BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?

Subject: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 11:36 AM

Just that - I know it's a long shot but Mudcat often comes up with the goods :-)

We have 2 of them for sale. Both from 2002-ish. One is a runner, the other isn't.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 12:21 PM

Richard Bridge is a car guy and he's on your side of the pond, but he specializes in old Volvos. Still, he might have a suggestion. He doesn't visit Mudcat often these days but he is on FB.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 12:53 PM

We had one for a few years until 2020, a 57 reg, whatever "mark" that was (4?), 1800cc. I loved it, though I always avoided the chicks seeing me struggle to get in and out of it! They're very reliable and cheap to service, etc. Ours was a soft-top. I loved having the wind in my hair but Mrs Steve insisted on outside temps of at least 30° before we could have the roof down!

Not helpful, Dave - sorry!

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 01:20 PM

These are Mk2s I think. Both soft tops but with hard tops as well. I have asked on a local FB group too.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 02:27 PM

Mark 2.5 apparently. Same as 2s but with enhancements

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 03:37 PM

Old Volvos, eh?

What the difference between a Volvo estate and a hedgehog?

With a hedgehog the pricks are on the outside...

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 03:46 PM

Well I did work (as forecourt attendant/car cleaner) at a Mazda garage but the sports car then was the RX7. I believe these were quite nippy but they could suffer reliability problems.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 05:26 PM

Were they the ones with a rotary engine?

I got Richard, Stilly, but he doesn't know anyone in that field. Thanks anyway

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 06:03 PM

Yep, that had a rotary engine. Looking things up... it was produced between 1978 and 2002 and was followed until 2012 by a rotary engined RX8.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Stanron
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 06:12 PM

I think it was the RX7 or RX8 that had the Wankel rotary engines.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 06:17 PM

Both Stanron. Again, looking things up... Mazda started with the rotary engine in 1967 with the Cosmo. I'd no idea Mazda used rotary engines for so long.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 07:56 PM

Those rotary engine jobs has an awful reputation. The MX5 on the other hand is a legend in its own lunchtime. We MX5 drivers had a secret sign whenever we met another one. They pack a great punch, but, maybe counter-intuitively, they are the ultimate country road, taking-your-time car. I'm no slowcoach on the road, but it's amazing how much more often I was tailgated by jealous twats when driving the MX5 than when I was driving my ould Focus. I dream of getting the latest model, but (a) I'll have to win the lottery, (b) I'll have to wean Mrs Steve off her staidiferousnessitudinousness...

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Stanron
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 11:15 PM

Didn't the unreliable reputation come from people getting their cars serviced by garages that did not know how to service the Wankel engine?

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 03:38 AM

I can't work it out but I think these rotary engined cars probably were OK if the instructions for caring for them were followed precisely.

On other cars that had a bit of an odd reputation. One of my brothers worked as a Citroen mechanic for a few years. He liked the hydropneumatic suspension but a lot of people were wary of it and other garages would say working on it was a Citroen main dealership job. If my memory is correct, there are a couple of things to look out for though.   The pressure can drop suddenly so you don't want to casually crawl underneath one. And the pressure in the spheres (I think that's what they are called) can be very high. Mark was aware of someone getting killed by removing one with the system under full pressure.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:07 AM

Rotary engines have far fewer moving parts than standard piston engines so, theoretically, there is less to go wrong. I suspect that John is right about caring for them and, as there cannot be many mechanics versed in them, that could be a difficult job.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:25 AM

To be clear, I wasn't referring to the engines, but to the fact that the cars generally got poor reviews, not for reliability but because they weren't great cars overall. In contrast, those fun-filled, noisy little MX5s always got great reviews.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:32 AM

I know someone with an RX8, you have to run the engine 5 minutes before it can move and uses nearly as much oil as petrol. On the other hand it can almost fly and travel through time. Wankel has fewer moving parts than a reciprocating engine, but one of the parts that do move is the oil round the rotor tips and sides. I've not checked if it steers better one way than the other, like a Sopwith Camel.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: DaveRo
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:47 AM

Jon Freeman wrote: The pressure can drop suddenly...

ISTR a getaway driver in a French film (le Cercle Rouge?) explaining why Citroën DS's are a bad choice. One bullet in the works and it sinks onto the pavé.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 06:53 AM

We MX5 drivers had a secret sign whenever we met another one.

We have a Mark 3 hard top. The sign must be so secret that nobody told us about it. Other MX5 drivers must think we are being stand-offish when we don't acknowledge them in the way only known to insiders. I have a couple of friends who are in an MX5 club. I will have to ask them about it when I see them next.

It is actually my wife's car. She had it from new in 2010 but changed to an automatic Ford Focus because of her arthritis. They offered so little as part-exchange that we decided to keep it as it is so much fun to drive. The hard top folds away at the touch of a button. Unlike your wife, Steve, my wife used to wrap up warm, turn the heater up and drive with top down all year round, unless it was actually raining or night time.

We live on the edge of town with the Lincoln Wolds area of outstanding natural beauty close at hand. It lives under a cover most of the time now, but we take it out for a sunny drive through the uncluttered country roads whenever we can. We normally try at least one weekend away somewhere interesting in the UK, each year, taking the pretty route - always open top, unless forced to do otherwise.

