Sadly we've decided to sell our beloved MX5

[SVboy]

oh you would love the trannie wouldn't you

I imagine any trannie would be more man than you. Probably know more about cars too!

[Nova.]

I imagine any trannie would be more man than you. Probably know more about cars too!

That'll be the day.

[breakaway]

Oh puleese!! Just because a car "feels" like its quality, it simply is not so. The shocking reliability of so many euro cars simply destroys any feelings of having purchased an "aspirational" european vehicle. I doubt you have experienced a Lexus if you consider that jap cars feel like trash.

How many euros have you owned mate? I've owned a few and I wouldn't say they're any more unreliable than the japs. Perhaps I have been lucky?

I know that when they do break though you need a competent tech (one who knows how to use a scope if needed to figure out what's happening), not a pants on head dumbass with a great big hammer to diagnose and replace it properly.

Most workshops in NZ seem to fall in the latter category.

Have heard many horror stories with "thousands of dollars spent, car still not right" situations. Maybe due to the rarity of euros or due to the insufficient skillset and tooling of most workshops who basically barely qualify as backyard mechanics. The "throwing parts at it" approach is especially ineffective.

[SVboy]

That'll be the day.

Great comeback! So, you have taken the time to slag off mx5s and s2000s without any evidence, other than you dont like them.
Enlighten us,Mr TOP GEAR. As car guy to the gods, what is wrong with these cars.

[SVboy]

How many euros have you owned mate? I've owned a few and I wouldn't say they're any more unreliable than the japs. Perhaps I have been lucky?

I know that when they do break though you need a competent tech (one who knows how to use a scope if needed to figure out what's happening), not a pants on head dumbass with a great big hammer to diagnose and replace it properly.

Most workshops in NZ seem to fall in the latter category.

Have heard many horror stories with "thousands of dollars spent, car still not right" situations. Maybe due to the rarity of euros or due to the insufficient skillset and tooling of most workshops who basically barely qualify as backyard mechanics. The "throwing parts at it" approach is especially ineffective.

Whose side are you on!! I couldnt have put it any better myself! I have NEVER owned a late model euro. I have plenty of mates in the trade who show me or tell me the same horror stories you hear. If I was shitting money, of course I would consider a select few euros, but I am not, so I wont. All the $$ goes on bikes anyway!

[Nova.]

Great comeback! So, you have taken the time to slag off mx5s and s2000s without any evidence, other than you dont like them.
Enlighten us,Mr TOP GEAR. As car guy to the gods, what is wrong with these cars.

ones a Honda, and the other is one of the ugliest cars known to man kind.

[neels]

How many euros have you owned mate? I've owned a few and I wouldn't say they're any more unreliable than the japs. Perhaps I have been lucky?

I guess I must have been lucky too then....

But please don't dispel the myth, if the sheep keep believing that jap cars are more reliable and cheaper to fix, I can keep buying eurojunk for bugger all.

And in any case, I wouldn't pay $7k for a 20 year old jap car where the seller doesn't state the mileage in the ad, particularly if it's been running castrol oil.

[SVboy]

ones a Honda, and the other is one of the ugliest cars known to man kind.

I concede-you truly have car knowledge of a depth rarely seen on KB, not to mention discerning taste and design values beyond comprehension. My hat is off to your debating skills too....

[breakaway]

But please don't dispel the myth, if the sheep keep believing that jap cars are more reliable and cheaper to fix, I can keep buying eurojunk for bugger all.

Good point! I'll show myself out.

[SVboy]

I guess I must have been lucky too then....

But please don't dispel the myth, if the sheep keep believing that jap cars are more reliable and cheaper to fix, I can keep buying eurojunk for bugger all.

And in any case, I wouldn't pay $7k for a 20 year old jap car where the seller doesn't state the mileage in the ad, particularly if it's been running castrol oil.

As reliable as your Duke Neels!!

[ducatilover]

Unfortunately not even that makes up for the fact that it's a Honda.

Seriously though even the higher spec Japs feel like cheap trash when compared to the Euro in the same "class".

I beg to differ in the S2000s case, it's not as... err... special feeling as a Boxster, but it'll out perform the base Boxster easily (cept corners, they're fairly close there)

I concur. Great car.I have heard if the SMG goes in one of these-sell your house, your testies and any kids you may have legal ownership of!! I haveheard the VANOS? gives horrific problems in the early model of these. However, it would be the BMW for me-with the manual trannie thanks!

SMG is yuck anyway, not nice to live with. I've repaired a few VANOS units on various models, they're not stupidly hard to do, nor are they very expensive. Cheaper than doing the AYC on an Evo 4... A large issue with VANOS (early ones, two issues actually) is the earlier units didn't hold pressure whilst the engine's off and they won't receve oil pressure until 2700rpm (hence cold start rattles on S50 and M50 motors), then there's the wombles who run the wrong oils, cook the oils or don't change it often enough.
I'll take a 3.2 Evo manual thanks or a 3.0, I'm not a fussy fella

How many euros have you owned mate? I've owned a few and I wouldn't say they're any more unreliable than the japs. Perhaps I have been lucky?

I had a couple and my family/mates have had a bunch (mostly of the 6cyl BMW breed) and they've all been excellent cars.
You're certainly right about having a competent tech onboard!

One of my brother's has owned 3 E36s, two with high km (245km and 305km respectively) and all three, over 100,000km ownership in total have cost less to maintain than his CM5A Lancer over 40,000km, it was an immaculate original car and FOB too. Heap of shite.

But please don't dispel the myth, if the sheep keep believing that jap cars are more reliable and cheaper to fix, I can keep buying eurojunk for bugger all.

Gets us good, cheap cars.

[hayd3n]

Not any more mate. I know a chap who picked a decent one up, urgent sale thing, for $14k.
They go well, and don't feel cheap like most other Jap toys.

id rather the nsx if were talking hondas

[Edbear]

ones a Honda, and the other is one of the ugliest cars known to man kind.

In your opinion of course. Why doesn't it surprise me that millions of people disagree with you?

I guess I must have been lucky too then....

But please don't dispel the myth, if the sheep keep believing that jap cars are more reliable and cheaper to fix, I can keep buying eurojunk for bugger all.

And in any case, I wouldn't pay $7k for a 20 year old jap car where the seller doesn't state the mileage in the ad, particularly if it's been running castrol oil.

Why are the Euro's worth nothing?

I did mention the mileage along with the confidence in the reliability.

I don't know what oil it has had in it but the MX5 forums recommend Magnatec to better look after the hydraulic lifters. These motors have fine tolerances and if not regularly serviced the lifters can gum up and rattle. We haven't done a lot of miles in it and it is near to a service.

id rather the nsx if were talking hondas

A mate has had one since new and spent buckets of gold on it. It is now barely streetable and he's been running a Shorai battery for months now. It is his main track day car. I have always lusted after them but sadly never had the money...

[unstuck]

Best Mazda I had was an 808 coupe. It did have a supercharged 302 in it though.

[DEATH_INC.]

in total have cost less to maintain than his CM5A Lancer over 40,000km, it was an immaculate original car and FOB too. Heap of shite.

One word. Mitsubitzy