Looking at MX5 to Purchase

[kiwi73]

Gidday

I've been looking around for a reasonable priced 1990 MX5 and found one.

It's a 1990 1.6 litre with a second engine recently fitted down about 70 - 80k I think. The body etc has done over 310k.

300K sounds alot?!what sort of things should I be conceerned about i.e suspension, brakes associated running gear. Any other things I should consider?

Since you guys obviously know these babies inside and out!

What's the max you pay for something like this?


Cheers
Ed

[sprsta]

300k is alot for all those little rubber bushes you may want to swap the lot out for a set of urethane ones

[Euen]

My 91 has done over 220K and is still going well. In adition to the bushes, things like wheeel bearings and the CV joints in the rear axles can wear and become noisey at high mileages. Also the universals in the drive shaft.

If the previous owner changed the engine did he replace the hoses, belts (incl cam belt which needs doing every 100K).

One other thing to watch out for is rust in the door sills. It is not common but can happen. Water from the roof drains down into the sills and if the drain holes block the water can't get out.

Price will depend on condition but some people are still asking 5-6K for 90s. Not sure if they are getting it though.

Once you get it, join the club and don't be a stranger on the forum.

[Gravelben]

My previous MX5 was an '89 with patchy flaking paint but mechanically sound and tidy interior - bought with 204k on the clock for $3500 and sold at 225k for $3600 (could have held out for more but wanted a quick sale). Both times that was about the bottom of the realistic market, anything cheaper was likely to need more work than the price difference justified.

[broomfish]

there was a '89 with 200k on it with a hard top for $3500 on sella.co.nz
if i had the money i would have bought it, kept the hard top and resold the car for the same price

[Ian]

What is your definition of 'reasonable'? Tell us the maximum you have available for your purchase, and we can give you a better idea. The old maxim ' you get what you pay for' generally holds true........
Cheers

[ham]

There is a Maroon 1997 NA with only 77,000 on the clock down Kapiti way for about $8500

[Timmo]

hmm that is the exact same as mine!