Clem
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Post by Clem on Oct 27, 2016 10:05:36 GMT
Right ... this always happens to me. I love my MX5 ... but i thought about how I could have something else ... and now I want something else (specifically I am heading towards an electric future with an i3). This wont happen immediately, I am thinking Spring (not least because an electric car requires me to buy a flat ...). However, a lot swings on how much I can get for the MX5. I bought it for £6500 last year and have since spent a frankly silly amount of money with BBR and WIM to get it how it is now ... I realise I wont make that money back ... some of it has leaked out of the value as fun ... much fun. So what do people think as a value of the following: 2007 MX5 Sport 2.0 with the usual leather, LSD, 6 speed and the shiny BOSE stereo Its done about 84k miles Full service history, Mazda until I bought it, local guy since. All the body is in good condition but not perfect (a few marks in that sparkly blue paint as it takes marks so easily). It polishes up ... so damn well ... Alloys are a bit kerbed but not terribly so. It has WIMs -30mm lowering springs to give it a more sensible look It is a BBR Super 200 conversion (that means: ECU, cams, inlet and exhaust manifolds) and I also opted for the exhaust centre section and the Sport backbox ... its not a subtle sound but its awesome. It'll also probably get the BBR update that theyve just released to give it a bit more BHPs in the upper-mid range. State of MOT and tyres will obviously depend on when I get round to actually selling it but I would expect it would be on newish Kumhos and a new MOT. This is entirely speculative but I am trying to form a plan so any thoughts on value would be useful. BBR are selling one with a bit better spec (suspension upgrades) and slightly lower miles for £10k so I would like to aim for that region ... am I being realistic?   |
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Post by Horney on Oct 27, 2016 10:19:12 GMT
THey do a buy back scheme don't they?
Frankly I think you'll struggle to get much more than £7.5K for it private.
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Clem
Chats A Bit
Posts: 236
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Post by Clem on Oct 27, 2016 10:21:06 GMT
THey do a buy back scheme don't they? Frankly I think you'll struggle to get much more than £7.5K for it private. They do buyback at book + half the conversion cost. I'm going to ask them about it when I get the update done. Not sure if you're just trying to put me off selling ... -.- |
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Post by sandys on Oct 27, 2016 19:11:56 GMT
It's all going to depend on right buyer at the right time, 07 sports with a lot less mileage can be had for around 5.5k, the upgrades are only and adder for someone that wants it, modified cars are always harder to sell, keep hold of it and put all that tuning too work with a bit of competition, once you start having fun in it again thoughts of driving something like an i3 will fade.
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Clem
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Posts: 236
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Post by Clem on Oct 27, 2016 19:38:04 GMT
Well this is disheartening but reasonable.
I still think I will let it go come spring though. I'm an electrical engineer who loves cars and I work for a company that makes electric drivetrains for hybrids ... I don't think the i3 bug will leave me.
Think I'll struggle to put a deposit on an i3 lease without the sale of the MX5
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Post by V6 on Oct 28, 2016 7:18:59 GMT
Keep the MX5!
I went into modifying mine with my eyes open, knowing I'd bought a very decent base car then made it my own. I knew it would always be worth more to me than some random potential buyer down the line. People generally want cheap with issues, rather than something quality. So mine is a keeper. Besides anything else I'd swap it for would cost triple the amount and not have the retro cool factor.
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Clem
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Post by Clem on Oct 28, 2016 8:16:51 GMT
Keep the MX5! I went into modifying mine with my eyes open, knowing I'd bought a very decent base car then made it my own. I knew it would always be worth more to me than some random potential buyer down the line. People generally want cheap with issues, rather than something quality. So mine is a keeper. Besides anything else I'd swap it for would cost triple the amount and not have the retro cool factor. Its very difficult for me to describe why I change cars when I do. Its not a case of me finding the MX5 lacking any more than it was with the Elise that preceded it. Its more a case of there are plenty of cars I want to have and I cant afford to have them all at once! The Elise was awesome, a better drivers car than the MX5 with a much nicer engine in my opinion, but it leaked and I felt I was wasting it driving to tesco and never on the lanes, and the lanes were always full of people doing 40. The MX5 is a great comfy daily and quick enough (if a bit of a pain in traffic with no low down torque) but it drinks fuel and its value will drop like a stone soon enough if I keep doing these miles, not to mention the perpetual fear of rust! The next car (cars actually as I have no intention of having an i3 as my only car) I buy will have a similar set of compromises and probably wont last more than a year or two of my ownership either ... I did know when I went in that I had no reason to believe that I'd get the money back for the modifications but when I saw BBR selling similar cars for good money it made me wonder. |
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Post by V6 on Oct 28, 2016 8:31:02 GMT
I've also owned so many different cars, so I am as guilty of swapping as you. I also had a Lotus 111R, but I found it too snappy and dangerous in the wet. I prefer the playful nature of the five. I've had turbo rally reps, German barges, all sorts. I guess I am at the end of the line for swapping cars. I also have a modern Alfa which I am trying to sell. I personally find modern cars so tedious now, in comparison. If I changed cars due to coming into a lot of spare funds, it would be to a Ginetta, Caterham, Zenos type car. Not likely any time soon.
In summary, I suspect if you move away from a five to a "normal car", you may be bored to tears rather quickly. Quiet, comfy, dull driving modern boxes are just soul destroying IMHO.
