What to look out for in Mazda MX5 Mk2?

[AnthonyG]

As it says - what do I need to look out on a Mazda Mx5 Mk2? This is the R reg onwards one, not the original - My mum wants one with an airbag. Looking at spending a maximum of £2k. Winter's always a good time to buy a bargain convertible!

 

I had a look at a Cat C salvage 53 reg one and most of the sill on both sides was bubbling like a Sodastream - is that usual for a 7-8 year old one?

 

Also is the 1.6 good enough for a non speed freak or do you really need the 1.8?

 

Cheers

 

Anthony

[r.welfare]

I think the front and rear of the sills can corrode as well as the Mk1 can, to be honest - they're the worst places. I sold a 10-year-old Mk1 five years ago for a mate of mine, and that was beginning to go around the 'join' on the sill to the rear end of the driver's door. Also, on the advice of the MX5 forum, I undid the bolts at the bottom of each front wing where it meets the sill - and about a ton of leaves and mulch fell out...Mazda seem to be pretty poor on the rust-prevention front, I see plenty of early 6's with rotten rear arches that are a good four or five years newer than my Accord, for example.

 

I do know that the Mk1 had a detuned 1.6 towards the end of it's run (as my mate's was such a machine, on a P-plate) and, to be honest, with 88bhp it didn't have enough power to pull the dick off a chocolate mouse. My tatty Feb 2000 Parker's tells me the Mk2 had a 110bhp 1.6, which still seems a bit down on the original 1990 spec, but if your mum's not worried I'd be ambivalent on engine size. Make sure it has PAS though - again, that boggo 1.6 I was custodian of didn't...and the steering was bloody heavy at low speed.

 

Otherwise watch out for bling/barry mods (some of the shite you can get for these things a PT Cruiser owner would think twice about fitting!) and a lack of maintenance. Ideally a one or two-owner machine that's been used for high days and holidays is what you want to aim for!

 

A former colleague picked up a Y-plater 1.8 with about 90k on it for £3k recently, but that was an impulse buy from a dealer and a bit too salty for my liking.

[Rocket88]

As above ref rot. Hoods are fairly cheap, if it needs doing, mechanically they seem pretty robust. I have seen one with fairly serious rot in the boot, whether weather [ho ho]it gets in at the back of the hood if it's damaged, I know not............

[barefoot]

I don't actually know anything about MX-5's but the bloke who services my 944 does & he sells a shed load of them.

He keeps lending them to me as courtesy cars & although I don't drive massive distances in them, they do seem like a bit of a chucklebutty.

Anyway, PH Sportscars just off J24 M1 on 01332 792086 is worth a call.

[woolleyiain]

I don't see any corrosion issues with em (we live in Arizona). They're pretty bombproof though. Timing belt should have been done at 60k / 5 years. Check if the cam and crank seals were done at this point too - we see those go bad. Other than that oil pan seals and rear mains seem to be the other issue, the oil pan is a pain - it requires the front subframe to come off the car to do. Some of the ones at this age are starting to need rear struts too, some of these are bilsteins and are hugely expensive to replace. The ac systems are poo too. Though that's more of a result of where we live than anything else I think. They are massively chuckable though, and suprisingly solid if they get crunched. That 1.6 is underpowered though. The later ones on a 1.8 with a six speed are a better bet

[Felly Magic]

They seem to be lame ducks in the trade too lately. A local dealer has had an X reg one for sale since July! They do rust almost everywhere. Even the screen pillars can turn red & powdery.

[michael1703]

the piece of sill between 'B' post and rear arch is usually hanging, I think the hood must drain in to there

 

gearbox wear and grating to get into reverse

 

moss do mx5 parts http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Browse/Com ... teTypeID=1

[meggersdog]

Apart from the obvious rust issues the rear discs corrode and the windows play up,sometimes it's the regulator but mostly the switch needs taking apart and cleaning.

[AnthonyG]

Thanks to all for replies - I have been off looking for accomodation over the weekend.

 

I think the combo of a 1.8 that gives 146 bhp and a six speed box is very seductive, but the 1600 should be fine for a weekend top down blast. Most good condition ones under £2 seem to be 1600s, although I've only looked at the dreaded 'bay so far.