So - yesterday, I took my car in for its MOT at MX5 Restorer - it failed! This news admittedly threw me a bit - although I was aware of the chassis rail issue, I hadn’t had any advisories in the past, so wasn’t too concerned… yet.
I’ve owned the car for almost 8 years - its a mk2.5 2002 in fairly good condition mechanically - only 70,000 miles on the clock. The quote from Garath is £1350 - erk. (£600 for both front chassis rails and £750 for rear driver side arch. Also rear passenger side arch is just starting to bubble so that’s an additional future cost. Garath also said the cost may very well go up once he’s started work).
For most of the time I’ve had it, this car wasn’t a daily car, but a weekend car. However, over the past year due to circumstances (Thanks Southern Rail), I’ve been using it as a daily commuter, which in hindsight was not a good idea at all. Not any more as back to commuting by train so can leave car in garage from now on (if I fix & keep).
As I mentioned earlier, this has been a bit of surprise so been trying to figure out options especially as I’m not in a rush (I found out there’s a car club here in Brighton so if I need a car urgently, might sign up to that). I’ve been browsing AutoTrader, and it seems that 70,000 miles is pretty damn good as MX5s of that age go. So I’m a bit torn on the “better the devil you know than the one you don’t” principle, having owned the car for 8 years. Fix it, and it’d be good for a good few more years, especially with the 3 years warranty by MX5 Restorer…or maybe not if the passenger rear arch goes. It would be garaged from now on which might help, I guess.
On other hand, I could scrap it but it appears it won’t fetch very much at all. Also, I’m totally undecided as to what to replace it with. In a dream world, that’d be a GT86 but second hand GT86s aren’t all that cheap. Not sure about NC - I’ve heard they’re a little “meh” compared to NBs. I doubt I would be buying another NB due to the rust issue sadly. Anything else out there that’s relatively fun?
Thanks for any thoughts and opinions you folks can give!
Oh dear, that’s a nasty surprise? It sounds like you’ve enjoyed owning the car up until now too? I think your right in that the car as it stands hasn’tgot much of a value, with no mot and relatively major rust problems. If you were to invest in the repairs, including the arch that has just started showing signs of rust, then you’ll have a bill just over £2k but would have a car that is mechanically, structurally and cosmetically in sound condition. Starting from there, can you find a low(ish) milage equivalent car for that money? Probably not, especially one that has been brought back to life by a well respected restorer and would be fully documented. A car that you know is going to last for quite a few years going forward. To me, and it’s only my opinion, it’s a cost effective solotion. You don’t say what model the car is? This may have a bearing on your final decision as a special/limited edition may be worth salvaging over a base model? Whatever the car is, only you can decide if it’s a keeper, then go forward, get it restored and continue to enjoy it. Another way to look at it, if you’ve had 8 years of relatively inexpensive running costs so far ( obviously i dont know that) and now have a large amount to spend to continue ownership, over the 8 years, it’s not too bad and add in the future years and it will have been a cheap car overall. Good luck with whatever you choose to do!
The problem being that some MOT stations are unaware of the front chassis rail rot on these cars and have simply missed it. Not sure how this can happen as surely there are pertinent notes warning the tester of vehicle specific testing checks.
Rear wheel arch rust , particularly where is comes through at the top of the arch may well pass an MOT.
From a financial point of view the car should be scrapped but as you are fond of the vehicle and proper repair would considerably lengthen its life the financial side of things has to be less important assuming you are able to finance the repairs. Has to be your decision.
I am genuinely surprised at the high price quoted for these repairs, so if it were my car I would get around the issue by repairing myself to save money. This may be an option for you or perhaps you have a relative/friend who can help.
I think Bettabuilda has the right attitude here. It may seem a lot to spend on an old car, but once it’s done, it will be almost like new again, and it is extremely unlikely you will find another MX-5 in as good condition as your repaired car, for anything like the same money. If everything else is fine - get it repaired.
A non-MX-5 enthusiast might disagree of course, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but owning a 5 is not like owning an ‘ordinary’ car. MX-5s are different - they are special, and instil a particular kind of love, affection and attachment in their owners. That is why there are so many old ones around - people LOVE them, and move heaven and earth to keep them going.
You have to ignore thoughts like ‘oh hell, the repairs are going to cost more than the car is worth’ - that is not what MX-5 ownership is all about.
