MOT failure advice. I'm buying from a dealership

Buying a ‘5 and Insurance advice Buying Advice
1

Hi all,

I have signed the sales order form for a 2015 1.8 Roadster Sport Venture (£8000).

I signed on Saturday, August 31 and as the MOT was due in October, it was agreed that a new MOT would be provided. The communication from the dealership hasn’t been the best, with me always having to phone them for updates and being generally promised that the car will be ready in the next two-three days.

Yesterday, I found the failed MOT test that had been run on September 3rd, with the following fails-

Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):

Nearside Rear Sub-frame attachment bracket/mounting likely to fail (5.3.3 (b) (ii))
Offside Rear Sub-frame attachment bracket/mounting likely to fail (5.3.3 (b) (ii))

Repair immediately (major defects):

Offside Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))
Nearside Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))
Nearside Front Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))
Offside Front Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))
Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords inner wall (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):

Offside Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

I called the dealership or an update last Wednesday and was told they were waiting for new “arms” and then again on Monday, to be told that they are expecting the “bolts” in that day and were aiming to have the car ready for Tuesday-Wednesday.

The rep also said that he would be at a different branch for the rest of the week, but would be working “behind the scenes” to get the car to me. I took this, perhaps cynically, as an attempt to stop me calling.

Also, the previous three MOT’s were passes, but the 2020 one showed the following advisories -

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))
Nearside Rear Sub frame brace corroded.
Offside Rear Sub frame brace corroded.

Should I be concerned at the MOT failures? Do they point to a bigger long-term issue somewhere down the road?

The 14 day cooling off period on my finance is up in a few days and I’m nervous.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Greg

2

If the dealership have been as bad as you say already, then walk away.

4 Likes
3

I would reject the car. The windscreen may need replacing at some stage which may not be covered by your insurance. The car has rust, and more corrosion may appear in other areas. The garage is already being difficult so what would happen if you had another problem with the car? Walk away, there are plenty of other cars available.

4 Likes
4

Walk.

5 Likes
5

Commonly referred to as a Money Pit/Shed. Run while you can. There are dozens of well kept minters out there…the likes typicaly of McApp’s little red honey. It’s been allowed to go to the dogs underneath…so what what else is lurking? Get yer Nikes on pronto!

4 Likes
6

That is a lot of money for a rusty car. Don’t walk away from it, run away from it. There is no shortage of decent used MX5’s for sale.

5 Likes
7

As others have said, for this price you will find a better car out there, perhaps a bunch of better cars. If you look out here in the sales forum you will find something that might fit your needs.

1 Like
8

I wouldn’t be overly concerned about the brakes if they were fixed, as these re serviceable items.
However, the corrosion would concern me, and I’d be tempted to try and retract.
Although, considering you signed a sales agreement, you may find this difficult.

9

At that money, and with those MoT issues now reported, I’d walk away under the cooling off period. 100%.

As has been said, there are plenty of other examples out there for sale.

4 Likes
10

Thing with these things, you read countless times all sorts of things ref a dealership, yet, for some reason, they’re rarely named.

Who was the dealership who did the MOT? Who were the dealership who’s communication hasn’t been the best? Might help other folk in the future.

11

Five years in and a first advisory for rust, not good is it?
Checking the MOT history is a must, even if you can’t from pictures ask for the reg at enquiry.
Get out of it if you can, unseen rust issues may (will) escalate elsewhere unless treated, the rot has started now.

2 Likes
12

Can you not get an independant mech look at it spmetimes mot testers make a big thing out of nothing my mot tester got told by vosa why arnt you doing hardly any advisory’s so he spent the next month being over the top with the slightest thing just to keep them happy, rear subframes on most of the mx5 s you look at look cruddy most are ok with a wire brush and a clean and as for the subframe braces they nearly always look ■■■■ if they havnt been treated i think they must make them out of tin
As i say get someone who knows about MX5 s to give it a once over some MOT testers could make a new car sound ■■■■

1 Like
13

is this from a Mazda main dealer or are we talking kerb side autos if it’s from a main dealer you should get a 12 month warranty

14

Run far, run fast.

3 Likes
15

I would walk away from that, can you share the garage or car so people can see, is it Scotland based?..that is a poor history for a 2015 car, there are loads of nice examples out there, I would shop around.

16

I’ve just contacted the finance company and it’s a logistical nightmare to get out of the finance. I have just been back onto the dealership and he is now saying they are getting the bolts today! He told me on Monday that they were getting them that day and that they were aiming to have the car with me Tuesday-Wednesday!

He came out with a load of salesman talk and told me that he’s going to get onto the garage that are doing the MOT and will call me back.

Thank you all for your advice btw, much appreciated.

17

One of the worst examples of Mk3 prerorated rear wing and sill rot was a car my son’s bestie drove up from Birmingham where it was registered and lived. It was a daily but used on salted motorways and everying else for 7 years. It does not really follow that Celtic cars dissolve that much quicker. Old wives’tale unless you have a linky and stats for me to look at. It all depends on how the cars are cared for mostly. The Mx5 Restorer (Ltd) get 5’s from all over the UK.

1 Like
18

I think you need to get professional advice, quickly, on what their interpretation of the 14 cooling off period means.
If you no longer want to proceed with your agreement, the first step is to contact the lender as soon as possible. They then ask the car dealership to reverse the deal and return the funds to them, not you. Or so the story goes…

2 Likes
19

I would persevere with getting out of the deal if you can, can you share the car details or the garage so we can maybe help more, I am surprised a main dealer would be selling this…a bracket/bolt likely to fail on a rusty subframe would suggest it is holed and needs welding.

3 Likes
20

I know, still no dealership details given