buying an MX5

[David Barclay]

Hi folks

I am currently looking to purchase and MX5/Miata. Are there any major problem
areas that I should be aware of and what are the differences in NZ new and
imported vehicles?
I noticed a difference in max revs between the 2 cars I have driven so far.(
one NZ new , the other an import) Any significant engine differences?

David

[zorruno]

Here is a good FAQ
http://www.miata.net/faq/usedmx5.html

It is US biased, but should be useful. If anyone wants to give some more
info, I may think about putting a FAQ or page of some sort on our web site
specifically for NZ.

Here's some stuff I found out (Mostly too late after I bought mine!)

Some models were released with some or all of either ABS, LSD, A/C, P/W so
look for the items that are important to you.
If you want a hard top - they can come with a privately sold car if you're
lucky, but not as often with dealers as they try to sell them seperately.
Sometimes it might be better to find a second hand top and get it painted to
the correct car colour. Hard tops are $2500 from a Mazda dealer, but
$1000 - $2000 second hand from an importer or private seller. Also Hardtops
with a demisted window and interior padding (headliner) are harder to get.

AFAIK there should be no rev difference between the two and the only major
visible difference that I know of is that the NZ models have a different
rear number plate surround area. (Although a certain striped red car is a
NZ model and it has the same plate surround area as the roadsters so I'm not
sure of when the change was) Also the speedo only reads 180km on imports,
with a speed limiter (that is easy to remove

I've noticed that the rev counters are not that accurate - some models show
a difference of 200 rpm or more indicated at cutout. There has been some
debate on the actual cutout rpm (Karl - your logger unit would indicate
this - correct?)

Jump in here with more info guys - that's all I know...

H & Z

PS - David, I have cc'd you as I'm not sure if you are subscribed to the
list. Certainly the email address you have here isn't.

[Fletcher Blades]

The differences between the NZ and imported cars are very minor.

Although the red sections on the tachometer start at different places, the
engines in both are the same, and the rev-limiter is in the same spot on
both (about 7200 RPM).

The Eunos Roadsters also come with a 180 kph speedo (and 180kph speed
limiter), but the NZ car has a 220kph speedo, and no speed restrictor. (top
speed in the region of 200 I beleive, havent personally tested this

The difference in rear number plate surrounds mentioned by howard only came
into affect with the 1.8 engine ('94 or newer), all the 1.6's have the same
rear plastic.

NZ cars are far more likely to have no Power steering, power windows, air
conditioning etc.


Fletch.