MX5 Rust. Better fixed than not found?

[Timewaster]

Bank Holiday boredom has led me to look again at filling the empty space on my driveway with something vaguely interesting and the current focus of my attention is mk3 NC MX5s.

Apparently less rot prone than the early ones but by no means immune.

Autotrader and facepalm marketplace have several at around the £3k mark.

Looking at the MOT history of a few potentials and lots have rust advisories or fails one year and no mention of them again, so presumably welded up.

One or two claim to have receipts for "cills"  repaired.

Others have no mention of rot on the MOT history.

 

So my question is: Is it better to have a clean MOT history and potentially hidden rust or to have rust MOTs and be welded up. The quality of the repair will be difficult to establish. 

Do they ALL rust?

Are the clean history ones likely to be just as rotten but as yet undiscovered? 

[lesapandre]

I'd say get a decent torch, some overalls, nitrile gloves and eye protection and a rubber hammer and ask the owner  and get underneath and everywhere - you can get an endoscope that fit phones these days. 

Just take a really good look - paperwork is just that with corrosion.

[gm]

24 minutes ago, Timewaster said:

Do they ALL rust?

yes !

unfortunately mazda make brilliant cars but seem incapable of decent corrosion protection 

the mk3s do not have the bomb proof mechanicals of previous generations so a good history / enthusiast owner is rather important.

later facelift mk3 cars do have a better reputation for protection and reliability, that is where i would be looking 

 

[Somerset Suffolk]

My uncle has a MK 2.5 he bought a when it was a year old - he lives in Plymouth where the roads rarely get salted in winter .. he's spent a bloody fortune in welding to get it through the MOT. so hopefully  the MK3 is  ALOT less rust prone than a  2.5 ! - as @lesapandre says get underneath and check the MOT history 

 

Uncles MX pictured with my sons in it when he had just got it - their 31 and 29 now, so to be fair its survived this long - he bloody loves it ! - happy hunting and exercise maximum rust caution !   

[Split_Pin]

Dreams:

Reality:

Does that answer your question?

[beko1987]

I frequently walk past a white L reg mx5. 

Used to look stunning. Then over the years the little orange stains have spread, and now both sill joints are one big line of orange, with some nasty bits coming through the rear arches. Both fronts are well in the way too and bursting through the paint

Charlie pointed it out the other day and I said come it's mot (must get it's plate) it'll either vanish forever or vanish for a while and come back fixed* Dread to think what the underside is like

[Dick Cheeseburger]

57 minutes ago, Somerset Suffolk said:

My uncle has a MK 2.5 he bought a when it was a year old - he lives in Plymouth where the roads rarely get salted in winter .. he's spent a bloody fortune in welding to get it through the MOT. so hopefully  the MK3 is  ALOT less rust prone than a  2.5 ! - as @lesapandre says get underneath and check the MOT history 

 

Uncles MX pictured with my sons in it when he had just got it - their 31 and 29 now, so to be fair its survived this long - he bloody loves it ! - happy hunting and exercise maximum rust caution !   

There's a lot going on in this photo! Kudos to your uncle for keeping the Mazda going for ao long, despite the propensity to make itself ginger. Is the mkiv Golf his? Impressed to see it's made 200k and still going. Shame the lovely 3 door R8 coupe only made it to 2008 though...

[danthecapriman]

When it comes to rust you can’t beat your own eyes looking for it.

An MOT history check or past history on the car is a good pointer but the reality is that you really need to get underneath any car and check for yourself.

Obviously a rust free car is the best bet (assuming it really is rust free) and you can then take measures to keep it rust free. 
If it’s had rust and been fixed that’s fine too, but plating over rust is not fixing it properly. Many people wouldn’t know the difference between plating for an MOT and fixing it properly, so again, you’re best off checking things yourself. If the seller doesn’t want anyone checking thoroughly then walk away and find another. 
There’s nothing particularly wrong with a car that’s had rust repairs provided it’s done right so I wouldn’t let it worry me. Warning signs though are cheapo black tide marks where it should be painted body colour, pigeon poo welds, spot welds or tacks instead of proper seems, over use of underseal/seem sealer etc covering things up… etc etc.

Using your eyes and judgement are the best weapon with cars prone to rot.

[Split_Pin]

Similarly, MOT advisories for corrosion may be a nit-picking tester or one that's scared of everything.

As said, make your own assessment.

[Somerset Suffolk]

3 hours ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

There's a lot going on in this photo! Kudos to your uncle for keeping the Mazda going for ao long, despite the propensity to make itself ginger. Is the mkiv Golf his? Impressed to see it's made 200k and still going. Shame the lovely 3 door R8 coupe only made it to 2008 though...

130 GT TDI

The golfs mine - had it from brand new and still clattering away nicely  - the R8 was probably crashed  ....

[Rustybullethole]

Get one with lots of paper work. You can use it to stuff in the holes before adding a skim of pudding. 
 

[dome]

I dare say a rot free MK3 may exist but not up here in Scotland. The metal seems very thin and I've yet to see one that I'd trust. I once poked my finger through the boot floor of one with very little effort.

Don't trust MOT history, get underneath (or in the boot) and poke away. 

And don't forget they have engine problems too, plenty of smokey ones for sale at the more exciting lower end of the market 

[beko1987]

Walked past the mx5 I mentioned earlier earlier and it probably once looked really good. Nowadays? Not so much. Is parked outside in all weathers too. 

[Timewaster]

Shame.

OrYou know those spots are the tip of a very crumbly iceberg.