James finally gets an MX5 and finds it needs a clean.

Discussion about MX5s, Roadsters & Miatas, not directly fitting into one of the categories below. Please keep it on topic.

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4A-GE
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James finally gets an MX5 and finds it needs a clean.

Post by 4A-GE » Tue Dec 03, 2013 1:22 pm

NB, this is my old "which one to get?" sorta thread. Resurrecting it rather than creating a new thread and more mess.

Anyway, after seven leagues of timewasters, this afternoon, this dude finally came and actually bought my car, so I set about finding a 5.
The first choice was in the process of selling when I rang the guy, so I wasn't happy about that. I found this one instead - Just within my budget, and probably the better buy.

Saves me finding 15" wheels and a decent stereo too... Also the air conditioning goes. Pretty happy, really.

Image
Last edited by 4A-GE on Sat Dec 28, 2013 8:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

chris
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Post by chris » Tue Dec 03, 2013 1:38 pm

yup - spend more and be happier bud.
1 X Primera
2 X Silvia
1 X BMW E30
1 X Audi A6
3 X Mazda MX5 (1989, 1990, 1991)

NicF
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Post by NicF » Tue Dec 03, 2013 1:52 pm

personally I'd go for the green one BUT from the photo it looks like the rear window has been unzipped. Sometimes people do that if the zip fails.

100k is barely run in. Mine has 225 on the clock and everything's still tight.
99 NB MX5
91 NA MX5
92 B2600 offroad
Because RWD is ALWAYS more fun

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Post by 4A-GE » Tue Dec 03, 2013 1:53 pm

Yeah, thought so. Why does everyone say you're an arsehole? :lol:

Have txted them and sent them a TM message so they can tie # to user.

This is the wildcard entry because I ... a-actually like ... Th-the silver on it. (Normally I hate silver.)
However, it is very expensive for what it is.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =657963251

4A-GE
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Post by 4A-GE » Tue Dec 03, 2013 1:54 pm

NicF wrote:personally I'd go for the green one BUT from the photo it looks like the rear window has been unzipped. Sometimes people do that if the zip fails.

100k is barely run in. Mine has 225 on the clock and everything's still tight.
Hmm, ok. Well only way to find out is to ask or look.
Kms tend not to bother me cuz my usual commute is upwards of 70kms a day 5 days a week, but lower seems to be the thing to go for. Also it'll hold its value better after I've stuck a pile of kms onto it.

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Post by CordedBowl » Tue Dec 03, 2013 2:00 pm

Normally I would say go for the most looked after one, but if you don't like that red already (I can't blame you) you've already picked the car you like.

I think as long as you really like the car you won't mind doing maintenance and looking after it even if it was a bit mistreated, if you bought the one you didn't like as much it would always bother you, after all we own these kinds of cars to have fun!

TLDR; Get the BRG

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>halp (please don't snipe from under me)

Post by biff » Tue Dec 03, 2013 2:00 pm

I'd go for the Green, for all the reasons you mentioned, may get it for 41/2
anyway.
Keep cruzin,
Biff
89 Red
ZOOM1N



-----Original Message-----
From: 4A-GE [mailto:mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz]
Sent: Tuesday, 3 December 2013 1:22 p.m.
To: mx5talk@mx5forum.co.nz
Subject: [MX5] >halp (please don't snipe from under me)

Alright, narrowed it down to two. Assuming my car goes on friday morning and
I'm full of money, these are the two I reckon are going to be the best of
the lot [within my budget]. Oh look, a buzzword!
Anyway.

This first one is the one owned by the old bloke who's done about 1000kms
since 2006. Most maintenance items have been done; supposedly the small
tears in the roof don't leak. They're down quite low so water probably goes
straight out the drain holes.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =666476128

Good bits (for me): It's quite tight to drive, feels good, gets up to temp
and stays there. Has been resprayed. Clean as hell, everything's there. No
wobbly crank pulley being an '89 either. Another buzzword!

Not so good bits: Aforementioned nicks in the roof, no radio (at all), and
it's red. Not hating on the red, but it isn't my first colour choice.

This colour choice is!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =667256660

I am a sucker for top spec models. As far as I'm aware, this was it until
the anniversary models rolled off the line.
Low kms, everything looks stunning. The catch is it's two hours away.
Love the green; leather is a meh item for me but it looks cool. The wooden
stuff is also really cool. It even has fog lights.

Now I need your help to decide - I'm leaning towards the red one because
it's clearly been well maintained, but the green one's got 70,000 less kms
on it and appears to have been equally well cared for.

TL;DR:
Red: Local. Base-ish model. High 3's. Kms are getting up there but well
maintained.
Green: Not so local. Top model. Low-mid 4's if I play my cards right.
Probably the better buy.

Is it worth springing the extra couple hundy (most of my budget) on the
nicer one?
I'm thinking yes.

------------------------
If it ain't broke, fix it anyway!



---------------------------------------------

Sent from an mx5forum.co.nz topic here:
viewtopic.php?p=65057#65057

---------------------------------------------

[Posted via external email]
Red MX NA
ZOOM1N

chris
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Post by chris » Tue Dec 03, 2013 2:07 pm

I'm an asshole to erryone.

But yeah - the BRG one looks really good dude. low ks (good for resale), leather (good for girls) and tidy paint.

