Mk2 Mazda Mx-5 Reliability
Discussion
Hi there, I am considering purchasing a mk2 mx-5, however I have some general concerns surrounding age, milage and general reliability and I thought it would be best to try and get some advice from those who have experience with the car. Aside from general wear and tear and rust, how reliable is the mx-5? I'm not yet 100% decided on buying one, mainly due to the fact that I'm concerned about the age and reliability and don't have huge amounts of cash to spend on repairs. Any information or advice anyone may have surrounding mx-5 reliability would be greatly appreciated!
One thing I'm sure of, is that an mx5 will be more reliable than my 2003 clio, which I've spent twice as much on repairing as I did buying it in the first place!
Cheers for the incoming advice!
One thing I'm sure of, is that an mx5 will be more reliable than my 2003 clio, which I've spent twice as much on repairing as I did buying it in the first place!
Cheers for the incoming advice!
Hi I bought a Mk2 about a month ago as a bit of an impulse purchase, always half fancied one but it turned up for sale just round the corner so i took the plunge. I am using it as my daily driver and have covered about 1500 miles so far without any gremlins other than what i knew about when I bought it.
As purchased it needed a new back box, this has now been done but it also needed a new center pipe as well. At the time I also had the gearbox oil changed as 1st to 2nd when cold was a pain, but it did snow for a week after i bought it so it was colder than normal. The oil change transformed the gearbox, well worth doing.
The air con does not work, but I will attempt to get it refilled and hope it holds
It had a really annoying rattle from the style bar, this was sorted by wrapping the spacers in sections of inner tube.
I have no leaks at all from the roof.
Mine has now done 96K, the last owner did (as far as I can tell) bugger all to it, luckily bugger all mileage too, prior to that it was well looked after with loads of history.. The engine does no rattle or smoke and hasn't used much oil since I took it on. It does have LED headlights, these are coming out as they appear to have stopped the dash tell tale lamp working (resistance I think) so that will be a MOT failure if I don't swap them back to regular lamps.
I have waited to find the "reason he sold it" and to be honest other than the rear box and impending cam belt change nothing has gone wrong or pop. The belt was last changed at 45k so it really is due now depending on what books, magazines, dealers you talk too. I have been quoted 350 to 450 pounds for this.
All I would say is the Japanese parts do seem expensive, well compared to my US parts I import from the states. Or I am really behind the times.
Hope this helps a bit.
As purchased it needed a new back box, this has now been done but it also needed a new center pipe as well. At the time I also had the gearbox oil changed as 1st to 2nd when cold was a pain, but it did snow for a week after i bought it so it was colder than normal. The oil change transformed the gearbox, well worth doing.
The air con does not work, but I will attempt to get it refilled and hope it holds
It had a really annoying rattle from the style bar, this was sorted by wrapping the spacers in sections of inner tube.
I have no leaks at all from the roof.
Mine has now done 96K, the last owner did (as far as I can tell) bugger all to it, luckily bugger all mileage too, prior to that it was well looked after with loads of history.. The engine does no rattle or smoke and hasn't used much oil since I took it on. It does have LED headlights, these are coming out as they appear to have stopped the dash tell tale lamp working (resistance I think) so that will be a MOT failure if I don't swap them back to regular lamps.
I have waited to find the "reason he sold it" and to be honest other than the rear box and impending cam belt change nothing has gone wrong or pop. The belt was last changed at 45k so it really is due now depending on what books, magazines, dealers you talk too. I have been quoted 350 to 450 pounds for this.
All I would say is the Japanese parts do seem expensive, well compared to my US parts I import from the states. Or I am really behind the times.
Hope this helps a bit.
I don't think you need to be too worried
We have a £1300 1.6 and rust is your major enemy - the missus has it as a second car as she is barred from driving the R500k and last August she cooked it up and then did a 19 mile journey - all it needed was a new thermostat - we were lucky - it starts eveytime and she has taken it away for a couple if days on the mainland with our daughter - no worries.
We have a £1300 1.6 and rust is your major enemy - the missus has it as a second car as she is barred from driving the R500k and last August she cooked it up and then did a 19 mile journey - all it needed was a new thermostat - we were lucky - it starts eveytime and she has taken it away for a couple if days on the mainland with our daughter - no worries.
I had a 51 plate for 8 years, bought it with 31k on the clock and sold it with 108k. All four calipers went, which as you can see is a fairly common issue and I replaced the discs but apart from that and normal servicing/tyres there was a grand total of...
Nothing else. Nada. Zip. Zero.
Got rid of it because the sills were beginning to go as was the roof. Plus I got offered my current Mk2.5 and it was so good I couldn't refuse. The only advise I'd give is try and get one without a vinyl roof, they are nowhere near as good as a cloth and will crack and leak.
Apart from than you are making a very shrewd purchase, enjoy!!!
Nothing else. Nada. Zip. Zero.
Got rid of it because the sills were beginning to go as was the roof. Plus I got offered my current Mk2.5 and it was so good I couldn't refuse. The only advise I'd give is try and get one without a vinyl roof, they are nowhere near as good as a cloth and will crack and leak.
Apart from than you are making a very shrewd purchase, enjoy!!!
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