouTube channel?

MarkN

Yeah I’ll make a vid in a few weeks for the craic.

Flinty997

Sweet

MarkN

Hate those damn 6 digit plates and I hate those damn plastic plates but I will get pressed ones, the sequence I'll just have to get used to.

Lofidelity

That must be one of the best nb's in the country with those miles, hard top and overall condition.

Twenty years old so i assume you got a classic policy? What was the vrt on that?

MarkN

VRT and NOx €1789. VRT itself was 1k.

Yeah I feel very lucky with it condition wise. Will never be driven in the wet if I can avoid it.

I’ve a normal policy for €350 with Aviva as I don’t have another main car. My wife does but I’m not sure if the Mazda would have to be in her name then and I’m not putting another owner onto it.

MarkN

I do urgently need to get it up on a ramp or buy some mini ramps to get under it and seal it properly. I’ve done the arches and sills but chassis rails etc and entire underbody need it too.

w124man

Fabulous colour!

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121862491#Comment_121862491

Well wear Mark, lovely motor!

Pity you didn't ask here about classic insurance first. I have been in your situation several times in the past and First Ireland (broker) were the only one offering classic insurance if you don't have your own normal policy but if you are a named driver on your wife's policy. Maybe try that when it comes to renewal time next year? That said, €350 is pretty sweet for a normal policy and several classic insurers don't touch anything Jap

MarkN

Are they still doing that? I put through a normal quote with them and it was €3,000!!!

Yeah I just thought 350 wasn’t bad but for the distances I’ll be doing in it, classic makes more sense.

MarkN

Put it through the NCT today and the tester said you could eat your dinner off the underside which was reassuring as I still haven’t had time to seal it.

It does need a sticky caliper looked at and I’m going to replace the tyres on it.

Is anyone aware of any MX-5 specialists in Ireland? Not that it really needs specialist treatment but if anyone has someone they’d recommend preferably northside Dublin, that would be great.

Quigs Snr

Don't know if he was still doing it but when I had my one of these a few years back I went to Robert Maguire in Swords.

https://www.backroads.ie/forum/car-related/marketplace-for-sale-wanted-or-free/12994-wanted-mx5-mk1-2

Wibbs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122011719#Comment_122011719

That's a bloody lovely example. Incredible condition. Well wear. Great price on the insurance too. I'm paying near three times that.[insert expletive here]

Fantastic it doesn't have the all too usual tinworm. Daily running a 90's Honda that lives outside in all weathers I'm beyond paranoid about that. Without protection they fizz like an alka seltzer in the rain.

Growing up my dad was mindful of rust so I learned early. 😁 The week it came off the slow boat from Japan I got the wax into it. I'm hearing good things about the Lanogard. I've used Waxoyl in the past but tbh found it a total pain to work with. Over the last ten years I've gone with the Bilt Hamber waxes which I've found soooo much easier to apply than Waxoyl. They also score better on protection in independent testing and I found it penetrates a lot better. For me three of their wax spray cans will do both sills, bottoms of doors, wings, leading edges of bonnet boot with plenty to spare for other bits and bobs. I do/check that once a year in summer. Result? My car is more wax than steel, but it must be one of the few 90's Hondas that hasn't seen a welder. Yet… 😁

Andrew76

Gorgeous looking car Mark, love the colour! Will keep an eye out for your video too.