I’m a newbie to the MX-5 world. Just bought a 2018 RF and I love it.. I can’t afford to run 2 cars. I see a lot of people SORN for the winter but I want to use mine daily… is this a bad idea?
Hi, I have an RF and use it all year. I’m relatively new to MX-5 world but my understanding is:
Get your pride and joy underbody protected
Avoid using when salt has been used if at all possible
Wash off salt, mud etc from underside asap and periodically throughout the year
Keep garaged if possible but preferably don’t put away wet
If kept outside consider a cover
Keep the roof and body drains clear (avoid leaves and seeds) and flush through periodically.
Enjoy the car top down or top up throughout the year. That’s why you bought it (unless you bought it for some other reason).
Jon
Thanks. Going to have it underbody protected very soon and will get a cover as no garage either. I bought to drive and enjoy the ride.. 
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Welcome from Hertfordshire.
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Depends on how long you think you’ll have it. If you’re the type to be in almost marital bliss when you get a new car, but tend to move on to something else a few years down the line, I wouldn’t bother doing anything, just enjoy it and use it ‘as a car’. If you are the sort to keep cars for years and years, then other posters suggestions are pertinent. Depnds on your personality too imo, putting all sorts of esoteric parameters on your car, like when you drive it etc etc can soon lead to the car taking your life over.
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I run a 2019 ND RF all year and it is fine. I have sprayed the underbody and I wash it with water weekly. So far, in one and a bit winters of driving the car, I have not seen any further rust develop after spraying. I have also put ceramic coating to protect the paint, which has worked well so far.
Mine is parked in the driveway so it gets everything a Scottish winter can throw at her, but she takes it like a champ!
Protect, clean and enjoy!
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I have a 2017 ‘rag top’ which in itself has the challenge of keeping the hood clean, moss and dirt free. However, it’s a daily drive doing some 20k miles PA, parked outside and as others have said, she gets a weekly wash and I pressure clean the underside regularly, especially in winter when the roads have been gritted. I’m rather surprised after 3 1/2 years how little signs of deterioration there is underneath (could be hidden though) and up top, the flaky Mazda paint has sadly succumbed to the incessant stone chips they seem to attract. I just apply frequent wax after washing and hope for the best, whilst enjoying the car.
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My RF is outside and in use all year! When new it was pampered but now I just use it as a car! 49k miles and 6 years later I still love driving it.
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