Rusty MX5 for sale - advice?
Discussion
Alright everyone?
I'm considering getting my first MX5. It's a mk2.5 for £2,500 with <50k miles full service history few month MOT left.
The only issue with it is the following advisory's on the MOT-
Nearside Front Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security inner arch area (6.2.2 (d) (i))
and
Offside Front Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security inner arch area (6.2.2 (d) (i))
It's had these as advisory's in the most recent MOT last year, and an MOT in 2018, but none in-between,maybe a cheap repair job?
Anyway, I was hoping someone might have some advice on the matter, like potential repair costs before she fails an MOT on rust, or if I should just steer clear of it.
Cheers.
I'm considering getting my first MX5. It's a mk2.5 for £2,500 with <50k miles full service history few month MOT left.
The only issue with it is the following advisory's on the MOT-
Nearside Front Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security inner arch area (6.2.2 (d) (i))
and
Offside Front Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security inner arch area (6.2.2 (d) (i))
It's had these as advisory's in the most recent MOT last year, and an MOT in 2018, but none in-between,maybe a cheap repair job?
Anyway, I was hoping someone might have some advice on the matter, like potential repair costs before she fails an MOT on rust, or if I should just steer clear of it.
Cheers.
I suggest you take a look at the Lights up Lights down Youtube channel if you have not already done so. The videos on there of rust repairs to MX5 bodies will illustrate that MOT reported rust issues are likely to be only the tip of the iceberg if you want to fix the car for the long term.
With regard to the loss of advisories between MOTs then the areas were probably just daubed in paint/underseal to hide from the tester for the intermediate year's test.
With regard to the loss of advisories between MOTs then the areas were probably just daubed in paint/underseal to hide from the tester for the intermediate year's test.
MX5s are great. I bought my one at the start of 2021. 38k miles, Mazda FSH. Only used as a summer car for the majority of its life. Fresh MOT with no advisories. Since, I have only used it between April and September last year in the dry weather. These cars rust from the inside out and there's nothing you can do to prevent it. (I thought due to my cars history it would be ok. I was wrong!)
I have just booked it in for the replacement of Chassis rails/legs, sills, rear arches etc.
£1600 for the welding, around £400 for panels, paint on top of that!
If I was in the market for one today with my MX5 experience now, I would either avoid any that have now been fixed properly (photographic evidence) or purchase one and factor in the price to fix the common rust areas.
Everything else about the MX5 is great! Parts are cheap, they are well built and provide a great experience.
Good luck with your search
I have just booked it in for the replacement of Chassis rails/legs, sills, rear arches etc.
£1600 for the welding, around £400 for panels, paint on top of that!
If I was in the market for one today with my MX5 experience now, I would either avoid any that have now been fixed properly (photographic evidence) or purchase one and factor in the price to fix the common rust areas.
Everything else about the MX5 is great! Parts are cheap, they are well built and provide a great experience.
Good luck with your search
I bought our second MX5 over 7 years ago - VVT sport etc. for 2500 after some haggling and me pointing out the rust on the rear sills and a couple of bulges on the chassis rails at the front. I'd done all that stuff on the previous car so knew what I was likely in for. The old car had done a 50 mile commute in all weathers and my wife became quite confident driving it. The attraction of the "new" car was low mileage at around 30,000 so it seemed a good deal. Anyhow, 25,000 miles later and yet more welding it's still with us and I can still weld faster than it can rust! They are not bad to maintain, but they do rust, so take someone trusty with you and good luck.
MOT advisories are not that reliable, what one tester puts down as an advisory another might not even comment on. People seem to think that an MOT is an MOT is an MOT, but that's just not the case. My local station has a reputation for listing advisories that just aren't there, they also always quote to repair all the advisories. I also know of MOT testers putting down a list of advisories on an older car just to protect themselves in case someone asks questions about the validity of the MOT later. Also beware of the station offering discount MOT's, they don't earn much from doing MOTs and have to make the money back somewhere. Discounted MOT stations are also likely to receive more inspections by the ministry and therefore are more likely to be harsh.
OK, back to rust on MX5s. They do rust, and much worse than pretty much any other modern car I know of (Mk1 Ka and later Fiestas are also pretty bad). If you're not handy at fixing rust yourself or know a good welder/body shop my advice would be to buy a better car that doesn't have any rust.
OK, back to rust on MX5s. They do rust, and much worse than pretty much any other modern car I know of (Mk1 Ka and later Fiestas are also pretty bad). If you're not handy at fixing rust yourself or know a good welder/body shop my advice would be to buy a better car that doesn't have any rust.
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