Would this bother you?
Discussion
Have been looking for an MX-5 and watching an auction for one on Ebay that finishes Weds.
Low mileage Mk2, starting bid £1300..about 45 miles away from me...
What bothers me is the big gap between services, i.e. 2009 to 2014, when the car apparently did 12,000 miles during that time. I messaged the seller who said the current owners only used it during summer and it is "mint".
Would you be bothered by a car which had gone over 4 years without a visit to a garage for a service and therefore presumably without an oil change? Or for the money, is it really not that important?
Link to ad...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331644293657?_trksid=p20...
Not an MX-5, but I've got a 1998 Golf VR6 that had 23,000 miles on it when I got it at the end of 2013.
Similar long periods between services as the Mazda your looking at
Put 3000 miles on my Golf since I've had it, even took it drag racing ... not had any major issues
On an old car, even a low mileage one its worth replacing all rubber belts and at least checking as many rubber hoses as you can (maybe even replace the header tank) ... mine had a very cracked (maybe original) alternator/AC pump belt on it
Also check if its had discs/pads ... not sure if mine has, its got VW markings on the back of the pads & VW stamps on the discs but no paperwork to say they have been changed (car stops fine from 90 plus at the end of the drag strip)
So long as its not rusty, that MX-5 is worth it I'd say ... even if the engine goes pop due to lack of servicing its not hard to find another engine
Similar long periods between services as the Mazda your looking at
Put 3000 miles on my Golf since I've had it, even took it drag racing ... not had any major issues
On an old car, even a low mileage one its worth replacing all rubber belts and at least checking as many rubber hoses as you can (maybe even replace the header tank) ... mine had a very cracked (maybe original) alternator/AC pump belt on it
Also check if its had discs/pads ... not sure if mine has, its got VW markings on the back of the pads & VW stamps on the discs but no paperwork to say they have been changed (car stops fine from 90 plus at the end of the drag strip)
So long as its not rusty, that MX-5 is worth it I'd say ... even if the engine goes pop due to lack of servicing its not hard to find another engine
I bought my 2001 MX5 in 2003. Since then it has never been to a garage for servicing as I do it all myself. It is however very well serviced and I use better quality components and fluids than any dealer would. Main dealers tend to be training grounds for mechanics who then move on to a good independent so personally I never put much faith in FDSH. Serviced by a specialist is much better and serviced at home can also be better if you have faith in the seller (not easy on eBay).
MX-5 Lazza said:
I bought my 2001 MX5 in 2003. Since then it has never been to a garage for servicing as I do it all myself. It is however very well serviced and I use better quality components and fluids than any dealer would. Main dealers tend to be training grounds for mechanics who then move on to a good independent so personally I never put much faith in FDSH. Serviced by a specialist is much better and serviced at home can also be better if you have faith in the seller (not easy on eBay).
That's a good point, I prefer independents as well! I wouldn't mind if the ad said "serviced by me", or something similar. This car has been serviced in line with the recommended mileage in fairness, I think its 12,500 miles on Mazda petrols (my Mazda 6 is), but personally I like to see evidence that the oil has been changed once a year at least.Maybe I am over fussy. Another ad I am looking at only has VOSA history so with that one, you don't even know if and when it has been serviced! At least this one does have dates of all the services....
Definitely bodywork is the priority. However, I didn't use my Eunos much in 2014 and so didn't bother getting it serviced. Took it to my specialist this year (he'd previously seen it in 2012 and 2013) and I was surprised by how much had deteriorated just due to time, not use. I think I'd done barely more than 1000 miles in the two years; just over 200 miles between MOTs in 2014 and 2015 
So 4 years between services would make me look carefully at what was done in the following year.
So 4 years between services would make me look carefully at what was done in the following year.Summer cars often have long periods between services. I have one that has done 8k miles in 8 years. I service it and lay it up, sometimes for a year or even two years with new oil and filter so I would hardly be likely to drain out the new oil and replace it when the fancy takes me. Anyway, as many have said, the engines are 10 a penny and a rotten sill or chassis rail is going to cost much more. If it runs quietly and doesn't smoke it will probably be fine. Check the body carefully. Bubbly sills will not be a rub down and paint, they rot from the inside. Some Mk2s have chassis rail trouble and that is an involved repair. In my experience clutches are a bit weak on mk1 and mk2 but cheap enough to be a bargaining point but not a sticking point. Also worth pointing out that I would only take mine to a garage for an oil change if I was felling very lazy. It's a half hours work, so it may have had several oil changes in that time.
At least the seller is being honest, it would be very easy for a seller to put serviced by me at home without really having anything to back this up other then their word. If they had put serviced by me at home then you would be happier to buy the car without really knowing if it had been. Buy it on condition but make sure you budget for a full service if you do buy it.
GreenArrow said:
What bothers me is the big gap between services, i.e. 2009 to 2014, when the car apparently did 12,000 miles during that time. I messaged the seller who said the current owners only used it during summer and it is "mint".
study the Service intervalsServices stamped: 17/10/2000 - 2846 Miles @ Mazda
15/01/2002 - 5021 Miles @ Mazda
06/06/2003 - 7724 Miles @ Mazda
06/08/2004 - 9879 Miles @ Mazda
30/03/2007 - 20002 Miles @ Independent
05/10/2009 - 30689 Miles @ Independent
23/01/2014 - 42339 Miles @ Independent (Spark Plugs & HT Leads)
04/02/2014 - 42477 Miles @ Independent
From looking at milage and service intervals
quiet possibly a second car on a 3000 miles/year insurance ?
2009 to 2014 isn't 5 years when you view the dates and usage - equivalent to 4 years at 3000 miles.
Mk.1 service interval is 6000 miles
Mk.2 is 9,000
Mk.3 is 12,500
What would bother me more is...
[quote]I messaged the seller who said the current owners only used it during summer
but with the being only 45 miles away from you - ask to view the car and all documentation.
mx5alan said:
Seller not being the owner... ???
but with the being only 45 miles away from you - ask to view the car and all documentation.
I think its being sold by a trader, he has a number of vehicles for sale on Ebay...Feedback 121 (not massive), but 100% positive and growing, its clicked over twice since I have been viewing!but with the being only 45 miles away from you - ask to view the car and all documentation.
Trouble is I have had no opportunity to view this vehicle, even being 45 miles away and auction finishes tomorrow...is it worth a punt?
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