Of course investing in a later model, and NC for example (my favourite !), could be an option, but it would have to be looked upon as just that - an investment, for the future, but it would certainly cost more than getting your NB repaired.
Good luck with your deliberations. I’m sure that once you get over the shock of your baby failing its MoT, you will do the right thing.
Do not go for the cheap quotes I have seen too many Mk2’s repaired at a “good price” rust again in a few years.
It is not a matter of just cutting and welding but cutting and welding and replacing the replacing the rusty stuff the owner cannot see, inner sills etc. and properly rustproofing the car which is not simple.
MX5Restorer are doing it properly rather than getting the price down by not doing a complete job.
Yes they are a bit expensive but the cars I have seen that have lasted 5 years since the repairs with no rust returning also were not at the lower end of the repair price range.
Do it cheap, do it twice!
Either get the chassis rails and both rear arches done once and for all and enjoy the car for say 5 years or say a say goodbye to the car.
To be honest it is worth a best £300 as it stands.
Yes you can get this cheaper, but Garath and the team will do a top job, and personally I would go with him. That said, Skuzzle I believe will do a repair for less, but you’ll have to get the car along the coast to them. If you do get it repaired, think seriously about getting the car properly under-sealed too, so factor that cost in.
Mk3’s aren’t that bad, but are much more ‘modern’ and not as ‘raw’. Early Mk3’s are probably almost at their rock bottom price now, so are a bit of a bargain. Would be good to go for a test drive and see what you think before dismissing them.
I have a suspicion that decent Mk2’s are going to be harder and harder to find due to the inherent weakness of the chassis rail, something the Mk1 doesn’t suffer from, so you might just want to hold onto it…
I must say that is a very negative response, My local body shop will do the job correctly at about the prices I quoted. The owner used to work for Morgan’s so knows what he is talking about. Some 20 to 30 MX5’s have been through his work shop in the past 4 years and there has not been any complaints.
From this thread, I note that MX5Restorer used to have a 5 year guarantee on repairs, now its 3 years. Repairs by others last just as well; one on my 1996 is still A1 after 7 years, which is longer than what many of the original sills lasted for.
It’s probably a bit extreme to describe the Mk2 or even Mk1 as “raw”; most of them have E/W, PAS, Aircon. Something early TG picked up on in 1989. Mk3s certainly have more electronic gadgets to aid less aware drivers though.
In my opinion the driving experience in the Mk 1 is indeed raw (although the car is well equipped) - noisy and unrefined compared with modern cars - but for me that is one of the pleasures. There is a feeling of a direct connection with the road and outside environment which is refreshing and completely different to the detached/quiet/remote feeling of my very accomplished and comfortable Golf GTD. It reminds me of the excitement of driving a go-cart where the feeling of speed is much greater than the reality but this doesn’t detract from the enjoyment and reduces the chances of a speeding ticket!
Gosh, when I posted this, I wasn’t expecting to start a NA vs NB vs NC flamewar over a throwaway remark!
Many thanks for your thoughts, it’s been very useful, but ultimately still undecided. In the short term, I’ve elected to bring my car back to my garage and will probably SORN it for a few months while I mull things over. I may also use this as a chance to do a bit of annual service myself, and to check how the rest of the car is. To answer some questions… This is a completely standard green MX5, no special edition or anything. I would probably have the work done at MX5 Restorer despite the cost as they’re relatively convenient for me (I live in Brighton, so it’s an easy train ride for me to/from Eastbourne) compared to Skuzzie which looks a bit of a trip!
It’s a tricky decision indeed - the car’s only done 70K, and hasn’t given me any issues in 8 years of ownership, no expensive repair work aside from brake calipers. So paying “only” £2000 for work that’s guaranteed for three years… Hmm. If the car lasts out that long, I’d be more than happy enough. At this point, I probably won’t expect to resell the car - it’s not worth that much.
I might be back on here in the servicing subforum while I check my car out over the coming months.
Don’t worry about the ‘flamewar’ thing - par for the course here !
The repairs may only be ‘GUARANTEED’ for three years, or five years, or whatever, but it is not too much to expect them to actually ‘LAST’ ten or fifteen years. After all, your car is a 2002 model - it’s 2017 now, and only just failed its MoT.
