So my search for a decent NC continues ! I have started to narrow things down a bit and have decided if possible I would like a 2.0 NC made after 2009 - with low mileage.
There are plenty around but so few have a decent service history - I understand why someone would leave the Mazda network after the car is 3,4 or 5 years old but so many cars I have enquired about have huge gaps in the S/H.
I get that some of the cars I am looking at have done very low mileage I.e 30k in over 10 years but so many only have 4 or 5 services or some have more but a gap of 3 or 4 years ?
If the car has had a recent service do you think it’s ok to ignore gaps a few years ago?
I see the MX5 much like many Motorcycles.
They are for many a seasonal toy that does low miles each year.
Many of them are also self serviced by enthusiasts who can’t officially claim full service history.
Just like with motorbikes - the owners tend to service by mileage rather than each year.
This can lead to gaps in the service history because the car/bike was not used much.
People wont tax a car just to get it serviced each year.
For me - I would take a good look at the MOT history for what if any advisories/fails are listed.
One would imagine some owners who use their MX-5’s as seasonal toys probably used the pandemic as an excuse not to have their MOTs and services which may account for some gaps, cost of living crisis maybe another.
So for eg I’m looking at one low mileage car (in the 20k’s) it’s a 2010 had services until 2014 then nothing until 2024 when it was serviced and MOT’d by a Mazda dealer - should I just walk away ?
Ask about any proof of missing service history, like receipts for parts, bills for work carried out etc.
I always save any paperwork as I have self serviced most of my cars after the initial manufacturers warranty is up. As mentioned check MOT histories and judge on condition of the car and owners attitude etc etc. I know it’s difficult if judging all this online but you kind of get to sift out the possibles from the not sure one if you know what I mean.
So 900 miles pa for ten years. A good chance the engine only got close to normal operating temperature when emissions were being tested for MOT.
If the car drives all right, no signs of smoke from the exhaust when cold or hot, all you will have to go on is your gut feeling. There is no guarantee the engine was not damaged over those years but it is possible as the engine oil would not have been in the best condition after all those years.
Fluids deteriorate if any vehicle has had long periods of non-use. Engine oil, coolant, brake/clutch fluid will definitely need changing regardless of mileage and probably transmission and diff oil. In effect you would be recommissioning the car. If that wasn’t done in 2024 after 10 years I would avoid. Check the dates on the tyres & check them for flat spots if they haven’t been rotated on a regular basis. My concern would be if the car has been started up from time to time but not actually driven. Even if the coolant gets up to temperature, the oil doesn’t which can lead to condensation inside the engine which is never a good thing.
