2003 Mazda MX-5 1.8L Petrol · FH52 KYA

The 2003 Mazda MX-5 presents a highly stable maintenance trend, with the most recent MOT on 30 April 2025 passing cleanly at 45,894 miles without any defects or advisories. This unblemished record over the last four years indicates a vehicle that has remained mechanically sound and structurally intact, requiring no remedial work to meet roadworthiness standards. The consistent pass rate suggests diligent upkeep and a lack of developing mechanical faults. The mileage accumulation is remarkably low for a vehicle of this age, averaging roughly 1,995 miles annually. Examining the chronological data reveals a pattern of extremely light use. Between the May 2022 test at 45,468 miles and the April 2023 test at 45,802 miles, the car covered just 334 miles. This dropped drastically to a mere 8 miles over the following twelve months, rising slightly to 84 miles between April 2024 and April 2025. Such minimal annual usage often points to long periods of standing rather than regular daily driving. Despite the clean MOT record, the extremely low mileage and likely prolonged stationary periods warrant a focused physical inspection. A car standing for long durations can suffer from deteriorated rubber components, such as suspension bushes and tyre sidewalls, which may not trigger an MOT failure but compromise handling. Brake discs can surface-rust, leading to binding calipers, and the fuel system may suffer from degraded petrol. Given the MX-5's susceptibility to corrosion, a thorough underside inspection is essential to check for structural rust on the sills, subframes, and drain channels, which can compromise structural integrity even if the vehicle passes its emissions and roadworthiness tests.