The red... is still just a red jelly bean.. :p
1 X Primera
2 X Silvia
1 X BMW E30
1 X Audi A6
3 X Mazda MX5 (1989, 1990, 1991)

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Post by marcellarius » Tue Dec 03, 2013 2:11 pm

The VSpec models are pretty common. Both look pretty tidy. Mazda continued to refine the chassis; the 1992 probably has extra subframe bracing, and remote boot release. It should also have a VLSD which is probably more 'fun' than an open diff.

If you can afford it (including trip to inspect/buy it) the Vspec is probably the better buy. I wouldn't count on the seller accepting low 4s for it, but worth a shot.

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Post by NicF » Tue Dec 03, 2013 2:21 pm

I'd almost give the guy four and a half for the brg one sight unseen.

BTW watch out on the silver one, once the clear coat goes they get real tatty real quick. And that can happen over the space of one summer.
99 NB MX5
91 NA MX5
92 B2600 offroad
Because RWD is ALWAYS more fun

4A-GE
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Post by 4A-GE » Tue Dec 03, 2013 3:15 pm

NicF wrote:I'd almost give the guy four and a half for the brg one sight unseen.
Don't you bloody dare. :twisted:
NicF wrote:BTW watch out on the silver one, once the clear coat goes they get real tatty real quick. And that can happen over the space of one summer.
Hmm, yeah ok. My one gripe with silver is that on shitty overcast days, you're the same colour as the sky and people can't see you. I also hate paint fade. Words heeded.

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Post by Timmo » Tue Dec 03, 2013 3:27 pm

Yep, I'd go for the green one too.
Ex: 1991 BRG NA6, 1998 White RS, 1997 Wine Merlot M Edition

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Post by Skilfil » Tue Dec 03, 2013 5:06 pm

Go green! I love my blue one, but I bought a red one because it was low k's and fairly mint. However I just always wanted a blue one everytime I saw it, eventually sold the red one and ended up with my smurf.

Its something that will eat at you everytime you see it, plus the green ones look damn good done up.

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Post by MattBRG » Tue Dec 03, 2013 5:29 pm

Green one.
I was looking at it before i purchased the one i have just purchased (not the one i flipped)

i was thinking about offering 4.5ish.

and the drive home will be awesome
:lol:

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Post by Angreal » Tue Dec 03, 2013 5:35 pm

MattBRG wrote:Green one.
I was looking at it before i purchased the one i have just purchased (not the one i flipped)

i was thinking about offering 4.5ish.

and the drive home will be awesome
:lol:
Not a really low white one at Piha is it? They were driving really slow and cautiously so I figured might be you based on recent events... Only came out here as it looked really low and thought I'd say hi but they turned down a driveway

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Post by MattBRG » Tue Dec 03, 2013 5:48 pm

Angreal wrote:
MattBRG wrote:Green one.
I was looking at it before i purchased the one i have just purchased (not the one i flipped)

i was thinking about offering 4.5ish.

and the drive home will be awesome
:lol:
Not a really low white one at Piha is it? They were driving really slow and cautiously so I figured might be you based on recent events... Only came out here as it looked really low and thought I'd say hi but they turned down a driveway
Nah not me mate, have just pulled the trigger on a 96 SE.
however will be going a little slower for a bit
:oops:

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Post by MrGrey » Tue Dec 03, 2013 6:18 pm

the red one I feel is overpriced as is the silver one.

The only one that caught my eye was the 1992 British racing green one... it looks pretty good. It would be nice to get it for cheaper but $5k seems a good price as long as everything is well maintained and in good working condition (it *looks* it from the pictures but a closer inspection would be more in order)

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Post by CordedBowl » Tue Dec 03, 2013 7:01 pm

Either way, can't wait for the thread when you drop a 20v into it!

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Post by Furai » Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:32 pm

92 Green, better crank, motor, bracing, leathers awesome, paints better, heaps of good points.

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Post by 4A-GE » Tue Dec 03, 2013 9:42 pm

CordedBowl wrote:Either way, can't wait for the thread when you drop a 20v into it!
Funny way to spell supercharger.

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Post by BRM » Tue Dec 03, 2013 11:07 pm

What furai said. To bad BRG is such a shit colour

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Post by Snapfrozen » Wed Dec 04, 2013 7:36 am

BRM wrote:What furai said. To bad BRG is such a shit colour
This. Agree with buying the BRG. Check for leaks around the engine, make sure if you are giving it a fang that it goes all the way to the redline, driving sedately can mean you miss hesitations/issues in the upper end of the rev range.

I say go for it. Anything less than 5k is a good deal if it is as good as it looks.


The flipside - Do you plan on modifying it? If so - buy the cheapest one with the nicest body and start fresh, you'll replace half the other parts anyway...

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Post by 4A-GE » Wed Dec 04, 2013 12:34 pm

BRM wrote:Too bad BRG is such a shit colour
Image

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Post by Timmo » Wed Dec 04, 2013 3:00 pm

BRM wrote:What furai said. To bad BRG is such a shit colour
Image

I think it's an awesome colour!
Ex: 1991 BRG NA6, 1998 White RS, 1997 Wine Merlot M Edition

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Post by 4A-GE » Wed Dec 04, 2013 3:05 pm

10/10 image choice sir.

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