MX5 MK2 - serious rust issues? check before you buy one!

[MX-5 Lazza]

Flatinfourth said:

Is this body rust quality control thing mith Mazdas in any way related to the fact that Ford are one of the remaining manufacturors to produce cars that rust?

It's nothing to do with Ford. It's a Mazda. Would you blame Fiat for dodgy electrics in an Alfa?

[buzzer]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Flatinfourth said:

Is this body rust quality control thing mith Mazdas in any way related to the fact that Ford are one of the remaining manufacturors to produce cars that rust?

It's nothing to do with Ford. It's a Mazda. Would you blame Fiat for dodgy electrics in an Alfa?

I thought that from the mid 90's to 2008 Ford had a controlling interest in Mazda? If that the case they would have shared technologies/process. That era seems to cover when they had a serious rust problem.

Maybe they still do after looking under a couple of newish MX5's...

[MX-5 Lazza]

The chassis rail rust is due to an enforced change to make the car pass collision safety regulations. It was nothing to do with any link with Ford. After all, Ford also owned Volvo, Jaguar, Aston Martin & Land Rover. Did these cars all suffer from rust issues during that period?

[buzzer]

MX-5 Lazza said:

The chassis rail rust is due to an enforced change to make the car pass collision safety regulations. It was nothing to do with any link with Ford. After all, Ford also owned Volvo, Jaguar, Aston Martin & Land Rover. Did these cars all suffer from rust issues during that period?

Mazda do seem to have a real rust issue emerging though with other models, as well as MX5...

[MX-5 Lazza]

buzzer said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

The chassis rail rust is due to an enforced change to make the car pass collision safety regulations. It was nothing to do with any link with Ford. After all, Ford also owned Volvo, Jaguar, Aston Martin & Land Rover. Did these cars all suffer from rust issues during that period?

Mazda do seem to have a real rust issue emerging though with other models, as well as MX5...

Bur Ford, Volvo, Jaguar, Aston Martin & Land Rover don't so I'd guess that it's a Mazda problem rather than anything caused by their association with Ford

[anonymous-user]

Flatinfourth said:

Is this body rust quality control thing mith Mazdas in any way related to the fact that Ford are one of the remaining manufacturors to produce cars that rust?

I think Mercedes Benz might have something to say about you giving that title to Ford!

[buzzer]

dme123 said:

I think Mercedes Benz might have something to say about you giving that title to Ford!

[MX-5 Lazza]

Do modern Fords rust? Until a couple of years ago I had a '98 Ford Focus that was absolutely spotless and it wasn't because I kept it particularly well. I bought it cheap and ran it into the ground as my cheap run-around to keep the miles off the MX5.

[GravelBen]

Out of interest are the Mk2 rust issues documented in other places as well as UK forums?

I like the idea of a Mk2 at some stage after a couple of Mk1's previously but I don't like the sound of the rust - however Mk1's seem to have a reputation for rusting in the UK too but don't really rust here in NZ as we don't salt our roads.

Just curious as to whether its something I need to look out for here as well or something PH would make me paranoid about thats not an issue here.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Only guessing but I'd say it's probably less of a problem over there but as it's caused by moisture being trapped between the 2 layers of steel in the chassis legs then it will still be a potential problem as I wouldn't have thought too much road salt would reach the insides of the chassis legs even if the roads were salted like they are over here.

[NRS]

Some parts of the USA has a problem too - I think that was where it was "discovered". There was/ are some owners who were taking Mazda to court about it.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Which parts? I believe some parts of the US do use salt on the roads.

[buzzer]

What worries me about the rust on the MK2 is that its hidden... The car I looked at that prompted this thread was immaculate, and I don't use that word lightly.

Although the chassis was rotten, he remainder of the car was just perfect, it did not even look as if it had had any paintwork or bodywork, the paint was factory fresh, and when I ran my hand under the rear wheel arch lip, it was perfect, and clean, the sign of a fastidious owner.

This is going to kill a lot of MX5's

[NRS]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Which parts? I believe some parts of the US do use salt on the roads.