DtG,
Any advice greatly appreciated

What type of advice are you looking for?

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 07:29 AM

How and where to sell without getting ripped off is round about it, Doug. The situation is very sensitive. A couple of people know why but I am not ready to make it general knowledge yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 07:57 AM

I'm not much to you then. We still have ours, even though we don't need it, because the part exchange was so low, that I felt I was being ripped off.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 08:09 AM

No probs. Thanks anyway Doug.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Stanron
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 10:53 AM

On one of those TV car shows they said that Mazda car owners would signal to each other the number of engine replacements they'd had by holding up the appropriate number of fingers. Those who'd had two replacements might have been considered a bit rude.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 02:12 PM

I used to love that advert where Mr Mazda Neatabulb outshone Mr Flashy and Mr Dim.
I always thought John Major was a bit like Mr Dim. He radiated dimness!

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:12 PM

Elbow at right angle, left palm outward held close to windscreen upon espying an oncoming fellow MX5. Like a static wave. In my experience, I got a similar response nearly every time.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Aug 23 - 04:15 AM

"What is the Miata Wave? Explained"

A nice article on the casualcarguide.com website on the quaint origin of the hand signal greeting that fellow MX5 owners give each other.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Aug 23 - 07:51 AM

I think they are both the Nevada model - One in each clour as well

May be worth more than I thought!

MX5 Nevada

I can mention now that they belonged to my daughter in law, Lee, who sadly passed away last week suddenly. I am trying to take a bit of a load off ny son Andrew who is understandably distraught :-(

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Sep 23 - 10:53 AM

Have you gotten any nibbles on the car listings? Counter offers from prospective buyers?

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Sep 23 - 02:16 PM

Not advertised them yet but I have some leads from friends and the MX5 club

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Sep 23 - 08:43 PM

When you get into the heart of a collectors group then the sale might take care of itself. My son's roommate had a particular vintage Mitsubishi car that has fans, but his had bad brakes, and the mechanic at the garage admired and offered to buy it. Some time later when it wasn't running at all and was getting ticketed for staying in the same spot at the curb, he contacted that guy and gave him the car. Cheaper than continuing to pay for tickets, and the mechanic knew how to get it running.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Sep 23 - 03:38 AM

I have contacted a repair shop who are also in the MX5 owners club and passed the details to a friend who is in the motor trade.

The non runner has a private plate. Anyone have any experience of selling one of those?

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 03:46 PM

Well I did work (as forecourt attendant/car cleaner) at a Mazda garage but the sports car then was the RX7. I believe these were quite nippy but they could suffer reliability problems.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 06:03 PM

Yep, that had a rotary engine. Looking things up... it was produced between 1978 and 2002 and was followed until 2012 by a rotary engined RX8.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 06:17 PM

Both Stanron. Again, looking things up... Mazda started with the rotary engine in 1967 with the Cosmo. I'd no idea Mazda used rotary engines for so long.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 03:38 AM

I can't work it out but I think these rotary engined cars probably were OK if the instructions for caring for them were followed precisely.

On other cars that had a bit of an odd reputation. One of my brothers worked as a Citroen mechanic for a few years. He liked the hydropneumatic suspension but a lot of people were wary of it and other garages would say working on it was a Citroen main dealership job. If my memory is correct, there are a couple of things to look out for though.   The pressure can drop suddenly so you don't want to casually crawl underneath one. And the pressure in the spheres (I think that's what they are called) can be very high. Mark was aware of someone getting killed by removing one with the system under full pressure.

Subject: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 11:36 AM

Just that - I know it's a long shot but Mudcat often comes up with the goods :-)

We have 2 of them for sale. Both from 2002-ish. One is a runner, the other isn't.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 01:20 PM

These are Mk2s I think. Both soft tops but with hard tops as well. I have asked on a local FB group too.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 02:27 PM

Mark 2.5 apparently. Same as 2s but with enhancements

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 05:26 PM

Were they the ones with a rotary engine?

I got Richard, Stilly, but he doesn't know anyone in that field. Thanks anyway

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:07 AM

Rotary engines have far fewer moving parts than standard piston engines so, theoretically, there is less to go wrong. I suspect that John is right about caring for them and, as there cannot be many mechanics versed in them, that could be a difficult job.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 07:29 AM

How and where to sell without getting ripped off is round about it, Doug. The situation is very sensitive. A couple of people know why but I am not ready to make it general knowledge yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 08:09 AM

No probs. Thanks anyway Doug.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Aug 23 - 07:51 AM

I think they are both the Nevada model - One in each clour as well

May be worth more than I thought!

MX5 Nevada

I can mention now that they belonged to my daughter in law, Lee, who sadly passed away last week suddenly. I am trying to take a bit of a load off ny son Andrew who is understandably distraught :-(

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Sep 23 - 02:16 PM

Not advertised them yet but I have some leads from friends and the MX5 club

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Sep 23 - 03:38 AM

I have contacted a repair shop who are also in the MX5 owners club and passed the details to a friend who is in the motor trade.

