Beschreibung
1997 Mazda MX-5 1. 8 Mk1, Manual, Power Steering, red, 38, 160 documented miles. T&T till November 2014. Very thorough professional inspection and maintenance less than 1000 miles ago. Zero rust. Never welded. Professionally undersealed. Confirmed as one of best in UK by MX-5 specialist. MX-5 Owners Club member.
This is my fifth MX-5. In late 2012, I set out to buy a fun four-seater as the families second car, but as always, I was drawn back to an MX-5. I spent approximately five months travelling all over UK looking at Mk. 1 MX-5s (in my experience, by far the best of the many different MX-5 generations) laughably advertised as `immaculate` (apart from the rusted out sills, cracked windscreen, 52000 miles that should have been 152, 000, etc). Just as I was about to give up, I spotted this car advertised. The car was advertised as `Superb` - and it was! It was the best Mk1 I had ever seen. MOTs are present to prove the low mileage (36, 500 miles), service book stamped, and some invoices present, but the best bit was that the prior old owner had kept the car for most of its life in a heated and carpeted garage – this is one pampered car.
Soon after I purchased the car, I took it to one of the UKs most reputable MX-5 specialists – Autolink (- details above ) in Southampton. I am very, very fussy about cars (ask my wife), and like them to be 100% perfect. Autolink gave the car a very thorough inspection, as part of a £1200 overhaul of the car. The email they sent me during the inspection reads “Underneath is very good. One of the best UK cars we've seen. Also the inside of the engine looks good, it obviously has been looked after, no brown deposits of old oil, etc. Here are some pictures during the waxoiling.” I can provide that email to interested purchasers, and Autolink have said that they are happy for me to use the quote in this advert. Autolink provided me with 11 quality photos of underside of car – showing zero rust, and one photo of engine with head off. I have attached some of those photos, and can provide all upon request. I had asked Autolink to fill the sill with Waxoil, - but they declined on grounds that this was one of the very few UK cars they have seen for a long time that has the original sill (never been replaced . welded), and they aren’t rusty, so they didn’t want to start drilling holes in the sills that may encourage water ingress.
Based on my learnings from my four previous MX-5, I asked Autolink to perform a very specific list of maintenance items (costing £1200):
1. Replace water pump and tensioners.
2. Check Rocker Cover Gasket and Rear Cam Angle Oil seal.
3. Full Tetroseal corrosion prevention treatment.
4. Full underside chaeck for any signs of accident damage.
5. Engine oil flushed. Replaced with Mobil 1 0W40 New Life fully synthetic oil.
6. New air filter
7. New oil filter
8. New fuel filter
9. NGK ZFR6F11 Long Reach Spark Plugs
10. Magnecor 80 Electrosport HT Leads
11. Change brake fluid and fit EBC Greenstuff pads
12. Change gearbox oil to fully synthetic Ford 75W-90 Transmission Oil (best MX-5 recommendation I have come across).
13. Replace upper and lower gear shift boots and replace oil in gear change tureet.
14. Change differential oil to Royal Purple Max Gear Oil 75W/ 90 (another top, but expensive recommendation).
15. Coolant system flush and expansion tank clean.
16. Wheel off inspection with brake adjust.
17. Lubricate all door, boot, bonnet hinges.
18. Check / clean all water drainage channels.
19. New windscreen wiper blades.
20. Fit uprated headlampbulbs.
21. Fit supplied new Sony CD player.
So, after a somewhat lighter wallet (invoice to prove), I now have an MX-5 that is 101% perfect, drives beautifully, has zero rot, and comes with peace of mind of very thorough specialist inspection. The car has always been garaged by me (with a dust cover), and covered less than 1500 miles since Autolink did all the above work. Paintwork is very good shape – couple of very minor stone chips at front, but you have to look hard to see them. Engine bay is very clean, maybe a bit dusty, but I have learnt from experience not to steam clean an MX5 engine!
So, you would think I would be happy to stop tinkering – no! We all know that the worst thing for an MX-5s handling is 15”+ wheels, and unfortunately thats what the car had. I wanted the best lightweight period 14” wheels for the car – and after lots of searching thats what I tracked down on ebay. I found a set of rare factory MK1 hollow spoke alloys that look just like the regular MK1 Mazda alloys, but weigh about 2lbs less each (- details above ). I then spent £300 getting the wheels professionally balanced, shot blasted and powder coated in Subaru BBS GK1 Gold by Wheel Works in Crawley (- details above - invoice to prove). The wheels look fab and are easy to clean. Why gold wheels on a red car? – I used to have a 1990s red Ducati Sport 750 Desmo with gold wheels and it looked ace! I then had a set of Uniroyal Rain Tyres fitted, which are one of the most highly rated tyres according to the many online MX5 discussions. These tyres have done less than 800 miles. Once the new wheels were fitted, the car was taken to PD Motors in Billingshurst for wheel alignment to Autolink recommended specifications. I can honestly say, that this car is now one of the best handling MX-5 I have ever driven (and I have driven many).
Interior looks almost new. I have fitted very handy fitted storage bags behind both seats (- details above) and the soft top is in very nice condition. I still have a new (still in unopened plastic bag) set of MX5 Parts carpet floor mats.
The 15” alloys with very good tyres that came off the car, come free to the purchaser. These wheels are in good condition and would make good winter wheels.
The car also came with a roll hoop and wind deflector, which I have removed, but will supply with the car.
The car has now done 38, 160 miles, and will increase by about 10 miles per weekend, whilst I own it.
I have invested approx £5400 in the car, and am asking for £3750. This is not an urgent sale (I would actually be happy to keep the car all summer). Car can be taken away once funds have cleared.
I am only selling the car because I have two disabled young kids, and maybe my wife was right all along – an MX-5 isnt the ideal car for us!
This is a lovely car. Two months ago, I stopped at a motorway service station for petrol, and a coachload of Japanese tourists took turns photographing each other with the car. You would think these MX-5 were a common site in Japan!
Any inspection encouraged and welcome.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email. I will respond within 24 hours.
Thankyou for taking the time to read my advert.
