1997 Mazda MX-5 1.8L Petrol · P252 AEL

Structural corrosion has become the defining mechanical concern for this 1997 Mazda MX-5, with the most recent MOT test on 2025-12-12 recording a pass only after the vehicle had failed the previous day on a major defect. The examiner categorised the offside centre inner sill as corroded and holed, reducing the rigidity of the integral body structure, and this follows a very similar pattern from December 2024, when the nearside rear outer sill was found in the same compromised condition. Both sills are primary load-bearing elements on this model, and the fact that two separate structural sections have now reached the MOT failure threshold within a twelve-month window points to an accelerating corrosion problem rather than an isolated incident. Underside corrosion has been flagged as an advisory at every recorded test since 2022, and given the cold-weather use typical of a 29-year-old MX-5 stored outdoors, the situation is unlikely to have stabilised between tests. The recorded mileage of 82,146 miles over 29 years equates to roughly 2,833 miles annually, which is notably low for the age of the vehicle and indicates either periods of regular non-use or long stretches where the car was off the road. Annual MOT testing has been consistent from 2022 onwards with no recorded gaps, but the long-term usage pattern matters mechanically: low annual mileage on a roadster of this vintage tends to mean prolonged standing between journeys, which accelerates oxidation on brake lines, suspension springs and underbody seams through moisture accumulation rather than regular drying-out cycles. The fact that corrosion-related advisories and failures dominate the record, while wear-based items such as brake pads and discs appear only intermittently, is consistent with this storage-heavy usage profile rather than high-mileage mechanical fatigue. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priority is a physical inspection of both sills, paying particular attention to the inner structural sections where the MOT failures were recorded, as well as the front chassis rails, rear wheel arches and jacking points where corrosion commonly initiates on first-generation MX-5s. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, which could indicate worn ball joints or deteriorating bushes given the 2022 failure for an upper ball joint dust cover and the recurring advisories on coil spring corrosion; any looseness or vagueness in the steering would warrant closer examination of the front suspension arms. The braking system warrants particular scrutiny after the brake pipe failures of December 2024 and the multiple advisories for corroded lines running front-to-rear; the pedal should feel firm without excessive travel, and the handbrake should hold the car on a slope without needing to be pulled excessively high, given the long handbrake travel advisory carried over from the December 2025 test. Given that the vehicle has now required sill repairs or replacements on both sides within a year, any prospective purchase should be conditional on a thorough structural survey by a specialist, ideally with the car placed on a ramp to allow close examination of the inner sills, chassis outriggers and seatbelt anchor points. The general underside corrosion described as an advisory at every test since 2022 should be expected to worsen, and a buyer should budget accordingly for ongoing underbody treatment or eventual structural refurbishment. Finally, verify that the 2025-12-12 pass was genuinely obtained with the sill defect remedied rather than the test being a retest of the same condition, and request documentation of any repair work carried out between the two December tests, as the integrity of the repairs will determine whether this MX-5 remains a usable classic or an ongoing restoration project.