I must have posted on here about 7/8 years ago when I was choosing between an MX5 or an MR2 (ultimately I bought an MR2 and loved the 7 years it gave me) but its now got to a point of not being worth the cost of keeping it going.
I’ve got my eye on a late 3.5/3.75 MK3 MX5 with a Hard-Top and I’m seeing a fair amount of variants, etc around but I’m probably fairly fixed on a Sport Tech or the later Venture Edition (I like the Tan seats!)…
I’ve seen a fair few which have relatively low miles (sub 40,000) which for a 12 year old car doesn’t seem a lot although appreciate many will have had an M5 as a weekend car.
Is there any risk with a lower mileage car that maybe hasn’t been run as much as long as its been maintained regularly?
For what its worth I’ve been looking at SLK’s as well and the number of those with low miles where owners seem to have just not bothered getting them serviced is staggering!
My 07 2.0 did less than 5k miles between 2015 and 2023. Service history was perfect and the car was looked after. Just ticked over 60k miles and she’s running fine.
I’d look for service history and corrosion on the MOT history.
Plus just take a look underneath. Will save you a lot of pain.
My Venture had 48k on the clock a few weeks ago, closer to 50k now . My view when looking was to get one with one lady owner (if poss.), a good service history, very good condition and no mention of rust on MOT. No point chasing a unicorn for months. I’m very happy with it.
Thankyou, appreciate the comments - the one I’m keenest on certainly has no mention of corrosion and its all Mazda serviced as well; will need to take a look at it!
I do love the look of them and I’ve seen a cracking one down South but not sure I can justify the extra cost given I’m looking at other “non” 25 Anniversary ones which seem to have all the same kit but cheaper!
I bought a 2007 NC last year with 38,000mi, only a few thousand of which in the past few years. Kept in a garage. After I bought it, I took it to MX5 specialist C&C Sparkes in Bisley, Surrey for a service (they said it was in great shape) and fit a new set of tyres (Kumho Ecsta PS71s from Blackcircle) and it’s been 10,000mi of trouble free joy since.
Note: on a hardly used car, the tyres are almost certainly going to be past it, regardless of tread, but 4x Kumhos cost £370 fitted so not a big deal
. My view when looking was to get one with one lady owner (if poss.), a good service history, very good condition and no mention of rust on MOT. No point chasing a unicorn for months. I’m very happy with it.