My new MX5 (Shed Content)

[JoeyD]

Well, the GTI went on Monday and I've been hankering after a MK1 MX5 for a long time now. I spotted this particular example on PistonHeads going quite cheap, so yesterday I made a 400mile round trip to go and pick it up.
It's a 1990 UK model fitted with a set of budget coilovers which are rock hard!
So far, I've learned it needs fresh paint, a new clutch and the roof could do with some attention. But it's absolutely brilliant to drive - love it.
I kind of like that it's not mint - don't have to worry about leaving it in car parks waiting to get scratched.
Looonnnggg project ahead!

DSC_0809 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr

DSC_0814 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr

DSC_0816 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr

DSC_0820 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr

DSC_0823 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr

DSC_0825 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr

DSC_0826 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr

DSC_0819 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr

C&Cwelcome.

Oh and the numberplate isn't off by choice - the bracket had broken off apparently.

 

[Philip.]

Whiteee! <3

Great project mate

 

[JoeyD]

Really really wanted a white one when I was looking, proper chuffed

 

[Philip.]

Yeah i'd go for white if I wanted one aswell!
This is going to make an awesome car.

What's on the mod list?

p.s. are they your tyre marks on the ground? LOL

 

[Hixle]

Awesome mate, glad to see you've got one at last! I really quite fancy one.

Nice bit of overspray on the sideskirt? Should be a good project.

 

[JoeyD]

Well, I've ordered a Clutch this morning - so I'll get that done firstly as it slips in 3rd and 4th. Then sort the front end out as the paint's flaking off... and the brilliantly painted sill! haha.
Eventually I'll sling it on a set of wide 13 or 14's and buy an LSD... I'd love to turbo it, but I'm not sure it would be worth the cost tbh!

 

[JoeyD]

Awesome mate, glad to see you've got one at last! I really quite fancy one.

Nice bit of overspray on the sideskirt? Should be a good project.

I laughed when I saw the sill! Awesome paint skills. It's not rotten though, so that's the main thing!

 

[Kane.]

Looking forward to the updates these look so fun.

 

[Christopher]

Awesome. My Dad's is a white one. Best colour.

 

[Jon.G]

Awesome, what are the plans then?

 

[Addicted]

looks to be an awesome project, i've also been looking at these, how much did you pay if i can ask?

 

[sofaboy]

Yes! About time you did this, good fun arent they?

 

[chris_p]

Handles better than the gti?
Different cars entirely I know...

 

[edgeydt50]

mine has been off the road for nearly two weeks while i have had a custom decat made which arrived yesterday! now i just need to get it fitted and some fresh photos up. also loving the white, great base for a project!

 

[JoeyD]

Looking forward to the updates these look so fun.

They are awesome fun!

Awesome. My Dad's is a white one. Best colour.

Agreed, love white.

Awesome, what are the plans then?

Fix it up a little, lower it some more and find some nice wheels!
LSD and some practice drifting will follow when money allows Haha

looks to be an awesome project, i've also been looking at these, how much did you pay if i can ask?

£950. Which I thought was alright considering it had coilovers and is pretty much sound mechanically.

Yes! About time you did this, good fun arent they?

Awesome fun! So glad I bought one, this has to be my favourite car so far by a long way

Handles better than the gti?
Different cars entirely I know...

In the dry it's ridiculously grippy at the front end. In the wet it understeers quite alarmingly - probably down to the garbage tyres...
My GTI felt more chuckable - but I suspect that's down to the rock hard coilovers more than anything

mine has been off the road for nearly two weeks while i have had a custom decat made which arrived yesterday! now i just need to get it fitted and some fresh photos up. also loving the white, great base for a project!

Oft, will keep my eye out for that
Aye, dead pleased with white!

 

[Jason_E]

I nearly went to view that . Nice buy! Good luck

 

[Coby.]

Great base for a project

 

[JoeyD]

I nearly went to view that . Nice buy! Good luck

Ah, no way! He said someone had arranged to view it and didn't turn up - I thought I'd proper missed out. lol

Great base for a project

Exactly what I wanted - a good project, unlike my old GTi which was too good really.

 

[LIL B]

Should have bought mine.

 

[JoeyD]

I couldn't afford yours! :rasp:

 

[Turkish]

So when we having a CS JDM owners meet, surely enough of us now to have a decent number of cars! Lol

 

[Philip.]

CS Jap meet ftw!

 

[col182]

Welcome to the club! lol

 

[Goodj]

1.6 is a brilliant little engine!

