anything i should look out for when buying an mx5

hi all - am looking to buy the misses an mx5 as a lil potter round toy for the summer.

can anyone please advise of any usual rust spots or other areas i should look for when viewing a car.

i am looking at buying a round a 97/98 plate model

many thanks

i think you should take a good look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself why a mazda

They're great cars, mechanically they are very sound so just look for the usual things you probably won't find too much wrong.

However you need to check the bodywork for rust particularly the sills in front of the rear wheels. The design of the soft top runs the water down into the sills and out through drain holes but if they become blocked the water can't get out easily and the rust begins.

If you can, buy one with a hard top, it prevents the water running this way and it's a great thing to have in the wintertime anyway.

Don't listen to the 'hair dressers car' comments, they are one of the sweetest handling, fun cars you will ever own.

Terrible, terrible cars I know because I have one.  They are well engineered in terms of packaging, and they have a reputation for great handling, but thats literally all they have going for them.  You'll feel like you've gone back in time from a mk1 Golf in terms of build quality


They would make good track cars for someone wanting to hoon something round a circuit not caring about looking silly, but otherwise, they are slow, they look turd, and they are made of ass :roll:

I should probably add that my opinion is for a mk1 MX5. The later models are probably much better

i have just sold mine and loved owning it, look for rust on the earlier ones, the mechanics are pretty bomb proof but look for seized brakes, and worn rear bushs (car will feel twitchy at rear) everything else is usual second hand car stuff,

thanks for the comments - this is not for me but i guess i will be seen in it so have taken those coments on board and also thanks re the rust - ill keep an eye open for that sorta thing

Check under the seats, its very important………..for things like pink hairbands and lip gloss.haha.
On a more serious note, mechanically very strong, but do like to rust on the mk1. Still the one to have though, not lots of power, but you always feel like your on the edge. Used to love blasting my wifes one around, mind you that was about ten years ago and about 2 stone lighter,

MY OPINION,GOOD CAR FOR HAIRDRESSERS AND CHECK FOR MISSFIRES ON COLD STARTS AS THE COIL PACKS DONT LAST LONG,SO IF RUNNING ON TWO ON START UP IT NEEDS CHANGING.BUY A GOLF