I have viewed, test driven a couple. I am in love!
I test drove a lovely red car at FOW. Service history, 3 owners, superb drive. I was put off by their aftercare reviews. Car still available 3 weeks on. 2017, 28000 miles £16000.
Made my mind up (or so I thought) to go to Mazda direct for their used approved warranty etc.
Not a great experience. Sales guy lied to me about a couple of things. Really put me off. Clearly wasn’t interested when he knew I won’t be using their finance.
Test drive 66 plate - prior to prep; car drove well, the smell of vomit was horrendous so thankfully was able to retract roof. Higher mileage for age 58000, some Mazda service history 3 owners. Big stone chip and a strange patch where paint removed down to metal on boot. Photo attached
Going to see another.
Shall I buy from Mazda or am I OK to buy from a dealer such as FOW, AC or any other.
Do I need the Mazda warranty?
Are the AA/RAC Warranties any good?
My budget is 16K. I want a hardtop. Red or blue. Cream or red or unique interior.
Where did you see the dealer one you didn’t like? At Mazda Warrington or Mitchells perhaps?
Oakmere Mazda in Northwich is another option for you, just down the road from me. Depends if they’ve got any in-budget RF stock at the moment of course.
I’d say you shouldn’t have too much issue at that budget and it should get you into a newer car than the 2017 example you considered. Are you considering both the 1.5 & 2.0?
Best of luck with the search - if you want any advice, you know where we are
I can recommend Roddisons, I bought my first NC from him a good few years ago. It was still going strong 7 years later when I sold it and I believe still is to this day.
If he’s got one that suits you then grab it is all I can say, they go quickly.
When Iain the manager contacted me the day after my visit, I raised the issues with him. He said Gareth had made a mistake! Not true; it was a blatant lie (2 in fact)
Also, Gareth tried to get me to go through compliance and start the order before I had viewed the car.
I was clear in what I wanted to do. Namely, reserve, test drive and make a decision and if, I wanted to buy, it would be for cash.
I am not one for throwing the baby out with the bath water but he and his manager put me off Mitchells
This is what I hate about car sales now. I bought one from a local car supermarket type place last year. It wasn’t in stock but it was type of answer I got. Advertised yes but not at the sales pitch, it resulted in three visits before I got to see and test drive it. I stuck with it as it’s only a 10 minute drive from my home, it turned out to be the exact model/colour/spec I was searching for. I bought the car in the end, not an MX-5.
All they want you to do is sit down get you on their computer and talk finance, service schemes, wheel care etc etc, which I dodged and got straight to the point. I’m paying in full and driving away, when can you prep it for driving away I asked?
Anyways hope you find a good one, Rodders if you get to see anything there is a no nonsense MX-5 specialist, no up selling nonsense.
Yes, very much so. They soon realise if you’re a car guy and basically back off. I go on and on telling them not to even wash it etc.
Not giving them any credit, but 99% of people who sit opposite them aren’t into cars, except maybe the first week honeymoon period, don’t know jack, beyond ‘I like the red one’, and maybe gullible enough to fall for all the add on faff. And remember too 90%+ buy cars on ‘finance’, so again, it’s the typical person who sits opposite them. The difference is if the salesman can actually adapt to the person not conforming to the 99% norm.
I agree with all of this! I don’t claim to know much about cars (even less about the MX-5) however, I know what I want and love (ex AR GT owner and lover - loved my 2)
Someone once told me to always buy a car you look back at, every time you park and leave it. Loved them AR esp one of em
- if you want any advice, you know where we are 
