1994 Mazda MX-5 1.8L Petrol · M697 AJN

Fuel economy for the 1.8-litre MX-5 typically sits in the 32 to 38 mpg range for mixed driving, with motorway runs nudging higher. Insurance is one of the car's appeals: most Mk2.5 1.8s sit in groups 14 to 16, keeping premiums modest for a sports car, particularly for older drivers. Road tax is a flat £320 per year on vehicles registered between 2001 and 2006, since cars in this bracket no longer benefit from the pre-2001 flat rate.

Routine servicing on the 1.8 is affordable, with an oil and filter change typically £100 to £150 at an independent garage, and a cambelt replacement around £350 to £500. Brakes are cheap and easy, with pads and discs for both axles generally costing under £200 fitted. The biggest variable is corrosion repair, which can escalate quickly if structural work is needed, so a clean underside inspection is time well spent.

Estimated annual running cost for a 2,000-mile-a-year use pattern is around £900 to £1,300, covering fuel, tax, insurance and a modest maintenance allowance. This rises to roughly £1,400 to £1,800 if driven more enthusiastically at 5,000 to 6,000 miles per year, given the MX-5's tendency to encourage spirited driving and the resulting tyre wear.

Given that the two MOT failures on this car list no defects or advisories, you cannot infer what specifically caused the refusals from the data. The seller or test station should be pressed to confirm the failure reasons, which most commonly include tyre condition, brake imbalance, headlamp aim, emissions or simple bulb failures on vehicles of this age. Once you know what was actually failed, you can verify the fix has held and use that as a negotiation point if any remedial parts look budget-quality.

The aggregate MX-5 data points to corrosion as the leading MOT failure across the model, and this 23-year-old example will be especially vulnerable. Check the rear wheel arches, sills, jack points, front bulkhead behind the headlights, and the boot floor for bubbling paint, weld repairs, or filler. The rear sill jacking points are notorious for hidden rust that bulges outward under jacking pressure, so a hands-and-knees look is worthwhile. Suspension arms and coil springs are the second and third most common failures for this generation, so inspect the front lower arms, rear trailing arms, and look for broken or sagging springs during a test drive over bumpy roads.

Beyond the structural items, check the hood for tears or perished seams (replacement tops cost £300 to £600 fitted), verify the electric folding roof mechanism operates smoothly if fitted, and confirm the cooling system has been refreshed as plastic components become brittle with age. A cold start from the coldest morning you can arrange will reveal any cam chain or valve stem seal issues, which are known concerns on higher-mileage 1.8 BP engines.