Buying a 2008 MX5 2.0

[Lihp]

I am looking at part-exing my battered 2009 1.4 Civic Type S.

For a 2008 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport (hard top, not soft also).

It is very clean, and it drove smoothly, and has full Mazda service history.

The downsides, it is on 80k miles, failed a couple of MOTs with low pads, and a fail for disc wear, and had a few advisories last year for play in ARBs and had a kind of slight rubbing noise on the near side rear, may have been from pads if it has been stood a while. I will need to drive again.

I'm going back to have another look at it on Wednesday, the dealer has all bills relating to all the work done to the car, so I intend to look into whether all the advisories were acted on, or have just not been picked up on subsequent MOTs.

Is there anything in particular to look out for. How many miles are these cars good for?

[Lihp]

These are all the advisories, and failures for the life of the car. Every other MOT has been a pass with no advisories. Anything there that stands out to people? To me these all seem fair wear and tear for the miles?


7th March 2017
Fail
75263 miles
Reason(s) for failure
Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)
(Passed same day)

8th March 2016
Pass
62901 miles
Advisory notice item(s)
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Centre Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

17th march 2014
Fail
41403 miles
Reason(s) for failure
Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

27th Feb 2013
Pass
36925 miles
Advisory notice item(s)
Front wiper blades slightly smearing screen.

[lilwashu]

That all looks like normal wear and tear stuff that the owner probably didn't notice.

The main thing you need to look for is rust.

[Evoluzione]

It suggests it was owned by someone who didn't really care about it, although overall condition and service history come into the equation too.
It depends on your budget, personally I avoided cars like that and pushed my budget up to £7k, this got a low miles near on immaculate 2010 Sport tech which hasn't needed much doing to it. It might suit you to spend less initially and then put money into it to keep it going.

[drgoatboy]

The main gripe with these is running low on oil and causing serious engine issues. Some burn oil, some don't. Check the levels, should be on the max mark on the dipstick ideally.
Admittedly the list of advisories does look like mostly like wear and tear stuff but as previously said does it point to a car that's not been fully loved? Look for rust on rear arches and generally underneath.

There are plenty of these about and prices are getting quite cheap now so you can afford to be picky...

[Lihp]

Turned out the Mazda dealer wouldn't budge on his £6695 asking price. So I walked from this one in the end. I'm not paying £6695 for an 81k mile MX5.

The search continues

[VladD]

Lihp said:

Turned out the Mazda dealer wouldn't budge on his £6695 asking price. So I walked from this one in the end. I'm not paying £6695 for an 81k mile MX5.

The search continues

There's plenty out there fortunately, so you'll find a good one. Have you got a stored search on Autotrader?

[SmilerFTM]

For that sort of price I wouldn't be looking at anything with more than 40/45k on the clock, you could easily find something with that sort of milage and around the same age at that price range. Mine was about 6 yr old when I got it with 38k on the clock and I got it for 6.3k. There are loads on autotrader, you may need to be prepared to travel but that shouldn't really be an issue.
Call the garage that is selling it, ask about service history and what's on the last few mots and always be prepared to walk away. If you're unsure about service history get the reg and go to your local Mazda dealership and ask about it

[Luke.]

SmilerFTM said:

Call the garage that is selling it, ask about service history and what's on the last few mots.

You can check the MOTs for yourself right here:

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/?_ga=1.154737...

[SmilerFTM]

Luke. said:

You can check the MOTs for yourself right here:

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/?_ga=1.154737...

True enough, check with the seller after and you have yourself a little honesty checker for them. If they lie in any way you could save yourself a little journey

[drgoatboy]

Not sure where you are in the world but this is more realistically priced and has the bbr 200 package. Been trying to sell it for a while so you might get a good deal
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/122627278541?_trksid=p3984...

(Nothing to do with me by the way just appeared on an eBay search I have running)

[Lihp]

drgoatboy said:

Not sure where you are in the world but this is more realistically priced and has the bbr 200 package. Been trying to sell it for a while so you might get a good deal
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/122627278541?_trksid=p3984...

(Nothing to do with me by the way just appeared on an eBay search I have running)

But bonnet stripes

I am looking at another on Wednesday, 1.8 soft-top 2010 anniversary in stormy blue. 1 owner, 47k miles.

[Evoluzione]

drgoatboy said:

Not sure where you are in the world but this is more realistically priced and has the bbr 200 package. Been trying to sell it for a while so you might get a good deal
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/122627278541?_trksid=p3984...

(Nothing to do with me by the way just appeared on an eBay search I have running)

Doesn't that one say 'Boy racer, i've been thrashed to within an inch of my life'?

[Evoluzione]

Lihp said:

I am looking for a 2008 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport (hard top, not soft also).

Lihp said:

I am looking at another on Wednesday, 1.8 soft-top 2010.

[SmilerFTM]

Evoluzione said:

Doesn't that one say 'Boy racer, i've been thrashed to within an inch of my life'?

MX-5's love being thrashed

[SmilerFTM]

Lihp said:

But bonnet stripes

I am looking at another on Wednesday, 1.8 soft-top 2010 anniversary in stormy blue. 1 owner, 47k miles.

Get a 2.0

[MX-5 Lazza]

Evoluzione said:

drgoatboy said:

Not sure where you are in the world but this is more realistically priced and has the bbr 200 package. Been trying to sell it for a while so you might get a good deal
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/122627278541?_trksid=p3984...

(Nothing to do with me by the way just appeared on an eBay search I have running)

Doesn't that one say 'Boy racer, i've been thrashed to within an inch of my life'?

I don't see anything suggesting that. I do see a very well specced car though and stripes are easy to remove if you don't like them.

[SmilerFTM]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I don't see anything suggesting that. I do see a very well specced car though and stripes are easy to remove if you don't like them.

Similar to mine, I even have the same speakers although I have a forged crank, forged oversize pistons, a small headskim, coilovers rather than lowering springs, I have RX8 arb's rather than new IL Motorsport ones and the air filter is BBR's from the Super 200 mods.
I would really like the Corten Miller Rotrex supercharger done next but money is tight at present

[Evoluzione]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Evoluzione said:

drgoatboy said:

Not sure where you are in the world but this is more realistically priced and has the bbr 200 package. Been trying to sell it for a while so you might get a good deal
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/122627278541?_trksid=p3984...

(Nothing to do with me by the way just appeared on an eBay search I have running)

Doesn't that one say 'Boy racer, i've been thrashed to within an inch of my life'?

I don't see anything suggesting that. I do see a very well specced car though and stripes are easy to remove if you don't like them.

I did and so did everyone else which is why it hasn't sold for so long, I'm speaking as per thread topic from a buyers perspective. Modified cars are ones to avoid, they're very much a personal thing, you do it for yourself and have to put up with the consequences when it comes to selling. It's hardly likely to have been driven around carefully between 0 and 4000rpm is it? You have to rev an engine all the way to find the power of wilder cams otherwise there is no point in fitting them.

[fido]

You could equally argue that someone spending £2k+ on such an expensive modification (BBR isn't cheap) is also a car lover - MX-5s like to revved anyway. I have their GT exhaust system and it doesn't mean I treat it with any less mechanical sympathy than my other wagon. Having said that, the amount of mods does put me off a little bit - if it had a BBR Turbo + full exhaust system ..

Edited by fido on Tuesday 8th August 17:22