A few pictures I managed to take before the weather changed;







Proud new owner

Very nice! I need a caterham

I built a Robin Hood 2b a few back, (poor man's caterham)
Could take on DB7,911's through twisty lanes, it got a bit silly so had to go, I could have spent another 4 grand on it to get it right ?
Whittler I do like it, enjoy it ...

Nice

Although you shouldn't have indicators that match it's colour on the FL2  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Is that a MK1 MX-5 slightly hidden from view?
Siwmbo's by any chance? Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Yep, it's an 1996 MX5 Gleneagles special edition. Brilliant little car and great to drive.

I use it when the weather is to bad for the Caterham and my wife uses it when she's not dropping off loads of stuff at work.

Whittler wrote:

Yep, it's an 1996 MX5 Gleneagles special edition. Brilliant little car and great to drive.

I use it when the weather is to bad for the Caterham and my wife uses it when she's not dropping off loads of stuff at work.

@ Iain, you have good taste in cars IMHO...

To be honest Iain the whole range of MX5s is very good and really it depends upon your budget (when doesn't it!)

Ours is from a 1996 UK car, so does not have ABS, electric windows or aircon; however Jap imports (Eunos or Roadsters) will have some or all of them. I bet you have forgotten how to wind a window up and down, you need muscles you haven't used for years My kids hate them

Ours has a 1.8i engine, some of the early ones were 1.6i. Ours is not a fast car, but is nippy, the 1.6s are a bit slower.

They all drive really well with good tyres, you can soon take roundabout quickly because the handling and balance is so good; rear wheel drive...you can't beat it for fun.

The later models don't have pop-up lights, which I particularly like...proper sports car LOL but are far more luxurious in every way. But when your other car is a Caterham (aluminium and carbon, no carpets) then anything is luxurious

If you buy one get a hardtop for winter, it's makes a huge difference and make the chassis much stiffer too but does add a lot of weight.

Also expect lots of "hairdresser jokes" etc but buy something "manly" like a Freelander 2 to compensate LOL or go the whole hog and get a Caterham

This time of year is not the best time to buy obviously, a bit like buying an FL2 at the beginning of winter.

With early ones like ours check the front of the rear wheel arches/sill area for corrosion (especially on the passengers side) this is a common area to rust out because the water runs inside, down from the hood. Fairly cheap to fix, I paid £60 about 2 months ago, but it's annoying.

Our has NEVER failed an MOT, only advisory for rust above. Servicing is very cheap and easy.

Great car...buy one, they make prefect sense when you also have a FL2

cheers - Andy

A winter's morning family trip to Compton Abbas Airfield for breakfast

thanks Andy,

the MX5 reminds me somewhat of the Lotus Elan, which I always "nearly" bought one, and have always regretted not owning one.

I was thinking that in the future I might trade in my wife's car for a new MX5 and keep it for a long time.

although there seems to be plenty excellent used examples available.

Iain

ps great picture

excellent comprehensive reply.
We have a 2005 1.6 . We have had it from new and so far it has been back to the dealers..... never.
I have replaced the tyres once and that is it
Not even blown a bulb yet

We have a 1.8 Mk1 MX-5 Dakar limited edition which is 14 years old.
Bloody great car, and cheap to run. You couldn't get more fun for your money anywhere.

Be wary of Jap imports, you don't know it's history, get a UK car if you can.
The advice of a hard top is a sound one. It protects the rag top during the bad weather.

The pop up headlamps were deleted because of pedestrain saftey, they really are quite large, like a pair of barn doors!

Just make sure you replace the cam belt well before the recommended 54k, a new engine is about £3-4K!

Oil change is also a a pain, the filter is hard to get at but apart from that most things are easy.
We've had absoluely no problems with ours, it's been perfect.

If only L/R products were just as reliable ......... Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.