RE: Shed Of the Week: Mazda MX-5 Mk2
Discussion
Well the arch is clearly showing signs of rust from the poor photos shown but its there which is a bad sign if arches are rusty then front chassis legs will be gone too. Mx5 are great cars I got 3 atm all though one will be for sale the 2nd is off the road for a full respray vr ltd model and the other is an exocet kit car with a turbo conversion.
Now if you want to see a rotten mx5 look no further than a mk2 10th anniveresry model which must have spent some time in the sea worst ive came across in my 20+mx5s to come by me.
Now if you want to see a rotten mx5 look no further than a mk2 10th anniveresry model which must have spent some time in the sea worst ive came across in my 20+mx5s to come by me.
GravelBen said:
Must be something about the UK that does it, they don't have the same rust problems in other countries. Type of salt used on the roads maybe?
No, just constant moisture, with salt in the winter. In summer, it's warm and damp so everything corrodes. In winter, salt plus damp, everything corrodes. Go to France and buy classic cars - those registered in dept. 29, 22, 50, etc are by the sea (top left, Brittany) and buggered within 10 years. Buy in the south for far less corrosion, including by the sea. Best are those outside the mountain regions but far from the sea. I got a 2CV, rather unloved but nearly 30 yrs old. Unrestored, yes there was some rot but nothing I couldn't fix with a MIG. The chassis was sound, the floor a bit sketchy but sills OK. Try that with a 2CV in the UK, anywhere. How many 1977 2CVs remain in the UK?
Sorry i seem to be missing something. Mx-5 for less than a grand. We're not talking about a lifetime of ownership here. Do what i did with mine. Replace fluids, check brakes, point in the direction of Wales and have fun. Yes the roof leaked, yes it made odd noises at 2500 rpm and it also smelt a bit fruity but I've never had as much fun as pointing it at an empty road and just going for it!
battered said:
GravelBen said:
Must be something about the UK that does it, they don't have the same rust problems in other countries. Type of salt used on the roads maybe?
No, just constant moisture, with salt in the winter. In summer, it's warm and damp so everything corrodes. In winter, salt plus damp, everything corrodes. In Australia (and in many parts of the USA) there's no salting of the roads that I'm aware of and (unless you live close to the sea) corrosion is a pretty minor issue. Same in a lot of the USA. It appears that corrosion wasn't so much of a concern for Mazda in most markets as for Blighty, and they couldn't be bothered to set up a special paint line for places where rust was going to be an issue.
Somebody once said to me that the road salt we use here in the uk is mixed with a bit of molasses, so it doesn't wash away in the rain. Thus compounding the problem as it will then stick to the unseen areas of the car. Anyone know if this is actually true?
Oh and that is some rust on that MX above - jeez my 1988 Alfa Sprint wasn't as bad as that......
Oh and that is some rust on that MX above - jeez my 1988 Alfa Sprint wasn't as bad as that......
MG CHRIS said:
Well the arch is clearly showing signs of rust from the poor photos shown but its there which is a bad sign if arches are rusty then front chassis legs will be gone too. Mx5 are great cars I got 3 atm all though one will be for sale the 2nd is off the road for a full respray vr ltd model and the other is an exocet kit car with a turbo conversion.
Now if you want to see a rotten mx5 look no further than a mk2 10th anniveresry model which must have spent some time in the sea worst ive came across in my 20+mx5s to come by me.
And I thought my mini was bad!Now if you want to see a rotten mx5 look no further than a mk2 10th anniveresry model which must have spent some time in the sea worst ive came across in my 20+mx5s to come by me.
SteveSteveson said:
I didn't say they don't rust, but it's a 26 year old car design. You have to compair it to other 1980's cars.
All Mazda's rust and rust badly. My mk1 mx5 had it in the usual places (not too bad considering it was 16-17 years old when we had it). Back in 2008 on it, it was only just starting to go through. My partners Mk3 mx5 when we sold it last year, was rather sanky underneath and a bit questionable in some areas too.
My RX8 had flakey alloys and rust patches on the body just starting when I sold it at 5 years old.
Still loved those Mazdas to drive though! Even though in a year on my RX8, I spent 3k on fuel (~8k miles - best I did when doing 60mph on a long trip was 22mpg, usually avg around 15-18mpg) and lost 3k in depreciation (only 4yrs old too)...
The both MX5s was utterly reliable and the mk1 MX5 mega easy to fix. So much so it gave me the confidence to fix my own cars. For the best experience though you do need a 4 wheel alignment on all MY MX5s and decent rubber.
Looking under the back end of a mates 2008MY Mazda 6, the rot was starting to show around the sheet metal area above the exhausts. A 7 year old car really shouldnt be doing that!
Unfortunately it appears that the japs just don't rust proof their cars properly. I found this under the roof rail trim when I had my windscreen replaced on my 2007MY civic...
I've also got a few nice horror pictures of a friends mx5 underside somewhere...
Shame really. At least though they're good cars and the rust makes less on the roads - thus increasing their classic value.
Saying that, considering how many 60s/70s British classics are affected by the tin worm, but are still on the road... Maybe it gives cars character.
Edited by simonchambers on Saturday 14th November 09:30
I bought my mk2 1.6 for £950 a year ago and I still love it as much today as when I picked it up.
It's done 500mile road trips, B road blasts, been used as a takeaway delivery car and gets thrashed every time I use it. It hasn't put a foot (wheel?) wrong in 7000 very hard miles.
It still makes me smile every time I drive it. Despite driving a lot faster , newer cars every day for work I still look forward to jumping in it at the weekend!
I really can't recommend them enough, that said there a vast gap in drivability between a good one and a bad one.
It's done 500mile road trips, B road blasts, been used as a takeaway delivery car and gets thrashed every time I use it. It hasn't put a foot (wheel?) wrong in 7000 very hard miles.
It still makes me smile every time I drive it. Despite driving a lot faster , newer cars every day for work I still look forward to jumping in it at the weekend!
I really can't recommend them enough, that said there a vast gap in drivability between a good one and a bad one.
SteveSteveson said:
I didn't say they don't rust, but it's a 26 year old car design. You have to compair it to other 1980's cars.
Compared to other 1980s cars: yeah, fair enough. It's still the MX5's Achilles' heel, but it's far from unique.Compared to other cars from 2005 (with the exception of Mercs) - absolutely unacceptable. Especially the chassis rails which rust imperceptibly until the structural integrity of the car is compromised.
I'm on my second NA and I've had an NB.5 along the way, so I'm a big fan, but we have to be realistic.
That rusty blue horror is in a right state. I haven't seen anything that rotten since a mate embarked on a MIG welding marathon on a Lancia Beta in the 80's. I've spent some time sewing new sills onto Minis and the like in my time, too.
Did you actually restor it and put it back on the road? I didn't think that was worthwhile these days, with used car values so low.
Did you actually restor it and put it back on the road? I didn't think that was worthwhile these days, with used car values so low.
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