The non runner has a private plate. Anyone have any experience of selling one of those?

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 12:21 PM

Richard Bridge is a car guy and he's on your side of the pond, but he specializes in old Volvos. Still, he might have a suggestion. He doesn't visit Mudcat often these days but he is on FB.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Sep 23 - 10:53 AM

Have you gotten any nibbles on the car listings? Counter offers from prospective buyers?

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Sep 23 - 08:43 PM

When you get into the heart of a collectors group then the sale might take care of itself. My son's roommate had a particular vintage Mitsubishi car that has fans, but his had bad brakes, and the mechanic at the garage admired and offered to buy it. Some time later when it wasn't running at all and was getting ticketed for staying in the same spot at the curb, he contacted that guy and gave him the car. Cheaper than continuing to pay for tickets, and the mechanic knew how to get it running.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 06:53 AM

We MX5 drivers had a secret sign whenever we met another one.

We have a Mark 3 hard top. The sign must be so secret that nobody told us about it. Other MX5 drivers must think we are being stand-offish when we don't acknowledge them in the way only known to insiders. I have a couple of friends who are in an MX5 club. I will have to ask them about it when I see them next.

It is actually my wife's car. She had it from new in 2010 but changed to an automatic Ford Focus because of her arthritis. They offered so little as part-exchange that we decided to keep it as it is so much fun to drive. The hard top folds away at the touch of a button. Unlike your wife, Steve, my wife used to wrap up warm, turn the heater up and drive with top down all year round, unless it was actually raining or night time.

We live on the edge of town with the Lincoln Wolds area of outstanding natural beauty close at hand. It lives under a cover most of the time now, but we take it out for a sunny drive through the uncluttered country roads whenever we can. We normally try at least one weekend away somewhere interesting in the UK, each year, taking the pretty route - always open top, unless forced to do otherwise.

DtG,
Any advice greatly appreciated

What type of advice are you looking for?

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 07:57 AM

I'm not much to you then. We still have ours, even though we don't need it, because the part exchange was so low, that I felt I was being ripped off.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 02:12 PM

I used to love that advert where Mr Mazda Neatabulb outshone Mr Flashy and Mr Dim.
I always thought John Major was a bit like Mr Dim. He radiated dimness!

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:32 AM

I know someone with an RX8, you have to run the engine 5 minutes before it can move and uses nearly as much oil as petrol. On the other hand it can almost fly and travel through time. Wankel has fewer moving parts than a reciprocating engine, but one of the parts that do move is the oil round the rotor tips and sides. I've not checked if it steers better one way than the other, like a Sopwith Camel.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 12:53 PM

We had one for a few years until 2020, a 57 reg, whatever "mark" that was (4?), 1800cc. I loved it, though I always avoided the chicks seeing me struggle to get in and out of it! They're very reliable and cheap to service, etc. Ours was a soft-top. I loved having the wind in my hair but Mrs Steve insisted on outside temps of at least 30° before we could have the roof down!

Not helpful, Dave - sorry!

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 03:37 PM

Old Volvos, eh?

What the difference between a Volvo estate and a hedgehog?

With a hedgehog the pricks are on the outside...

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 07:56 PM

Those rotary engine jobs has an awful reputation. The MX5 on the other hand is a legend in its own lunchtime. We MX5 drivers had a secret sign whenever we met another one. They pack a great punch, but, maybe counter-intuitively, they are the ultimate country road, taking-your-time car. I'm no slowcoach on the road, but it's amazing how much more often I was tailgated by jealous twats when driving the MX5 than when I was driving my ould Focus. I dream of getting the latest model, but (a) I'll have to win the lottery, (b) I'll have to wean Mrs Steve off her staidiferousnessitudinousness...

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:25 AM

To be clear, I wasn't referring to the engines, but to the fact that the cars generally got poor reviews, not for reliability but because they weren't great cars overall. In contrast, those fun-filled, noisy little MX5s always got great reviews.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:12 PM

Elbow at right angle, left palm outward held close to windscreen upon espying an oncoming fellow MX5. Like a static wave. In my experience, I got a similar response nearly every time.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Aug 23 - 04:15 AM

"What is the Miata Wave? Explained"

A nice article on the casualcarguide.com website on the quaint origin of the hand signal greeting that fellow MX5 owners give each other.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Stanron
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 06:12 PM

I think it was the RX7 or RX8 that had the Wankel rotary engines.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Stanron
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 11:15 PM

Didn't the unreliable reputation come from people getting their cars serviced by garages that did not know how to service the Wankel engine?

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: Stanron
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 10:53 AM

On one of those TV car shows they said that Mazda car owners would signal to each other the number of engine replacements they'd had by holding up the appropriate number of fingers. Those who'd had two replacements might have been considered a bit rude.

Subject: RE: BS: Anyone know owt about Mazda MX5s?
From: DaveRo
Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:47 AM

Jon Freeman wrote: The pressure can drop suddenly...

ISTR a getaway driver in a French film (le Cercle Rouge?) explaining why Citroën DS's are a bad choice. One bullet in the works and it sinks onto the pavé.