Buying a MK1

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jonnie

Buying a MK1

Post by jonnie »

Recently I've been considering buying a MK1 to replace my MK2 turbo. I've had a read of the buyer's guide (http://www.challoner.com/mr2/tech/mk1bg.html) and a wee look at KY2 info.

I'm not convinced I want to sell my Tubby but it does cost a lot to run and insure. Having said this, reading the information on MK1s has made me worried about the probabilities of it falling apart and costing a fortune to fix, being so old...

How much should I be looking to pay for a good example? And how much should I be looking to set aside for anything going wrong? I take it they're as much of a pain in the "censored" to work on as the MK2s and equally, if not more, expensive?

Any input would be appreciated :)


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cabbydave

Re: Buying a MK1

Post by cabbydave »

Prices vary depending on the condition from £600 ish for a rotten one to anything up to £3000 for a mint box thats hardly been on the road. I'm going to sell my MK1 soon as ive had both sides painted but mine has had the sills and rear 1/4 panel repair panels put in and the rear arches renewed so its a solid car also had new clutch last christmas and has only done 88000 miles long mot and im going to be looking for £1500 ish for it
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jonnie

Re: Buying a MK1

Post by jonnie »

What colour is your one? The only colour that I'm not really interested in is red! Owned two red MK2s and just a bit sick of it really.

Also, where about are you based?
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jonnie

Re: Buying a MK1

Post by jonnie »

Oh yeah, and how much did the work cost you if you don't mind me asking?

I can imagine the clutch was pretty pricey?
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cabbydave

Re: Buying a MK1

Post by cabbydave »

arches and repair panels cost about £200 for the parts and I managed to aquire the clutch (nice parts man at work) and did all the work myself.There might be some photos of how I did it somewhere but if you have a look at project skye you see nothing scares me
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Chris69
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Re: Buying a MK1

Post by Chris69 »

Its all about the tinworm.

Mechanically these things just dont break at all. 4age 4eva!! Gearbox popout in 5th should be in the guide but thats really about it if you look after it. Mines on 140k miles, engine and gearbox sound, clutch sound ect ect after 10 owners too, just been eaten up on the outside.

As far as working on them goes..... about 10x easier than the mk2!

Another way to check the front crash bar is to check for play in the sidelights, I did all the checks for the crash bar described and were fine but went to change a sidelight bulb and the thing practically fell out. very common and front crash bars about £160 from fensport or £130 from Mr T

Bodywork isnt cheap to replace, e-bay is a bit of a joke sometimes. carbenfibre-creations has started making some headway with bodywork so hopefully some good things to come.

Good luck, when you drive the mk1 you will realise how much better they are than the mk2 (I can say this because I own both :bleh: )

I prefer my mk1 in almost every way.

It also gets alot more attention than a mk2 IMO
There is no "it cant be done" only "I cant do it!"

(OO==\°/==OO)
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jonnie

Re: Buying a MK1

Post by jonnie »

Thanks for the helpful replies!

Are parts fairly easy to get your hands on then? When it came to replacing my MK2 turbo's alternator it cost me a small fortune!

If the 5th gear did start to pop out, what sort of money would you be looking at shelling out to have it sorted? From what you've said I can see the bodywork is pretty pricey to repair, but what about mechanically if something DOES go wrong?
:th:
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Chris69
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Re: Buying a MK1

Post by Chris69 »

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m5b0s0p0 is a good place to start looking. Honestly mate, not really any more expensive than a mk2 n/a that side of things.
Not sure exactly why 5th gear pops out, never read into it that much as its never been a problem for me so couldnt even guess at the cost of getting it fixed.
There is no "it cant be done" only "I cant do it!"

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jonnie

Re: Buying a MK1

Post by jonnie »

Cheers mate!

I've just responded to a couple of adverts there but unfortunately one that looked good has been sold and the other one looks a bit tatty for my liking... I can imagine this may be tedious work!
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Chris69
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Re: Buying a MK1

Post by Chris69 »

Finding a good one always is mate. Best of luck, will be well worth it :th:
There is no "it cant be done" only "I cant do it!"

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spudgun
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Re: Buying a MK1

Post by spudgun »

I would say that from a mechanical standpoint everything is as cheap as chips now. There are a lot of second hand bits and pieces around these days and if you know the right people you can most stuff cheaply enough, for beer money really.

I would try and make sure the engine and gearbox are up together and buy the best you can structurally and cosmetically you can afford. Haviing never owned a mk2 I wouldn’t like on what there like to work on, but generally there pretty easy to do most things.

Once you have the undertrays off, the underside gives you a lot of access to nearly everything you can’t reach from above.

Fine praise indeed, coming from Chris. I do find driving mine; even after over 9 years of ownership, is still a bit of a special event. Give a good one ago, you never know, you might like it.
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robd

Re: Buying a MK1

Post by robd »

MK1's are awesome. As most have said already rust is the enemy & some of the proper replacements panels can be a bit expensive! A lot of the stuff you can use from other cars though which is cheaper, like using the sills off an Escort, think you can use the arches off an old Corolla or Cherry was it, can't remember now.

Mechanical parts are cheap & dead easy to come by, always spares on ebay & due to good ol rusty there are plenty of donor cars about from scrappies and breakers.

Good luck & enjoy it when you get one. :th:
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jonnie

Re: Buying a MK1

Post by jonnie »

Thanks guys! :) All good information.

I've been wondering what the fuel economy on these cars is like too.. could you perhaps give me a ballpark figure for your car?

I've found a car that's for sale fairly close to me. It has had twelve owners and has a recent MOT pass after needing some welding done on the front end which cost about £300 - I presume this is probably on the notorious crash bar that I've been reading about? He said the garage remarked upon how solid the underside of the car was.

He says there is some rust bubbling through on the rear arches and a bit on the roof and that he has bought new wings for the front but has not got round to having them fitted - they're included in the sale. The interior is in tip-top condition as it has all been re-covered etc.

It's a white T-bar and the asking price is 1200 but he says there's room for negotiation. My idea with this car would be to try and get it for closer to 900 and then have the front wings fitted and a full respray at my local bodyshop which should bring up the total cost to about 1500. Am I blind with desire to buy a MK1 or does that not sound like too stupid an idea?

Keep me right please! Cheers :)
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Chris69
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Re: Buying a MK1

Post by Chris69 »

Dont go in with rose tinted specs on, Just follow the guide to the letter and if something isnt right (depending on what it is) you can get a better idea weather its worth it. Be especially wary of the rear arches, thats were it gets expensive.
Wouldnt necessarily assume its the crash bar been welded, plenty to weld up front but for an mot more than likely.
around the 1k mark is a bit dangerous, could well be a wolf in sheeps clothing, worth no more than £300 or could be a bargain with minimal work. Wouldnt necessarily say £900 would be a good price.

Fuel economy should get around 34 - 36mpg on normal mixed motorway/town driving, can still get 30+ on a spirited run, they are above average for cars their age.
There is no "it cant be done" only "I cant do it!"

(OO==\°/==OO)

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