How bad is rust mx5
Discussion
Ive settled on this on my next car. Ive asked a similar question but still a bit vague on the matter.
How bad is rust on a mx5 from 2008-2011 sort of time?
Is it just a case of there might be some but itll just need repairing or is it going to be bad enough to erode through the bodywork etc at that age?
Could i buy a car from that year and just get it undersealed and it would be fine?
I wont really know what im looking for and probably wont be able to look underneath the whole of the car as the garage is unlikely to have a lift.
How bad is rust on a mx5 from 2008-2011 sort of time?
Is it just a case of there might be some but itll just need repairing or is it going to be bad enough to erode through the bodywork etc at that age?
Could i buy a car from that year and just get it undersealed and it would be fine?
I wont really know what im looking for and probably wont be able to look underneath the whole of the car as the garage is unlikely to have a lift.
Some of the earlier mk3 are now showing up with nasty rust, but its relatively rare from what i have seen and i would serioulsy hope that in that age range you shouldnt find anything too nasty.
Check the rear arches as this is where it seems to show up first. Wishbones will likely be showing some surface rust but this shouldnt be too much of an issue, particularly if you are prepared to have it teated and properly undersealed.
Take an old sheet to lie on and a torch. you can have a good look without a lift if you are prepared to roll round on the floor a bit
Check the rear arches as this is where it seems to show up first. Wishbones will likely be showing some surface rust but this shouldnt be too much of an issue, particularly if you are prepared to have it teated and properly undersealed.
Take an old sheet to lie on and a torch. you can have a good look without a lift if you are prepared to roll round on the floor a bit
drgoatboy said:
Some of the earlier mk3 are now showing up with nasty rust, but its relatively rare from what i have seen and i would serioulsy hope that in that age range you shouldnt find anything too nasty.
Check the rear arches as this is where it seems to show up first. Wishbones will likely be showing some surface rust but this shouldnt be too much of an issue, particularly if you are prepared to have it teated and properly undersealed.
Take an old sheet to lie on and a torch. you can have a good look without a lift if you are prepared to roll round on the floor a bit
What exactly should i be concerned about when i look, if i see rust on anything underneath should i be worried?Check the rear arches as this is where it seems to show up first. Wishbones will likely be showing some surface rust but this shouldnt be too much of an issue, particularly if you are prepared to have it teated and properly undersealed.
Take an old sheet to lie on and a torch. you can have a good look without a lift if you are prepared to roll round on the floor a bit
dieseluser07 said:
drgoatboy said:
Some of the earlier mk3 are now showing up with nasty rust, but its relatively rare from what i have seen and i would serioulsy hope that in that age range you shouldnt find anything too nasty.
Check the rear arches as this is where it seems to show up first. Wishbones will likely be showing some surface rust but this shouldnt be too much of an issue, particularly if you are prepared to have it teated and properly undersealed.
Take an old sheet to lie on and a torch. you can have a good look without a lift if you are prepared to roll round on the floor a bit
What exactly should i be concerned about when i look, if i see rust on anything underneath should i be worried?Check the rear arches as this is where it seems to show up first. Wishbones will likely be showing some surface rust but this shouldnt be too much of an issue, particularly if you are prepared to have it teated and properly undersealed.
Take an old sheet to lie on and a torch. you can have a good look without a lift if you are prepared to roll round on the floor a bit
I sold our 2007 model not long ago. The rear sub frame and suspension especially started becoming crusty a few years ago. Unsightly but structurally sound.
The worst bits of the monocoque on ours were the chassis legs under the boot floor. Sills still perfect. Watch out for those places on the chassis legs where Mazda prevented underseal getting in the wrong places by slapping a 4 inch strip of masking tape in place, leaving lovely untreated sections to crust-up.
The worst bits of the monocoque on ours were the chassis legs under the boot floor. Sills still perfect. Watch out for those places on the chassis legs where Mazda prevented underseal getting in the wrong places by slapping a 4 inch strip of masking tape in place, leaving lovely untreated sections to crust-up.
Although I'd done a lot of research before buying my NC2, I have since noticed tiny sections which are starting to go a little.
On the boot lid, by the number plate lights.
On both rear arches, very minor but worth sorting.
A miniscule bit by one side repeater
Some peculiar paint issue on the decking, mine is a roadster. It's not metal so isn't rust but just come from the poor paint job done by mazda. Even coming from a 90's Alfa I'd been shocked at the paint!
The arches will get sorted in 2018, by my local body shop. I'd rather spend a bit now and 'sort' it rather than it become more and more unsightly over my ownership. It'll probably cost me £500 for the bits I mentioned above at mates rates. I've already had the car undersealed which brings some peace of mind, but it does seem as though the achilles heel of these cars is the paint/bodywork. The mechanics seem great so far from what I've read and experienced (touchwood).
So essentially, definitely check those bits that I've mentioned.
On the boot lid, by the number plate lights.
On both rear arches, very minor but worth sorting.
A miniscule bit by one side repeater
Some peculiar paint issue on the decking, mine is a roadster. It's not metal so isn't rust but just come from the poor paint job done by mazda. Even coming from a 90's Alfa I'd been shocked at the paint!
The arches will get sorted in 2018, by my local body shop. I'd rather spend a bit now and 'sort' it rather than it become more and more unsightly over my ownership. It'll probably cost me £500 for the bits I mentioned above at mates rates. I've already had the car undersealed which brings some peace of mind, but it does seem as though the achilles heel of these cars is the paint/bodywork. The mechanics seem great so far from what I've read and experienced (touchwood).
So essentially, definitely check those bits that I've mentioned.
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