Anyone had one? Any good/bad points? My mate is after one but I know nothing about jap cars.

Thanks

 

Pretty good really only downside is if your tall, great little drift cars

 

And people who don't understand will call you a hairdresser, very good little cars, believe some of the engines (1.6 iirc) are fairly low compression from the factory so respond well to forced induction.

 

cracking fun little cars
they do have the reputation as being hairdressers cars etc
a little underpowered but great handling little things
a lot of fun on a b road

 

got one sat in the garage for sale, cool little underestimated cars, slide well handle like there on rails, ace weekend fun.
and as said above all the engine's 1.6/1.8 run very low comp, plus there bullet proof with a non interference engine.

 

plato is driving one on fifth gear now on discovery. im a few minutes behind live so maybe over now but catch up on +1 at 9

 

Awesome fun little cars but people will take the piss and you do look a bit daft in one as a burly bloke

 

I already know your views on my beloved mx5, now piss off lol.

 

haha. iv never driven one and they seem a fun little car but on track i dunno if its just the hairdressers drivng them or the car themselves but they are so slow they are a nuiscance. but if you give me yours rog i rag the nuts of it for you and love doing it lol

 

Check the drainage holes for the roof - they feed near to where the back of the sills (where the door shuts)... If they haven't been cleared and rust appears expect some rust. People do repair panels for the sills.

Also, arches rust quite heavily too if the shit doesn't get cleaned out of them.

Engines are generally bullet proof (they're cambelt happy - if it snaps, time up and away you go) but check for servicing. Coil packs and cam/crank sensors can go but at the end of it, its a car - you buy, you enjoy, you fix, you enjoy. A lot of people drop super chargers on theirs.

I had a 1999 MX5 MK2 (1.8)... She loved to scream! I'd go for a MK2/MK2.5 if I was your mate, refined over the MK1 but not as expensive as you think.

The prices are coming down soon as winter is glooming - the prices start from Ł500 or less for ones that need work and stretch up to Ł3-4k for say a MK2/Mk2.5... Tell him not to settle for the first he sees, theres so many on the market he could get a real bargain. Hard Tops are worth ~Ł300 so if he gets one, thats money hes already saved.

 

Who cares if they look like a hair dressers or what evers car. Its a cheap reliable fun convertible that doesn't cost the earth.

 

My gf has a mint Mk1, it's on Koni's and it is unbelievably good fun and also extremely reliable. Rear arches rot - that's about the only issue.

Rick

 

Rust issues (sills, arches, front chassis legs on mk2's), real fun little cars

 

This is my donkey giving us lots of smiles, it's crazy that our back up track car comes to the rescue and still you go home buzzing

 

Ice seen loads used as track cars.

Are the 1.8s or are they mostly 1.6.

 

Strange this thread being on here as atm I am looking for one to replace my sisters V6 TT.I had the use of a mk1 BBR turbo years ago and it was ok for a little car (strange colours).I would like to hope as the newer ones are a bit quicker though.I do remember it being just like a go cart and wasnt that bad for noise as it was wearing a hard top .

 

It varies mate, the MK1/2's I know for sure came in a 1.6 or a 1.8 variant.

I heard that the 1.8/2.0 engines were practically same as the ford duratec ones which were fitted to mk3 onwards but that would need confirming.

 

Gayer than a bag of butt plugs and KY, but phenomenally fun little cars.


Cheers,
Grant