2006 Mazda MX-5 2.0L Petrol · L11 RBB

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance trend shows a persistent struggle with age-related degradation. While the most recent test in May 2026 at 43,574 miles passed, the tester again flagged deteriorated anti-roll bar ball joint dust covers and a perishing nearside front tyre. This follows a serious structural failure in January 2025, where the vehicle failed due to significantly reduced strength in the rear inner seat belt anchorage and sill, indicating that the structural integrity of the lower body remains a primary concern. The mileage pattern is exceptionally low for a twenty-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 2,179 miles per year. There are notable gaps in usage; for instance, the car covered only 1,165 miles between February 2024 and January 2025 tests, despite the nearly a year between them. This low mileage likely explains the recurring issues with rubber-based components, such as the tyre cracking and perishing noted in both 2025 and 2026, which result from dry rot during inactivity rather than mechanical wear. A buyer must conduct a thorough underbody inspection focusing on the sills, inner arches, and subframes. The record shows a consistent history of corrosion, progressing from general underside rust in 2020 to structural failures in the sills by 2021 and 2025. Although the front and rear subframes were noted as corroded in 2021 and 2024, the recurring nature of these faults suggests the oxidation is active. Additionally, the anti-roll bar linkages and ball joints have failed or flagged multiple times over the decade, requiring a close check for play or perished boots in the suspension geometry.