Mk2.5 Rust - Is this bad?

[Usget]

I've been offered a Mk2.5 as part-ex against my Integra. Having previously searched for a Mk1 for ages (for my girlfriend) which had had the dreaded tin-worm repaired, I know about how much MX5s rust, and I'm led to believe that Mk2s are even worse.

Accordingly, I've asked the seller to put the car up on a ramp and take some pictures of the underside before I go to look at it properly on Saturday. This is where I need the help of you lot, because I don't know what I'm looking for. Can you tell whether this is "hardly any for one of these" rust, "run a mile" rust, or something in between? The plan is to sell this on fairly swiftly, so I don't want to take on anything that is going to need major work.

Your thoughts appreciated!

EDIT: Having looked again, I'm guessing that the main rust spots are concealed by the protective plate in pics 5 and 6, no? D'oh.

Edited by Usget on Thursday 29th August 18:21

[Genie Chaser]

Not sure I've done this right, but may be worth reading this thread. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=...

[MX-5 Lazza]

None of those pictures show you the areas you need to see. The rust, if it's there, is likely to be at the rear of the sills and/or in the rear arches. Both of these can be easily seen from standing next to the car. The area of the sills you need to see is about 6" from the rear end where there is a crease in the sill and the arches will mostly be from the arch up about 8" or so.

The underneath of that one looks fine to me. A touch of surface rust but that's normal. A quick rub with a wire brush and a bit of treatment will fix it. Nothing to be concerned about.

[Genie Chaser]

Isn't there a big issue with front chassis legs, believe there's notice out to mot testers to be aware. ?

[MX-5 Lazza]

That's in the engine bay. You should be able to see if there is any rust in the important areas i.e. around the ARB brackets mostly fairly easily but photos of those areas would be hard to get.

[Genie Chaser]

To be honest, off the thread I copied , that is the front chassis leg, is it not twin skinned on the mk2,causing the issue. A couple of mot testers have told me there is a note on the vosa system making them aware of this issue.

[Usget]

Good info. Thanks. Didn't realise the chassis legs were visible from inside the engine bay so I'll have a good peer in there with a torch.

I've asked about arches and sills (ask any Integra owner about these...) and been told they're fine, but will give them a good prod in the areas specified.

[snotrag]

As a 3x MX-5 owner, multiple MX-5 rust proofer, and someone who's very familiar with the underside of one...

I wouldn't buy that if it were free.

MX-5 Lazza said:

The underneath of that one looks fine to me. A touch of surface rust but that's normal. A quick rub with a wire brush and a bit of treatment will fix it. Nothing to be concerned about.

Have to say I disagree.

Lazza is right in that you've not shown any of the important parts, but theres rust on parts of the chassis that will start to go long after some of the more important parts are flaking away. I'd put pound to a penny that the front chassis legs, in front of the front subframe and ARB mounts, aswell as the inner skins of the rear bulkehad and arches (might not be visible from outside yet) will be absolutely rotten.

Sorry, harsh truths and all, but thats my honest opinion.

[Usget]

Erm... well, I picked it up this morning, so let's hope you're wrong!

I had a good prod around the front chassis legs with a screwdriver and didn't poke it through anything. There are no holes or anything terrible, and the car has never had an MOT fail or advisory, which (given that testers are wise to this) would hopefully indicate that this one has at least got a while to live.

Thanks for your input though, untimely though it may be!!

[Dimski]

I picked up a cheap mk2, looked to me like a bit of surface rust on the sills, but that was about it.

How wrong I was. Inner and outer sills at the back, holes underneath, the lower diff mount carriers fell apart as we took them off, the bootlid is rotten... At least the front chassis rails seem to be ok. It has rusted from the inside out, and the small patches were quite advance once we got in there.

Not far off fixed now, but this experience with one that wasn't showing silly amounts of rust would make me very wary of one displaying more.

On your pictures, the surface stuff on the chassis rails is quite common, must be where the underseal gets scrapped off. The rest? - If you plan on keeping it, I'd get some preventative scrubbing and painting done.


You know, I almost gave away my mk1, which was pretty much rust free. Live and learn, eh?