How much rust on a mk2.5 should I expect?

[ecophon]

Just been to see a 02 plate sport at a mazda dealer and was a bit suprised to see some rust spotting on the sill (painted part at side), rear wheel arches and bonnet.
Gotta say I was a little dissapointed at this (although it's the first car we have looked at) and was wondering if I have to expect this or have I seen a bit of a shed?

Any help appreciated
Cheers

[MX-5 Lazza]

None at all. I'm sure some of them will be starting to suffer but you certainly shouldn't expect any rust on a 2001+ car.
Shop around and you'll find plenty of clean & rust-free examples.

[ecophon]

Bit of a shed then...

Cheers

[snotrag]

None.

Theres plenty of mid 90's cars about without rusty bodies, so an '02 should be absolutely split mint.

[zac510]

Depends how cheap it is

[OnlyMX5ives]

I just sold a 2.5 with 91k for £3400 and the only rust it had was where 99% go which is by the rear no. plate lights.

[HRG]

Check inside the arch towards the front of the rear arches... You'd be surprised how many are rusty there.

[OllieWinchester]

Probably a sign of a poor repair at that age. My 91 Mk1 has absolutely no rust on the arches...

[HRG]

I looked at a few for the gf and they did seem to suffer surface rust there. Nothing overly serious as long as it's tended to but something a buyer should be aware of IMO.

[S7Paul]

My daughter bought a 2002 model a few weeks ago. There is no visible rust; the only blemishes are where the gloss black paint has dulled slightly in a couple of areas, but this should polish up OK. I will follow HRG's advice & have a closer look up in the arches though.

[paulmurr]

Mines is a bit tatty where the rear arches meet the sills. This is on a 2003 mk 2.5 1.8iS...

[MattjK]

I wouldn't have bought a mk1 with rust on it, so I'd walk away very quickly from a mk2 with any rust whatsoever. There are plenty more; go looky.

[Odie]

my 02 mx5 has the same rust patches.

Wheel Arches, because of twunts smacking there doors into it (i have so many dent in my rear quarter panels its unreal) the steel is rather soft in mx5's

Sills, not entirely sure why, looks like the paint has come away at one of the seams tbh


If you get underneath it, mx5s rot like buggery where you cant see. From what i can see its pretty managable tho.

[DennisTheMenace]

I undersealed mine a few weeks back and its pretty damn solid underneath , need to get a few bubbles sorted at the font of the rear arches but thats it.

[Heathwood]

HRG said:

Check inside the arch towards the front of the rear arches... You'd be surprised how many are rusty there.

Yep, had a look at a 2003 Nevada today and both rear wheel arches were rusty!