I did this almost 2 years ago, and it's the best car I have ever had. £5k should get you something about 6-7 years old.

No issues on my part. Keep an eye for rusty wheel arches on pre-2005 models. Check the roof carefully - walk away from mouldy bits but you can easily clean the edges if it looks a little green. Also check its mechanism is still smooth and for any tears or rips; tiny ones can be repaired but bigger ones look very ugly. Check the alloys (I'd say this about any car though) have been treated kindly. MX-5s use special coolant so service history could be important. I bought one with full dealer service history and I carried that on.

I went for one with an option pack, the Icon, so it's got heated leather seats and climate control. I also have the luggage rack on the back of mine.I don't worry about high mileage either; if the car has been treated nicely then you could get a bargain by looking for something with 60-80k on the clock (mine had 62k on it when I got it and now I'm up to 80k). I commute in mine! I got it from an independent dealer by looking on Autotrader for it.

A truly wonderful little car to look at and to drive. Possibly not if you're over about 6ft though!

There are owners' clubs for them which are very popular and a google search throws up lots.

Edited by Bobbin Threadbare on 10/04/2014 at 14:56

I bought a 10 year old one and ran it for 10 more years with few problems. H reg MK1.

Check for rust on early ones around the lip of the rear wings at the top. At the seam of three sill panels just to the rear of the doors.

In my 10 years, I bought a pair of recon rear calipers due to seized handbrake mech. All four road springs (bottom turn cracked off). Discs and pads. O ring seal for cam sensor. Bigest item was a clutch kit that I replaced myself.

MX5 owners club www.mx5oc.co.uk/

MX5 Parts www.mx5parts.co.uk/ OEM and pattern parts, blazing fast delivery.

I looked at MX-5s a few years ago (and was tempted but went for a Z3 instead). I seem to remember that the cambelt had to be changed at 54,000 miles - I don't know why that should stick in the memory, and you'd need to check that that's correct.

Bobbin probably knows the answer.