2004 Mazda MX-5 1.8L Petrol · AV54 AAO

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, having passed its most recent inspection on 15 December 2025 at 29,807 miles. The maintenance trend appears stable despite a single failure in December 2024 involving a nearside front outer tyre bulge. This specific defect was rectified quickly, as the vehicle re-tested just three days later with no further defects recorded, suggesting the owner is responsive to safety-critical failures when they are identified. The mileage profile is exceptionally low for a 22 year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 1,355 miles per year. Data shows a consistent pattern of low usage, with the car covering only 6,830 miles between December 2022 and December 2025. The vehicle likely sits stationary for extended periods. While this low mileage suggests less mechanical wear on the drivetrain and engine components, the long intervals between test dates can often lead to the degradation of rubber-based parts and the accumulation of corrosion in areas not cleared by airflow. A buyer must prioritize a thorough physical inspection of the chassis and structural integrity because the 2025 test explicitly noted the underside of the vehicle is rusty. On an MX-5 of this generation, surface rust often progresses into structural perforation in the sills, floor pans, and wheel arches. Given the low usage, the inspector should also check for perished brake hoses, seized brake calipers, and degraded fluids, which frequently suffer from age rather than distance. The condition of the suspension bushes and coil springs also requires verification to ensure the low mileage has not allowed the materials to rot or crack over time.