| I've bought a Roadster. I went over to Dublin after looking at loads of 'Imported' Mx5's and then Imported Roadsters. I was picky and wanted various bits and bobs so waited for the right car. I'm very happy with it and so far it's not missed a beat. I use it daily and took it over to Europe for a 3500 mile thrashing (ooops sorry) gentle cruise......see pics on site. What ever you end up with believe me you will love it........its just that the majority of us Imported Mx5's have more toys.. (11/99) |
| Each individual Mx5 or Eunos owner can only go by their own experience of buying a second hand car. So here is my fourpence worth!! We bought a 1991 1.6 Mazda Eunos - a Japanese import model - through Windsor Car Auctions in Ireland. It was not difficult and Windsor had all the paper work needed. WE paid 4500 Irish Pounds. We drove the car back, Fitted a fog light and added stickers to the speedo dial for mph had it MOT'd Registered (25 pounds) and on the road within four days. Have since had a service at Halfords (108 Pounds) for my own peace of mind. No problem with spare parts (except trying to prise them out of Mazda). The mechanics are, understandably, impressed with the car. Total cost including air fares , hotel and food 4580 Pound Sterling. (11/99) |
| The only problem that we had was when we wanted a second key cut and fancied a genuine key so mistakenly went to Mazda. They refused to cut a key!! Petty! Truth is You don't need Mazda UK. There are suppliers of spares and importers of spares who will help you. They are usually the exact same part as the UK cars anyway (11/99) |
| I realise that the importing of cheaper cars from abroad is undermining the value of second hand cars (and new cars) in this country. But we have been exploited by car retailers for too long! I don't see why I should pay over the odds for a "UK" car which is manufactured on the same production line as a Japanese import!! Insurance You legally have to declare the correct model and spec of the car you are insuring so obviously you tell the insurance company that you have a Eunos or Mx5. The group have come up with some pretty good ins quotes for both and to be honest there is little difference except that there are some companies that will not insure imports (they are usually more expensive quotes for Mx5's as well!) (11/99) |
| You risk buying a dud wherever you go, but the Japanese cannot drive their cars above certain revs so you know that an import has not had the engine over-revved! (11/99) |
| So would I buy another import? YES! If you want to pay 7000 Pounds for my car then I'll take it!! and go over to Ireland and buy another one! (11/99) |
| These are some of the constant arguements between UK 5's and Eunos owners and it basically comes down to personal experience. (11/99) |
| I myself set out to buy a UK car, buying the SE meant that I got all the Eunos bits (except air-con) + ABS, I also got piece of mind of knowing the cars history and could contact the previous owner to check out the car. Parts haven't been an area that I've needed so far (touch wood) as it also came with a 2 year warranty. I actually prefer the rear panel of the UK car to that of the Eunos ( just personal taste ). The car has been perfect since I got in January and I have covered 10,000 trouble free miles so far the only costs being regular services, 30k and 36k which have cost approx £85 & £140 from a Mazda dealer. (11/99) |
| I looked at a few Eunos' but the quality just wasn't there, and you could tell they'd just been touched up ready for sale. There were some strange alloys as well that ruined the look (black with red rims!) and of course you couldn't exactly ring Mr Yamamoto in Tokyo to check if the car was in one piece when he sold it. A friend at the time had bought an Import which kept wearing tyres through in 3000 miles, turned out to have a twisted chassis - on a 23,000 mile car! (11/99) |
| This argument will never end. I'm glad prices are coming down, but UK cars will always command a higher price, because of the no. of imports no doubt I'll lose more at resale than I may have done previously, but I don't really care, driving the car repays far more than monetary value. As long as everyone keeps buying 5's and joining the club it can only get better for all of us. (11/99) |
| As long as everyone keeps buying 5's and joining the club it can only get better for all of us. (11/99) |
| Has anyone heard of this in their travels???...........when I collected my car in Dublin last weekend, the dealer said he'd had word that several white and yellow cars going through the Japanese auctions have had colour changes. Apparently these two colours are very popular there and lots of cars are being re-sprayed. If anyone is looking to buy a roadster in the near future in yellow or white make sure it's the same coulour it left the factory. (4/00) |
| I saw a 91 Roadster, originally Red, now white. No earthly reason why, but it wasn't a good paintjob. Incidently, according to "Ask Bob" on Miata.net, all the yellow cars were painted twice at the factory. Once in white, and then in yellow.. Easy to tell the original colour from the Vin plate paint code. (4/00) |