Not sure - I just remember it on one of the US sites, and they were talking about some owners sueing Mazda, since it's such a big safety issue. I do remember reading about some parts of the US using salt and it just destroys the cars there.

[scott15]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Do modern Fords rust? Until a couple of years ago I had a '98 Ford Focus that was absolutely spotless and it wasn't because I kept it particularly well. I bought it cheap and ran it into the ground as my cheap run-around to keep the miles off the MX5.

From my experience, yes, very badly.

The mk3 and mk4 Fiesta all rust very bad, mainly sills and arches. But by far the worst is the KA, absolutely awful for rusting (and pretty much everything else too). They rust on sills, subframe, subframe mounts, round the petrol flap, bottom of the a pillars, and along the bottom of the windscreen.
I had to repair a few sets of sills on the KA's at a bodyshop i used to work at. Counted 12 holes in a single sill on a KA. The owner still wanted them all patched up (along with the 8 holes on the other sill, and both subframe mounts), and paid 500 for the privilege!

[Flatinfourth]

BeirutTaxi said:

I'm a bit gutted that it's such a problem on the MK2's. MK3 MX5's have some rust issues too.

It's certainly put me off buying a new Mazda of any sort.

All I would say as someone who has had two 2003 cars within the space of two weeks, with £1,000 difference in the cost of rust repair between them, is to find a good one, the extent of the corrosion can be gauged pretty well without disection.

If the car appears solid and unbodged, then let the owner hound it round the lanes with you and i defy you not to wan't to test drive it and buy it!

[charlie0]

Morning all,

I'm wanting to buy a mk2 mx5 next week. I've had a good read online and came across this thread ( thank you OP !!)

I don't know much about cars, is it unreasonable / a lot of work for the garage I'm buying from to remove the undertray to let me have a look? (and then put it back on)

I'm a bit cautious of the seller so don't want to be fobbed off with and excuse if its easy for them to do.



charlie

[Sway]

charlie0 said:

Morning all,

I'm wanting to buy a mk2 mx5 next week. I've had a good read online and came across this thread ( thank you OP !!)

I don't know much about cars, is it unreasonable / a lot of work for the garage I'm buying from to remove the undertray to let me have a look? (and then put it back on)

I'm a bit cautious of the seller so don't want to be fobbed off with and excuse if its easy for them to do.



charlie

Whilst I have in the past taken a toolbox and pretty much dissected a car I was thinking of buying (having made sure it was alright with the owner before turning up!), in this case it's not necessary. Turn the steering to full lock, and look through the front of the wheelarch - you'll see the front rails and if there's any hint of blistering/raised areas, the ensure the price reflects the £1500-£2000 of work to fix it properly... It's not a difficult fix aiui, just bloody time consuming as a lot of the major things need removing/reinstalling.

It is worth removing the rear arch sill bung and having a look inside, just need a bit of care and a flat screwdriver.

I was lucky with my 98 imported RS. Cared for by an aged chap upon first import, it wasn't allowed to get wet. Then owned by a fairly careless mate who fortunately didn't have it long enough for any damage. Bought it at a price that allowed Garath at the MX5 Restorer to do the full works, it only (!) needs both sills and one rear arch. Bilt Hamber's finest will be used liberally to prevent any future issues.

[NRS]

charlie0 said:

Morning all,

I'm wanting to buy a mk2 mx5 next week. I've had a good read online and came across this thread ( thank you OP !!)

I don't know much about cars, is it unreasonable / a lot of work for the garage I'm buying from to remove the undertray to let me have a look? (and then put it back on)

I'm a bit cautious of the seller so don't want to be fobbed off with and excuse if its easy for them to do.

charlie

You can do as suggested above, but it doesn't give you access to it all. It's not difficult to take the undertray off - lift the car and undo quite a few screws (for some reason I have around 9 in my head but could be nonsense). So it more depends how much time they have on the lift/ if they can be bothered doing it depending how much they are getting for selling the car.

[MX-5 Lazza]

If you know what you are looking for and where it is, you should be able to feel for it with your fingers without having to remove anything. You do need to know where to expect it though.