MX5 MK2 - serious rust issues? check before you buy one!
Discussion
MX-5 Lazza said:
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.
I've been told that by my other half...Not quite sure what she's referring to, but I don't think it's rust, and she seems to think it's important.
:shrug:
Sway said:
MX-5 Lazza said:
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.
I've been told that by my other half...Not quite sure what she's referring to, but I don't think it's rust, and she seems to think it's important.
:shrug:
k-ink said:
This thread has certainly killed my interest in the idea of a UK sourced 5 as a weekend toy. It also raises a general cloud over any other Mazda product, if this is their idea of acceptable standards. Oh well, next!
My car is 26 years old most are heading for 20 even the last of the mk2s are knocking on a bit. You surely wouldn't expect it to be showroom fresh at the ages these cars are now? Especially as most won't have been looked after properly.Ours was rust free by the time we got rid after three year of ownership as we had both rear quarters & the front chassis replaced and the all the original under seal replaced.
WWAC were not interested in any of that though, as all 2.5 Sports are effectively priced same to them, so I can imagine some real dogs on the dealer forecourts.
WWAC were not interested in any of that though, as all 2.5 Sports are effectively priced same to them, so I can imagine some real dogs on the dealer forecourts.
Still a fun car to own though! We're on our second Mk 2.5 VVT Sport - my wife used the first one day in and day out for a couple of years which put up the miles as you may imagine. And yes, it was rusty and needed the sills and front rails fixed. Bought another fairly cheaply using corrosion as a bargaining point and mended that too - an 04 plate with 40,000 or so on the clock - all the same stuff plus a surprise hole in the D/S rail under the car which on close examination looked to have been caused by a garage trolley jack whose other foot had squashed the little outrigger under the footwell. Lots of waxoil and so on underneath, also took off the braces and cleaned and painted them. I've also thrown away the front undertray which has insulating pads on it as it's made of tin and gathers dirt and gravel, and got rid of the heatshield above the rear silencer. That way you can clean up the boot floor properly, and no, the heat doesn't seem to get to the floor at all.
Have had my VVT mk2.5 for nearly a year now and have really enjoyed the experience. Rust was prominent on one arch and could be felt under both sills, the chassis rail problem only appeared on one side of the engine bay.
I recently went on a three week holiday down under, so put the 5 in for sill replacements and chassis rail repair. On my return the car looked great when I picked it up from Mark Lifton (Sheerness Kent)on Monday. He had replaced the sills and said that the inner sills were in good condition, the chassis rail problem wasn't as bad as he had expected, thankfully. He cleaned up all the blemishes, had the dent guy in to remove a couple of shopping trolley nicks and even cleaned the headlamps, I was very impressed with his level of detail, so much so that he is going to be tidying up my 330 sport for me next.
Next job on the 5 is to have the wheels refurbed, that is being done at the end of the month, after that it could do with a new hood but that isn't desperate (It only leaks when parked facing downwards on a hill !).
I'm certainly looking forward to another good summer of driving.
I recently went on a three week holiday down under, so put the 5 in for sill replacements and chassis rail repair. On my return the car looked great when I picked it up from Mark Lifton (Sheerness Kent)on Monday. He had replaced the sills and said that the inner sills were in good condition, the chassis rail problem wasn't as bad as he had expected, thankfully. He cleaned up all the blemishes, had the dent guy in to remove a couple of shopping trolley nicks and even cleaned the headlamps, I was very impressed with his level of detail, so much so that he is going to be tidying up my 330 sport for me next.
Next job on the 5 is to have the wheels refurbed, that is being done at the end of the month, after that it could do with a new hood but that isn't desperate (It only leaks when parked facing downwards on a hill !).
I'm certainly looking forward to another good summer of driving.
breezer42 said:
Thread revival (sorry!) - what's the going rate for this work now?
(i) sill replacement (per side)
(ii) Chassis rail replacement (per side)
I'm just trying to work out a worst case scenario so I can haggle when I find a 10AE.
Thank!
Personal experience on the south coast:(i) sill replacement (per side)
(ii) Chassis rail replacement (per side)
I'm just trying to work out a worst case scenario so I can haggle when I find a 10AE.
Thank!
Sill approx £5-600
Rear arch adds around £200
Front chassis rail approx. £400
However, prices seem to vary massively based on location, approach taken and quality...
Iirc, the 10Ae paint is as much of a b
d to colour match as my Montego Blue.Sway said:
Personal experience on the south coast:
Sill approx £5-600
Rear arch adds around £200
Front chassis rail approx. £400
However, prices seem to vary massively based on location, approach taken and quality...
Iirc, the 10Ae paint is as much of a bd to colour match as my Montego Blue.
Many thanks! I'm also in the south, so imagine that's in the area of what I'd pay too. Sill approx £5-600
Rear arch adds around £200
Front chassis rail approx. £400
However, prices seem to vary massively based on location, approach taken and quality...
Iirc, the 10Ae paint is as much of a b
d to colour match as my Montego Blue.Oh dear! Maybe I shouldn't hang on to the 10AE dream too tightly then. I suppose a late 1.8 sport would be similar (6sp and LSD are my priorities), just not as fun to look at or sit in.
breezer42 said:
Sway said:
Personal experience on the south coast:
Sill approx £5-600
Rear arch adds around £200
Front chassis rail approx. £400
However, prices seem to vary massively based on location, approach taken and quality...
Iirc, the 10Ae paint is as much of a bd to colour match as my Montego Blue.
Many thanks! I'm also in the south, so imagine that's in the area of what I'd pay too. Sill approx £5-600
Rear arch adds around £200
Front chassis rail approx. £400
However, prices seem to vary massively based on location, approach taken and quality...
Iirc, the 10Ae paint is as much of a b
d to colour match as my Montego Blue.Oh dear! Maybe I shouldn't hang on to the 10AE dream too tightly then. I suppose a late 1.8 sport would be similar (6sp and LSD are my priorities), just not as fun to look at or sit in.
I've got a 98 nb RS. Apart from looks (and I'm not personally a fan of the 10Ae blue or chrome wheels) the only difference is the diff ratio, with the 10Ae having the longest final drive of any mk2, which is great for lots of motorway use...
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