Too good to break or sensible idea

[tojeiro]

Hi All, bought this 2003, 1.8, MK2.5 with 35k in 2014.  Up to 39k now over a couple of summers.

Bought this relatively cheap at £1800 since it was listed on Autotrader as CAT D.  It has been faultless over the last 2 years, engine and drivetrain performs like new.  Shame is that the shell is fully undersealed and sills have zero corrosion (inside and out), interior is perfect and passed every recent MOT with no advisories.

Likely kit buy is MEV Replicar, considering this, is it worth my selling my MX5 and buying a MOT failure cheap as a donor ?   I am concerned that I sell a perfect donor and buy a whole lot of new trouble that needs work when I would rather be building my kit.

Thinking of going a different route with the Replicar (thinking quasi DBR1/Eagle Speedster/Evanta Barchetta) with doors, paint and some interior.  Given plan, donor savings by become irrelevant at the end of the day.

Advice or thoughts welcome.

Looking forward to Stoneleigh.

by -Tojeiro 74-

[airforceone]

Sell it if you don't feel you can break it.

Then buy yourself a cheaper/breakable car and use the additional cash to fund
some parts for the kit.

[mawdo81]

Bear in mind donor prices will be starting their annual climb as the summer approaches....

[pleurotus]

My MK 2.5 paid for itself in parts within a couple of weeks. Hard top, leather seats, front bumper, lights. Add those great wheel (which would look fantastic on an Exocet, just sayin' like...) and yours would be paid for pretty quick - So it's not really a question of finance.

However, look at your question, look at those lovely photo's (I haven't checked but I bet your Flickr acc is full of them!)- it would be a big wrench (no pun intended) for you to start ripping her apart. I owned mine for a month and I was already having second thoughts, better to start your build with a smile than a heavy heart.

IMO Keep her and buy a good condition crashed/MOT failure for 1K which will cost you nothing with a few parts sales. Look for as few owners as possible

[tojeiro]

Thanks for the replies, helped to make my decision.   Been very fortunate that another member close by ended up with two low mileage donors on his drive so I was able to relieve him of one.  Best thing for me is its ninety percent stripped so only had to pay for the bits I need and don't have the ebay hassle.  Also came with Typhoon intake system (already on my other MX5) and a SS exhaust system.

Its much rougher than mine but going to refurb everything and rebuild the engine anyway.

Bad news, need to explain to the wife why we have four cars now, especially since I work from home and my only business travel is by plane.

Made the first big step, just need to decide on the kit now.

IMG_1769 by Scott Graham, on Flickr