Just find a rolled Eunos (harder than finding a rolled RS Clio!) and asset strip that for the bits you need.

Wouldn't worry about going silly with 'lowz', if you actually want to drive it.

Very nice machine though. When you get the roof replaced thoguh, go Mohair. A lot harder wearing and looks far better too!

 

[Jewson172]

Very nice mate. Get some rota's and you will have a nice car there.

 

[JoeyD]

So when we having a CS JDM owners meet, surely enough of us now to have a decent number of cars! Lol

CS Jap meet ftw!

UKspec JDM FTW! In for that.

Welcome to the club! lol

1.6 is a brilliant little engine!

Just find a rolled Eunos (harder than finding a rolled RS Clio!) and asset strip that for the bits you need.

Wouldn't worry about going silly with 'lowz', if you actually want to drive it.

Very nice machine though. When you get the roof replaced thoguh, go Mohair. A lot harder wearing and looks far better too!

It is a great engine! Feels much more eager than my GTi did, although ultimately not as fast. It just sat at 100jellybeans for about an hour and a half last night driving home - didn't break a sweat. Only thing I'm wary about is that it's the got the old style crank which are prone to knackering... but I guess if it's not gone by now it'll never go!
I don't know where to go with it... I quite like the nose-down stance it's got now tbh, but when I get other wheels I'll probably have to adjust the height a little.

 

[JoeyD]

Very nice mate. Get some rota's and you will have a nice car there.

I fancy a set of SSR MK2/3's
Real rims ftw

 

[Kieran..]

looks nice base to start with mate

 

[Adz]

love it looks like it will be an awesome project, a set of SSR MK2/3's on mx5 is just pure p**n lol

 

[Toby]

You lucky b*****d.

I will have one of these next!

 

[Jason_E]

Ah, no way! He said someone had arranged to view it and didn't turn up - I thought I'd proper missed out. lol

I never arranged but I emailed him about it, he gave me the info but added he had someone seeing it haha!

 

[fearless]

Offft, a uk 90. It'll be as floppy as a dead fish. Get some braces on it and turbo it you big girl.

Welcome to the cool club.

 

[JoeyD]

looks nice base to start with mate

I'm certainly hoping so; it's only the exterior that really needs sorting, which is ideal

love it looks like it will be an awesome project, a set of SSR MK2/3's on mx5 is just pure p**n lol

Cheers Adz! Yeah that's lovely - fancy 13 or 14's though, like:

<3

You lucky b*****d.

I will have one of these next!

Do it! You will not regret it - awesome cars.

I never arranged but I emailed him about it, he gave me the info but added he had someone seeing it haha! [/FONT][/FONT]

Ohh! He said he was going to take it back off sale after this week and keep it, so I was lucky tbh!

Offft, a uk 90. It'll be as floppy as a dead fish. Get some braces on it and turbo it you big girl.

Welcome to the cool club.

Heh Heh! All in good time. I need to read into turbo-ing alot more first, get a rough list of what's needed, what needs to be upgraded etc..
And yeah, I can feel/hear it all flexing when I go up my driveway

 

[JoeyD]

Made some progress today, Sorted out the horrible horrible overspray on the drivers side sill.
Just used a mixture of hammerite satin, hammerite smooth and lacquer... it's not perfect, but so much better than before!

Before:

DSC_0820 copy by j0eyD, on Flickr

After:

DSC_0831 by j0eyD, on Flickr

Also tried removing more of the masking tape that's stuck all around the car. Unfortunately a load of paint peeled off the front wing, so I just did a quick fix for now; going to ring round and get a price on a front end respray, as that's the worst - the rest of the car can wait tbh.

 

[Toby]

Looks really nice mate.

What's the insurance like mate, I've been getting quotes over £1500 quid on the 1.8's.

 

[JoeyD]

Under a grand for me, a 1.8 was cheaper by about a tenner too iirc..

looked on Admiral/Elephant? They were cheapest for me

 

[gothy]

nice job tidying that sill up.
Clio sport JDM meet would be awesome

I would like a mk1 1.6 mx-5 for track, stick some rota grids on it, a roll cage, zaust, and coilies
I'd get a hardtop, and not have worry about any holes in the softtop, and when your using it just take the hardtop off.

 

[JoeyD]

That's a very good idea! It's just finding a cheap one...
And I like the look of the soft top more for some reason :S lol

 

[Gaz.]

About time mate. I trust it will be proper.

 

[JoeyD]

It will be proper.
Progress might be slow... but it'll be proper!