MX-5 OC Forum

 Hi all, my (what have you bought a girls car for you should have got a TT) brother in law has finally succumbed to the fact that 5s ARE great cars

and is now looking for a new 2.0l RC Kendo in Dolphin Grey. He has done some searching around the M/c. area and has been offered one

for £18500.

Is this a good deal or is there better out there?

Anyone seen any better deals on offer?

Thanks

Dave

Glossop Latic:

Is this a good deal or is there better out there?

It's a lot of money to spend on a depreciating asset.

So I'd be quite tempted by this  if I were in the market for a £18,000 MX5, or this  if I wanted something significantly more modern and a lot more reliable.

Although for the money nothing quite says "my convertible is better than your convertible" like this  would (especially to the sort of person who likes TTs). Although this  has a much better key ring.

If I had the cash I'd go sit in the first three of those long before popping down to the Mazda dealer.

mmmmmm some tasty cars there, particularly like the Elise.

Hi,

Is this of interest.

 http://www.rockinghamcars.co.uk/mazda/offers/view/178/mazda-mx-5-kendo---delivery-mileage-saver?ito=GAG2245501621&itc=GAC9213735421&itkw=MX5&gclid=CPzQsbncsKoCFQQj3godiSn_Sw

Take Care

Dave

 I think that's (Rockingham Cars) probably the best offer. Local dealer Donalds Mazda in Bury St Edmunds had one at the same price a few weeks ago, that was sparkling black with a greenish tinge.

In reply to the used cars above:

Elan - OK if you want to get your hands dirty breaking down every weekend! I had a nut and bolt restored MGC GT a few years ago and every time I took it out something minor would go wrong.

Elise - make sure you can actually fit in and tolerate the washboard ride quality

911 - lovely, but take into account huge insurance and running costs

Ferrari - are you serious?? see comments as for Elan!

(Just my opinion)

72dudes:

Elan - OK if you want to get your hands dirty breaking down every weekend! I had a nut and bolt restored MGC GT a few years ago and every time I took it out something minor would go wrong.

Elise - make sure you can actually fit in and tolerate the washboard ride quality

911 - lovely, but take into account huge insurance and running costs

Ferrari - are you serious?? see comments as for Elan!

(Just my opinion)

Elan isn't bad to run for a classic, according to a chap I used to work with. Not as reliable as an MX5, but then what is?

Washboard ride in an Elise? Mine is better than my MX5, and better than several normal saloon cars I've driven recently, and the S2 car are much better. Getting in an out is the tricky bit (easier than getting in and out of an MX5 with bucket seats though), but once inside it's a very comfy place to spend a day. Anyone with the money to buy one who doesn't take a test drive is, if nothing else, missing out on a free blat about in an genuinely amazing car.

The Porshe is dead to me, not least because the convertible is so ugly. I'd like a drive in one again though.

Obviously I was joking with the Mondial. The only thing it has going for it is the badge.

Blinkers off for a minute - £18,000 is a lot of money. Is a brand new MX5 really the best way to spend it? Isn't it possible that a secondhand SLK, M3, 911, Exige/Elise/Europa, Z4M Coupe, M5, TVR Griffith, Alfa SZ, Maserati Cambiocorsa Spyder (4.2 litre Ferrari V8!), Aston Martin DB7 Volante, Morgan 4/4 or Honda NSX could be a more interesting/exciting/better way of spending the cash? Certainly not all of those will hemorrhage money like a brand new MX5 will. Will an NSX really cost as much more to run as the MX5 loses in value? No, it's actually the financially sensible option.

I'll admit some of those cars are less sensible than an MX5, and some of them are pretty niche, but then we're all different. To some people a brand new MX5 really is the best possible car available, and that is an entirely valid choice to make just as long as they discount the other options for reasons that they are happy with.

If life is too short to drive boring cars, which it is, then a £1,500 MX5 is a near unbeatable solution. But for twelve times that budget there are many other options. It'd be a shame if someone missed out on something amazing just from some slightly blinkered thinking.

Well Capt. i totally get your more than valid points and if it was my money i think thats where i would be looking to spend it. My brother in law on the other

hand has rang Rockingham and they have a 3 month old 2.0l Kendo just in, i will keep you informed, cheers guys and thanks for all your help.....

Dave

All those other cars particularly the Elan are not everyday cars maybe the Boxster at a push, but I've just lashed out £17942 for a 2.0 Kendo Sparkling Black Roadster and love it to bits. Yes it's a lot of money (to me) but for enjoyable, reliable, and cheap to run you can't beat a MX-5.

I've had in my youth Frog eyes and Sunbeam Alphines and also had a a Austin A35 with a Half Race 1275 Midget engine fitted (Went like S*** but didn't stop.... till I put Disc's on the front). But nothing compares to my MX and yes I've had the Hairdressers Car and not Practical etc. but I don't care the Kendo Roadster for the monrey is gorgeous. And that's from a 63 year old who should be driving round in a KIA Ha ha.

Regards  

Fox 4:

All those other cars particularly the Elan are not everyday cars

All those other cars can and are used as everyday cars. My daily drive is an Elise. I save the MX5 for special occasions.

Still, in a world where you can spend well over £30,000 on a VW Golf a new MX5 is both interesting and excellent value.

 I tried getting in an Elise once not a hope in Hell if I had got in would never have got out. Did the same in a VXR and the funniest one was at a show where I climbed in a Smart Coupe because the Wife said "you won't get in and out of that". Well I did, get in that was...... but getting out it was a hands and knees job not ideal if you are all dressed up and you have to vacate your car on Hands and Knees in the pouring rain. Hence the MX-5 also because I love them.

I used to be a Vauxhall lover had Cavvies and Vectra's as company cars then had Astra's 1,2,3,4 when I went on my own I bought an Astra alright it was a 2.0 Bertone Coupe but it had Lotus Chassis so was a good drive, then had a Twin Top first convertible since early 70's Roof was an engineers dream but an owners nightmare too many moving parts and after the roof motor gave up and could have cost me £1760 (warranty) just for the motor and couldn't stop the leaks, also the roof was to heavy for an 1.8 car it had to go. So what did I buy after looking at MX-5's and being told you won't get in or out of one I succumbed and bought a ........... yep another Astra 1.9 CDTI SRI went well as a Motorway machine but listening to a Lorry Engine all day not a lot of Fun. 3 months after buying the SRI I went to a small Car Show over my way and they had a new MX-5 Roadster so I asked if I could sit in it to my HORROR I climbed in and out as easy as most cars, so for the next 18 months I kept looking at MX-5's on the road and hated myself for listening to people.

So that was it went to a showroom last month test drove a Kendo came away and thought what the hell and bought one the next week. As I live in Worc's. in 2 weeks the cars been to Lichfield twice, London, Gloucester and yesterday Cambridge do I still love it "you bet I do" everything about this car is stunning.

Regards

Well he's bought one.......unfortunately he found a great deal on a 3.2 TT Quattro and swerved the Kendo...

I took it for a spin earlier around my favourite windy roads and yes it was fast (much faster than my 5) but no where near as much fun..

Dave

Glossop Latic:

Well he's bought one.......unfortunately he found a great deal on a 3.2 TT Quattro and swerved the Kendo...

I took it for a spin earlier around my favourite windy roads and yes it was fast (much faster than my 5) but no where near as much fun..

Dave