Im thinking of buying an mx-5(I know-"its a hairdressers car" or "its for girls":rolleyes: ) but there seems to be no rhyme or reason behind the prices?Im looking at a Mk1,about 94-97,and on autotrader the prices veer between £3500 - £6000.But there are also cars on 91 plates going for the same price(and many are the Eunos imports:suspect: )Is it just me,or do people seem able to charge what they want for these cars?

MX-5 prices always rise in Summer... exercise caution when buying :suspect:

Originally posted by Abdul
MX-5 prices always rise in Summer... exercise caution when buying :suspect:

You read my mind,Abdul:D Thats my reasoning for buying it in the autumn..........:thumbsup:

Originally posted by Annoni_mouse
Im thinking of buying an mx-5(I know-"its a hairdressers car" or "its for girls":rolleyes: ) ....

But it's a great drive tho ain't it? Never driven one myself (I'm 6ft odd and would prolly look a bit of tit sat in one).

Originally posted by Ginner
But it's a great drive tho ain't it?

It's a fantastic little machine.

It offers all the fun of classic opentop roadsters, with none of the reliability issues, thanks to its Japanese engineering.

Originally posted by Abdul
...It offers all the fun of classic opentop roadsters...

Unfortunately that 'fun' includes pulling onto the hard shoulder as the previously clear blue English summer time sky turns a nasty shade of grey and the heavens open. :)

Once bitten twice shy. Might consider a drop top when I can afford the Mediterranean retreat. :cool:

MX-5's are pure class. I was thinking about getting one myself.

Dont take too much notice of the different prices. You may see some people asking for loads, but it doesnt mean it will sell.

Well ive always been a fan of classic motors-but not being that mechanically minded,i cant be a*sed with the technical probs:( So for me an MX-5 offers all the advantages without the drawbacks(at least i hope so-ask me again in three months when ive got one:P )

Don't forget the prices on autotrader are the for sale prices, I had an FTO which I sold for £4000. On autotrader most of them of a similar age and spec were up for £5000 - £6000, it's a buyers market, Some people are more realistic than others. No one likes to loose money on a car but IMO if you actually want to sell it then you generally have to take a hit. The cheaper ones could be as good as the more expensive ones, perhaps the sellers are just being a but more reallistic.
If you have the time and transport go and check out as many as possible and don't rush into buying any of them, I very nearly spend more than I thought a car was worth and was then annoyed when I called back and it had gone, the next car that I looked at was so much better :)
MX5 is a top car and there are lots of them about so get a good one.
:)

ive had 2 mx-5's. nearly killed myself int he first as the back ends of them just shoot out on in any bit of rain so be careful !

i have made over1,500 on buying them cheap (winter) and selling them in the summer !

only buy UK as you cant sell imports !

also they are loads out there so take your time adn get what you want for price u want

Originally posted by neeeeeeeeeek
Don't forget the prices on autotrader are the for sale prices, I had an FTO which I sold for £4000. On autotrader most of them of a similar age and spec were up for £5000 - £6000, it's a buyers market, Some people are more realistic than others.

Quite right. The prices of cars in mags such as Top Marques are often inflated; people think their 'prestige' car is often more valuable than it is. You can sometimes still the private cars for sale in TM are still for sale months later.

Get a hold of Parker's Guide or something for a more realistic valuation.

And MX-5s are great little cars; ignore the 'hairdresser' comments. If someone such as Richard Burns can vote it the best handling car in the world against such competition as the Ferrari 355 then it's a car worth a look.

Thanks for all the advice guys:thumbsup: I didnt realise there were as many MX-5 fans on the forums!
I have to say,my preferance would be to buy one privately,but as i have a car to trade in(which is going to pay the bulk of the price,I hope:( ),my options are pretty limited,and i have to look at part-exing through a garage/dealer.
As an alternative,has anyone got any experiance of the Fiat Barchetta?

Originally posted by Annoni_mouse
As an alternative,has anyone got any experiance of the Fiat Barchetta?

The Barchetta or 'little boat' in English, can only be got left hand drive in this country, as far as I know.

This makes it quite a bargain to buy, but very hard to sell. From what I can gather, they handle well and go OK, but have typical Italian problems of build quality and snotty agents.

I'd go for the Maz.

Originally posted by ADC_28
The Barchetta or 'little boat' in English, can only be got left hand drive in this country, as far as I know.

This makes it quite a bargain to buy, but very hard to sell. From what I can gather, they handle well and go OK, but have typical Italian problems of build quality and snotty agents.

I'd go for the Maz.

Yeah,and since posting ive had an insurance quote on the Barchetta:wow:

As it stands at the mo,the MX-5 is winning by a head-but youve got to love that italian styling,aint yer............

Originally posted by ADC_28
This makes it quite a bargain to buy, but very hard to sell. From what I can gather, they handle well and go OK, but have typical Italian problems of build quality and snotty agents.

Seven years ago I got one and could have sold it ten or twenty times over. The phone literally rang off the hook.

Originally posted by alchresearch
Seven years ago I got one and could have sold it ten or twenty times over. The phone literally rang off the hook.

Ah well, I was just going on what those chaps at Top Gear magazine used to say. I guess they can't that accurate all the time.

How was driving a LHD car on British roads?

Originally posted by ADC_28
Ah well, I was just going on what those chaps at Top Gear magazine used to say. I guess they can't that accurate all the time.

How was driving a LHD car on British roads?

Absolutely fine. I've had three left-hookers so far.

People always say "ooh, overtaking must be risky" but how often in a daily drive does anyone overtake?