2003 Mazda MX-5 1.8L Petrol · HF03 AWA

The Mazda MX-5 holds a roadworthy status following its most recent DVSA test. In the February 2026 examination at 79,221 miles, the tester passed the vehicle with no defects recorded. The maintenance trend reads stable across the available history. The car passed in July 2024 at 79,217 miles and passed again in July 2023 at 79,041 miles, though on 26 July 2023 it first failed at that same mileage with no defects noted before a same-day pass. An earlier failure on 28 March 2017 at 79,039 miles also listed no defects. Recurring fault patterns cannot be established from the official entries because the record carries zero advisories or defect lines. Odometer data reveals exceptionally low annual use for a 23-year-old roadster. Between the March 2017 test at 79,039 miles and the July 2023 test at 79,041 miles, the car covered just two miles, confirming prolonged storage over six years. It then added 176 miles by July 2024 and a mere four miles to the February 2026 reading of 79,221. Such stagnant accumulation implies previous owners treated the car as a weekend or static collector item. The sparse, clean MOT lines suggest light mechanical wear but leave gaps on consumable renewal such as brake fluid and coolant. Prospective buyers should still arrange a hands-on inspection of structural and mechanical areas the MOT omitted. MX-5 bodies of this generation are prone to corrosion at sill seams, rear subframe mounts and suspension brackets; testers logged no rust advisories, yet age demands visual and probe checks for structural integrity. Long standing periods risk binding brake calipers, perished suspension bushes and tyre sidewall cracking despite adequate tread. The buyer must examine brake discs for pitting, coil springs for fractures and verify exhaust emissions after a cold start given the idle spells.