Is this a usual place for a Mk1 to rust?

[anonymous-user]

Hi all

Thinking about going to see a car this weekend, and the owner has helpfully sent me some pictures of areas which may require attention.
One of which, is as per the pic below.

I've looked at a few now, and never noticed rust there. The owner says its been like that since he bought the car (3 years ago).
My worry is, that looks like a bd to repair if it gets worse.

Anyone any experience of this?

Thanks

[snotrag]

That, to me, says only one thing. The inside of the whole sill area is absolutely fked - its rotting from the inside out.

I would avoid unless your prepared/the budget covers for some serious chopping and welding.

[anonymous-user]

My first thought was the same. However, the seller (who seems very genuine and honest) assures me there is no rust anywhere on the arches, or anywhere else on the sills - and that it hasn't gotten worse in 3 years. So I'm confused?

No-one else seen that on an MX5?

[MX-5 Lazza]

I haven't seen that on an MX5 but I've seen it on other cars including my old Focus. It might just be surface rust where it wasn't protected properly after the welding in the factory. The only way to know for sure is to rub it back and see if you can clean it up down to bare metal. I wouldn't have thought the owner would be happy with you doing that though.

[snotrag]

True. See if the owner will let you lift the sill cover, the pillar plastic and the grommet in the arch - have a peek inside with a torch. You'll have to make a judgement - if the rest of the car really is tidy maybe I'm wrong.

[Typhoons]

That's just surface rust and is pretty common. It's cause by water running down from the window seal and down the side of the door, and out of the car at that point. You also see that at the side of the sill covers on JDM cars, as water channel out there. If you rub that back you will get to bare metal, put some rust killer on it and then touch up paint.

[beeblebrox]

Caveat emptor. There are loads of MX-5s for sale, I'd move on to the next one if I were in your position.

[Manx1]

Walk away from that one.

[Mattlan]

last one I had like this was rubbed down to reveal a few small holes in the sill just off the seams

[Burgmeister]

Mine has a little bit less surface rust in the same place that has stayed exactly the same in my 2.5 years of ownership.

Mine is definitely just surface rust though and I keep it treated to stop it getting any worse.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks everyone

[shogun001]

Had 2 mk1s with the same rust in that place. Both just surface rust.