Finally bought an MX-5, something of an impulse buy. Doh. This could be the shortest forum membership ever. MOT runs out in 10 days, a n d there is rot to deal with.
2000 1.8 in bronze. Looks stunning. . . from the top.
Wish me luck.
8 Likes
Welcome! And good luck! 
Can we see a photo? And are we allowed to know how much you paid? 
Nice. Couldnāt convince the seller to put a fresh MOT on it as part of the pre-sale? 
I asked. Wanted another Ā£1200 if they were going to do any work on it .
1 Like
Looks lovely! Iām also in Stockport 
1 Like
Welcome and good luck from another NB in Kent Donāt blame you it looks gorgeous.
2 Likes
If itās any consolation, they might have been tempted to do a quick āpatch & hideā job instead of cutting out all the rot and replacing with fresh metal. This model isnāt known as Miss Moneypit for nothing!! Just persevere as itās worth doing properly, and the engine & gearbox combination is absolutely sweet and generally bulletproof.
From another NB owner, this time in Norwich.
3 Likes
Thanks benfieldl
I think it is worth preserving too. But I need to get her through her mot so I can drive her over winter. If that happens, then def new cills next summer. Tis the suspension /subframe area I am worried over. Too pricey for me to replace currently. Am krust & waxoyling with fingers crossed, def seen better days
Probably getting off topic for a welcome !
Thanks for the support.
Greetings traut
From NB 2.5 [2005] 1.8 Icon owner [orange] in Newcastle-under-Lyme [just under 47k]. Owned since 2007 but she got neglected [my bad]
Which has meant she drifted into the ārenovation & restoreā category
Worse time was when she failed on ācorrosionā [Iām talking literally āholesā which required welding with new metal]. Had to wait in a queue for three months for works to be done. Done her cills too. Thankfully her chassis rails were sound
That was 2019. Onwards and upwards. Sheās just passed her MOT with no advisories last week even though ā¦unlike yours ā¦she has some surface corrosion and ālife scarsā which will require a trip to the bodyshop now Iāve saved enough pennies
Fingers crossed you get a MOTāer who isnāt jobsworth and recognises youāve purchased her as a ārenovate & restoreā
Watch out for the handbrake & cables that the light NB can experience issues with and the tiny battery which needs replacing about every seven years plus of course soft top care
They are a āmoneypitā and a labour of love
But I wouldnāt wish for another car for absolute enjoymentā¦sheās familyā¦weāve been through so much together in 18 years of ownership
Good Luck with your MOT ā¦it will at least head you in the right direction re āworksā
And yours is pretty good looking for a 25 year old !!
Let us know what happens please
Meanwhileā¦everything you need to know [or donāt want to know] about your impulse buy here on the Forum
You are most welcome from those of us that are MX-5 addicts
Thanks for your comments @Bullit2005 Much appreciated. MOT postponed. Found an outstanding Mazda recall on the car. So off to Mazda dealers first ! 
Impulse buy. lol.
1 Like
Probably just the fog lamp recall, as the car doesnāt have them thereāll be nothing to do.
1 Like
Unfortunately the NB has always suffered from rust which can be very expensive to fix. When ever you look at any MX-5 look underneath. Most of them shine on top even the NCs rot if neglected. There are some very good videos on YouTube which cover all the pitfalls with these carsā¦ā¦Good luck.
1 Like
The very best of luck - youāll probably need it! Iām biased but I do think the NB is the prettiest of all of the marks. My advice as a fellow NB ownerā¦ get all of the rot dealt with professionally, then have it undersealed, cavities done, and as long as thereās nothing structural you should have many years of happy motoringā¦ when itās not raining, salty etc!
2 Likes
Of course the NB is the prettiest mark, no question! 
Just looking at the chassis rails today
Seen worse, think they will be ok for now.
Evening,
Iām just up the road in Ashton-Under-Lyne but spend alot of time in and around stockport, where I used to work.
The NB is undoubably the best looker, Bought mine in 2018 after a lifetime of MGB Ownership. I did some research online then bought mine as a genuine car but with bits missing. I had both sills and rear arches replaced professionally after fitting a Mk2.5 front end myself. Since then Iāve rebuild all the suspension fitted California wheels plus a few more tweaks.
Itās a beauty now and a keeper of course, the drive, roadholding and power to weight ratio is sublime.
Enjoy yours and welcome to the club.
Regards
Nic Cox
1 Like
Thx Nic.
Do you still have an MG? Classic.
Evening, No I sold it due to reliability and garage limitations.
Regards
Nic
Update as requested. Spent several days with a heavy duty wire wheel getting the surface rust off all the suspension arms & subframe. Krust & waxoyled. Bodged the hoes in the wheel arch cill area for mot.
Replaced broken front coil.
New air filter, plugs, bottle of cat cleaner, bottle of headlight lens restorer.
2k on the car 1k on insurance & half yrs tax and a couple hundred on the mot + 4.days my labour. O have an MX-5 for half a year. Whooppeeee.
Oh wait
I need oil, oil filter, 2.sets elec window mech, 2 cills, 2 rear quarter panels, 2 inner arch panels, 2 front drop arb links, bushes, ht leads, welder , paint, erm.
What else ?
2 Likes
But the smile on your face when you drive it makes it all worthwhile!
1 Like