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Clem
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Post by Clem on Oct 28, 2016 8:46:14 GMT
I've also owned so many different cars, so I am as guilty of swapping as you. I also had a Lotus 111R, but I found it too snappy and dangerous in the wet. I prefer the playful nature of the five. I've had turbo rally reps, German barges, all sorts. I guess I am at the end of the line for swapping cars. I also have a modern Alfa which I am trying to sell. I personally find modern cars so tedious now, in comparison. If I changed cars due to coming into a lot of spare funds, it would be to a Ginetta, Caterham, Zenos type car. Not likely any time soon. In summary, I suspect if you move away from a five to a "normal car", you may be bored to tears rather quickly. Quiet, comfy, dull driving modern boxes are just soul destroying IMHO. I thoroughly agree, I made the normal car mistake before when I got a TDi140 Golf. Great car ... dull as Canoe. Which is why my heart is currently set on one of these:  Also bear in mind that I have a Classic Mini too ... its not like I'll lack for interesting cars  |
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Post by myothercarsa2cv on Oct 28, 2016 9:23:14 GMT
Having been in a couple of Teslas (Roadster and S) I'd say the future is looking very fun indeed, the new Model 3 looks worth a punt to put a deposit down on to avoid the crazy waiting lists when it's released. That would be an affordable way of keeping the 5 for a little longer to enjoy while still looking forward having the electric car in your future. Frankly I don't see the point of hybrid, but I'm an all or nothing kind of guy  |
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Post by V6 on Oct 28, 2016 9:28:36 GMT
Even that volvo will be dull. I've had a 5 litre V8 merc CLS, supercharged Jag XJR, etc... fast on paper, tick the comfy box, yet dull as Canoe after a couple of months. Utterly tedious to take on decent driving roads. The fun factor is ten times higher with lower weight. Thinking that excess power will make up for that is a huge mistake in my experience.
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Clem
Chats A Bit
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Post by Clem on Oct 28, 2016 9:40:52 GMT
Having been in a couple of Teslas (Roadster and S) I'd say the future is looking very fun indeed, the new Model 3 looks worth a punt to put a deposit down on to avoid the crazy waiting lists when it's released. That would be an affordable way of keeping the 5 for a little longer to enjoy while still looking forward having the electric car in your future. Frankly I don't see the point of hybrid, but I'm an all or nothing kind of guy The ship has sailed on avoiding Model 3 waiting lists ... no way you can get your hands on one for a couple of years at least! I have my eyes on one of those for the future. I totally agree with you on hybrids, i3 will be full electric and pretty much only used for commuting and the odd trip to Bristol for gigs, thus bringing my petrol bills down dramatically. It'll also mean that I dont put crazy miles on whatever petrol car I buy. I tend to snap once I've made these decisions and start seeing all the flaws in the car I have. With the Lotus it was the leaks and the fact that the roads are full of people doing 40. With the Mazda its the lack of low down power thats getting to me and the precipice I am stood on with regards to value. Kinki - I refer you to my Mini on the driving roads comment. It is the only car I wouldnt consider selling and it always brings a massive grin to my face when I get it out for a bit ... hardly even dulled the grin when it failed to get me to work the other day and I spent all day AA-ing it back to Somerset. And this is before it gets its engine upgrade. I get your point on modern cars and totally agree but this one is a bright yellow Volvo estate with 240bhp on tap ... I pass by one that lives near me and just the fact they exist makes me smile ... |
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Post by Horney on Oct 28, 2016 9:51:37 GMT
Clem, me and you are so similar. I too find once I've considered changing it's a forgone conclusion. Just a matter of when. The Yeti lasted a further 6 months after I decided I was getting a mk3 mx5 daily as I had to justify the man maths in my head.
Mx5's are the only car to get under my skin as much as classic minis. It's what I love and hate about them in equal measure. There's loads of other cars I want to own (I have a flat 4 itch that needs to be scratched) but anything I drive these days gets compared to a 5 and it always comes up short in too many areas.
Looking forward to a ride in the i3 when you get it.
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Clem
Chats A Bit
Posts: 236
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Post by Clem on Oct 28, 2016 10:13:16 GMT
Clem, me and you are so similar. I too find once I've considered changing it's a forgone conclusion. Just a matter of when. The Yeti lasted a further 6 months after I decided I was getting a mk3 mx5 daily as I had to justify the man maths in my head. Mx5's are the only car to get under my skin as much as classic minis. It's what I love and hate about them in equal measure. There's loads of other cars I want to own (I have a flat 4 itch that needs to be scratched) but anything I drive these days gets compared to a 5 and it always comes up short in too many areas. Looking forward to a ride in the i3 when you get it. Yeah, I'm in no rush ... I still love the MX5. But as you say ... foregone conclusion. The similarity to Minis is exactly why I avoided the NA MX5 ... I dont need another car I cant sell ... not sure an MX5 would really become that for me ... but the risk is far too great! I really thought the MX5 would come up short against the Lotus (and it does) but I rarely think about it, except when pulling away in traffic ... Funny you should mention flat 4's ... it was you mentioning Subaru wagons as cheap sensible fun options that means one of those (black, gold wheels) sits second on my list after the Volvo. Given the T5Rs are pretty rare nowadays I may well end up with a blob eye instead. |
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Post by V6 on Oct 29, 2016 10:57:11 GMT
No car is perfect. Every car will have some aspects better than what you have, while other aspects will be worse. For example, if you make a car better for the motorway it will be less fun on drivers roads. If you get something fast and more complex you may end up with huge repair bills, or loads of points. Every car out there has its problems. Having had so many different cars I decided my priorities were: fun and playful, sensible running costs, something to make memories with and enjoy the experience of living (so nothing heavy, complex, or German). I hope you find what you are looking for |
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le sigh